A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element and a vibrating plate configured to vibrate in response to actuation of the piezoelectric element, the vibrating plate including a first layer that contains SiO.sub.2 and a second layer that contains ZrO.sub.2 and that is stacked on the first layer. The second layer contains a first impurity element different from Zr, and the concentration of the first impurity element at an interface in contact with the first layer in the second layer is higher than the concentration of the first impurity element in an internal region that is included in the second layer and that is contiguous from the interface to the surface of the second layer.

A piezoelectric element includes an adhesion layer formed at a vibration plate and containing titanium, a lower electrode formed at the adhesion layer, a diffusion reduction layer formed at the lower electrode and containing iridium, a seed layer formed at the diffusion reduction layer and containing bismuth, a piezoelectric layer formed at the seed layer and containing potassium, sodium, and niobium, and an upper electrode formed at the piezoelectric layer.

An imaging device includes a two dimensional array of piezoelectric elements. Each piezoelectric element includes: a piezoelectric layer; a bottom electrode disposed on a bottom side of the piezoelectric layer and configured to receive a transmit signal during a transmit mode and develop an electrical charge during a receive mode; and a first top electrode disposed on a top side of the piezoelectric layer; and a first conductor, wherein the first top electrodes of a portion of the piezoelectric elements in a first column of the two dimensional array are electrically coupled to the first conductor.

An optical scanning device includes a mirror and a drive beam. The drive beam includes a piezoelectric portion. The piezoelectric portion is partitioned by a plurality of first grooves into a plurality of piezoelectric bodies. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in an X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach one end side connected to an anchor. The piezoelectric bodies are reduced in length in the X-axis direction as the piezoelectric bodies approach the other end side connected to a link beam.

A drive-sense circuit coupled to a variable voltage load. The drive-sense circuit includes a current reference circuit operable to generate a current reference signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a regulated impedance source circuit operable to generate a regulated impedance signal based on an analog regulation signal, where the regulated impedance signal is provided on a line to the variable voltage load to keep a load current on the line substantially matching the current reference signal, and where a voltage of the variable voltage load effects the regulated impedance signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a impedance loop correction circuit operable to generate a comparison signal based on the current reference signal and the load current, where the comparison signal represents the voltage, and where the analog regulation signal is representative of the comparison signal.

Magnetoelectric devices based on piezoelectric/magnetostrictive bilayers are provided. Also provided are methods of using the devices to modulate or to sense the magnetization of the magnetostrictive material. The devices include an island of magnetostrictive material that is strain-coupled to a thin layer of a piezoelectric material at an interface. A bottom electrode is placed in electrical communication with one surface of the piezoelectric film, and an unpaired top electrode is placed in electrical communication with a second, opposing surface of the piezoelectric film.

A device that adapts/upgrades an existing, or new medical facility to provide a method of examining and treating occupants in a safe, efficient manner which is one quarter the size of conventional examination and treatment spaces through the use of a system that utilizes a modular frame and compartments to organize medical utilities, services and equipment to be more space efficient than conventional examination and treatment spaces. The frame and compartments have a shaped surface that focuses acoustic energy to increase intelligibility between a caregiver and the occupant and at the same time reduce ambient acoustic energy propagation. Additionally, the device can be disassembled, moved and reassembled easily. Further, the surface over the compartments creates a safety barrier between expensive and delicate utilities that mitigates tampering, accidental damage and reduces the possibility of infectious disease transmission.

An ultrasound emission device includes a generation part which generates an ultrasonic wave to an object side, and a bag containing a sealed liquid on the object side of the generation part. The generation part includes a piezoelectric element for generating the ultrasonic wave. The piezoelectric element includes a first surface facing the object side and a second surface facing away from the object side. The piezoelectric element includes, between the first and second surfaces, a piezoelectric layer which extends along the first and second surfaces, and a pair of electrodes which are superposed on two surfaces of the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric element flexurally deforms so that the first and second surfaces flex to the same side. The first surface is exposed to the inside of the bag to contact the liquid. The second surface is isolated from the liquid and is in contact with a gas.

A magnetic transmitting antenna has a beam member having a first end and a second end, wherein the beam member comprising: an elastic member; at least one magnetoelastic member disposed on a first surface of the elastic member; and an actuator disposed on a second surface of the elastic member, wherein the actuator is configured to apply stress to the elastic member thereby applying a bending stress thereto for changing the magnetic permeability of the at least one magnetoelastic member, which in turn, changes an external magnetic field. At least one magnet is disposed adjacent to the magnetoelastic member such that magnetization is induced in the magnetoelastic member.

The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of patterning electrodes, e.g. in the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit; methods of depositing metal on surfaces; and methods of making integrated matching layers for an ultrasound transducer. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.