Abstract: An inkjet printer includes: a casing; a first control board; a carriage; a head; a transmission antenna; and a reception antenna. The first control board is configured to reciprocate in a scanning direction crossing a conveying direction of a recording medium. The head is mounted in the carriage and has a plurality of nozzles. The transmission antenna is connected to the first control board. The transmission antenna is configured to transmit, through near field communication, an ejection signal for controlling ejection of ink from the plurality of nozzles. The reception antenna is provided in the carriage. The reception antenna is configured to receive the ejection signal from the transmission antenna. The near field communication has a communication range smaller than a size of the casing.

Abstract: This electronic component can reduce assembly costs and also lighten the load to a connection part, and comprises: an electronic component body; a terminal that extends in a prescribed direction from the electronic component body, and has a retaining unit; and a coil spring that is externally fitted to be in electrical contact with the terminal, and that is retained by the retaining unit, wherein the coil spring is in electrical contact with a printed board in a compressed state. The terminal is fitted loosely in a fitting hole of the printed board, for example. Also, the coil spring comprises an electrically conductive coating, for example.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes an electric connecting portion between a flexible wiring substrate and a contact wiring substrate. The contact wiring substrate has a first surface on which a contact pad is provided and a second surface opposite the first surface. The electric connecting portion is disposed on the second surface side of the contact wiring substrate.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for fabricating a printhead. In one embodiment, a system comprises at least one punch press configured to punch first nozzle holes in a first nozzle plate with a first punch, where each of the first nozzle holes includes a first converging section, and to punch second nozzle holes in a second nozzle plate with a second punch, where each of the second nozzle holes includes a second converging section. The system further comprises a bonding tool configured to bond the first nozzle plate to the second nozzle plate to form a nozzle plate stack, where the first nozzle holes and the second nozzle holes define nozzles of the printhead.

Abstract: A pagewide printhead for redundant printing has first and second rows of printhead chips mounted on a common ink manifold. The ink manifold has four ink supply channels for supplying ink to the first and second rows of printhead chips. Dedicated ink outlets interconnect one ink supply channel of the ink manifold with two color channels in each printhead chip.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an element substrate and a print head with which a decrease in yield and an increase in cost in a manufacturing process can be suppressed. For that purpose, a VH wiring line and a GNDH wiring line are provided in parallel in the same layer.

Abstract: A MEMS chip assembly includes: a support structure having a chip mounting surface; a MEMS chip mounted on the chip mounting surface, the MEMS chip having an active surface including one or more rows of MEMS devices and a row of bond pads disposed alongside a connection edge of the MEMS chip and parallel with the rows of MEMS devices; electrical connectors connected to the bond pads; and an encapsulant material covering the electrical connectors. The MEMS chip has a plurality of trenches defined in the active surface, the trenches extending parallel with the rows of MEMS devices and disposed between the bond pads and the MEMS devices. The encapsulant material does not encroach past the trenches towards the MEMS devices.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a holder, a fixing member, multiple liquid dischargers, and multiple couplings. The fixing member is detachably attached to the holder. The multiple liquid dischargers are secured to the fixing member and arranged side by side in a vertical arrangement direction. The multiple liquid dischargers include respective liquid conveyors. The multiple couplings couple the respective liquid conveyors and respective liquid containers. One of the liquid conveyors of a lower one of the multiple liquid dischargers is longer in a direction intersecting the vertical arrangement direction than another one of the liquid conveyors of an upper one of the multiple liquid dischargers above the lower one.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate having a substrate provided with a plurality of flow paths for liquid to be ejected on a recording material by a recording element and a cover member that is provided with a plurality of communication holes in communication with the plurality of flow paths and that is joined to the substrate, a liquid supply member supplying the liquid to the plurality of flow paths through the plurality of communication holes of the cover member, and an adhesive member adhering the cover member and the liquid supply member. At least a part of an abutment region of the cover member in abutment against the substrate and apart from a region provided with the plurality of communication holes has a cover member opening for contacting the adhesive member and the substrate to each other.

