Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition including a potassium sodium niobate-based perovskite type complex oxide represented by Compositional Formula ABO3, as a main component. Further, the piezoelectric ceramic composition contains Bi in an A site and Zr in a B site. Further, the piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a segregation portion positioned in a crystal grain. At least one of Zr or Bi is localized in the segregation portion.

Abstract: A first active region is made of a piezoelectric overlaps a midsection of a pressure chamber when viewed in plan through a pressure applying surface. A second active region is made of a piezoelectric member closer than the first active region to the pressure applying surface. The second active region extends over both a peripheral section of the pressure chamber and an outer region located outside the pressure chamber when viewed in plan through the pressure applying surface. A driver controls intensity of a first electric field applied to the first active region and intensity of a second electric field applied to the second active region such that the time period over which the first active region contracts and the time period over which the second active region contracts overlap or coincide with each other. The first electric field is more intense than the second electric field.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric layer and a conductor layer that is provided directly or indirectly on the piezoelectric layer. In plan view, the conductor layer includes a plurality of individual electrodes that are arranged with intervals therebetween and a plurality of wiring lines that extend from the plurality of individual electrodes. Each wiring line includes a wide portion and a first narrow portion. The wide portion includes a part positioned at a center of the wiring line in a length direction. The first narrow portion is disposed between the wide portion and one of the plurality of individual electrodes to which the wiring line is connected. The first narrow portion has a width less than a width of the wide portion.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a common electrode on a piezoelectric layer at a first side adjacent to a first surface and extends over a plurality of piezoelectric elements. A plurality of first individual electrodes is on the piezoelectric layer at a second side adjacent to a second surface. Each of the plurality of first individual electrodes is at a piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and are not electrically connected together. A first insulating layer is on the common electrode at the first side and extends over the plurality of piezoelectric elements. A plurality of second individual electrodes is on the first insulating layer at the first side. Each of the plurality of second individual electrodes is at a piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and overlap centers of the plurality of first individual electrodes. The plurality of second individual electrodes are electrically connected together.

Abstract: A nozzle member includes a base, a metal oxide film, and a water-repellent film. The base includes a first surface having a plurality of through-holes as ejection orifices. The metal oxide film is located on the first surface. The water-repellent film is located on the metal oxide film. The metal oxide film has a greater thickness in a first area than in a second area. The first area is an area surrounding each ejection orifice. The second area is an area between adjacent first areas.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes a base having a through-hole to be a nozzle, and a metal film covering at least an inner wall of the through-hole of the base. The base contains nickel as a main component. The metal film contains nickel and palladium as main components. In a cross section including the base and the metal film, the metal film has a palladium content variation smaller than or equal to 4 at % on an imaginary line (A) along an interface between the base and the metal film.

Abstract: A nozzle member includes a base, a metal oxide film, and a water-repellent film. The base includes a first surface having a plurality of through-holes as ejection orifices. The metal oxide film is located on the first surface. The water-repellent film is located on the metal oxide film. The metal oxide film has a greater thickness in a first area than in a second area. The first area is an area surrounding each ejection orifice. The second area is an area between adjacent first areas.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes a base having a through-hole to be a nozzle, and a metal film covering at least an inner wall of the through-hole of the base. The base contains nickel as a main component. The metal film contains nickel and palladium as main components. In a cross section including the base and the metal film, the metal film has a palladium content variation smaller than or equal to 4 at % on an imaginary line (A) along an interface between the base and the metal film.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a piezoelectric element with less characteristic variations with time, and a liquid discharge head and a recording device each using the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element 30 of the present invention is the piezoelectric body 30 (piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b) containing a potassium sodium niobate composition as a primary component. The piezoelectric body extends in a planar direction. A compressive stress is applied in the planar direction. A phase transition point between a tetragonal crystal system and an orthorhombic crystal system is ?20° C. or below.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a piezoelectric element with less characteristic variations with time, and a liquid discharge head and a recording device each using the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element 30 of the present invention is the piezoelectric body 30 (piezoelectric ceramic layer 21b) containing a potassium sodium niobate composition as a primary component. The piezoelectric body extends in a planar direction. A compressive stress is applied in the planar direction. A phase transition point between a tetragonal crystal system and an orthorhombic crystal system is ?20° C. or below.

Abstract: A piezoelectric converter comprising a piezoelectric actuator that includes a piezoelectric ceramic layer of thin plate shape being stacked on the surface of a substrate on the side thereof whereon cavities to be filled with a liquid are formed wherein, in order to prevent a significant buckling deformation from occurring in a region of the piezoelectric actuator that corresponds to the cavities of the substrate, the thickness T (mm) of the piezoelectric ceramic layer and maximum width W (mm) of the cavities in the direction of substrate surface are set so as to satisfy the relation of expression (1). T?(19.6 W+5.

Abstract: An actuator 1 in which a displacement element 7 has a piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and a pair of electrodes 5, 6 interposing therebetween the piezoelectric ceramic layer 4. The entire thickness of the actuator 1 is 100 ?m or less. The piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and the substrate 2 have as their principal component a perovskite crystal containing at least Pb; Zr and Ti, and, the maximum difference in a composition ratio Pb/(Ti+Zr) between the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and the inside of the substrate 2 is 0.02 or less. This reduces characteristic variation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric converter comprising a piezoelectric actuator that includes a piezoelectric ceramic layer of thin plate shape being stacked on the surface of a substrate on the side thereof whereon cavities to be filled with a liquid are formed wherein, in order to prevent a significant buckling deformation from occurring in a region of the piezoelectric actuator that corresponds to the cavities of the substrate, the thickness T (mm) of the piezoelectric ceramic layer and maximum width W (mm) of the cavities in the direction of substrate surface are set so as to satisfy the relation of expression (1). T?(19.6 W+5.

Abstract: An actuator 1 in which a displacement element 7 has a piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and a pair of electrodes 5, 6 interposing therebetween the piezoelectric ceramic layer 4. The entire thickness of the actuator 1 is 100 &mgr;m or less. The piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and the substrate 2 have as their principal component a perovskite crystal containing at least Pb; Zr and Ti, and, the maximum difference in a composition ratio Pb/(Ti+Zr) between the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic layer 4 and the inside of the substrate 2 is 0.02 or less. This reduces characteristic variation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising a perovskite compound which contains, as metal components, Pb, Sr, Zr, Ti, Nb, Cr, Y, Co and at least one element selected from La, Gd, Nd, Sm and Pr, and may further contain Sb or Na, wherein when the composition formula is expressed as,(Pb.sub.1-x-.alpha.-y Sr.sub.x Na.sub..alpha. M.sub.y).sub.a [(Nb.sub.b Y.sub.c Cr.sub.d Co.sub.e Sb.sub..beta.).sub.f Ti.sub.g Zr.sub.1-f-g ]O.sub.3,wherein M is at least one element selected from La, Gd, Nd, Sm and Pr, then, x, y, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, .alpha. and .beta. satisfy the following relationships, 0.005.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.08, 0.002.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.05, 0.95.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.1.05, 0.47.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.70, 0.02.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.31, 0.11.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.0.42, 0.01.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.0.12, 0.02.ltoreq.f.ltoreq.0.15, 0.46.ltoreq.g.ltoreq.0.52, 0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.005, 0.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.0.13, and b+c+d+e+.beta.=1.00.