Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric component (1) comprising a piezoelectric transducer (10) wherein a pair of electrodes (20a, 20b) are formed on both major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate (11), a pair of frame members (30a, 30b) fitted to both major surfaces of the piezoelectric transducer (10), a pair of sealing substrates (40a, 40b) composed of a light-transmitting resin material and so fitted as to cover the frame members (30a, 30b), opaque coating layers (50a, 50b) respectively formed on the sealing substrates (40a, 40b), and a pair of input/output terminal electrodes (61a, 61b) respectively connected to the electrodes (20a, 20b). By having such a constitution, the state of sealed space and sealing widths of the frame members (30a, 30b) can be checked by visual examination such as direct visual observation or image recognition, and thus a highly reliable piezoelectric component (1) can be obtained. In addition, a mark can be made on the coating layers (50a, 50b).

Abstract: The electrodes for a CMUT are split to provide separate transmit and receive bias and alternating current electrodes. The transmit electrodes of different elements are interconnected, such as rows sharing bias and columns sharing transmit alternating signals. The bias is used to select an aperture in elevation, and only a sufficient number of transmit beamformer channels to use the selected aperture are needed. On receive, the full multi-dimensional array may be used with integrated beamformer electronics.

Abstract: A method for producing a piezoelectric actuator has the following steps: providing a plurality of piezoelectric material layers (2) which can be assembled into a stack; applying electrode layers (3) each having a recess (4, 4?) to the plurality of piezoelectric material layers, such that an alternating sequence of piezoelectric material layers and electrode layers is formed in the stack, wherein electrode layers with a recess (4) in a first recess zone and electrode layers with a recess (4?) in a second recess zone which differs from the first recess zone are alternatingly formed in the stack; and providing a stress-relieving material (5) in the first and second recesses, the stress-relieving material exhibiting electrically insulating properties after the stack is sintered, and preventing the individual material layers from adhering to one another.

Abstract: A quartz crystal oscillator has an amplifier, a capacitor, a resistor and a quartz crystal unit comprised of a case, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator vibratable in a flexural mode and a lid connected to the case. At least one groove with a first surface opposite a first side surface and a second surface connected to the first surface through a third surface is formed in each of first and second main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines. The width of each groove is greater than a distance in the width direction of the groove measured from an outer edge of the groove to an outer edge of the corresponding tuning fork tine. A first electrode is disposed on the first surface of the groove and a second electrode is disposed on the first side surface so that the first electrode has an electrical polarity opposite to the electrical polarity of the second electrode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric stack (1) has alternately successive piezoelectric layers (2) and inner electrode layers (3, 4) which are alternately electrically connected to two outer electrodes (7, 8) which are arranged on the outer side (5, 6) of the piezoelectric stack (1). The piezoelectric stack (1) also has at least one safety layer (9, 40, 50) which is arranged between two successive piezoelectric layers (2) instead of one of the inner electrode layers (3, 4). The safety layer (9, 40, 50) is structured in such a manner that it has an internal interruption (13, 44, 45, 53) which is configured in such a manner that the safety layer (9, 40, 50) does not form an electrical contact between the two outer electrodes (7, 8) if it contact-connects both outer electrodes (7, 8) and is electrically conductive.

Abstract: A Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonator (BAWR), a method of manufacturing of the BAWR, and duplexer including the BAWR are provided. The BAWR may include a first substrate including a via hole formed in a predetermined area of a bottom surface of the first substrate. A first air cavity may be formed above the first substrate, and a first lamination resonating portion may be laminated above the first air cavity in sequence of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. A second air cavity may be formed above the first substrate, and a second lamination resonating portion may be laminated above the second air cavity in sequence of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the upper electrode. The first lamination resonating portion and the second lamination resonating portion may be connected via either the lower electrode or the upper electrode.