Abstract: An interface structure connectable to a separate liquid reservoir, to connect that liquid reservoir to a receiving station, comprising a liquid interface to fluidically connect to at least one liquid needle of the receiving station, a liquid channel, to fluidically connect the liquid interface to the reservoir, a support wall supporting an integrated circuit laterally next to the liquid channel, the integrated circuit having contact pad contact surfaces, and a front push area adjacent the liquid, the front push area terminating at a front edge that defines a profile height of the interface structure, between said front edge and an opposite distal edge.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to perform both heater drive control and fuse drive control without increasing the number of signal lines. One embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus including: a print head having a plurality of heaters for heating and ejecting ink and a fuse for retaining information; and a print head control unit configured to control the print head, and the print head control unit has a heater drive control unit configured to control drive of the plurality of heaters and a write pulse generation unit configured to generate a write pulse for performing write for the fuse and data that is generated by the heater drive control unit and the write pulse are transmitted from the print head control unit to the print head via an identical terminal and an identical signal line.

Abstract: There is provided a head assembly including: a rigid substrate; a plurality of heads; a tank; a plurality of tubes; a heater; a plurality of flexible substrates; a relay substrate; a first member; and a second member arranged on one side in a first direction with respect to the first space. The rigid substrate is arranged in a first space formed in the first member. The tank, the heater, the plurality of tubes and the plurality of flexible substrates are arranged in a second space formed in the second member. The relay substrate is located between the first space and the second space in a first direction, and partitions the first space and the second space from each other.

Abstract: A microfluidic cartridge is provided. The microfluidic cartridge has an interior and an exterior. The microfluidic cartridge includes a reservoir disposed in the interior of the microfluidic cartridge and configured to contain a fluid composition. The microfluidic cartridge includes an electric circuit disposed on the exterior of the microfluidic cartridge. The electric circuit comprises a first end portion having electrical contacts and a second end portion opposing the first end portion. The microfluidic cartridge includes a microfluidic die disposed on the exterior of the microfluidic cartridge, wherein the microfluidic die is electrically connected with the second end portion of the electric circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. A silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to join the electric circuit with the exterior of the microfluidic cartridge.

Abstract: A head includes: a head unit; and a wiring film configured to be connected to the head unit. The wiring film includes: a flexible substrate; a first IC provided on the flexible substrate; a second IC provided on the flexible substrate; a first wire provided on the flexible substrate to connect the first IC and a first contact portion of the head unit; a second wire provided on the flexible substrate to connect the second IC and a second contact portion of the head unit; and a third wire provided on the flexible substrate. The first IC has a long side extended in a predetermined direction and connected to the first wire, the second IC has a long side extended in the predetermined direction and connected to the second wire, and the first IC and the second IC are aligned along the predetermined direction to be apart from each other.

Abstract: An FPC connection structure including: several strands of FPC conductor patterns coated with an insulating film; and FPC terminals each extending from one end portion of each of the FPC conductor patterns and provided in a flat type to enable spot welding on a substrate terminal unit provided on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A priming device for a fluid cartridge, a fluid dispense device configured for priming the fluid cartridge, and a method for priming a fluid cartridge. The priming device includes an impact mechanism for a fluid cartridge, wherein the fluid cartridge is devoid of a backpressure device and has a fluid reservoir and an ejection head chip in fluid flow communication with the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid discharge head includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected to piezoelectric elements. The FPC has a first end in the first direction. A wiring layer of the FPC has a first region at the first end and a cover layer covering on a second region. The piezoelectric elements are spaced from each other in a second direction and each has a first electrode on a side surface facing towards the FPC. The first side has a joint surface facing the first region of the wiring layer. The first electrode is electrically connected to the wiring layer at the joint surface. The side surface includes a step portion that is recessed from the joint surface. A portion of the cover layer protrudes into a space adjacent to the step portion.

