Abstract: According to one embodiment, a production support system for supporting a production method for a product to which a model number is allocated in a course of production. The system includes a predicted model number calculation unit which to calculate a predicted model number for a work-in-process to which the model number is not allocated, on the basis of information about the work-in-process to which the model number is not allocated in the course of production, a requirement of the model number that is found in advance, and model number allocation condition information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a production support system for supporting a production method for a product to which a model number is allocated in a course of production. The system includes a predicted model number calculation unit which to calculate a predicted model number for a work-in-process to which the model number is not allocated, on the basis of information about the work-in-process to which the model number is not allocated in the course of production, a requirement of the model number that is found in advance, and model number allocation condition information.

Abstract: A command signal generated by a command generation part is commonly used among a plurality of comparator circuits. On the other hand, a threshold at each comparator circuit is configured to be able to be set individually in accordance with external setting, and thus a drive start timing of each element constituting an actuator array can be set flexibly.

Abstract: A command signal generated by a command generation part is commonly used among a plurality of comparator circuits. On the other hand, a threshold at each comparator circuit is configured to be able to be set individually in accordance with external setting, and thus a drive start timing of each element constituting an actuator array can be set flexibly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric component in which an internal electrode and a dummy electrode are printed on a green sheet and a floating electrode is printed on a green sheet. A plurality of green sheets, each having the internal electrode and the dummy electrode printed thereon, and the green sheet on which the floating electrode is printed are stacked to obtain a layered product in which at least one floating electrode layer is arranged in at least one of the green sheets between the adjacent internal electrodes in the stacking direction and/or the green sheets outside the outermost internal electrodes in the stacking direction, a plurality of the internal electrodes are extended to opposite first and second sides alternately in the thickness direction, and the dummy electrode is arranged between an end of the internal electrode opposite to the side extended to one of the sides and the other side to which the internal electrode is not extended.

Abstract: A switching power supply unit which contains a secondary battery for backup and a circuit for controlling the charging and discharging of the secondary battery in its enclosure and which properly manages the charging and discharging of the secondary battery. A switching power supply circuit includes a rectifying and smoothing circuit for smoothing alternating-current input from commercial power supply Vin at normal operation time, a battery pack charged by a DC—DC converter which can continuously output a predetermined direct-current power supply voltage for supplying power supply voltage to the DC—DC converter at the time of a stoppage in alternating-current input, a charging circuit section for controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack, and a charging and discharging control circuit. The battery pack and circuits, such as the DC—DC converter, are mounted in the same unit enclosure.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric component includes a compact and sintered ceramic body including a piezoelectric ceramic material and having opposite first and second sides. First and second external electrodes are respectively provided on the first and second sides of the compact ceramic sintered body. A plurality of internal electrodes are stacked in the ceramic sintered body so as to overlap each other with ceramic layers disposed therebetween in the thickness direction. The internal electrodes are arranged to be electrically connected to the first or second external electrode. A dummy electrode is provided between an end of at least one of the internal electrodes opposite to the end connected to one of the external electrodes, and the other external electrode not connected to the at least one internal electrode at the height where the at least one internal electrode is located.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multilayer piezoelectric component includes the step of providing a compact and sintered ceramic body including a piezoelectric ceramic material and having opposite first and second sides. First and second external electrodes are respectively provided on the first and second sides of the compact ceramic sintered body. A plurality of internal electrodes are stacked in the ceramic sintered body so as to overlap each other with ceramic layers disposed therebetween in the thickness direction. The internal electrodes are arranged to be electrically connected to the first or second external electrode. A dummy electrode is provided between an end of at least one of the internal electrodes opposite to the end connected to one of the external electrodes, and the other external electrode not connected to the at least one internal electrode at the height where the at least one internal electrode is located.

Abstract: A switching power supply unit which contains a secondary battery for backup and a circuit for controlling the charging and discharging of the secondary battery in its enclosure and which properly manages the charging and discharging of the secondary battery. A switching power supply circuit includes a rectifying and smoothing circuit for smoothing alternating-current input from commercial power supply Vin at normal operation time, a battery pack charged by a DC-DC converter which can continuously output a predetermined direct-current power supply voltage for supplying power supply voltage to the DC-DC converter at the time of a stoppage in alternating-current input, a charging circuit section for controlling the charging and discharging of the battery pack, and a charging and discharging control circuit. The battery pack and circuits, such as the DC-DC converter, are mounted in the same unit enclosure.