Abstract: A multi-layer piezoelectric element having high durability which allows it to increase the amount of displacement of a piezoelectric actuator under high voltage and high pressure and does not undergo a change in the amount of displacement during continuous operation in a high electric field and under a high pressure over a long time period is provided. The multi-layer piezoelectric element comprises a stack of at least one piezoelectric layer and a plurality of internal electrodes consisting of first and second internal electrodes placed one on another, a first external electrode formed on a first side face of the stack and connected to the first internal electrode and a second external electrode formed on a second side face of the stack and connected to the second internal electrode, wherein the bonding strength between the piezoelectric layer and the internal electrode is weaker than the bending strength of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is a highly durable multi-layer piezoelectric element wherein a conductive connection member is not broken even in the case of continuous driving for a long period in a high electric field under high pressure. A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stacked body configured so that piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers are alternately laminated, an external electrode bonded to a side surface of the stacked body and electrically connected to the internal electrode layers, and a conductive connection member which is disposed on a surface of the external electrode and of which surface has projections and depressions formed repeatedly at least in a stacked direction of the stacked body.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric multilayer actuator (1) having micromechanical relief zones (30) and an insulation layer (40) as well as in a method for producing said actuator, as a result of the micromechanical relief zones (30), poling cracks are concentrated in these relief regions (30). This makes it possible to provide the sections I, II, III of the multilayer actuator (1) with an insulation layer (40) which only has an extension behavior similar to the multilayer actuator (1) without poling cracks.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator, includes the steps of: forming a lower electrode film on an insulating substrate; forming a piezoelectric film on the lower electrode film; forming a slit on the piezoelectric film to expose a portion of the lower electrode film on an upper surface side of the piezoelectric film; forming an insulating layer which covers a portion of the piezoelectric film; forming an upper electrode film so as to span the insulating layer and the piezoelectric film; forming, on the piezoelectric film, a lower wire in connection with the portion of the lower electrode film exposed through the slit; depositing a first metal film on the lower wire and thereby making a film thickness of the lower wire greater than a film thickness of the lower electrode film; and depositing a second metal film on a portion of the upper electrode film on the insulating layer and thereby making a film thickness of the portion of the upper electrode film on the insulating layer greater than a fil

Abstract: A piezoelectric component with at least one fully active piezoelement has electrode layers and interposed piezoelectric layers guided to a lateral edge of the piezoelement and contacted there. An insulating layer applied for electric contacting has an electric through-plating. An electrically conductive gas-phase deposition layer is applied directly to the electrode layer guided up to the lateral surface of the piezoelement by way of deposition from the gas phase in order to improve electric contacting. An external electrode is applied to the gas-phase deposition layer. In the case of several superposed stacked piezoelements (piezoactuator in multi-layer design), the external electrode functions as a collector electrode which connects the electrode layers to each other. The structure enables secure contacting of the electrode layers. A fully active piezoceramic multi-layer actuator with the described contacting may be used in automobile technology for activating fuel-injection valves.

Abstract: A multilayer piezo actuator is specified, in which piezoelectric layers and electrode layers are arranged to form a stack. Electrical contact is made with the electrode layers via two external electrodes which consist of wires which are woven with one another. The external electrodes are in this case connected over their entire area to the side surfaces of the stack. A method is also specified for fitting an external electrode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition including a perovskite-type oxide, wherein the perovskite-type oxide has Na, K, Li, Ba and Sr at the A site and Nb, Ta and Zr at the B site, and has a crystal phase transition in a temperature range of ?50 to 150° C., the crystal phase transition being accompanied by an endotherm of no greater than 4 J/g, as well as a piezoelectric element 20 provided with a piezoelectric ceramic 1 that contains the piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device prevents formation of discontinuous portions in a dielectric film without a significant decrease in the thickness of an IDT when the dielectric film is formed by deposition and without deterioration of electrical characteristics. The method includes the steps of forming an IDT on a piezoelectric substrate, forming a lower dielectric film so as to cover the IDT, conducting a planarizing step so as to smooth the rough surface of the lower dielectric film, and forming an upper dielectric film so as to cover the lower dielectric film of which the rough surface is smoothed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit comprises the steps of forming a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork shape, forming at least one groove in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that a spaced-apart distance between the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines is greater than or equal to a width of the at least one groove, determining the dimension of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork shape and the at least one groove so that a capacitance ratio r1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than a capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof, mounting the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator on a mounting portion of a case, and connecting a lid to the case to cover an open end of the case.

