Abstract: An actuator includes a deformable thin-film member having an opening, an electromechanical conversion element disposed at a periphery of the opening of the deformable thin-film member, an insulating film covering the electromechanical conversion element, a protective film over a surface of the insulating film, the protective film covering the surface of the insulating film and a surface of an electrode wiring connected to the electromechanical conversion element, and an adhesion improving film disposed between the electrode wiring and the protective film.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes: a substrate having a pressure chamber elongated in a first direction, the pressure chamber having one end in the first direction; a diaphragm on the substrate and having a one face facing the pressure chamber; and a piezoelectric element including: a lower electrode; a piezoelectric body; and an upper electrode, sequentially laminated on another face of the diaphragm opposite to the one face, the piezoelectric element extending across the one end of the pressure chamber in the first direction, and the lower electrode including multiple lower electrode divisions across the one end in the first direction and separated from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a chamber substrate; a diaphragm on the chamber substrate; a lower electrode on the diaphragm; a piezoelectric member on the lower electrode; an upper electrode on the piezoelectric member; wiring electrically connected to the upper electrode to transmit driving signal to the piezoelectric member; and a nozzle substrate having a nozzle. The chamber substrate includes an individual chamber facing the diaphragm, the individual chamber has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the piezoelectric member has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the wiring covers a middle point of a first side of the four or more sides of the individual chamber, and a distance A is smaller than a distance B.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head having a nozzle substrate including a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, a diaphragm defining a part of wall of the pressure chamber, and a pressure generator on a first surface of the diaphragm opposite to a second surface of the diaphragm facing the pressure chamber, the pressure generator configured to deform the diaphragm. A gap between a first line and a second line is 40 ?m or less in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction, where the first line extends, in the liquid discharge direction, from a displacement center at which the diaphragm deforms with a maximum displacement amount, and the second line extends from a central position of the nozzle in the liquid discharge direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a poly(phenylene ether) which retains low-dielectric characteristics and is soluble in various solvents. The poly(phenylene ether) is characterized by being obtained from one or more raw-material phenols including a phenol satisfying at least Requirement 1 (to have hydrogen atoms in the ortho and para positions) and by having a slope calculated from a conformational plot of less than 0.6.

Abstract: An actuator includes a substrate, a diaphragm over the substrate, a lower electrode over the diaphragm, a lead titanate (PbTiO3) layer over the lower electrode, a piezoelectric body over the PbTiO3 layer, and an upper electrode over the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body comprises particles of lead zirconate titanate (PZT). An average diameter of the particles of the PZT is 40 nm or more. The average diameter is measured by capturing an electron backscatter diffraction image of the piezoelectric body in an image area of 20 ?m×20 ?m, fitting each of the particles in the image area, and determining an average value of diameters of the circles.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a nozzle plate having multiple nozzles from each of which a liquid is to be discharged, the multiple nozzles arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate; a channel substrate on the nozzle plate in a lamination direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the channel substrate including: multiple channels arrayed in the longitudinal direction in a channel region of the channel substrate, the multiple channels respectively communicating with the multiple nozzles; a first recess outside the channel region in the longitudinal direction; and a flat portion between the channel region and the first recess in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a nozzle through which a liquid is to be discharged; an individual chamber in communication with the nozzle; a pressure generator to generate pressure in the individual chamber; and a damper member including: a damper having flexibility; and a damper frame supporting the damper, the damper frame having: a damper region having a cavity facing the damper; a through hole at one side of the damper region in a longitudinal direction of the damper member; a first communication path connecting the through hole and one circumferential end of the damper member in the longitudinal direction; and a second communication path connecting the through hole and one side of the cavity of the damper region in the longitudinal direction, the second communication path is shifted from the first communication path in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a first substrate having a joint region; a sheet member having a first face joined to the first substrate with a joining agent applied to the joint region of the first substrate; and a second substrate joined to a second face opposite to the first face of the sheet member and the first substrate, the sheet member interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the second substrate has a gap facing the second face of the sheet member opposite to a portion of the first face of the sheet member joined to the joint region of the first substrate across the sheet member.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle layer having a nozzle through which a liquid is discharged from a second side toward a first side, a liquid chamber substrate, and a drive circuit. The nozzle layer includes a vibration layer, a piezoelectric actuator adjacent to the nozzle and over the first side, a circuit connection over the first side, a first protective layer around the circuit connection, a second protective layer over the piezoelectric actuator, a first water-resistant film over the first protective layer, and a second water-resistant film over the second protective layer. The second protective layer is separated from the first protective layer. The first protective layer defines an opening above the circuit connection. The liquid chamber substrate has a liquid chamber communicating with the nozzle. The drive circuit is disposed over the second side and connected to the circuit connection to drive the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: an actuator substrate; an electromechanical transducer held by the actuator substrate; a damper; and a damper holding substrate holding the damper, wherein the damper disposed between the actuator substrate and the damper holding substrate and joined to the actuator substrate and the damper holding substrate with an adhesive, the damper has a joint portion having a recess or a through hole.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a piezoelectric body disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. The piezoelectic body contains lead zirconate titanate. The piezoelectric element also includes a seed layer containing lead disposed between the lower electrode and the piezoelectric body. The seed layer has an amorphous structure at least over an entire surface layer portion on the piezoelectric body side.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a nozzle plate including a nozzle; a liquid chamber substrate having an individual chamber; a diaphragm; a piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric body, a wiring portion covering a first region of the piezoelectric actuator; and a protective film covering a second region of the piezoelectric actuator other than the first region. A first outer periphery of the piezoelectric body in the second region is interior of a second outer periphery of the individual chamber in the second region. A gap region between the first outer periphery and the second outer periphery has: a first gap region having a first width in the longitudinal direction; and a second gap region having a second width in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the second width larger than the first width. The protective film covers a part of the first gap region in the second region.

