Abstract: A crystallographically-oriented ceramic including first regions, in which crystal nuclei remain and which contain a specific element in a predetermined concentration range and extend at least partially in a layered shape along a crystal plane, and second regions, which contain the specific element in a different concentration range from the first regions and extend at least partially in a layered shape along the crystal plane. The regions are alternately repeated, and a compositional distribution exists in a direction orthogonal to the crystal plane. In the first region, the concentration of Na is higher, the concentration of K is lower, the concentration of Nb is lower, and the concentration of Ta is higher than the second region, and in the second region, the concentration of Na is lower, the concentration of K is higher, the concentration of Nb is higher, and the concentration of Ta is lower than the first region.

Abstract: A crystallographically-oriented ceramic containing Pb and in which piezoelectric/electrostrictive properties can be enhanced. Using a raw material having Pb(Zr1-xTiX)O3 as a main component, a ceramic sheet was formed with a thickness of 15 ?m or less. In this material, grains were allowed to grow into an anisotropic shape, and crystal grains with specific crystal planes being aligned were produced. A non-oriented raw material having Pb(Zr1-xTiX)O3 as a main component and the crystal grains were mixed, and shaping was performed so that crystal grains were oriented in a predetermined direction. The shaped body was fired. In the resulting ceramic, the degree of orientation was high at 50% or more. It is possible to enhance the degree of orientation using, as crystal nuclei, a ceramic sheet which can have the same composition as that of the crystallographically-oriented ceramic. Therefore, production can be performed without adding an unnecessary element, for example, for orienting crystals.

Abstract: A fuel cell employs a stack structure in which a plurality of sheet bodies and a plurality of separators are stacked and joined together in alternating layers. Chemical reactions occur in the sheet bodies. The separators separate, from each other, two kinds of gasses (air and fuel gas) which are necessary for the chemical reactions. The plurality of separators consist of high-rigidity separator(s), and ordinary separators, which are lower in rigidity than the high-rigidity separator. This configuration reliably suppresses the occurrence of “separation of a joint region” attributable to “stress concentration caused by increase in the number of the stacked separators.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition includes a Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3—PbTiO3—PbZrO3 ternary solid solution system composition as the major component, and further contains 0.05 to 3.0 mass % of Ni (in terms of NiO) and 0.01 to 1.0 mass % of Ag (in terms of AgO). The piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition can be used to form a piezoelectric/electrostrictive portion having excellent mechanical strength, and excellent piezoelectric/electrostrictive characteristics as well with seldom dielectric breakdown even under an application of a high electric field, at a relatively low firing temperature.

Abstract: An electron beam irradiating apparatus includes a chamber being kept under vacuum, and housing a planar electron emitting element and a positioning unit and an object to be irradiated is directly irradiated with an electron beam emitted from the element. The planar electron emitting element includes: an emitter portion composed of a dielectric material; and a first electrode and a second electrode applied with a driving voltage for emitting electrons, and the first electrode is formed on a first surface of the emitter portion and has a plurality of through-holes where the emitter portion is exposed, a surface of the first electrode facing to the emitter portion around the through-holes is separated from the emitter portion, and the electron beam is emitted from the first surface of the emitter portion through the through-holes.

Abstract: In a solid oxide fuel cell, air supplied from the outside through an air supply port Pain firstly flows through an air supply channel Hain in the downward direction to flow in air channels Sa. The air flowing into the air channels Sa flows through the air channels Sa in the lateral direction to flow out to an air discharge channel Haout. The air flowing out to the air discharge channel Haout flows through the air discharge channel Haout in the upward direction to be discharged to the outside from an air discharge port Paout. When a pressure loss ratio ?Pc/?Pm, which is a ratio of a pressure loss ?Pc of air generated in the air channel Sa to the pressure loss ?Pm of air generated in the air supply channel Hain (or the air discharge channel Haout) during the operation of a fuel cell (at working temperature), is within 1 to 2500, the flow rate of the air flowing into each air channel can be equalized as much as possible, thereby being capable of preventing the reduction in the output.

Abstract: A dielectric device of higher performance is provided. An electron emitter to which the dielectric device of the present invention is applied includes an emitter formed by a dielectric, and an upper electrode and a lower electrode to which a drive voltage is applied for the purpose of electron emission. The emitter includes an upper layer formed from plural dielectric particles, and a lower layer formed from plural dielectric particles, below the upper layer. The upper layer and/or lower layer are formed by aerosol deposition.

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: In a fuel cell, perimetric portions of each sheet body, an upper support member, and a lower support member are sealed against one another by a seal including first and second seal portions. The first seal portion is of glass having a softening point lower than a working temperature of the reactor and seals against the upper surface of the perimetric portion of the sheet body and the lower surface of the perimetric portion of the upper support member as well as the lower surface of the perimetric portion of the sheet body and the upper surface of the perimetric portion of the lower support member. The second seal portion is of glass having a softening point higher than the working temperature and seals against the lower side end and upper side end of the perimetric portions of the upper and lower support members, respectively.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell has a stack structure in which sheet bodies and support members are stacked in alternating layers. A space through which a fuel gas or air flows is formed between the adjacent sheet body and support member. Partitions are provided on the support member in such a manner as to stand in the space, thereby forming a “first flow F1” of gas according to the flow control effected by the partitions. Gaps are formed at the projecting ends of the partitions, thereby forming a “second flow F2” of gas which flows over the partitions and through the gaps. The ratio “gap/space height” is set to 2% to 50% inclusive.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition which exhibits superior piezoelectric/electrostrictive characteristics without containing lead (Pb) is provided. A main component of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive composition is a binary solid solution represented by the general formula (1): (1?n)(Ag1?a?b?cLiaNabKc)(Nb1?x?y?zTaxSbyVz)O3+nM1M2O3; wherein 0?a?0.2, 0?b?0.95, 0?c?0.95, 0<(1?a?b ?c)?1, 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.2, 0?z?0.2, 0?(y+z)?0.3, 0?n?0.2, and wherein M1 and M2 are combinations of metal which satisfy pretermined conditions.