Abstract: A component that operates with acoustic waves includes a substrate including a piezoelectric material, a first electrode plane in which bottom electrode structures including an acoustically active bottom electrode are arranged directly on the substrate, and a top electrode arranged above the bottom electrode plane and which is electrically conductively connected to the bottom electrode structures, wherein excitation of the acoustic waves during operation of the component is effected exclusively or predominantly through the bottom electrode structures.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator including first and second piezoelectric cantilevers is disclosed. Wirings are provided on an upper surface of a support body on which the first and second piezoelectric cantilevers are formed. The wirings are formed of patterned metal films.

Abstract: An actuator element includes a first element unit configured to have one end being a fixed end and the other end being a free end and bends when voltage is applied, and a second element unit configured to have a shorter element length than the first element unit, have one end connected to the first element unit and bend in the opposite direction to the first element unit when voltage is applied and may support the first element unit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric multilayer component includes a stack of piezoceramic layers and electrode layers arranged one above another. At least one piezoceramic layer is printed with a layer structured according to a predefined pattern in a piezoelectrically inactive zone of the stack. The structured layer has at least one connecting element by which piezoceramic layers that are adjacent in the stacking direction are mechanically connected to one another with a first strength. The structured layer has interspaces filled at least in part with piezoceramic material of the adjacent piezoceramic layers. The adjacent piezoceramic layers in the interspaces are mechanically connected to one another with a second strength, which is less than the first strength.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device includes the steps of preparing a laminated structure in which an IDT electrode is disposed at an interface between first and second solid media and reforming the first medium and/or the second medium by externally providing the laminated structure with energy capable of reaching the inside of the first medium and/or the second medium and thus adjusting a frequency of the boundary acoustic wave device. The above provides a boundary acoustic wave device manufacturing method that enables frequency adjustment to be readily performed with high accuracy.

Abstract: A piezoelectric multilayer component includes a stack of piezoceramic layers, which are arranged one on top of the other, and electrode layers. The stack has a first area and a second area. The second area contains a disturbance material, which is used to make the second area less mechanically robust than the first area.

Abstract: A piezoelectric component with a body in which electrically connected transducer elements are realized is disclosed. The transducer elements are separated from each other by an essentially field-free neutral region of the body. A first transducer element has electrically connected first electrodes, and a second transducer element has electrically connected second electrodes. In addition, at least one third electrode, which is arranged in the first and second transducer element is provided. At least three of the first and third electrodes are arranged in an alternating sequence. At least three of the second and third electrodes are arranged in an alternating sequence. The neutral area is perpendicular to the planes in which the electrodes are arranged.

Abstract: A stack of piezoelectric elements, in the form of an elongated rod divided in to segments, for generating electric energy in response to compressive stress is provided comprising: piezoelectric elements stacked one on top of the other such that electrodes of same polarity of adjacent disks are touching A holding structure, such as a screw holds the piezoelectric elements together between a top and a bottom end pieces which transfer mechanical compressive stress to the elements in the stack. The holding structure accepts shear stresses, provides preloading stress on the stack and prevents buckling of the stack under pressure. A recess in the end piece, deeper than the head of the screw, ensures that load placed on the stack will compress the piezoelectric elements and not on the screw.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a vibrated member and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element vibrates the vibrated member at a predetermined vibration mode to remove a foreign substance adhered to a surface of the vibrated member. A drive electrode, a first vibration detection electrode and a second vibration detection electrode are provided on a first face of the piezoelectric element, and a ground electrode is provided on a second face of the piezoelectric element. The first vibration detection electrode and the second vibration detection electrode have an axis-symmetrical shape, and are arranged on the first face of piezoelectric element so as to be symmetrical with respect to an axis along which a predetermined vibration node occurs when the vibrated member vibrates at the predetermined vibration mode.

Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric vibrator 1 that includes a base substrate 2, a lid substrate 3, a piezoelectric vibrating reed 4, a pair of external electrodes 38 and 39, a pair of through electrodes 32 and 33, and routing electrodes 36 and 37. The lid substrate 3 includes a recess 3a for a cavity and is bonded to the base substrate so that the recess faces the base substrate. The piezoelectric vibrating reed 4 is bonded to the upper surface of the base substrate in a cavity that is formed between both the substrates. The pair of external electrodes 38 and 39 is formed on the lower surface of the base substrate. The pair of through electrodes 32 and 33 is formed so as to pass through the base substrate and is electrically connected to the pair of external electrodes, respectively. The routing electrodes 36 and 37 are formed on the upper surface of the base substrate and electrically connect the pair of through electrodes to the piezoelectric vibrating reed.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems with structures having piezoelectric actuators are described. The structures each have a body that supports piezoelectric islands. The piezoelectric islands have a first surface and a second opposite surface. The piezoelectric islands can be formed, in part, by forming cuts into a thick layer of piezoelectric material, attaching the cut piezoelectric layer to a body having etched features and grinding the piezoelectric layer to a thickness that is less than the depths of the cuts. Conductive material can be formed on the piezoelectric layer to form electrodes.

Abstract: A device using a piezoelectric element includes a layered piezoelectric element and a driven member. The layered piezoelectric element includes an active portion formed of stacked piezoelectric layers each being sandwiched between a first internal electrode layer and a second internal electrode layer, and an inactive portion (first end inactive portion) formed of a first end piezoelectric layer stacked on the active portion. The driven member is bonded to the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer by means of an adhesive. The piezoelectric layers and the first end piezoelectric layer are formed such that the porosity of the inactive portion is greater than that of the active portion. Therefore, since numerous open pores are emerged on the top surface of the first end piezoelectric layer, the adhesive enters into the open pores to have the driven member be strongly bonded to the top surface.

Abstract: There are some cases where cracks occur at a plurality of areas on an external electrode when a displacement quantity of a laminated piezoelectric element is large. In such cases, there is a possibility of a voltage not being applied to a portion of the laminated structure due to the cracks caused by a long time drive to cause a reduction in the displacement quantity. A low rigidity layer is arranged on the laminated structure to form a plurality of portions divided by the low rigidity layer in a laminating direction. Each portion is provided with power feeding members on the anode side and the cathode side. Thus, a voltage can be stably supplied to each internal electrode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration piece includes a base made of a piezoelectric material; a plurality of vibration arms which is integrally formed with the base and extends in parallel; elongate grooves which are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms; and excitation electrodes which include inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves and side electrodes disposed in side surfaces facing the inner electrodes, wherein widening portions in which the widths of the vibration arms are widened toward the base at a joint between the vibration arms of the base are formed, and the side electrodes are led to principal surfaces and side surfaces of the widening portions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The ultrasonic motor includes an active layered section including a piezoelectric material; an inactive section disposed below the active layered section, which has a contact portion profile as a lowest layer; a first lower layer positioned one layer below an uppermost layer of the active layered section; a second lower layer formed with separated electrodes in an upper surface thereof and positioned two layers below the uppermost layer; and a repeated structure in the active layered section having a same structure as a combination structure comprising the first lower layer and the second lower layer, the repeated structure being downwardly layered from the combination structure.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator of a multilayer design which has a stack of piezoelectric layers and electrode layers arranged in between. The electrode layers are contacted by way of two outer electrodes, which have a multiplicity of wires. The outer electrodes are fastened in fastening regions on first side faces of the stack (11) and are led around the edge of the stack that is closest to the respective fastening region.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrator comprises a base substrate; a lid substrate in which cavity recesses are formed and which is bonded to the base substrate in such a state that the recesses face the base substrate; a piezoelectric vibration member bonded to the upper face of the base substrate in such a state that it is housed in the cavity formed of the recess between the base substrate and the lid substrate; an external electrode formed on the lower face of the base substrate; a through- electrode formed in and through the base substrate and electrically connected with the external electrode with keeping the airtightness inside the cavity; and a routing electrode formed on the upper face of the base substrate to electrically connect the through-electrode to the bonded piezoelectric vibration member; wherein the through-electrode is formed in the base substrate by utilizing an electroconductive tack member having a tabular basis part and a core part extending from the basis part toward a di

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator unit includes: a wiring board; a piezoelectric actuator which is provided with a piezoelectric layer, a plurality of individual electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer, a common electrode which faces the plurality of individual electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric layer between the common electrode and individual electrodes, and which is divided into a plurality of split electrodes, a plurality of individual contact points which are in conduction with the individual electrodes, and which are to be connected to the wiring board, and a plurality of reinforcing contact points which are connected to the wiring board to reinforce a connection with the wiring board; and a conduction mechanism which brings the plurality of split electrodes into conduction. Each of the split electrodes is in conduction with at least one of the reinforcing contact points.

