Abstract: A monolithic piezoelectric transformer includes a drive portion and a power generation portion. The drive portion includes a plurality of polarized piezoelectric ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrodes that are alternately layered on each other. The drive portion is provided with external input electrodes connected to the internal electrodes. The power generation portion includes a piezoelectric ceramic member and an output electrode. The internal electrodes are formed of a fired metal containing at least one of silver and palladium and at least one of rhodium and iridium.

Abstract: A method for making a monolithic piezoelectric ceramic element having high mechanical strength, excellent piezoelectricity, and high reliability is disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a conductive paste including a conductor containing Ag as a principal ingredient to ceramic green sheets comprising a piezoelectric ceramic material containing a Pb compound, stacking the ceramic green sheets to form a laminate, and firing the laminate in an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of about 90% by volume or more during the heating period and with an oxygen concentration of about 5% to 15% by volume during the isothermal period and during the cooling period.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric ceramic device having excellent piezoelectric characteristics and high reliability is described. The method includes the steps of coating conductive paste containing Ag as a main component on each of a plurality of ceramic green sheets each containing a piezoelectric ceramic material, laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to form a laminate, and burning the laminate under an atmospheric condition in which the oxygen concentrations in a heating process and a retention process are about 21% by volume or more, and the oxygen concentration in a cooling process is about 0.05% by volume to 3% by volume.

Abstract: A monolithic piezoelectric transformer includes a drive portion and a power generation portion. The drive portion includes a plurality of polarized piezoelectric ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrodes that are alternately layered on each other. The drive portion is provided with external input electrodes connected to the internal electrodes. The power generation portion includes a piezoelectric ceramic member and an output electrode. The internal electrodes are formed of a fired metal containing at least one of silver and palladium and at least one of rhodium and iridium.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric ceramic device having excellent piezoelectric characteristics and high reliability is described. The method includes the steps of coating conductive paste containing Ag as a main component on each of a plurality of ceramic green sheets each containing a piezoelectric ceramic material, laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to form a laminate, and burning the laminate under an atmospheric condition in which the oxygen concentrations in a heating process and a retention process are about 21% by volume or more, and the oxygen concentration in a cooling process is about 0.05% by volume to 3% by volume.

Abstract: A method for making a monolithic piezoelectric ceramic element having high mechanical strength, excellent piezoelectricity, and high reliability is disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying a conductive paste including a conductor containing Ag as a principal ingredient to ceramic green sheets comprising a piezoelectric ceramic material containing a Pb compound, stacking the ceramic green sheets to form a laminate, and firing the laminate in an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of about 90% by volume or more during the heating period and with an oxygen concentration of about 5% to 15% by volume during the isothermal period and during the cooling period.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator is constructed to have a displacement value caused by bending to be added to a usual d31 component displacement, thereby increasing the total amount of displacement of the actuator. The actuator includes an actuator body having a layered structure of piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes, and external electrodes disposed on an external surface of the actuator body at both ends thereof.

Abstract: A monolithic piezoelectric transformer includes a piezoelectric substrate and input electrodes which include internal electrodes disposed in the piezoelectric substrate alternately and between piezoelectric ceramic layers and external electrodes provided on the corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate. The length of the external electrodes is about 50% of an overall length L of the piezoelectric substrate. The length of the internal electrodes is longer than approximately 50% of the overall length L.