Abstract: A liquid storage container includes: a storage chamber; a supply port capable of supplying the liquid into the storage chamber; a hollow protruding portion protruding from the supply port; and a plug member attachably and detachably attached to the supply port. The plug member includes: a plug portion for sealing the supply port; a cover portion formed integrally with the plug portion; a pinch portion including a first portion and a second portion provided on the cover portion and opposite to each other; and a hollow portion extending from the cover portion through the plug portion. The plug portion and the cover portion are made of an elastic body, and the hollow portion has an opening on the cover portion side. A width of the opening is narrowed and a side face of the plug portion is deformed toward the hollow portion by pinching the first and second portions.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording method capable of recording an image with a tertiary color, less causing color shift even with use of a recording apparatus having an ink inlet port. The ink jet recording method includes recording an image, with use of an ink jet recording apparatus that includes a plurality of aqueous inks; an ink storage portion that independently stores the aqueous inks; a recording head having formed therein an ejection orifice through which each aqueous ink is ejected; and a tube through which each aqueous ink is supplied from the ink storage portion to the recording head. The ink storage portion has provided thereto an inlet port through which the aqueous ink is filled, the tube is formed of a resin material, a cyan ink contains a phthalocyanine pigment, and both of a yellow ink and a magenta ink individually contain an azo pigment.

Abstract: A method includes applying a mold chase to a fluid ejection die to at least partially define at least one cavity. The mold chase includes a feature to contact a fluid ejection portion of the fluid ejection die, and at least one structure separate from the feature to contact a first end portion adjacent a first end of the fluid ejection die. The method includes filling the at least one cavity with a mold compound to produce a molded carrier for the fluid ejection die.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a channel member, a pressurizing part, a cover member, and a sealing member. The channel member includes an ejection hole, a pressurizing chamber, an ejection hole surface, and a pressurizing chamber surface. The pressurizing chamber is connected with the ejection hole. The ejection hole surface is positioned on the ejection hole side. The pressurizing chamber surface is positioned on the pressurizing chamber side. The pressurizing part is positioned in a pressurizing region in the pressurizing chamber surface. The cover member stands on the channel member. The sealing member seals the cover member and the channel member. The channel member includes a groove positioned in the pressurizing chamber surface but outside the pressurizing region. The cover member is positioned in the groove. Further, the sealing member is positioned between a fixing portion in the cover member which is positioned in the groove and the groove.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a channel unit. The channel unit is formed therein with: a plurality of individual channels aligning in a first direction, a common channel extending in the first direction, a supply hole in communication with the common channel, and a damper chamber provided in a position overlapping with the supply hole in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The channel unit includes a first plate having a first surface where a recess is formed to constitute the damper chamber, and a second plate having a second surface attached to the first surface via an adhesive. A protrusion is provided on a bottom of such a first part of the recess as overlaps with the supply hole in the second direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head according to an embodiment includes a head body having a first surface configured to discharge a liquid and a second surface facing the first surface, a drive IC positioned away from the second surface of the head body, and a head cover configured to cover at least the second surface of the head body while housing the drive IC. The head cover includes a top plate facing the second surface of the head body and a first side plate extending in one direction that is a direction from the top plate toward the second surface, the first side plate includes a first portion that is in contact with the drive IC, and that extends in the one direction, and a second portion positioned in a portion closer to the second surface than the first portion, and the second portion includes a diameter expanding portion having a diameter that expands toward the second surface.

Abstract: A rotary shaft mechanism of an electronic is provided. The rotary shaft mechanism includes a first rotating assembly and a second rotating assembly, wherein the first rotating assembly is provided with a first through hole, and the second rotating assembly is provided with a second through hole, wherein the first through hole is in communication with the second through hole, and an axis of the first through hole and an axis of the second through hole are both intersected with a rotary shaft between the first rotating assembly and the second rotating assembly. A flexible circuit board of the electronic device is disposed in the first through hole and the second through hole.

Abstract: Provided is an image recording apparatus including: a carriage configured to support a recording head that ejects a liquid to a recording medium and configured to perform reciprocating motion in the scanning direction; a liquid containing portion configured to contain liquid; a tube configured to connect the recording head and the liquid containing portion to supply liquid from the liquid containing portion to the recording head, the tube including a first section that extends in the scanning direction and a second section that extends in the scanning direction above the first section; and a support portion configured to support the first section and be secured to an apparatus main body, and in the support portion, a rotating member is provided below the second section at a position facing the second section.

