Abstract: A bonding method includes forming a bonding film on a surface of a base member by plasma polymerization, the bonding film including an Si skeleton of a random atomic structure including a siloxane (Si—O) bond and leaving groups binding to the Si skeleton; applying UV light to the bonding film to eliminate the leaving groups at the surface of the bonding film from the Si skeleton so as to provide adhesion properties to the bonding film, an accumulated amount of the UV light being adjusted to control a refractive index of the bonding film; and bonding the base member and an object together via the bonding film to obtain a bonded structure.

Abstract: An optical element includes a first optical component and a second optical component each having light transmission properties; and a bonding film bonding together the first and the second optical components. The bonding film is formed by plasma polymerization and includes an Si skeleton having a random atomic structure including a siloxane (Si—O) bond and leaving groups binding to the Si skeleton. The first and the second optical components are bonded together by the bonding film having adhesive properties provided by applying energy to at least a part of the bonding film to eliminate the leaving groups from the Si skeleton at a surface of the bonding film. Additionally, the bonding film is formed so as to have approximately the same refractive index as that of at least one of the first and the second optical components by adjusting a film forming condition of the plasma polymerization.

Abstract: An optical element includes: first and second optical components, at least one of the first and second optical components having a light transmission characteristic; and a bonding film bonding the first and the second optical components together, the bonding film being formed by plasma polymerization and including an Si skeleton having a random atomic structure including a siloxane (Si—O) bond and a leaving group binding to the Si skeleton. The first and second optical components are bonded together by the adhesive properties of the bonding film which are provided by applying energy to at least a part of the bonding film to eliminate the leaving group from the Si skeleton at a surface of the bonding film. Preferably, an average thickness of the bonding film is equal to or less than a wavelength of light passing through the optical component having the light transmission characteristic.

Abstract: A nozzle plate includes: a nozzle for discharging a liquid as droplets; a liquid-repellent film suppressing attachment of the droplets on one surface of the nozzle plate; and a first bonding film formed on the other surface of the nozzle plate and bonded with a substrate. In the nozzle plate, the liquid-repellent film includes a first plasma polymerized film having a Si skeleton, which includes a siloxane (Si—O) bond and has a random atomic structure, and an elimination group bonded with the Si skeleton. Further, the elimination group existing around a surface of the first plasma polymerized film is eliminated from the Si skeleton by applying energy to a region of at least a part of the first plasma polymerized film so as to generate reactivity, on the region of the first plasma polymerized film, with a coupling agent having liquid repellency with respect to the droplets, and the first plasma polymerized film is bonded with the coupling agent by the reactivity so as to form the liquid-repellent film.

Abstract: A nozzle plate, comprising: a nozzle discharging a liquid as droplets; a liquid-repellent film preventing attachment of the liquid on one surface of the nozzle plate; and a first bonding film formed on the other surface of the nozzle plate and bonded with a substrate. In the nozzle plate, the liquid-repellant film and the first bonding film are plasma polymerized films having a Si skeleton, the Si skeleton including a siloxane (Si—O) bond and having a random atomic structure, and an alkyl group bonded with the Si skeleton. Further, the alkyl group existing around a surface of the first bonding film is eliminated from the Si skeleton by an application of energy, which is applied to a region of at least a part of the first bonding film, so as to develop adhesiveness with respect to the substrate in the region of the surface of the first bonding film.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer driving apparatus and a piezoelectric transformer driving method, wherein even if there exists a variation between piezoelectric transformers, no unnecessary resonant points occur in the vicinity of a frequency used, that is, the output is stable for the frequency. For this purpose, the primary electrodes (1b, 2a) of a pair of piezoelectric transformers (1, 2) that exhibit potentials of mutually different signs on their respective secondary sides are connected to each other, while the piezoelectric transformers (1, 2) are connected in series with an AC power supply. An input voltage is applied between the primary electrodes (1a, 2b), and the outputs are supplied to a load, whereby even if there exists a variation between the vibrations of the piezoelectric transformers, it results in only a single resonant point existing.

Abstract: A bonding method includes a first process that includes plasmatizing a first gas including a raw gas containing a siloxane (Si—O) bond at a reduced-pressure atmosphere, substituting the first gas by a second gas mainly including an inert gas, and plasmatizing the second gas to form a first plasma polymerized film on at least a part of a base member so as to obtain a first bonded object including the base member and the plasma polymerized film and a second process that includes preparing a second bonded object that is to be bonded to the first bonded object and pressing the first and the second bonded objects against each other such that a surface of the first plasma polymerized film is closely contacted to a surface of the second bonded object to bond the objects together.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer includes: a piezoelectric transducer on whose outer surface an electrode is formed; a case housing the piezoelectric transducer; a terminal disposed to face the electrode; an elastic member in contact with both the electrode and the terminal in the case and having conductivity to bring the electrode and the terminal into mutual continuity; and a folder formed in the case and fixedly holding the elastic member to press-fit the elastic member between the electrode and the terminal.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head comprises: a substrate having first through-holes forming reservoir chambers, a second through-hole forming a supply chamber, and a bonding film on one surface; a nozzle plate having nozzles for ejecting ejection liquid and a second bonding film on one surface, the first and second films being bonded together to cover the first through-holes and the second through-hole; a sealing plate on another surface of the substrate covering the first through-holes, one surface of the sealing plate contacting the substrate's another surface; and piezoelectric means on another surface of the sealing plate for driving the droplet ejection head. The bonding films contain an Si-skeleton of constituent atoms containing silicon atoms, with siloxane (Si—O) bonds and elimination groups bonded to the silicon atoms, the constituent atoms being randomly bonded together, and the elimination groups existing near a surface of the bonding films.

