Abstract: A vibration device comprises a vibrating member having at least n (n?2) piezoelectric elements arranged on a vibrating plate, each of the piezoelectric elements being formed by using a lead-free piezoelectric material and electrodes, wherein if the temperature that maximizes the piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material of each of the n piezoelectric elements is expressed as Tm (m being a natural number between 1 and n), at least two of T1 through Tn differ from each other.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric ceramics having a gradual change in piezoelectric constant depending on an ambient temperature. Specifically, provided is a single-piece piezoelectric ceramics including as a main component a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by a compositional formula of ABO3, wherein an A site element in the compositional formula contains Ba and M1, the M1 being formed of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Ca and Bi, wherein a B site element in the compositional formula contains Ti and M2, the M2 being formed of at least one kind selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sn, and Hf, wherein concentrations of the M1 and the M2 change in at least one direction of the piezoelectric ceramics, and wherein increase and decrease directions of concentration changes of the M1 and the M2 are directions opposite to each other.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an oscillator, including: arranging an electrode on a piezoelectric ceramics free from being subjected to polarization treatment, to thereby provide a piezoelectric element; bonding the piezoelectric element and a diaphragm to each other at a temperature T1; bonding the piezoelectric element and a power supply member to each other at a temperature T2; and subjecting the piezoelectric ceramics to polarization treatment at a temperature T3, in which the temperature T1, the temperature T2, and the temperature T3 satisfy a relationship T1>T3 and a relationship T2>T3.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material includes a metal oxide containing at least Ba, Ca, Ti, Zr, and Mn, in which the piezoelectric material has a perovskite structure, in which: x, which represents a ratio of a content (mol) of Ca to A (mol) representing a total content of Ba and Ca, falls within a range of 0.10x0.18; y, which represents a ratio of a content (mol) of Zr to B (mol) representing a total content of Ti, Zr, and Mn, falls within a range of 0.055?y?0.085; and z, which represents a ratio of a content (mol) of Mn to the B (mol), falls within a range of 0.003?z?0.012, and in which the piezoelectric material satisfies a relationship of 0?(|d31(31 20u)?d31(?20d)|)/|d31(?20u)|?0.08, and has a value of 130 pm/V or more for each of |d31(?20u)| and |d31(?20d)|.

Abstract: Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric material having satisfactory and stable piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a wide practical use temperature range. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula (1): (Ba1?xCax)a(Ti1?yZry)O3 (wherein, 1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x?0.300, and 0.041?y?0.074), Mn, and Mg. The content of Mn is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide on a metal basis. The content of Mg is 0.10 parts by weight or less (excluding 0 part by weight) based on 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide on a metal basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high piezoelectric constant and a high mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula (1): (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x<0.155, and 0.041?y?0.074) as a main component. The metal oxide contains Mn in a content of 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrophotographic intermediate transfer member that, even if an image is repeatedly and continuously transferred, can retain its transfer performance and can obtain an excellent image for a long time. The electrophotographic intermediate transfer member has a base layer and a surface layer, the surface layer has a matrix-domain structure in the cross section in the thickness direction, the matrix is formed of a binder resin, the domains contains a perfluoropolyether, and a microhardness of a surface of the electrophotographic intermediate transfer member measured by an ultramicro-hardness meter is 50 MPa or more.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic includes: a metal oxide represented by General Formula (1); and 0.04 parts by weight or more and 0.36 parts by weight or less of Mn and 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less of Bi on a metal basis relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic includes a plurality of first crystal grains having a perovskite structure, and a plurality of second crystal grains provided at a grain boundary between the first crystal grains and having a crystal structure different from that of the first crystal grain, and the second crystal grain mainly contains at least one metal oxide selected from Ba4Ti12O27 and Ba6Ti17O40. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3??(1) (where 0.09?x?0.30, 0.025?y?0.085, 0.986?a?1.

Abstract: A ceramic powder contains a metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1). The ceramic powder has a single perovskite-type crystal phase. The ceramic powder is composed of particles having an average equivalent circular diameter in the range of 100 nm or more and less than 1000 nm and has a ratio c1/a1 in the range of 1.000?c1/a1?1.010, wherein c1 and a1 denote the c-axis length and a-axis length, respectively, of unit cells of the perovskite-type metal oxide, c1 being greater than or equal to a1. formula (1)(Ba1-xCax)?(Ti1-y-zZryMnz)O3(0.9900???1.0100, 0.125?x?0.300, 0.020?y?0.095, 0.003?z?0.016).

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic compatibly represents both an excellent piezoelectric constant and an excellent mechanical quality factor. The piezoelectric ceramic contains a metal oxide expressed by general formula (1) shown below and Mn by not less than 0.04 weight parts and not more than 0.36 weight parts relative to 100 weight parts of the metal oxide in terms of metal. The piezoelectric ceramic includes a plurality of first crystal grains having a perovskite structure and a plurality of second crystal grains existing at grain boundaries between the first crystal grains. The second crystal grains contain at least a metal oxide expressed by general formula (2) shown below: (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3??(1) where 0.09?x?0.30, 0.025?y?0.085 and 0.986?a?1.020; (Ba1-vCav)b(Ti1-wZrw)cOd??(2) where 0?v?1, 0?w?1, 1?b?6, 2?c?19, b+2c?1?d?b+2c and b<c where b, c and d are integers.