Abstract: An ejection material ejecting device includes: an ejection unit including an ejection opening configured to eject an ejection material; an electric substrate configured to control ejection of the ejection material; a first flexible cable connected to the ejection unit; a second flexible cable connected to the electric substrate; and a joint at which the first flexible cable and the second flexible cable are joined by an anisotropic conductive film, wherein the joint is covered with a sealant resistant to the ejection material.

Abstract: S1 is a sum of the areas of a plurality of individual electrodes formed on a first plane of a piezoelectric body of a liquid discharge head, S2 is an area of a first common electrode formed on a second plane, S3 is an area of a second common electrode formed on a third plane, D1 is a distance between a neutral plane and the first plane in a stacking direction, D2 is the distance between the neutral plane and the second plane in the stacking direction, and D3 is the distance between the neutral plane and the third plane in the stacking direction. Then, D1×S1+D2×S2>D3×S3 is satisfied. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of conductor layers which are formed on the third plane, without contact with the second common electrode and without contact with each other.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge head including a piezoelectric body having a plurality of individual electrodes and a first common electrode, and a plurality of conductor layers. The plurality of individual electrodes have first to fourth individual electrode arrays, and the first common electrode has first and second extending portions, a plurality of first projecting portions, and a plurality of second projecting portions. Each of the first projecting portions overlaps partially with one of the plurality of individual electrodes forming the second individual electrode array along the stacking direction, and each of the second projecting portions overlaps partially with one of the plurality of individual electrodes forming the third individual electrode array along the stacking direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film includes a substrate having flexibility, and at least two piezoelectric elements provided to the substrate so as to be arranged at intervals of a first dimension along a first direction, the piezoelectric elements are each configured by stacking a first electrode film, a piezoelectric film made of an inorganic material, and a second electrode film along a thickness direction of the substrate, and an area between the piezoelectric elements adjacent to each other along the first direction forms a vibrational region which can be displaced in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A mobile device configured to be coupled to a counterpart device includes a driving section configured to be driven by electric power, a coupling section configured to be coupled to the counterpart device, and an accommodation section configured to accommodate an all-solid-state battery. When the counterpart device is coupled to the coupling section, the driving section is driven by electric power supplied from the counterpart device, and when the counterpart device is not coupled to the coupling section, the driving section is driven by electric power supplied from the all-solid-state battery.

Abstract: A pagewide printhead for printing redundantly in four colors. First and second rows of printhead chips are mounted on a common ink manifold having four ink supply channels for supplying four colors of ink to the first and second rows of printhead chips. Dedicated ink outlets interconnect one ink supply channel of the ink manifold with a pair of redundant nozzle rows in each printhead chip.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus may include a first head unit and a second head unit. The first head unit includes first and second parts. A position of the second part in a first direction is different from that of the first part, and a width is shorter than a width of the first part in a second direction. The second head unit includes a fourth part and a fifth part. A position of the fifth part in the first direction is different from that of the fourth part, and a width is shorter than a width of the fourth part in the second direction. The first head unit and the second head unit are disposed side by side in the second direction. At least a part of the second part and at least a part of the fifth part do not overlap with each other in the first direction.

Abstract: The present application discloses an inner container type ink cartridge and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method includes the following steps: removing an upper cover of an original ink cartridge to obtain a cartridge shell; electrically connecting an external control circuit board with an original control circuit board of the original ink cartridge; arranging an internal control circuit board at a corresponding position of an inner container; and installing the inner container in the cartridge shell, so that internal contacts of the internal control circuit board of the inner container are electrically connected with the external control circuit board. A first chip of the external control circuit board or a second chip of the internal control circuit board is written with actual ink volume data of the inner container and an adopted program.

Abstract: A narrow type inkjet print head chip is disclosed and includes a silicon substrate, an active component layer and a passive component layer. The active component layer is stacked on the silicon substrate and includes plural ESD protection units, plural encoder switches, plural discharge protection units and plural heater switches. The ESD protection units, the encoder switches, the discharge protection units and the heater switches are disposed in each of at least two high-precision regions of the active component layer. The corresponding positions and quantities of these components are the same in the at least two high-precision regions. The passive component layer is stacked on the active component layer and includes plural heaters, plural electrode pads, plural encoders and plural circuit traces. The circuit traces are electrically connected to the ESD protection units, the encoder switches, the heater switches, the heaters, the electrode pads and the encoders.