Abstract: A droplet ejection head comprises: a substrate having first through-holes forming reservoir chambers, a second through-hole forming a supply chamber, and a bonding film on one surface; a nozzle plate having nozzles for ejecting ejection liquid and one surface contacting the bonding film, the nozzle plate is bonded to the substrate through the bonding film to cover the first through-holes and the second through-hole; a sealing plate on another surface of the substrate covering the first through-holes, one surface of the sealing plate contacting the substrate's another surface; and piezoelectric means on another surface of the sealing plate for driving the droplet ejection head. The bonding film containing an Si-skeleton constituted of constituent atoms containing silicon atoms, with siloxane (Si—O) bonds and elimination groups bonded to the silicon atoms, the constituent atoms being randomly bonded together, and the elimination groups existing near a surface of the bonding film.

Abstract: A transformer driver capable of making a load current constant with a simple configuration is provided. A driver 10 of the present invention applies a drive voltage Vd to the primary side of a piezoelectric transformer 11 in which a load 12 is connected to the secondary side. The angular frequency ?0 of the drive voltage Vd is a series resonance angular frequency given by an equivalent circuit on the output side of the driver 10. With the driver 10, a load current IL can be constant irrespective of the impedance ZL of the load 12 with a simple configuration. Therefore, the load current IL can always be constant even if the impedance ZL of the load 12 varies.

Abstract: There is provided with a piezoelectric transformer which does not require a marking operation, is easy to manufacture, and is capable of reducing costs. After the piezoelectric transformer is manufactured, a shape of secondary side electrodes on the outer end is made so that a polarization direction can be recognized at the time of printing the secondary side electrodes without marking by a separate step to recognize the polarity on the primary side.

Abstract: A driving circuit is composed of a discontinuous rectangle wave oscillator and a lowpass filter. A discontinuous rectangle wave used herein is composed of voltages Vp, 0 and ?Vp. Assuming one cycle is T, a discontinuous rectangle wave has such a configuration that a potential from a time 0 to a time ø is a potential 0, from the time ø to a time (T/6?ø) is a potential Vp, from the time (T/6?ø) to a time (T/3+ø) is a potential 0, . . . . Since the third harmonic wave is not included in the discontinuous waveform, the inductance of the lowpass filter can be reduced. Consequently, the lowpass filter may be omitted. Further, the amplitude of the fundamental wave can be changed by varying the phase difference ø.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric transformer driving apparatus which drives a load balanced to the ground, which makes an insulating component, such as a current transformer or a photocoupler, unnecessary, and which can detect a load current.

Abstract: The present invention provides a member comprising a substrate, an undercoat film formed on a surface of the substrate, and a liquid-repellent film of metal alkoxide formed on a surface of the undercoat film. Also disclosed are nozzle head, liquid-jet head and liquid-jet device employing the above-described member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer driving apparatus and a piezoelectric transformer driving method, wherein even if there exists a variation between piezoelectric transformers, no unnecessary resonant points occur in the vicinity of a frequency used, that is, the output is stable for the frequency. For this purpose, the primary electrodes (1b, 2a) of a pair of piezoelectric transformers (1, 2) that exhibit potentials of mutually different signs on their respective secondary sides are connected to each other, while the piezoelectric transformers (1, 2) are connected in series with an AC power supply. An input voltage is applied between the primary electrodes (1a, 2b), and the outputs are supplied to a load, whereby even if there exists a variation between the vibrations of the piezoelectric transformers, it results in only a single resonant point existing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric transformer driving apparatus which drives a load balanced to the ground, which makes an insulating component, such as a current transformer or a photocoupler, unnecessary, and which can detect a load current.

Abstract: There is provided with a piezoelectric transformer which does not require a marking operation, is easy to manufacture, and is capable of reducing costs. After the piezoelectric transformer is manufactured, a shape of secondary side electrodes on the outer end is made so that a polarization direction can be recognized at the time of printing the secondary side electrodes without marking by a separate step to recognize the polarity on the primary side.

Abstract: A driving circuit is composed of a discontinuous rectangle wave oscillator and a lowpass filter. A discontinuous rectangle wave used herein is composed of voltages Vp, 0 and ?Vp. Assuming one cycle is T, a discontinuous rectangle wave has such a configuration that a potential from a time 0 to a time ø is a potential 0, from the time ø to a time (T/6?ø) is a potential Vp, from the time (T/6?ø) to a time (T/3+ø) is a potential 0, . . . . Since the third harmonic wave is not included in the discontinuous waveform, the inductance of the lowpass filter can be reduced. Consequently, the lospass filter may be omitted. Further, the amplitude of the fundamental wave can be changed by varying the phase difference ø.