Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a magnetic head support having a piezoelectric device on a metal plate member comprises the steps of: providing a metal plate member; forming a piezoelectric layer of a piezoelectric material on the plate member at an elevated temperature; forming a first electrode layer of an electrical conducting material on the piezoelectric layer; and bending the metal plate member at a bending portion adjacent to the piezoelectric layer while the temperature is lowered from the elevated temperature after forming the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a small, light-weight, impact-resistant, high-accuracy, and low-cost piezoelectric actuator which can achieve a large displacement at a low drive voltage as well as an information storage device which incorporates the piezoelectric actuator and has high recording density. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention is equipped with a hinge plate 220 which has a central portion 221, two lateral portions 222 extending point-symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221, and two limbs 223 extending point-symmetrically and non-linear symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221 as well as with a piezoelectric element 210 which brings the two limbs 223 toward and away from each other.

Abstract: A micro displacement mechanism minutely displaces an object to be driven. The micro displacement mechanism includes a stationary part and an actuator fixed to the stationary part so as to rotatably support the object to be driven. The actuator includes a pair of piezoelectric actuators attached to opposite side surfaces of said object to be driven, respectively. The pair of piezoelectric actuators are arranged at point symmetric positions with respect to a center of gravity of the object to be driven.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator comprises a body of a piezoelectric material, electrode patterns embedded in the body, and a sidewall protective film of a piezoelectric material covering at least a sidewall surface of the body, the sidewall protective film covering the electrode patterns at the sidewall surface of the body.

Abstract: When wire-bonding process is effected, a head assembly is held between a pair of clamp members. A head slider is urged against a microactuator. The urging force is transmitted to the microactuator through second adhesive layers. Since the second adhesive layers are positioned symmetrically around the rotational axis of the head slider, the urging force tends to act along the rotational axis. The microactuator is simultaneously urged against the support member. The urging force is transmitted from a first adhesive layer to the support member. Since the first adhesive layer extends around the rotational axis, the urging force tends to act along the rotational axis. The head slider is thus allowed to keep a uniform attitude. The microactuator is also allowed to keep a uniform attitude. The microactuator is prevented from suffering from substantial bending stresses.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension having a gimbal, a flexible printed wiring sheet having a plurality of conductor patterns and adhered to the suspension, first and second piezoelectric actuators mounted on the gimbal, and a head slider mounted on the first and second piezoelectric actuators. The first and second piezoelectric actuators are adhered to the gimbal at end portion adhesion portions symmetrical with respect to the center of pivotal motion thereof and are adhered to the head slider at end portion adhesion portions on the opposite side disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of pivotal motion similarly. Consequently, when a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric actuators through the flexible printed wiring sheet, a couple of forces can be generated which vary the posture of the head slider only in one direction around the center of pivotal motion.

Abstract: A micro displacement mechanism minutely displaces an object to be driven. The micro displacement mechanism includes a stationary part and an actuator fixed to the stationary part so as to rotatably support the object to be driven. The actuator includes a pair of piezoelectric actuators attached to opposite side surfaces of said object to be driven, respectively. The pair of piezoelectric actuators are arranged at point symmetric positions with respect to a center of gravity of the object to be driven.

Abstract: One surface of a piezoelectric actuator is bonded to a suspension via bonding agents. The piezoelectric actuator is bonded to the suspension at two positions sandwiching a coupling portion therebetween. Namely, the bonding is performed at respective one end portions of two piezoelectric active portions, and these end portions are situated on opposite sides with respect to the coupling portion. In the bonding, since the two piezoelectric active portions are integrated via the coupling portion, relative position adjustment between the piezoelectric active portions is very easy. Further, the number of terminals to connect with a wiring pattern formed on the suspension is only two, and the suspension need not be rotated 180 degrees at the time of bonding, so that the time required for bonding is short.

Abstract: A moving mechanism using a piezoelectric actuator is attached by an adhesive with adhesive parts of a constant area between a piezoelectric element and a slider and between the piezoelectric element and a suspension. A movable part, serving as the slider, is moved by the piezoelectric actuator. A support part, serving as a gimbal part of a suspension, supports the piezoelectric actuator. At least one of the movable part and the support part is fixed to the piezoelectric element. At least one of the piezoelectric element, the movable part and the support part has a bonding surface that is defined by a level difference.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension having a gimbal, a flexible printed wiring sheet having a plurality of conductor patterns and adhered to the suspension, first and second piezoelectric actuators mounted on the gimbal, and a head slider mounted on the first and second piezoelectric actuators. The first and second piezoelectric actuators are adhered to the gimbal at end portion adhesion portions symmetrical with respect to the center of pivotal motion thereof and are adhered to the head slider at end portion adhesion portions on the opposite side disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of pivotal motion similarly. Consequently, when a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric actuators through the flexible printed wiring sheet, a couple of forces can be generated which vary the posture of the head slider only in one direction around the center of pivotal motion.