Abstract: A logic circuitry package for a replaceable print apparatus component includes an interface including a power terminal and at least one logic circuit. The at least one logic circuit is configured to respond to communications sent to a first address via the interface and respond to communications sent to a second address via the interface. The at least one logic circuit is configured to in response to a first command sent to the first address, draw a first current on the power terminal; and in response to a hibernate command sent to the first address, respond to communications sent to the second address and draw a second current on the power terminal less than the first current.

Abstract: An example of a color management module is disclosed. The color management module is to generate a mapping from an incoming color space to a printer color space by a color pipeline. In the generation of the mapping, the color pipeline is adjusted so that the mapping of a target color associated with a first composition further includes adding a quantity of a second composition to the mapping of the target color. The second composition comprises a lower visibility than the first composition.

Abstract: In a liquid discharging apparatus, a head control unit, which controls an operation of a head unit, includes a first conversion circuit that converts an image signal input from an outside into a first electric signal, a first photoelectric conversion circuit that converts the first electric signal into an optical signal, the head unit, which discharges a liquid, includes a second photoelectric conversion circuit that converts the optical signal into a second electric signal, a second conversion circuit that converts the second electric signal into a discharge control signal for controlling discharge of a liquid. The first conversion circuit performs a first conversion process of converting the image signal into the first electric signal without depending on a discharge information, and the second conversion circuit performs a second conversion process of converting the second electric signal into the discharge control signal by using the discharge information.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing cartridge includes a housing body having a proximal end wall, a distal end wall, a fluid chamber, and a hollow throat portion. The fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the hollow throat portion. The proximal end wall provides a proximal termination of the fluid chamber and the distal end wall provides a distal termination of the hollow throat portion. A plurality of electrical contacts face proximally from the proximal end wall. The fluid dispensing cartridge includes a fluid jetting chip that has a plurality of fluid jetting nozzles.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes, in an example, a substrate and at least two microfluidic devices embedded into the substrate, at least one of the microfluidic devices being different from a remaining number of microfluidic devices. A microfluidic apparatus includes at least two microfluidic devices embedded into a substrate, at least a first microfluidic device of the microfluidic devices being heterogenous to at least a second microfluidic device of the microfluidic devices and a microfluidic channel to fluidically couple the microfluidic devices to each other.

Abstract: Examples include a fluid ejection device comprising a carrier, at least one fluid ejection die, and conductive traces at least partially embedded in the carrier. The carrier has a first portion and a second portion, where an angle of orientation between the first portion and the second portion is nonparallel. The first portion includes an array of openings formed through a top surface of the carrier. The second portion includes at least one die opening through a bottom surface of the carrier. The fluid ejection die is coupled to the second portion of the carrier. Fluid passages formed in a back surface of the fluid ejection die are exposed through the at least one die opening formed through the bottom surface of the carrier. The conductive traces have an array of contact points at first ends of the conductive traces. The array of contact points align with the array of openings of the first portion of the carrier such that the array of contact points are exposed through the array of openings.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a tray on which a sheet is to be stacked, a container configured to store the tray such that the tray can be pulled out, a first guide unit configured to guide a slide of the tray in a pull-out direction, a second guide unit spaced apart from the first guide unit in a widthwise direction, a first regulating portion provided in the container and configured to regulate, by abutting against the tray, a tilt of the tray to one direction in the widthwise direction; and a second regulating portion provided in the container and configured to regulate, by abutting against the tray, a tilt of the tray to the other direction in the widthwise direction.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head includes an ejection chip having ejection orifices an external wiring board for applying an electrical signal, an electrical joining portion in which an external wiring of the external wiring board and the ejection chip are electrically joined, and a resin-sealed portion for sealing the electrical joining portion, in which a first spacer is provided between the electrical joining portion and a member in which the ejection orifices are formed, a second spacer is provided in a region outside a formation region of the external wirings, electrode bumps of the ejection chip and the external wirings of the external wiring board are joined to each other in the electrical joining portion, and the first spacer and the second spacer are joined to each other.

