Abstract: There are disclosed new composite materials having improved electric field induced strain levels, improved electric constants, and having advantageous mechanical properties for use in electrical devices.

Abstract: There are disclosed new polymer materials having improved electric field induced strain levels, dielectric constants, and elastic energy densities for use in electromechanical and dielectric applications. Methods of manufacture of new polymer materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an electrical device which includes at least a layer of a ferroelectric polyvinylidine fluoride polymer that has been processed to exhibit an electrostrictive strain of 4% or more when an electric field gradient of 50 megavolts per meter or greater is applied thereacross. The processing of the polymer preferably involves subjecting it to either electron beam radiation or gamma radiation. The polyvinylidine flouride polymer is selected from the group of: polyvinylidine fluoride, polyvinylidine fluoride-trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE), polyvinylidine fluoride tetrafluoroethylene P(VDF-TFE), polyvinylidine fluoride trifluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-TFE-HFE) and polyvinylidine fluoride-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-HFE).

Abstract: The invention is embodied in an electrical device which includes at least a layer of a ferroelectric polyvinylidine flouride polymer that has been processed to exhibit an electrostrictive strain of 4% or more when an electric field gradient of 50 megavolts per meter or greater is applied thereacross. The processing of the polymer preferably involves subjecting it to either electron beam radiation or gamma radiation. The polyvinylidine flouride polymer is selected from the group of: polyvinylidine fluoride, polyvinylidine fluoride-trifluoroethylene P(VDF-TrFE), polyvinylidine fluoride tetrafluoroethylene P(VDF-TFE), polyvinylidine fluoride trifluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-TFE-HFE) and polyvinylidine fluoride-hexafluoropropylene P(VDF-HFE).

Abstract: An optical filter that is tunable over a wide portion of the spectrum, such as the infrared portion. The filter has a core of silica fiber with a first cladding layer of silica fiber disposed thereon. A long period grating is disposed on the core. A second electro-optical cladding layer is disposed on the first cladding layer. The first cladding layer is ultra thin so as to support only a single resonant band over the spectral portion. The resonant band is tunable to different wavelengths in the spectral portion by a voltage applied to the second electro-optic layer. The electro-optic layer is a copolymer that has a refractive index less than that of the silica fiber material. The optical filter has fast tuning speed (nanosecond range), wide tuning range (>50 nm), low insertion loss (<0.1 dB), narrow bandwidth (<0.

Abstract: An ink jetting device includes a wall that constitutes at least a part of an ink channel and is formed of piezoelectric ceramic material polarized in one direction. A first electrode is formed wholly over one surface of the wall, a second electrode is formed partially on the other surface of the wall, and a third electrode is formed at a position that is spaced from the second electrode on the other surface of the wall. A controller is connected to the second and third electrodes but is not connected to the first electrode. The controller induces a potential difference between the second and third electrodes to deform the wall with a piezoelectric effect, so that the ink in the ink channel is pressurized to jet an ink droplet from the ink channel.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes a plurality of ink chambers each having a front end and a rear end, a manifold provided to introduce ink into each ink chamber with a front side surface on a side near the front end of each ink chamber, and a nozzle provided at the front end of each ink chamber. Ink is jetted from the nozzle by applying pressure to the ink contained in each ink chamber. A position of the manifold is such that a distance between the front side surface of the manifold and the rear end of each ink chamber is set to 0.2 mm or more, and a distance between the front side surface of the manifold and the nozzle is set to 3 mm or more. Accordingly, pressure necessary for jetting ink droplets can be maintained for a relatively long period of time. Therefore, the ink can be smoothly introduced from the manifold into each ink chamber, thereby improving print quality.

Abstract: A ferroelectric relaxor ceramic actuator material, such as lead magnesium niobate ("PMN"), has high electromechanical conversion efficiency, exhibits wide operating and manufacturing temperature ranges, does not require permanent polarization, and provides useful mechanical activity with reduced electrical drive voltages. A PMN actuator (66) may be bonded to an actuator diaphragm (64) with a high temperature soldering or brazing process. PMN material also has a diffuse Curie point range in which the dielectric constant (40), "d" coefficient (32), and dielectric loss (42) characteristics all rise to a peak and then fall as the temperature increases. A phase-change ink-jet print head (50) employs a PMN actuator that is compounded with lead titanate ("PT") to increase the temperature (T.sub.M) at which the peak dielectric constant occurs.

Abstract: Ink ejection device including a polarized piezoelectric element having a natural shape and forming at least a portion of a wall of an ink chamber, the ink chamber having a length and a natural volume and being connected with the nozzle and filled with ink; an electrode formed on the piezoelectric element; and an LSI chip applying voltage to the electrode to deform the piezoelectric element so that volume of the ink chamber increases, whereupon a pressure wave that propagates through the ink at a velocity of one length of the ink chamber in a time interval is generated in the ink, and, upon completion of a predetermined duration of time defined as approximately the time interval multiplied by an odd number equal to or greater than three, stopping application of voltage to the electrode to return piezoelectric element to the natural shape.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-type liquid droplet ejecting device including a piezoelectric element. A predetermined voltage pulse is applied to the piezoelectric element, whereupon residual pressure fluctuations are generated in the pressure chamber of the liquid droplet ejecting device. The piezoelectric element or a separate piezoelectric element generates an electric signal corresponding to the residual pressure fluctuations. A detection circuit receives the electric signal and supplies a detection signal corresponding to the electric signal to a calculation circuit for calculating a voltage pulse. The calculation circuit supplies the voltage pulse to a drive circuit, which applies it to the piezoelectric element. The voltage pulse deforms the piezoelectric element upon application thereto in a manner sufficient to compensate for residual pressure fluctuation in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: An ink droplet jet device having a piezoelectric ceramic plate is provided with ink chambers having partitions. The front half of each partition is opposite to the rear half in the direction of polarization. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes of a given partition, the front and the rear half thereof deform in the opposite directions because of their inverse directions of polarization. This prevents the introduction of air through the nozzles into the ink chambers adjacent to the activated ink chamber and the speed of printing is increased.

Abstract: An ink ejecting device includes ink channels intercommunicating with slits and air channels intercommunicating with another slits. The ink channels and the air channels have a narrow shape with a rectangular cross-section, and all of the ink channels are filled with ink and the air channels are filled with air. An LSI chip applies a voltage V to a pattern conducting to metal electrodes positioned in air channels located at both sides of an ink channel from which the ink is to be ejected and connects the other patterns connected to metal electrodes in other air channels not adjacent the ejecting ink channel and a pattern conducting to the metal electrodes of the non-ejecting ink channels to a ground line. Therefore, the ink ejecting device of the above structure requires no insulation between ink and electrodes as the working electrodes do not contact the ink.

Abstract: A single crystal bender actuator for selectively positioning a movable precision optical or acoustical component is described which comprises a single crystal of barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium lead titanate, potassium niobate tantalate, lead titanate-lead magnesium niobate or other material in which a special domain structure can be induced to produce a very high strain bimorph configuration, the single crystal operatively interconnecting support structure and the movable component, and means for selectively applying an electric field of controllable field strength to the crystal.