Abstract: A head includes: a silicon substrate; an insulating film on the silicon substrate; an electrode wiring on the insulating film; a flexible wiring connected to the electrode wiring; and a conductive film electrically connects the flexible wiring and the electrode wiring in a bonding area. The silicon substrate has an exposed area on a surface of the silicon substrate facing the insulating film, and the exposed area is in a vicinity of the bonding area and is exposed from the insulating film.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes: a chamber substrate; a diaphragm on the chamber substrate; a lower electrode on the diaphragm; a piezoelectric member on the lower electrode; an upper electrode on the piezoelectric member; wiring electrically connected to the upper electrode to transmit driving signal to the piezoelectric member; and a nozzle substrate having a nozzle. The chamber substrate includes an individual chamber facing the diaphragm, the individual chamber has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the piezoelectric member has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the wiring covers a middle point of a first side of the four or more sides of the individual chamber, and a distance A is smaller than a distance B.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a nozzle member. The nozzle member includes a nozzle, a deformable laminar member, and an electromechanical transducer. The nozzle discharges liquid. The deformable laminar member has an opening forming the nozzle. The electromechanical transducer is disposed around the opening. The nozzle member is warped with respect to a discharge-side plane of the nozzle member in a surrounding area of the nozzle when no voltage is applied to the electromechanical transducer.

Abstract: An actuator includes a deformable thin-film member having an opening, an electromechanical conversion element disposed at a periphery of the opening of the deformable thin-film member, an insulating film covering the electromechanical conversion element, a protective film over a surface of the insulating film, the protective film covering the surface of the insulating film and a surface of an electrode wiring connected to the electromechanical conversion element, and an adhesion improving film disposed between the electrode wiring and the protective film.

Abstract: An actuator includes a substrate, a diaphragm on the substrate, a lower electrode on the diaphragm, a piezoelectric body on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the piezoelectric body. A ratio of lead (Pb) and zirconium (Zr) in atomic percent (atm %) present at a grain boundary in the piezoelectric body satisfies a relation of Pb/Zr>1.7.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head having a nozzle substrate including a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, a diaphragm defining a part of wall of the pressure chamber, and a pressure generator on a first surface of the diaphragm opposite to a second surface of the diaphragm facing the pressure chamber, the pressure generator configured to deform the diaphragm. A gap between a first line and a second line is 40 ?m or less in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction, where the first line extends, in the liquid discharge direction, from a displacement center at which the diaphragm deforms with a maximum displacement amount, and the second line extends from a central position of the nozzle in the liquid discharge direction.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer includes an electromechanical transducer film of laminated layers including a perovskite-type complex oxide represented by a general formula of ABO3; and a pair of electrodes opposed to each other with the electromechanical transducer film interposed between the pair of electrodes. In the general formula of ABO3, A includes Pb and B includes Zr and Ti.