Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is provided, including comb-shape piezoelectric actuators, each including a plurality of piezoelectric layers. The actuators are made by a process including the steps of (1) preparing a plurality of piezoelectric material green sheets on which electrode films are formed and forming slits on a first green sheet using a punch and a die, (2) pulling up the first green sheet using a stripper, (3) pulling up a top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up first green sheet, (4) forming second slits in a second green sheet by the punch, (5) pulling up the second green sheet jointly with the first green sheet, (6) pulling up the top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up second green sheet, and thereafter laminating green sheets by repeating steps (4) through (6). The layers are thereafter fired.

Abstract: A method used for establishing an optimized path between two endpoints in a transmission network including subnetworks is provided. In the method, two endpoints and route selection elements are specified, a first route search is performed to search for route candidates each of which connects subnetworks by using data on network resources according to the route selection elements, and the route candidates is stored in a dynamic routing table. Then, at least a route candidate is selected as a selected route candidate according to the route selection elements, and a second route search is performed to search for a route connecting network elements in each subnetwork on the selected route candidate.

Abstract: A front-end processing circuit applies predetermined processing to an input signal and outputs a processed signal. A frequency modulation circuit applies frequency modulation to the output signal of the front-end processing circuit and outputs a processed signal. The front-end processing circuit includes a variable amplifier and a level detector. The variable amplifier receives a feedback signal and amplifies a signal by an amplification factor corresponding to the feedback signal. The level detector outputs the feedback signal to the variable amplifier in accordance with a level of a signal obtainable in a circuit succeeding the variable amplifier. The front-end processing circuit maintains the signal supplied to the frequency modulation circuit at a constant level.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film device which has a flexural displacement and durability equal to or more than those of a related-art piezoelectric/electrostrictive film device and which has a remarkably high resonance frequency and which is superior in high-speed response. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film device comprises: a substrate formed of ceramic; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive operation portion including a lower electrode, piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, and upper electrode which are successively stacked on the substrate and including a projecting end of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer with which an upper surface of the lower electrode and a lower surface of the upper electrode are coated, and a projecting portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer is a coupling member constituted of a hybrid material in which inorganic particles are scattered in a matrix of a polymer compound, and is coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type actuator is provided including a ceramic substrate and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device disposed on the ceramic substrate that is provided with a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and electrode films. The device is driven by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a plurality of layers of piezoelectric/electrostrictive films, and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and electrode films are alternately laminated such that an electrode film forms an uppermost layer and a lowermost layer of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device.

Abstract: A reading unit supplies card information that has been read from a card to a management unit by way of a read-out unit. The management unit assigns a high order of priority to card information that has been newly read and stores the card information to which this order of priority has been given in a memory unit. A fingerprint scanner supplies input fingerprint information to a selection unit by way of a generation unit. The selection unit, upon receiving the input fingerprint information, supplies this input fingerprint information to a collation unit and further, selects a plurality of items of registered fingerprint information that are stored in the memory unit starting in order with items having the highest order of priority.

Abstract: A multislit type actuator including a plurality of piezoelectric actuators aligned and allocated like teeth of a comb formed on a substrate, wherein a condition of crystal grains in side surfaces of the piezoelectric actuators forming wall surfaces of a slit between the comb teeth is that the crystal grains under transgranular fracture are 1% or below.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film device is provided, including a ceramic substrate, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and an upper electrode that are sequentially layered on the substrate. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer covers an upper surface of the lower electrode and a lower surface of the upper electrode and protrudes over edges thereof. The protruded portions of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer are coupled to the substrate via a coupling member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film-type actuator has a ceramic base and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, which has piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and electrode films and which is disposed on the ceramic base, and is driven in accordance with a dislocation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is formed such that the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films and the electrode films are alternately laminated so as to construct the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer with the electrode films. Also, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive films have two layers and no pores, containing a different phase formed by a decomposed material thereof, in the boundary sandwiched therebetween. In addition, the upper layer of the two-layered piezoelectric/electrostrictive films is thicker than the lower layer.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vast buffer memory space capable of storing all of partial fingerprint images read by a sweep type fingerprint sensor is made unnecessary in generating feature information of a fingerprint. A fingerprint reading system includes a sweep type fingerprint sensor, a memory which stores partial fingerprint images read by the sensor, and a processor connected to the sensor. The processor includes an image acquisition unit which successively acquires partial fingerprint images read by the sweep type fingerprint sensor and preserves them in the memory, a position calculation unit which calculates position information of a partial fingerprint image, an image division unit which cuts out a unique unit image corresponding to an image region having a predetermined area from the partial fingerprint image on the basis of the position information, and a feature extraction unit which extracts feature information of the unit image.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes comb teeth-shaped piezoelectric actuators, each comprising plural piezoelectric layers. A side surface of each tooth is fired. Actuators are made by (1) preparing a plurality of piezoelectric material green sheets on which electrode films are formed and forming slits on a first green sheet using a punch and a die, (2) pulling up the first green sheet using a stripper, (3) pulling up a top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up first green sheet, (4) forming second slits in a second green sheet by the punch, (5) pulling up the second green sheet jointly with the first green sheet, and (6) pulling up the top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up second green sheet, and thereafter laminating green sheets by repeating steps (4) through (6). The layers can thereafter be fired.

