Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic has a primary phase constituted by ceramic grains of perovskite crystal structure containing Pb, Nb, Zn, Ti, and Zr, and a secondary phase constituted by ZnO grains present sporadically in the primary phase. The piezoelectric ceramic of high kr and high specific dielectric constant can be sintered at low temperature and exhibit minimal characteristics variations.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic is expressed by the composition formula 100[(Sr2?xCax)1+y/4Na1?yNb5?2/5zMnzO15]+?SiO2 (in the formula, 0?x<0.3, 0.1<y<0.6, 0<z<0.1 and 1<?<8) and constituted by polycrystal of tungsten bronze structure, wherein the degree of orientation of axis c of the polycrystal is 60% or more in Lotgering factor. The piezoelectric ceramic offers excellent temperature characteristics and supporting high-power driving.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is provided with: a piezoelectric ceramic layer that is obtained by firing a piezoelectric ceramic composition which contains a perovskite composition and an Ag component; and a conductor layer that sandwiches the piezoelectric ceramic layer, wherein Ag is segregated in voids in a sintered body of the perovskite composition in the piezoelectric ceramic layer. The piezoelectric ceramic composition preferably contains a perovskite composition which is represented by (Pba.Rex){Zrb.Tic,.(Ni1/3Nb2/3)d.(Zn1/3Nb2/3)e}O3 (wherein Re represents La and/or Nd, and a-e and x satisfy the following conditions 0.95?a?1.05, 0?x?0.05, 0.35?b?0.45, 0.35?c?0.45, 0<d?0.10, 0.07?e?0.20 and b+c+d+e=1) and 0.05-0.3% by mass of an Ag component in terms of oxides relative to the perovskite composition.

Abstract: Provided is a Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 type piezoelectric ceramic composition wherein the inhibition of cracking and an improvement in the piezoelectric characteristics are attained by improving the composition uniformity and the microstructure uniformity. In the basic Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 composition, the (Sr, Ca)/Na ratio is changed, whereby the occupancies of Sr, Ca and Na in lattices which constitute the tungsten-bronze type structure and into which Sr, Ca, and Na can enter are reduced to facilitate the entrance of Sr into the lattices and thus inhibit the formation of a secondary phase. Further, a predetermined amount of Al and/or Si is added to lower the sintering temperature and to make the microstructure uniform. Additionally, a predetermined amount of Mn is added to make the polarization easy.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic comprising as a main component an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure expressed by a compositional formula (LixNayK1-x-y)a(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (provided: 0.04<x?0.1, 0?y?1, 0?z?0.4, and 0.95?a?1.005); wherein a crystal phase or an amorphous phase containing Si and K is made present at a grain boundary or a grain boundary triple point of a plurality of crystal grains constituting the piezoelectric ceramic.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic is constituted by a polycrystal whose main phase is an alkali-containing niobate perovskite structure, where both elemental nickel and elemental manganese are present at the grain boundary of the polycrystal. The piezoelectric ceramic is such that drop in piezoelectric characteristics due to application of high electric field is suppressed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes first internal electrodes and second electrodes, as well as piezoelectric ceramic layers that are made of ceramics and arranged between the first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes. Manganese is present relatively more abundantly in the areas of the piezoelectric ceramic layers adjacent to the first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes, compared to at the centers of the piezoelectric ceramic layers. Insulation performance of the piezoelectric element is kept from dropping over the course of use.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric ceramic which has an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure in which constituent elements are Li, Na, K, Nb, and O, a Li3NbO4 crystal phase is intentionally deposited on a piezoelectric ceramic having an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure, whereby sintering becomes possible at about 1000° C. rather than at the normally required sintering temperature of 1050° C. or greater.

Abstract: Provided is a Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 type piezoelectric ceramic composition wherein the inhibition of cracking and an improvement in the piezoelectric characteristics are attained by improving the composition uniformity and the microstructure uniformity. In the basic Sr2-xCaxNaNb5O15 composition, the (Sr, Ca)/Na ratio is changed, whereby the occupancies of Sr, Ca and Na in lattices which constitute the tungsten-bronze type structure and into which Sr, Ca, and Na can enter are reduced to facilitate the entrance of Sr into the lattices and thus inhibit the formation of a secondary phase. Further, a predetermined amount of Al and/or Si is added to lower the sintering temperature and to make the microstructure uniform. Additionally, a predetermined amount of Mn is added to make the polarization easy.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic is expressed by the composition formula 100[(Sr2?xCax)1+y/4Na1?yNb5?2/5zMnzO15]+?SiO2 (in the formula, 0?x<0.3, 0.1<y<0.6, 0<z<0.1 and 1<?<8) and constituted by polycrystal of tungsten bronze structure, wherein the degree of orientation of axis c of the polycrystal is 60% or more in Lotgering factor. The piezoelectric ceramic offers excellent temperature characteristics and supporting high-power driving.