Abstract: A highly sensitive sensor array can be easily manufactured. An ultrasonic probe as the sensor array used in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a substrate formed of a backing member. On a main surface of the substrate, a plurality of piezoelectric oscillators is fixed in a matrix form. Each of the piezoelectric oscillators includes a plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers. Between the piezoelectric layers, inner electrodes are formed. On each end face of the piezoelectric layers, an outer electrode is formed. The piezoelectric oscillators are bonded onto the substrate by adhesive in such a manner that the plurality of piezoelectric layers is laminated in a direction parallel to the main surface of the substrate. On the plurality of piezoelectric oscillators, an acoustic matching layer is formed, and on the acoustic matching layer, an acoustic lens is formed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic comprising lead titanate as a primary component, wherein the primary component contains a titanium oxide crystalline phase. Methods for producing the ceramic, and piezoelectric oscillators making use of the ceramic are also disclosed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic comprising lead titanate as a primary component, wherein the primary component contains a titanium oxide crystalline phase. Methods for producing the ceramic, and piezoelectric oscillators making use of the ceramic are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric component includes a compact and sintered ceramic body including a piezoelectric ceramic material and having opposite first and second sides. First and second external electrodes are respectively provided on the first and second sides of the compact ceramic sintered body. A plurality of internal electrodes are stacked in the ceramic sintered body so as to overlap each other with ceramic layers disposed therebetween in the thickness direction. The internal electrodes are arranged to be electrically connected to the first or second external electrode. A dummy electrode is provided between an end of at least one of the internal electrodes opposite to the end connected to one of the external electrodes, and the other external electrode not connected to the at least one internal electrode at the height where the at least one internal electrode is located.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric component includes a compact and sintered ceramic body including a piezoelectric ceramic material and having opposite first and second sides. First and second external electrodes are respectively provided on the first and second sides of the compact ceramic sintered body. A plurality of internal electrodes are stacked in the ceramic sintered body so as to overlap each other with ceramic layers disposed therebetween in the thickness direction. The internal electrodes are arranged to be electrically connected to the first or second external electrode. A dummy electrode is provided between an end of at least one of the internal electrodes opposite to the end connected to one of the external electrodes, and the other external electrode not connected to the at least one internal electrode at the height where the at least one internal electrode is located.

Abstract: A control system for executing task instructions, comprising a higher-order module for making an inquiry as to whether or not a task instruction can be executed, and a lower-order module for determining whether or not the task instruction can be executed, in response to the inquiry made by the higher-order module, the higher-order module including a task instruction decomposition section for decomposing the task instruction into a sequence of task instructions executable by the lower-order module, when the task instruction is inexecutable by the lower-order module, and further including a task instruction allocation section for allocating an executable task instruction to the lower-order module.

Abstract: A ceramic multilayer substrate (13) having a built-in inductance includes a conductor (15) which is arranged in a substrate consisting of a sintered body (14), and ferromagnetic metal films (6A, 6B) consisting of Ni which are arranged on both sides of the conductor (15).

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic comprising lead titanate as a primary component, wherein the primary component contains a titanium oxide crystalline phase. Methods for producing the ceramic, and piezoelectric oscillators making use of the ceramic are also disclosed.

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 ceramic multilayer substrate (13) having a built-in inductance includes a conductor (15) which is arranged in a substrate consisting of a sintered body (14), and ferromagnetic metal films (6A, 6B) consisting of Ni which are arranged on both sides of the conductor (15).

Abstract: A metal thin film having excellent transferability onto a ceramic sheet is provided in order to facilitate formation of an internal electrode for a multilayer ceramic capacitor, for example, by a technique of transferring a metal thin film. A first metal layer (2) of nickel or copper or another metal is formed on a film (1) by vapor deposition, and then a second metal layer (3) of nickel or copper or another metal is formed on the first metal layer (2) by wet plating such as electroplating or electroless plating, thereby providing a metal thin film constituted by the first and second metal layers (2 and 3) having excellent transferability.