Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element is applicable as a driving source of opening and closing mechanism of an injection nozzle in a fuel injecting device. A laminated piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 1 has: a columnar laminate 10 constituted by alternately laminating a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers 18 and inner electrode layers 18, 19; and outer electrodes connected to the inner electrode layers 18, 19 every other layer. This laminated piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 1 has stepped portions A formed periodically at every laminating cycle T in a side surface of the columnar laminate 10 of the element, the side surface being parallel to an axial direction (S-direction) of the columnar laminate 10. Due to the constitution mentioned above, the electrode is not easily worn even during an expanding and contracting operation during practical use, and the element can sufficiently circulate and cool a lubricant through the casing even during practical use.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device has a substrate composed of a nonlinear optical material and a periodically domain-inverted structure having the same composition as the nonlinear optical material, where the domain-inverted structure has a refractive index distribution relying on the domain-inverted structure.

Abstract: A bonding body includes a first member, a second member and an adhesive layer arranged between the first member and the second member. In the bonding body, the adhesive layer is made of a resin composition having a fluorene skeleton and at least one of the first member and the second member has a thickness of not less than 0.1 ?m and not more than 10 ?m.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes a waveguide layer that converts a wavelength of incident light and emits converted light. In the waveguide layer, a ridge waveguide and slab waveguides are provided, the slab waveguides being formed on both sides of the ridge waveguide with recess portions intervening therebetween. The waveguide layer satisfies a multi-mode condition for the incident light, and light propagating through the ridge waveguide is in a single mode.

Abstract: A microswitch is provided with a movable electrode contact component including a bending displacement component having a cantilever shape, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a piezoelectric/electrostrictor and a voltage application electrode layers, and a substrate joined to a support portion of the movable electrode contact component and having a fixed electrode disposed on the surface thereof, wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is driven to displace the movable electrode, so that the movable electrode and the fixed electrode can be brought into a state of being electrically connected to each other or disconnected from each other. At least a thin plate of the bending displacement component is made of a ceramic material, and the thin plate, the piezoelectric/electrostrictor, and the voltage application electrode layers are integrated by firing.

Abstract: A method for producing a bonded article composed of a first substrate, a second substrate, and a bonding layer through which the first and second substrates are bonded to one another includes the steps of interposing a water-based bonding agent between the first and second substrates, and forming the bonding layer by heating the water-based bonding agent. The water-based bonding agent contains an alkali metal element, and has a water-soluble compound dissolved therein. The water-soluble compound produces a composite oxide by heating.

Abstract: A method of making a matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device having a plurality of pillar shaped piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance and at least a pair of electrodes being formed on the sides of the substance, are vertically provided on a thick ceramic substrate, such that the device is driven by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance. In this device, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are integrally bonded to the ceramic substrate and independently arranged in two dimensions. The percentage of transgranularly fractured crystal grains on at least the sides of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance on which the electrodes are formed is 10% or less. The unit forms a curved surface near a joined section between the substance and the substrate.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device in which a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements almost in a pillar shape, each having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance and at least a pair of electrodes being formed on the sides of the substance, are vertically provided on a thick ceramic substrate. It is driven by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance. In this device, a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are integrally bonded to the ceramic substrate and independently arranged in two dimensions. The percentage of transgranularly fractured crystal grains on at least the sides of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance on which the electrodes are formed is 10% or less. The unit forms a curved surface near a joined section between the substance and the substrate.

Abstract: A first electrode and a second electrode are provided in separation on a main surface of a substrate made of a ferroelectric single crystal. A first voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, for example, on condition that the first electrode is positive and the second electrode is negative, to generate and grow a first polarization-inverted portion toward the second electrode from the first electrode. Then, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is changed, and a second voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode on the same condition, to generate and grow a second polarization-inverted portion, in a different area from that of the polarization-inverted portion, toward the second electrode from the first electrode.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive device being less-particle-generative and capable of continuously realizing a stable displacement operation over a long period of time or being large in displacement amount and high in generative force and the like. This less-dust-generative piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 1 comprises a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 31 including a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive members 4 and at least one pair of electrodes formed on the side surface of each piezoelectric/electrostrictive member 4, and the members are set up on a thick ceramic substrate 2. In this less-dust-generative matrix-type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device 1, a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 31 substantially having pillar shapes are set up in a matrix form. The ceramic substrate 2 is formed integrally with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements 31.