Abstract: A coating film is formed on the whole surface area of a body part. Formation of the coating film may be done by immersing the body part in a solution of parfluoropolyether. Then, the parfluoropolyether constituting the coating film is joined with the side surfaces of the body part by irradiating Xenon excimer laser in a nitrogen atmosphere onto the side faces of the body part, or to the surface exposing an electrode layer. As a result, the protective film is formed only on the side surfaces of the body part. Thus, the protective film is formed as a monomolecular film. Total body part is then cleaned by 2,3-dihydrodecafluoropentane to remove non-reacted coating film, thereby completing a multi-layer piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Solid material gasification method comprises a solution preparation step wherein a first solid material is dissolved in a solvent to prepare a gasification solution, a solvent removal step wherein a second solid material is separated by removing the solvent used to prepare the gasification solution from that solution, and a solid sublimation step wherein the second solid material is gasified by sublimation.

Abstract: Solid material gasification method comprises a solution preparation step wherein a first solid material is dissolved in a solvent to prepare a gasification solution, a solvent removal step wherein a second solid material is separated by removing the solvent used to prepare the gasification solution from that solution, and a solid sublimation step wherein the second solid material is gasified by sublimation.

Abstract: A moving mechanism using a piezoelectric actuator is attached by an adhesive with adhesive parts of a constant area between a piezoelectric element and a slider and between the piezoelectric element and a suspension. A movable part, serving as the slider, is moved by the piezoelectric actuator. A support part, serving as a gimbal part of a suspension, supports the piezoelectric actuator. At least one of the movable part and the support part is fixed to the piezoelectric element. At least one of the piezoelectric element, the movable part and the support part has a bonding surface that is defined by a level difference.

Abstract: A device having a capacitor element includes: an underlying body having a non-orientated first surface; a lower electrode formed on the first surface of the underlying body, the lower electrode containing conductive metal oxide and not containing noble metal, such as LaNiO3, the conductive metal oxide having a (0 0 1) orientated ABO3 type pervskite structure; a ferroelectric layer formed on the lower electrode, having a rhombohedral ABO3 type pervskite structure, the ferroelectric layer being preferentially (0 0 1) orientated in conformity with the orientation of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension having a gimbal, a flexible printed wiring sheet having a plurality of conductor patterns and adhered to the suspension, first and second piezoelectric actuators mounted on the gimbal, and a head slider mounted on the first and second piezoelectric actuators. The first and second piezoelectric actuators are adhered to the gimbal at end portion adhesion portions symmetrical with respect to the center of pivotal motion thereof and are adhered to the head slider at end portion adhesion portions on the opposite side disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of pivotal motion similarly. Consequently, when a voltage is applied to the first and second piezoelectric actuators through the flexible printed wiring sheet, a couple of forces can be generated which vary the posture of the head slider only in one direction around the center of pivotal motion.

Abstract: A microscale driving unit includes first and second elongated piezoelectric actuators extending in antiparallel directions. The base ends of the actuators are fixed to a support member. The tip ends of the actuators are fixed to a driven member. First and second electrically conductive members connect the base end of the first or second elongated piezoelectric actuator to the tip end of the second or first elongated piezoelectric actuator. The microscale driving unit allows utilization of a common single wiring pattern connected to both the base end of the first elongated piezoelectric actuator and the tip end of the second elongated piezoelectric actuator when a driving current is supplied to the first and second elongated piezoelectric actuators. Only a smaller area should be required to locate the wiring pattern. A sufficient planar space can be obtained on the surface of the support member.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a compact and lightweight piezoelectric actuator, a driving method involving the piezoelectric actuator that can provide a large displacement at a low voltage, and a compact and lightweight information storage device with a high recording density that incorporates such a piezoelectric actuator and has a small moment of inertia of a head when the head is driven. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention has four rod-shaped driving sections. Of the four rod-shaped driving sections, a voltage is applied to the two driving sections located along a diagonal line at a time, and the voltage is applied to the two driving sections located along the other diagonal line at a different time from the time for the first two driving sections, whereby two central sections are rotationally driven relative to two end sections.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a small, light-weight, impact-resistant, high-accuracy, and low-cost piezoelectric actuator which can achieve a large displacement at a low drive voltage as well as an information storage device which incorporates the piezoelectric actuator and has high recording density. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention is equipped with a hinge plate 220 which has a central portion 221, two lateral portions 222 extending point-symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221, and two limbs 223 extending point-symmetrically and non-linear symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221 as well as with a piezoelectric element 210 which brings the two limbs 223 toward and away from each other.

Abstract: Solid material gasification method comprises a solution preparation step wherein a first solid material is dissolved in a solvent to prepare a gasification solution, a solvent removal step wherein a second solid material is separated by removing the solvent used to prepare the gasification solution from that solution, and a solid sublimation step wherein the second solid material is gasified by sublimation.