Abstract: An electronic device includes a layered piezoelectric element and a driven member. The driven member is bonded to the top surface of the layered piezoelectric element by means of an epoxy resin adhesive. The piezoelectric element includes a side electrode on one side surface of the element, which is one of the outer surfaces of the element. The piezoelectric element includes, in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the side surface, a dam portion formed of a material for preventing epoxy bleed out of the adhesive. Therefore, even when the epoxy bleed out of the adhesive occurs, a bled-out portion of the components of the adhesive does not reach the side electrode. Thus, when the side electrode is connected to an external circuit by, for example, soldering, reduction in the connection strength or similar problems are avoided.

Abstract: A device using a piezoelectric element includes a layered piezoelectric element and a driven member. The layered piezoelectric element includes an active portion formed of stacked piezoelectric layers each being sandwiched between a first internal electrode layer and a second internal electrode layer, and an inactive portion (first end inactive portion) formed of a first end piezoelectric layer stacked on the active portion. The driven member is bonded to the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer by means of an adhesive. The piezoelectric layers and the first end piezoelectric layer are formed such that the porosity of the inactive portion is greater than that of the active portion. Therefore, since numerous open pores are emerged on the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer, the adhesive enters into the open pores to have the driven member be strongly bonded to the top surface.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device including a plurality of vibrators arranged on an upper surface of a substrate. The substrate has a cavity, discharge hole and supply hole, which serve as a liquid flow path, formed inside a plate including flat upper and lower surfaces. A width of the cavity narrows from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side. A depth of the cavity deepens from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side. The depth of the cavity may become shallower from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the supply hole side and occupies a relatively small area, and the depth of the cavity may become deeper from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the discharge hole side and occupies a relatively large area.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element, the method having a step of polarizing the fired piezoelectric body while fixing at least two positions in a direction perpendicular to the polarization direction. The method is a means for obtaining a piezoelectric element provided with a thin and flat fired piezoelectric body with no warpage.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device including a plurality of vibrators arranged on an upper surface of a substrate. The substrate has a cavity, discharge hole and supply hole, which serve as a liquid flow path, formed inside a plate including flat upper and lower surfaces. A width of the cavity narrows from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side. A depth of the cavity deepens from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side. The depth of the cavity may become shallower from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the supply hole side and occupies a relatively small area, and the depth of the cavity may become deeper from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the discharge hole side and occupies a relatively large area.

Abstract: An electronic device 10 includes a layered piezoelectric element 20 and a driven member 30. The driven member 30 is bonded to the top surface 20a of the layered piezoelectric element 20 by means of an epoxy resin adhesive S. The piezoelectric element 20 includes a side electrode 24 on one side surface of the element, which is one of the outer surfaces of the element 20. The piezoelectric element 20 includes, in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the side surface, a dam portion 28 formed of a material for preventing epoxy bleed out of the adhesive S. Therefore, even when the epoxy bleed out of the adhesive S occurs, a bled-out portion of the components of the adhesive S does not reach the side electrode 24. Thus, when the side electrode is connected to an external circuit by, for example, soldering, reduction in the connection strength or similar problems can be avoided.

Abstract: A device using a piezoelectric element includes a layered piezoelectric element and a driven member. The layered piezoelectric element includes an active portion formed of stacked piezoelectric layers each being sandwiched between a first internal electrode layer and a second internal electrode layer, and an inactive portion (first end inactive portion) formed of a first end piezoelectric layer stacked on the active portion. The driven member is bonded to the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer by means of an adhesive. The piezoelectric layers and the first end piezoelectric layer are formed such that the porosity of the inactive portion is greater than that of the active portion. Therefore, since numerous open pores are emerged on the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer, the adhesive enters into the open pores to have the driven member be strongly bonded to the top surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element equipped with a piezoelectric/electrostrictive drive unit having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and a film external terminal electrode containing substantially no glass component and being disposed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The external terminal electrode is an electrode having a laminated structure equipped with a first electrode layer made of a first electrode material being disposed to contact the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body closely and containing a first metal component and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, and a second electrode layer made of a second electrode material containing a second metal component and substantially no piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, which the first and second metal components are in the same element system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element equipped with a piezoelectric/electrostrictive drive unit having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and a film external terminal electrode containing substantially no glass component and being disposed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The external terminal electrode is an electrode having a laminated structure equipped with a first electrode layer made of a first electrode material being disposed to contact the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body closely and containing a first metal component and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, and a second electrode layer made of a second electrode material containing a second metal component and substantially no piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, which the first and second metal components are in the same element system.

Abstract: A droplet discharge device including a plurality of vibrators arranged on an upper surface of a substrate. The substrate has a cavity, discharge hole and supply hole, which serve as a liquid flow path, formed inside a plate including flat upper and lower surfaces. A width of the cavity narrows from the upper surface side toward the lower surface side. A depth of the cavity deepens from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side. The depth of the cavity may become shallower from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the supply hole side and occupies a relatively small area, and the depth of the cavity may become deeper from the supply hole side toward the discharge hole side in a part which is positioned on the discharge hole side and occupies a relatively large area.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor piezoelectric actuator element uses a primary longitudinal mode and a secondary bending mode and includes a stacked piezoelectric element in which piezoelectric layers and electrode layers are stacked alternately in such a manner that the electrode layers divide the piezoelectric layers into two approximately equal portions. A piezoelectric inactive region is formed from the surface portion to the center portion in the thickness direction of the stacked piezoelectric element. The migration resistance of the piezoelectric actuator element is improved while suppressing a decrease in displacement so that a short circuit can be prevented and portions generating heat during alternating polarization can be dispersed, whereby reliability is increased. Moreover, the amount of electrode material used can be reduced, whereby cost can be reduced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor piezoelectric actuator element uses a primary longitudinal mode and a secondary bending mode and includes a stacked piezoelectric element in which piezoelectric layers and electrode layers are stacked alternately in such a manner that the electrode layers divide the piezoelectric layers into two approximately equal portions. A piezoelectric inactive region is formed from the surface portion to the center portion in the thickness direction of the stacked piezoelectric element. The migration resistance of the piezoelectric actuator element is improved while suppressing a decrease in displacement so that a short circuit can be prevented and portions generating heat during alternating polarization can be dispersed, whereby reliability is increased. Moreover, the amount of electrode material used can be reduced, whereby cost can be reduced.