Abstract: In a dust removing device including a vibration plate, which includes on its surface an optical effective region B having a substantially right-angled quadrate shape and an outer region A, and a piezoelectric element, when a region positioned in one end portion of the piezoelectric element in a direction along a side O of the piezoelectric element and spanning along the side P over a length b inwards from a line, which is an extension of a side N, N? of the optical effective region B and which intersects the piezoelectric element, is denoted by an near-end zone ? of the piezoelectric element, an absolute value of piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a region not including the near-end zone ?, is denoted by d, and an absolute value of the piezoelectric constant in the near-end zone ? is denoted by d0, relation of d>d0 is satisfied.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric material that has stable, excellent piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.155?x?0.300, 0.041?y?0.069) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric material that does not undergo depolarization in a wide operating temperature range and has a good piezoelectric constant is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x?0.175, and 0.055?y?0.090) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.10 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: A dust removal apparatus includes a vibrating plate, a piezoelectric element, a power supply that applies the piezoelectric element with an alternating voltage; and a control circuit that changes a frequency of the alternating voltage, in which the piezoelectric element includes first and second electrodes and a piezoelectric material, a phase transition temperature T from a first crystal phase to a second crystal phase of the piezoelectric material is ?40° C.?T?85° C., the change of the frequency is for repeating a frequency sweep operation from a first frequency to a second frequency, and when a frequency at which an audible vibration is generated during the sweep operation is set as fns, a frequency at which the audible vibration is ended is set as fne, and a changing time from fns to fne during the sweep operation is set as ?tn, ?tn?10 ms is satisfied.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic compatibly represents both an excellent piezoelectric constant and an excellent mechanical quality factor. The piezoelectric ceramic contains a metal oxide expressed by general formula (1) shown below and Mn by not less than 0.04 weight parts and not more than 0.36 weight parts relative to 100 weight parts of the metal oxide in terms of metal. The piezoelectric ceramic includes a plurality of first crystal grains having a perovskite structure and a plurality of second crystal grains existing at grain boundaries between the first crystal grains. The second crystal grains contain at least a metal oxide expressed by general formula (2) shown below: (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3??(1) where 0.09?x?0.30, 0.025?y?0.085 and 0.986?a?1.020; (Ba1-vCav)b(Ti1-wZrw)cOd??(2) where 0?v?1, 0?w?1, 1?b?6, 2?c?19, b+2c?1?d?b+2c and b<c where b, c and d are integers.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic includes: a metal oxide represented by General Formula (1); and 0.04 parts by weight or more and 0.36 parts by weight or less of Mn and 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less of Bi on a metal basis relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic includes a plurality of first crystal grains having a perovskite structure, and a plurality of second crystal grains provided at a grain boundary between the first crystal grains and having a crystal structure different from that of the first crystal grain, and the second crystal grain mainly contains at least one metal oxide selected from Ba4Ti12O27 and Ba6Ti17O40. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3??(1) (where 0.09?x?0.30, 0.025?y?0.085, 0.986?a?1.

Abstract: Whereas a high masking effect can be secured in a space to which a masking sound is emitted, the degree of a discomfort a person existing in the space suffers can be reduced. In superimposition processing, a CPU 21 extracts sound signals in different intervals of a sound signal X12-n of a human voice, superimposes the extracted sound signals on each other on the time axis, and outputs a resulting superimposed sound signal X13-n. In shift and addition processing, the CPU 12 interchanges a sound signal, before a reference position, of a sound signal X16-n and a sound signal, after the reference position, of the sound signal X16-n (shift processing) and outputs a sound signal X17-n obtained by adding together a shift-processed sound signal X16?-n and the original, non-shift-processed sound signal X16-n.

Abstract: In a dust removing device including a vibration plate, which includes on its surface an optical effective region B having a substantially right-angled quadrate shape and an outer region A, and a piezoelectric element, when a region positioned in one end portion of the piezoelectric element in a direction along a side O of the piezoelectric element and spanning along the side P over a length b inwards from a line, which is an extension of a side N, N? of the optical effective region B and which intersects the piezoelectric element, is denoted by an near-end zone ? of the piezoelectric element, an absolute value of piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a region not including the near-end zone ?, is denoted by d, and an absolute value of the piezoelectric constant in the near-end zone ? is denoted by d0, relation of d>d0 is satisfied.

Abstract: Provided is a dust removing device that can be designed and controlled appropriately and has high dust removal performance even at low temperature, and an imaging device using the dust removing device. In a dust removing device to be set on a base, including a piezoelectric element formed of a piezoelectric material and a pair of opposing electrodes, a vibration member, and a fixation member containing at least a high molecular compound component, a phase transition temperature T from a first ferroelectric crystal phase to a second ferroelectric crystal phase of the piezoelectric material is set to ?60° C.?T??5° C., and whereby, the dust removing device can be designed and controlled appropriately and high dust removal performance can be obtained even at low temperature.

Abstract: A member for electrophotography having a multilayer structure or a single-layer structure, including an outermost layer which satisfies the following A, B and C: A: the outermost layer has perfluoropolyether and a binder resin, and in the outermost layer, the ratio of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of carbon atoms is 0.10 or more and 0.40 or less; B: in a 19F-NMR spectrum of the outermost layer, the relaxation time T2 of a peak derived from CF2 moieties of perfluoropolyether is 13 milliseconds or more at 22° C.; and C: the total sum of the contents of CF3 moieties, CF2 moieties, and CF moieties in the binder resin is 5% by mass or less.