Abstract: A sealing member for a capacitor is formed of an elastic material, and has a circular cylindrical shape extending along an axial direction. The sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction shows a circular shape. Further, a pair of through-holes is formed parallel to the axial direction. The shape of each through-hole in the sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction of the sealing member is composed of a first arc and a second arc. The first arc protrudes toward the circumference of the sealing member. The second arc protrudes toward the center of the sealing member and has a curvature smaller than that of the first arc.

Abstract: A capacitor having an electrolyte solution, in which a sealing member has a gas barrier layer provided with lead holes and through holes, and a rubber material sandwiching the gas barrier layer. The gas barrier layer includes a material having lower gas permeability than the rubber material. The through holes are filled with the rubber material.

Abstract: A capacitor includes: a capacitor element; an electrolyte impregnated into at least the capacitor element; a bottomed cylindrical metal case accommodating the capacitor element and the electrolyte; and a sealing body sealing an opening portion of the case. Further, the capacitor also includes a coating layer provided at a portion in contact with the outer surface of the sealing body and formed by dispersing, into resin, an adsorbent adsorbing a solvent included in the electrolyte. Alternatively, the sealing body is formed by dispersing the above-described adsorbent in a rubber component.

Abstract: A second region (12) composed of a plane is formed around a first region (11) having a lens function, and a third region (13) is formed between the first region and the second region. A protection film (24) is formed on the surface of the first region 1. The first region is protruded relative to the second region, the third region is formed throughout the rim of the first region 1, and the surface of the third region is recessed relative to a virtual curved surface (11a) that is a curved surface along the surface shape of the first region being extended to the second region. Consequently, it is possible to form throughout the first region a protection film having a surface shape that substantially matches the surface shape of the first region.

Abstract: A composite material (10) includes a resin (12), and first inorganic particles (11) dispersed in the resin and containing at least zirconium oxide. The composite material has a refractive index at the d line nCOMd of not less than 1.60 and an Abbe's number ?COM of not less than 20, and satisfies a relationship nCOMd?1.8?0.005 ?COM. This composite material exhibits both a high refractive index and low dispersion in good balance, and has excellent workability. Accordingly, using this composite material makes it possible to realize a small optical component having favorable wavelength characteristics.

Abstract: A second region (12) composed of a plane is formed around a first region (11) having a lens function, and a third region (13) is formed between the first region and the second region. A protection film (24) is formed on the surface of the first region 1. The first region is protruded relative to the second region, the third region is formed throughout the rim of the first region 1, and the surface of the third region is recessed relative to a virtual curved surface (11a) that is a curved surface along the surface shape of the first region being extended to the second region. Consequently, it is possible to form throughout the first region a protection film having a surface shape that substantially matches the surface shape of the first region.

Abstract: A lens according to the present invention includes at least one first area (11) including a lens portion (11a) with a convex shape, and a second area (12) surrounding the first area (11). A groove (13) surrounding the first area (11) is formed between the first area (11) and the second area (12). A coating layer (14) is formed on the lens portion (11a).