Abstract: A fluidic die includes primitives arranged to form a number of primitive zones, each primitive zone including a memory to store adjustment data, and at least one signal adjuster to receive a fire signal, and to adjust the received fire signal based on the stored adjustment data to provide an adjusted fire signal to each primitive of the primitive zone. The fluidic die includes an address bus and a set of data lines, each data line corresponding to a different one of the primitives. Mode circuitry directs address data from the address bus to each primitive and print data from each data line to the corresponding primitive when a mode signal has a first value, and directs data representing adjustment data from one of the address bus and the set of data lines to at least one of the memories when the mode signal has a second value.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head includes a substrate; an energy generator that is provided on the substrate; an electrode portion that is provided on the substrate; a liquid ejection face that is provided near a surface of the substrate having the electrode portion; and flexible printed circuits including a conductive pattern and a base material having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having the conductive pattern, the second surface being provided on the opposite side from the first surface. The base material of the flexible printed circuits has a leading region from the terminal end of a region having the conductive pattern to an end of the base material near the energy generator, without formation of the conductive pattern in the leading region, and at least a part of the second surface of the leading region inclines toward the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head that ejects a liquid by driving a drive element, a drive signal output circuit that outputs a drive signal for driving the drive element, and a substrate provided with the drive signal output circuit, wherein the drive signal output circuit includes a modulation circuit that modulates an original drive signal to output a modulation signal, an amplifier circuit that amplifies the modulation signal to output an amplified modulation signal, and a demodulation circuit that demodulates the amplified modulation signal to output the drive signal for driving the drive element, and wherein the demodulation circuit is located, on the substrate, between the modulation circuit and the amplifier circuit.

Abstract: In some examples, a print cartridge comprises a printhead die that includes a die sliver molded into a molding. The die sliver includes a front surface exposed outside the molding to dispense fluid, and a back surface exposed outside the molding and flush with the molding to receive fluid. Edges of the die sliver contact the molding to form a joint between the die sliver and the molding.

Abstract: A printing material container is detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having a plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The printing material container comprises a first device, a second device, and a terminal group that includes a plurality of first terminals, at least one second terminal and at least one third terminal. The plurality of first terminals are connected to the first device and respectively include a first contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one second terminal is connected to the second device and includes a second contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals. The at least one third terminal is for the detection of shorting between the at least one second terminal and the at least one third terminal and includes a third contact portion for contacting a corresponding terminal among the plurality of apparatus-side terminals.

Abstract: A chip processing device and a method for chip processing using the same is provided, where the device can program, detect, reset or inspect a plurality of chips, and meanwhile has one or more functions of programming, detecting, identifying, resetting or inspecting. The plurality of chips has different communication interfaces, and/or uses different communication protocols. The chip processing device can be configured to program, detect, identify, reset or inspect a chip after obtaining the model of the chip to be processed, thus having higher universality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for coating surfaces including surfaces of medical devices, in particular the coating of microprojections on microprojection arrays. The present invention also relates to print head devices and their manufacture and to methods of using the print head devices for manufacturing articles such as microprojection arrays as well as to coating the surfaces of microprojection arrays. The present invention also relates to high throughput printing devices that utilize the print heads of the present invention.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus and method of manufacture are disclosed. One apparatus includes a pressure chamber, a diaphragm covering the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric component positioned opposing the pressure chamber. The apparatus further includes a first electrode disposed on a first side of the piezoelectric component toward the pressure chamber and a second electrode disposed on a second side of the piezoelectric component opposite the first side in an opposed region, the opposed region being a region opposed to the second electrode. The apparatus also includes a metal film disposed between the piezoelectric component and the diaphragm, the metal film being absent from at least a portion of the opposed region. The metal film and the first electrode are in electrical contact with each other. The first electrode is made of platinum and the metal film is made of a metal material other than platinum.