Abstract: A stacked piezoelectric actuator has a laminate structure including piezoelectric layers and cover parts such that when an external electrode is applied with drive voltage, the piezoelectric layers become distorted and the entire stacked piezoelectric actuator deforms, and at that time, the cover parts become displaced, wherein the distortion difference occurring between the piezoelectric layers and the cover parts reduces, thereby inhibiting the development of cracks. Moreover, the surface area of the active region of the piezoelectric layers is the same as the surface area of the active region of the cover parts, and therefore the loss of the displacement transfer, which is produced by the piezoelectric layers, at the cover parts is reliably reduced.

Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated element includes a composite ceramic to which an alternating electric field is applied through external electrodes that are orthogonal to the polarization direction, wherein the composite ceramic is formed from a first piezoelectric ceramic having soft spring characteristics such that the elastic constant decreases with increasing vibration velocity, and a second piezoelectric ceramic having hard spring characteristics such that the elastic constant increases with increasing vibration velocity. Even when the applied electric field is intensified to increase the vibration velocity of the piezoelectrically actuated element, the overall change in the elastic constant is minimized, and fluctuations in the resonance frequency is suppressed.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a ceramic composition that retains a high insulation resistance after being fired in a reductive atmosphere to form a laminated body. [Means for Solving the Problem] A novel ceramic composition according to an embodiment of the invention include: (NaxK1-x)(NbyTa1-y)O3 (0?x?1.0, 0.3<y?1.0) as main ingredient and Li and F in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10.0 mol, calculated on lithium fluoride basis, relative to 100 mol of the main ingredient.

Abstract: As a piezoelectric ceramic having an alkaline-containing niobic acid-perovskite structure contains [K1-xNax]1-yLi[Nb1-z-wTazSbw]O3 (x, y, z, and w each indicate a molar ratio, and 0?x<1, 0?y<1, 0?z<1, and 0?w<1 hold) as a primary phase and K3Nb3O6Si2O7 as a subphase.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic comprising as a main component an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure expressed by a compositional formula (LixNayK1-x-y)a(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (provided: 0.04<x?0.1, 0?y?1, 0?z?0.4, and 0.95?a?1.005); wherein a crystal phase or an amorphous phase containing Si and K is made present at a grain boundary or a grain boundary triple point of a plurality of crystal grains constituting the piezoelectric ceramic.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric ceramic which is characterized by containing [K1-xNax]1-yLiy[Nb1-z-wTazSbw]O3 (wherein x, y, z and w each represents a molar ratio and satisfies 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 0?z?1, 0?w?1) as the main phase and K3Nb3O6Si2O7 as a sub-phase, while containing, as an additive, a Cu compound in an amount of 0.02-5.0 mol in terms of CuO relative to 100 mol of the main phase.

Abstract: Provided is an alkali-niobate-based piezoelectric porcelain composition which has a crystal-structure transition point in the range of operation guarantee temperatures and which, despite this, is inhibited from abruptly changing in capacitance. The piezoelectric porcelain composition comprises Li, Na, K, Nb, Ta, Sb, and O as major constituent elements and has an alkali-niobate-based perovskite structure. When the composition has an ABO3 type perovskite structure as a unit lattice in which Z=1, the composition has a transition point at which the crystal structure changes from the monoclinic to the tetragonal system. Thus, the composition has a crystal-structure transition point at ?50° C. to 150° C. so as to utilize the high piezoelectric effect produced by the MPB at the crystal-structure transition point and, despite this, has the feature of always satisfying ?C>0.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric ceramic which is characterized by containing [K1-xNax]1-yLiy[Nb1-z-wTazSbw]O3 (wherein x, y, z and w each represents a molar ratio and satisfies 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 0?z?1, 0?w?1) as the main phase and K3Nb3O6Si2O7 as a sub-phase, while containing, as an additive, a Cu compound in an amount of 0.02-5.0 mol in terms of CuO relative to 100 mol of the main phase.

Abstract: As a piezoelectric ceramic having an alkaline-containing niobic acid-perovskite structure contains [K1-xNax]1-yLi[Nb1-z-wTazSbw]O3 (x, y, z, and w each indicate a molar ratio, and 0?x<1, 0?y<1, 0?z<1, and 0?w<1 hold) as a primary phase and K3Nb3O6Si2O7 as a subphase.

Abstract: A piezo drive system includes an elastic fixing frame, a drive element, a rod, and a rotor. A vamplate portion is formed on the outer surface of the rod. One end of the rod is secured to around the center of a face of the drive element. The rotor consists of a cylindrical portion and a disk portion, and can rotate relative to the rod. Protrusions are formed on the inside of a top surface portion of the fixing frame to push against the disk portion. Using the drive element, the rod rotates while tilting and makes a surface contact with the vamplate portion, producing friction. Consequently, the rotor is rotated.