Abstract: An exemplary tuning-fork type quartz-crystal vibrating piece includes a base, a pair of vibrating arms, and a connecting electrode electrically connectable to an internal conductive member of a package. The base and vibrating arms are made of a piezoelectric material. The vibrating arms extend in a prescribed direction from the base and have at least one excitation electrode that is electrically connected to the connecting electrode. Each vibrating arm has an upper and a lower axis main surface each defining a respective groove extending in the prescribed direction. Each vibrating arm also has axis edge-side surfaces extending between the first and second axis main surfaces. The excitation electrode includes a surface electrode located inside the grooves on the axis main surfaces of at least one vibrating arm and a side electrode located on the axis edge-side surfaces of the at least one vibrating arm. The surface connecting electrode.

Abstract: A piezoelectric composite micromachined ultrasound transducer including single and multilayer 1-D and 2-D arrays having through-wafer-vias (TWVs) that significantly decreased electrical impedance per element, and hence the improved electrical impedance matching to T/R electronics and improved signal to noise ratio is disclosed. The TWVs facilitate integrated interconnection in single element transducers (positive and negative contact on the same side) and array transducers (contact pads array for integration with T/R switches and/or pre-amplifier circuits).

Abstract: A vibration actuator driving device includes a plurality of wiring sections and a supply controller. The plurality of wiring sections are disposed correspondingly to a plurality of electrically independent electrodes of an electromechanical conversion element. The wiring sections input driving signals to drive the electromechanical conversion element. The supply controller is capable of independently supplying a driving signal for each respective wiring section.

Abstract: The disclosed is a piezoelectric phase shifter, which comprises: an input part for inputting input voltages; an output part for outputting output voltages; and a control part for tuning phase difference between the output and input voltages, which are made of a piezoelectric ceramic plate. Further, the input, output and control parts are separated by insulating gaps respectively. The wide phase shift range and good ability to manage high power and relatively high energy transmission efficiency may be obtained by the disclosure.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic includes a main constituent represented by the general formula {(1?x) (K1-a-bNaaLib)(Nb1-cTac)O3}?xM2M4O3}, and as accessory constituents, 2? mol of Na, (?+?) mole of an M4? element, and ? mol of Mn with respect to 100 mol of the main constituent, where 0.1????, 1??+??10, and 0???10, M2 is Ca, Ba, and/or Sr, the M4 element and the M4? element are Zr, Sn, and/or Hf, 0?x?0.06, 0?a?0.9, 0?b?0.1, and 0?c?0.3. Even in the case of using Ni as the main constituent in an internal electrode material of a piezoelectric element and carrying out co-firing, favorable piezoelectric properties can be obtained without defective polarization.

Abstract: A multi-layer piezoelectric element of high durability wherein the internal electrodes and the external electrodes do not break even when operated continuously over a long period of time under high electric field and high pressure is provided. The first multi-layer piezoelectric element according to the present invention comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, and the external electrodes include an electrically conductive material and glass and is formed from a porous electrically conductive material that has a three-dimensional mesh structure.

Abstract: A piezoelectric component includes an electromechanical transducer with two first electrodes and a second electrode. The second electrode is arranged between the two first electrodes. The transducer also includes a first main side, a second main side, opposite from the first main side, and a first longitudinal side. A first contiguous metallization layer is arranged on a first partial region of the first main side and on a partial region of the first longitudinal side adjacent to the first partial region of the first main side. Here, the partial region of the first longitudinal side is kept at a sufficient distance from a side edge facing the second main side and the partial region electrically contacts the at least two first electrodes.