Abstract: A magnetic tape pullout apparatus adapted to pull out an end portion of a magnetic tape by adsorbing a circumferential surface of a wound magnetic tape, and provided with a tape pullout jig which is disposed so that a front end portion thereof can touch an outer circumferential surface of a wound magnetic tape, and which has on the lower side of this front end portion an adsorption portion for adsorbing the magnetic tape thereto, a support member adapted to rotatably support the tape pullout jig in the radial direction of the wound magnetic tape, and a slide mechanism adapted to move the support member in the tangential direction of the wound magnetic tape.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing, by utilizing a punch and a die, a cell driving type actuator wherein a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are arranged in alignment like the teeth of a comb on a base plate. Each cell is formed by closing two adjacent piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements disposed on the base plate with a cover plate positioned at a plane facing the base plate in such a manner that the cell is formed independently from its adjacent cells. The method includes the steps of preparing a plurality of green sheets made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, machining slit apertures in all of the green sheets with the punch, and laminating all of the green sheets after positioning them, thus forming comb-like piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements.

Abstract: A memory region for fingerprint images acquired from a sweep type fingerprint sensor is saved.

Abstract: An apparatus for valve-gate injection molding producing an annular molded product having a center through-hole has a valve gate with a simplified structure. The apparatus includes a movable mold member having a first center bore extending in an axial direction, a stationary mold member having a second center bore corresponding to the first bore and providing a product cavity forming the annular molded product between the mold members, a nozzle mounted on the stationary mold member and having a resin supply route having an opening communicating with the second bore, a valve pin extending in the resin supply route and movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an opening position for opening the opening, a center pin movably arranged in the first bore and having a tip surface in contact with a tip surface of the valve pin, and a driving mechanism driving the center pin in the axial direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes comb teeth-shaped piezoelectric actuators, each comprising plural piezoelectric layers. A side surface of each tooth is fired. Actuators are made by (1) preparing a plurality of piezoelectric material green sheets on which electrode films are formed and forming slits on a first green sheet using a punch and a die, (2) pulling up the first green sheet using a stripper, (3) pulling up a top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up first green sheet, (4) forming second slits in a second green sheet by the punch, (5) pulling up the second green sheet jointly with the first green sheet, and (6) pulling up the top portion of the punch slightly from the lowest portion of the pulled up second green sheet, and thereafter laminating green sheets by repeating steps (4) through (6). The layers can thereafter be fired.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements arranged in comb teeth-like alignment on a base plate. The actuator is driven by means of dislocation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. The cell driving type actuator is characterized in that each of the cells is formed independently from adjacent cells by positioning cover plates between two adjacent piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. Thus, there is provided a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator wherein a heating process at a high temperature can be applied and mass production at low cost is possible. The actuator includes cells with slit portions having a width of 60 ?m or less and a high aspect ratio and can be activated with high electric field strength, and great displacement can be obtained with small electric field strength.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A micropipette constructed for dispensing sequential, different sample solutions, including a substrate, an inlet port formed in or on the substrate, a cavity into which the sample solutions are poured through the inlet port and which is filled sequentially with the sample solutions, an introduction hole between each inlet port and cavity, an injection port for sequentially expelling the sample solutions formed in communication with each cavity, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element provided on at least one wall of the substrate adjacent each cavity.