Abstract: A light source has a light emission section comprising a two-dimensional array of electron emitters and a drive circuit for applying a drive voltage to each of the electron emitters of the light emission section. The drive circuit applies the drive voltage between upper and lower electrodes of each of the electron emitters based on a control signal representative of turn-on/turn-off from an external source (a turn-on/turn-off switch or the like), for thereby controlling each of the electron emitters. Each of the electron emitters has a plate-like emitter, an upper electrode disposed on a face side of the emitter, and a lower electrode disposed on a reverse side of the emitter.

Abstract: A method for producing a crystallographically-oriented ceramic includes the steps of forming a first sheet with a thickness of 10 ?m or less containing a first inorganic material in which grain growth occurs at a first temperature or higher and a second sheet containing a second inorganic material in which grain growth occurs at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, laminating one or more each of the first and second sheets to form a laminated body, firing the laminated body at a temperature equal to or higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature to cause grain growth in the first inorganic material, and then firing the laminated body at a temperature equal to or higher than the second temperature to cause grain growth in the second inorganic material in the direction of a crystal plane of the first inorganic material.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a stack structure in which fired sheet bodies (laminates each including a fuel electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layer) and support members for supporting the sheet bodies are stacked in alternating layers. Each of the sheet bodies is warped downward (toward an air-electrode-layer side). Because of a magnitude relationship of thermal expansion coefficient among the layers in the sheet body and that between the support member and the sheet body, a warp height gradually lessens in the course of temperature rise at start-up. However, even when a working temperature (800° C. or the like) is reached, the sheet bodies are still warped downward. By virtue of presence of the warp, the sheet bodies become unlikely to be deformed at the working temperature.

Abstract: A display device includes an illuminating device having an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, a drive assembly having a planar array of actuators disposed in facing relation to the optical waveguide plate, a displacement transmitter assembly disposed between the optical waveguide plate and the drive assembly, and a light scattering layer disposed on the displacement transmitter assembly. The actuators are selectively displaceable to bring the light scattering layer into and out of contact with the optical waveguide plate, for controlling light that leaks from the optical waveguide plate as emitted light. The display device also includes an optical modulator for modulating the emitted light from the illuminating device to display an image. The illuminating device has a light reflecting layer disposed on at least a portion of the displacement transmitter assembly that confronts the optical waveguide plate.

Abstract: A ceramic sheet is self-supported and planar and has a thickness of 10 ?m or less, wherein a surface of the sheet includes a specific crystal plane, and the number of crystal grains present in the thickness direction of the sheet at any one point is substantially one. Preferably, the aspect ratio of the crystal grains is 3 or more, and the degree of orientation measured by the Lotgering method is 30% or more. The crystal grains may be composed of an oxide represented by general formula ABO3, wherein the A site contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Bi, and Ag, and the B site contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, and Ti. The crystal grains may be composed of an oxide having a perovskite structure and an isotropic shape.

Abstract: The method for producing a screen print having a given print pattern formed on a printing material by sliding a squeegee over a screen 3 of a screen printing plate comprising the screen 3 disposed above the printing material with keeping a given clearance C and a printing plate frame. The ratio (LP/LF) of a length (LP) of a side of the printing pattern perpendicular to axis of the sliding direction of the squeegee to an internal size (LF) of a side of the printing plate frame perpendicular to axis of the sliding direction of the squeegee is 0.45 or more, and an optimum clearance between the printing material and the screen printing plate is selected and set on the basis of correlation between the clearance CL (0.1-2 mm) and the degree of deviation in printing position of the print pattern.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition capable of manufacturing, at a comparatively low sintering temperature, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body which is dense and superior in crystallinity and which has satisfactory piezoelectric/electrostrictive characteristics so that deviation of the composition is not easily generated. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition contains as a major component a piezoelectric/electrostrictive porcelain composition component including a PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3—PbZrO3—PbTiO3 ternary solid solution system composition and NiO or including a Pb(Mg, Ni)1/3Nb2/3O3—PbZrO3—PbTiO3 ternary solid solution system composition, and further contains lead germanate.

Abstract: A plate-like polycrystalline particle is produced by forming inorganic particles into a self-supported, sheet-like shaped body with a predetermined thickness, firing the shaped body, and crushing and classifying the fired shaped body by passing through a mesh having openings with a predetermined size. The inorganic particles are composed of an oxide having a perovskite structure and grow into crystal grains with an isotropic and polyhedral shape. Since grain growth in the thickness direction is limited and grain growth in the surface direction of the sheet is promoted, it is possible to obtain crystal grains having a high aspect ratio and a high degree of orientation. Therefore, in the plate-like polycrystalline particle, in most parts, the number of crystal grains present in the thickness direction of the particle at any one point is one, and a high aspect ratio and a high degree of orientation are achieved.

Abstract: One selection period S and display cycles Td of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in one field, and the display cycle Td is composed of an unselection period U and a reset period R to perform the following control. A row electrode-driving circuit is used to output a selection pulse Ps during the selection period S, output an unselection signal Su during the unselection period U in the display cycle Td, and output a reset pulse Pr during the reset period R. A column electrode-driving circuit is used to output an ON signal during a light emission maintenance period, and output an OFF signal at least at an end timing of the light emission maintenance period, of the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption, and it is possible to achieve the high brightness.