Abstract: There is disclosed a one-dimensional piezoelectric actuator array 1 houses a piezoelectric device 35 including a plate or pillar-shaped piezoelectric member 4 and electrodes 18, 19, and having a planar form; the device 35 being driven by a piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric member 4. The piezoelectric device 35 is formed as a whole in a planar comb shape wherein comb teeth 26 are connected to one another in one end, and portions of the comb teeth 26 work as a plurality of driving portions 31. The guide substrate 2 and piezoelectric device substrate 3 are integrally unified in such a manner that the resultant is readily usable for the formation of a multiply stuck structural body. In case of need, the array may be further provided with a guide substrate 2 having a concave portion 9 for housing at least a part of the piezoelectric device substrate 3.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate made of a ferroelectric single crystalline material, including the steps of forming a desired proton-exchanged layer in the substrate by proton-exchanging a portion of the substrate, and selectively removing the proton-exchanged layer to form a concave ditch structure in the ferroelectric single crystalline substrate, wherein the desired proton-exchange layer is formed by using an acid containing a lithium salt as a proton-exchanging source, the surface of the substrate from which the concave ditch structure is formed is an X-cut surface or a Z-cut surface, as a main surface, of the ferroelectric single crystalline material used as the substrate, and the concave ditch structure has a recessed portion with its depth equal to or larger than its half opening width.

Abstract: A method for producing an optical waveguide part includes the steps of preparing a ferroelectric single crystalline substrate having a polarization-axis substantially parallel to a main surface thereof and having a given ferroelectric domain-inverted pattern, and epitaxially growing a ferroelectric single crystalline film on the ferroelectric single crystalline substrate. The ferroelectric domain-inverted pattern is thereby transcribed from the substrate into the ferroelectric single crystalline film to form a ferroelectric domain-inverted structure therein.

Abstract: An optical waveguide element includes a three-dimensional optical waveguide of a bulky non-linear optical crystal, a substrate, and a joining layer made of an amorphous material. The substrate is joined to the optical waveguide via the joining layer.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device in which a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements almost in a pillar shape, each having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance and at least a pair of electrodes, are vertically provided on a thick ceramic substrate, and which is driven by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance. In this matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive device, a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are integrally bonded to the ceramic substrate and independently arranged in two dimensions. The pair of electrodes is formed on the sides of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance. The percentage of transgranularly fractured crystal grains on at least the sides of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance on which the electrodes are formed is 10% or less. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance forms a curved surface near a joined section between the piezoelectric/electrostrictive substance and the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A bonding body includes a first member, a second member and an adhesive layer arranged between the first member and the second member. In the bonding body, the adhesive layer is made of a resin composition having fluorene skeleton and at least one of the first member and the second member has a thickness of not less than 0.1 &mgr;m and not more than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A method for producing a bonded article composed of a first substrate, a second substrate, and a bonding layer through which the first and second substrates are bonded is disclosed. This method includes the steps of interposing a water-based bonding agent between the first and second substrates, and forming the bonding layer by heating the water-based bonding agent. The water-based bonding agent contains an alkali metal element, and has a water-soluble compound dissolved therein. The water-soluble compound produces a composite oxide by heating.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical waveguide element by thermally diffusing a metal element or a metallic compound into a substrate having a photoelectric effect, includes the steps of: forming a waveguide pattern on the substrate, the waveguide pattern includes a metal element or metallic compound; forming a film on a main plane of the substrate that covers the entire waveguide pattern, the film having an electro-optic effect; and effecting the thermal diffusion of the metallic element or the metallic compound.

Abstract: A directional coupler including a substrate having a length and containing a material that exhibits electrooptic properties, the substrate being divided into a plurality of reversed polarization domains along a direction of length. At least two optical waveguides are formed in the substrate in the direction of length thereof and substantially parallel to a main surface thereof. An electrode is disposed above a portion of each optical waveguide for modulating light waves propagating through the waveguides, respectively, the electrode being divided equally by at least a portion of a boundary surface between the plurality of reversed polarization domains.

Abstract: A method for forming a ferroelectric domain-inverted structure, having the steps of joining at least two kinds of ferroelectric material which have different spontaneous polarizations, and ferroelectric domain-inverting one of the ferroelectric materials and thereby ferroelectric domain-inverting the other ferroelectric material joined thereto.