Abstract: A composite material (10) includes a resin (12), and first inorganic particles (11) dispersed in the resin and containing at least zirconium oxide. The composite material has a refractive index at the d line nCOMd of not less than 1.60 and an Abbe's number ?COM of not less than 20, and satisfies a relationship nCOMd?1.8?0.005 ?COM. This composite material exhibits both a high refractive index and low dispersion in good balance, and has excellent workability. Accordingly, using this composite material makes it possible to realize a small optical component having favorable wavelength characteristics.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composite sheet unit includes arranging a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared. A plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustic matching member, the acoustic matching member being incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, and including: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The method for manufacturing including the steps of: filling voids of a porous member with a fluid filling material, and solidifying both the fluid filling material inside the voids and the surplus fluid filling material at the same time. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: a piezoelectric body 4 to set up ultrasonic vibrations; an acoustic matching layer 3 made of a material with a density of 50 kg/m3 to 1,000 kg/m3 and an acoustic impedance of 2.5×103 kg/m2/s to 1.0×106 kg/m2/s; a lower acoustic matching layer 9 provided between the piezoelectric body 4 and the acoustic matching layer 3; and a structure supporting member 6 that supports the lower acoustic matching layer 9 and the piezoelectric body 4 thereon and shields the piezoelectric body 4 from a fluid that propagates the ultrasonic vibrations. The ultrasonic transducer includes a protective portion, which contacts with at least a portion of a side surface of the acoustic matching layer 4. This protective portion is defined by a portion of the lower acoustic matching layer 9 and forms an integral part of the lower acoustic matching layer 9.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer 1 according to the present invention includes a first acoustic matching layer 2, which has a low density and a low sonic velocity, and a second acoustic matching layer 3, which has a higher density and a higher sonic velocity. The first acoustic matching layer 2, of which the acoustic impedance is matched to that of a medium into an ultrasonic wave is radiated, is provided closer to the medium, while the second acoustic matching layer 3 is provided closer to a piezoelectric layer, thereby increasing the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer according to the present invention includes a powder of a dry gel. The dry gel preferably has a density of 500 kg/m3 or less and an average pore diameter of 100 nm or less. By using the dry gel powder, a variation in the property of the acoustic matching layer can be reduced.

Abstract: A composite sheet unit in which a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires are arranged in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared, and a plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes two or more electrodes 5 and 6 spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, between which a potential difference is produced in operation and a void 9 that penetrates to the outside is provided. In the void 9, a water repellent film 10 is formed. This prevents water vapor from being absorbed in the void 9 connecting the electrodes 5 and 6, and thereby preventing the formation of a conductive path and the occurrence of ion migration.

Abstract: A composite sheet unit in which a plurality of sintered piezoelectric thin wires are arranged in a uniform direction on a surface of a resin layer is prepared, and a plurality of the same are laminated and integrated so that the sintered piezoelectric thin wires are positioned between the resin layers. Here, a curing resin may be impregnated therein so as to form resin-impregnated-cured portions. Then, the lamination is cut in a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of the sintered piezoelectric thin wires, so that a piezocomposite is obtained. Cut surfaces may be ground. By so doing, it is possible to provide a highly reliable piezocomposite having a fine structure at low cost, and to provide an ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, as well as ultrasonic diagnostic equipment using the same.

Abstract: An acoustic matching member that is incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, includes: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The first layer is made of a composite material of a porous member and a filing material supported by void portions of the porous member, the second layer is made of the filling material or the porous member, and the first layer and the second layer are present in this stated order. A piezoelectric member is disposed on a side of the first layer of the acoustic matching member to form an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic flowmeter. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: An acoustic matching member that is incorporated into an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, includes: at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer that have different acoustic impedance values from each other. The first layer is made of a composite material of a porous member and a filling material supported by void portions of the porous member, the second layer is made of the filling material or the porous member, and the first layer and the second layer are present in this stated order. A piezoelectric member is disposed on a side of the first layer of the acoustic matching member to form an ultrasonic transducer or an ultrasonic flowmeter. The acoustic matching member does not have independent intermediate layers between the layers, so that delamination hardly occurs and the difficulty in the designing associated with the presence of intermediate layers can be avoided.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer 1 according to the present invention includes a first acoustic matching layer 2, which has a low density and a low sonic velocity, and a second acoustic matching layer 3, which has a higher density and a higher sonic velocity. The first acoustic matching layer 2, of which the acoustic impedance is matched to that of a medium into an ultrasonic wave is radiated, is provided closer to the medium, while the second acoustic matching layer 3 is provided closer to a piezoelectric layer, thereby increasing the sensitivity of an ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An acoustic matching layer according to the present invention includes a powder of a dry gel. The dry gel preferably has a density of 500 kg/m3 or less and an average pore diameter of 100 nm or less. By using the dry gel powder, a variation in the property of the acoustic matching layer can be reduced.