The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 12, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2011
Xin-shan LI, Shiojiri, JP;
Xin-Shan Li, Shiojiri, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An actuator device includes a piezoelectric element including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode that are displaceably provided in sequence on a substrate. The lower electrode includes a flat center portion and an inclined end portion that descends toward the substrate. The piezoelectric layer is disposed above the lower electrode and the substrate, and includes a first, second, and third piezoelectric layer portion constituted by a plurality of columnar crystals. The columnar crystals of the first and second piezoelectric layer portions are orthogonal to the flat portion of the lower electrode and surface of the substrate, while the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion extend orthogonally from a surface of the inclined portion and bend to be orthogonal to the surface of the upper electrode, giving the grains of the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion larger widths and increased stress resistance.