Abstract: A dielectric device of higher performance is provided. An electron emitter, to which the dielectric device is applied is provided with: an emitter including a dielectric; and an upper electrode and a lower electrode to which drive voltage is applied in order to emit electrons. The emitter is formed by the aerosol deposition method or the sol impregnation method, and the surface roughness of the upper surface thereof is controlled in the range from 0.1 to 3 in Ra.

Abstract: A (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 based piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition obtained by adding a slight amount of a Mn compound to a perovskite type oxide containing Li, Na and K as A-site elements and contains at least Nb out of Nb and Ta as B-site elements, where a ratio of a total number of atoms of the A-site elements to a total number of atoms of the B-site elements is not smaller than 1. A composition of the perovskite type oxide as a principal component is represented by a general formula: {Liy(Na1-xKx)1-y}a(Nb1-zTaz)O3. The A/B ratio “a” preferably satisfies 1<a?1.05. The Mn compound as an accessory component is desirably added such that the added amount is not more than 3 parts by mol in terms of Mn atom with respect to 100 parts by mol of said perovskite type oxide.

Abstract: A monomorph type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, which is composed of a non-lead based piezoelectric/electrostrictive crystalline body containing at least Nb, Ta, and one or more types of alkali metal element, which has a cubic crystal structure at a temperature higher than the phase transition point and at least any one of tetragonal and orthorhombic crystal structures at a temperature lower than the phase transition point, and which is curved to a large extent by a polarization treatment to take on a curved shape at a temperature lower than the phase transition point without application of a voltage after the polarization treatment. In the polarization treatment, an electric field is increased at a speed of from 0.1 (kV/mm)/sec or more to 5 (kV/mm)/sec or less, with applying the maximum electric field of from 2 kV/mm or more to 1.0 kV/mm or less.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device which exhibits an excellent piezoelectric characteristic and which has an only small dependence on a temperature so that the piezoelectric characteristic does not easily change with the temperature. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device includes a piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion made of a piezoelectric ceramic, and electrodes electrically connected to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion. The piezoelectric ceramic can reversibly transit to a tetragonal phase and an orthorhombic phase at a phase transition point as a boundary, and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion is formed by a polarization treatment performed on conditions that a treatment temperature ranges from a temperature which exceeds the phase transition point of the piezoelectric ceramic to a temperature which is 50° C. higher than the temperature.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition contains at least Nb, Ta, and one or more kinds of alkali metal elements, and a ratio (molar ratio) of Nb, Ta, and the alkali metal element is represented by a non-stoichiometric composition ratio. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition is capable of obtaining a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device which is dense and which is superior in crystallinity and which exhibits superior piezoelectric/electrostrictive characteristics even in a case where the composition is fired on lower-temperature conditions as compared with a conventional technology.

Abstract: A dielectric device of higher performance is provided. An electron emitter, to which the dielectric device is applied is provided with: an emitter including a dielectric; and an upper electrode and a lower electrode to which drive voltage is applied in order to emit electrons. The emitter is formed by the aerosol deposition method or the sol impregnation method.

Abstract: A dielectric device of higher performance is provided. An electron emitter, to which the dielectric device is applied is provided with: an emitter including a dielectric; and an upper electrode and a lower electrode to which drive voltage is applied in order to emit electrons. The emitter is formed by the aerosol deposition method or the sol impregnation method, and the surface roughness of the upper surface thereof is controlled in the range from 0.1 to 3 in Ra.

Abstract: A working-fluid moving device is a laminate of ceramic sheets, which constitute a channel. One of the ceramic sheets is formed to serve as a diaphragm. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive film is formed on the diaphragm. The channel houses first and second working fluids. The first working fluid is inferior to the second working fluid in wettability to the inner wall surface of the channel. When voltage is applied to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film, the diaphragm is deformed, and the cross-sectional area of the channel at the central portion is reduced. The first working fluid which is present in the form of a single fluid mass at the central portion of the channel receives a repulsive force from the wall surface of the channel due to inferior wettability. As a result, the first working fluid is split into two fluid masses, which then move in the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) are used for manufacturing a wire structure wherein a wire (13) is three-dimensionally aligned at prescribed pitches. The method comprises the steps of providing one or more frame bodies (12) which have a prescribed thickness, peripherally of a rotary shaft (11). By rotating rotary shaft (11) about a rotation axis thereof, wires (13) are wound, at prescribed pitches, around frame bodies (12). Another frame body (12) is stacked on at least one existing frame body and wire (13) is wound thereon at prescribed pitches. The above steps are repeated to yield a wire structure having a wire aligned three-dimensionally and accurately at prescribed pitches.

Abstract: A process for forming a ceramic thin film on a surface of a ceramic body, including the steps of preparing an annular body from a ceramic green sheet, inserting the ceramic body into the annular body, and firing the thus assembled annular body and ceramic body, whereby the annular body is shrunk and joined to the ceramic body.