Abstract: A nanogenerator includes a first frame, a second frame, a first conductor, a second conductor, an array of nano-rods, and an array of electrodes. The second frame engages the first frame. The first conductor is fixed to a first inner surface of the first frame facing the second frame. The second conductor is fixed to a second inner surface of the second frame facing the first frame. The array of nano-rods extends from a first surface of the first conductor toward the second frame. The array of electrodes extends from a second surface of the second conductor toward the first frame. The array of electrodes corresponds to the array of nano-rods. The hardness of the array of electrodes is being greater than that of the array of nano-rods.

Abstract: A transformer arrangement with a piezoelectric transformer and a carrier will be disclosed. The transformer has a body in the form of a board. The transformer operates with thickness mode vibrations. The body is rigidly connected to the carrier in at least one peripheral region in which anti-nodes of a horizontal oscillation of the body appear.

Abstract: A piezoactuator of multilayer design includes piezoelectric layers and electrode layers to form a stack. A predetermined breaking layer for the targeted origination and guiding of cracks is introduced between two adjacent electrode layers. The predetermined breaking layer has a barrier region, in which the formation of continuous electrically conductive paths or the formation of cracks leading through the barrier region is impeded.

Abstract: An acoustic thin film resonator including: a first piezoelectric thin film 101; a pair of primary electrodes 103 and 104 for applying an electric signal, which are formed on the first piezoelectric thin film; a second piezoelectric thin film 102 that is disposed so that an oscillation generated in the first piezoelectric thin film propagates to the second piezoelectric thin film; a pair of secondary electrodes 104 and 105 for outputting an electric signal, which are formed on the second piezoelectric thin film; a load 108 that is connected between the secondary electrodes; and a control portion 109 that controls a value of the load. Thereby, an acoustic thin film resonator element is formed so that an electric signal inputted from the primary electrodes is outputted from the secondary electrodes by a piezoelectric effect, and a resonant frequency and an antiresonant frequency are made variable through the control of the value of the load.

Abstract: A tuning fork-type vibrator includes a tuning fork-type vibrating body including a base and legs. The tuning fork-type vibrating body includes two piezoelectric substrates, an intermediate electrode, surface electrodes and an entire-surface electrode that are laminated together. The surface electrodes are separated by separating portions extending from the base to each of the legs. The widths of the separating portions at a point of connection to the circuit board are wider than those of the separating portions at other points. The separating portions are formed by dividing an electrode provided on the entire surface of a piezoelectric substrate in the vibrating body with a dicer or by laser radiation or etching.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element equipped with a piezoelectric/electrostrictive drive unit having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and a film external terminal electrode containing substantially no glass component and being disposed on at least one surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The external terminal electrode is an electrode having a laminated structure equipped with a first electrode layer made of a first electrode material being disposed to contact the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body closely and containing a first metal component and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, and a second electrode layer made of a second electrode material containing a second metal component and substantially no piezoelectric/electrostrictive material, which the first and second metal components are in the same element system.

Abstract: A piezoelectric multilayer component has a base body including a stack of dielectric layers, electrode layers and at least one predetermined breaking layer. The predetermined breaking layer is arranged at least for the most part in an inactive zone of the multilayer component and cracks under specific tensile loads.

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: Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric actuator for actuating a haptic device, which includes a piezoelectric element having a plurality of piezoelectric layers which are stacked and have the same polling direction, and an electrode pattern formed on the piezoelectric element, in which the length of each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers is greater than or equal to four times the width of each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers, and the width of each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers is greater than or equal to ten times the thickness of each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers, so that the piezoelectric actuator can greatly vibrate in the direction of length with reduced power consumption.

Abstract: In a multilayer piezoelectric actuator, external electrodes are formed on external surfaces of a multilayer piezoelectric body in which a plurality of internal electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric layers are stacked on top of one another. Each of the external electrodes includes a base electrode and a stress-absorbing external-electrode member formed on the base electrode. The stress-absorbing external-electrode member is provided with an elastically deformable elastic structure, and a planar portion, which is continuous with the elastic structure and has at least an area sufficient for bonding a feeder terminal such as a lead line thereto.