In a reservoir element that has a plurality of vibrators, at least one of the plurality of vibrators has a vibration state that is different from the vibration states of the other vibrators. The vibrations of the plurality of vibrators are configured to affect each other.

A multi-level piezoelectric actuator is manufactured using wafer level processing. Two PZT wafers are formed and separately metallized for electrodes. The metallization on the second wafer is patterned, and holes that will become electrical vias are formed in the second wafer. The wafers are then stacked and sintered, then the devices are poled as a group and then singulated to form nearly complete individual PZT actuators. Conductive epoxy is added into the holes at the product placement step in order to both adhere the actuator within its environment and to complete the electrical via thus completing the device. Alternatively: the first wafer is metallized; then the second wafer having holes therethrough but no metallization is stacked and sintered to the first wafer; and patterned metallization is applied to the second wafer to both form electrodes and to complete the vias. The devices are then poled as a group, and singulated.

Provided is an information output apparatus including one or more information output units, wherein each information output unit includes a coil arranged to be connected to a power source, such that a current flows in the coil; a base unit configured to accommodate the coil; and a driving indicator, which is arranged in the base unit to be apart from and close to the coil to be driven by a current flowing in the coil and is configured to move in a first direction toward the coil and a direction opposite thereto to rotate while being connected to the base unit and to move in a second direction crossing the first direction to be recognized by a user.

A metal substrate supported by a wiring substrate includes a first extending portion and a first connection portion connected to the first extending portion. The first connection portion includes a first region facing a portion of a wiring substrate in a Z-axis direction, a second region being continuous from the first region, and a third region being continuous from the second region. When viewed in the Z-axis direction, in a direction perpendicular to a connection direction in which the third region is connected to the second region, a width of the second region is larger than a width of the third region. A first bonding member bonding the wiring substrate and the metal substrate includes a first portion disposed between the portion and the first region, and a second portion being continuous from the first portion. The second portion reaches the second region but does not reach the third region.

An actuator device includes a wiring substrate; a metal substrate; a first electrode unit provided to the metal substrate; a piezoelectric drive body disposed on the first electrode unit; a second electrode unit disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric drive body; a piezoelectric detection body disposed on the second electrode unit; a third electrode unit disposed on a third main surface of the piezoelectric detection body; a connection unit; an input unit; and an output unit. The connection unit is configured to be electrically connected to a reference potential on an outside such that a potential of the second electrode unit becomes the reference potential. The input unit is configured to input a drive signal to the first electrode unit from the outside. The output unit is configured to output an output signal generated in the piezoelectric detection body, to the outside from the third electrode unit.

In an ultrasonic sensor that is attached to a body component, a negative electrode line connected to a negative terminal is isolated from a shielding portion. The shielding portion is connected to a ground potential point without being connected to the negative electrode line.

A displacement magnifying device includes a diaphragm structure including a substrate and a diaphragm provided separately from the substrate, actuators provided side by side with the diaphragm structure, and a first member including displacing sections coupled to both ends of the actuators and displaced according to displacement of the actuators. The displacing sections are coupled to the diaphragm of the diaphragm structure.

An actuator assembly includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive polymer layer includes a non-vertical (e.g., sloped) sidewall with respect to a major surface of at least one of the electrodes. The electroactive polymer layer may be characterized by a non-axisymmetric shape with respect to an axis that is oriented orthogonal to an electrode major surface.

A piezo-electric actuator on the side of a mobile device will enable pressure exerted by the user to be sensed at the conventional button locations, while providing a haptic feedback. Unfortunately, mechanical integration of piezo-electric actuators at the side of a mobile device is challenging. A mobile device in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a PCB; an outer frame surrounding the PCB; and a switch. The switch comprises: a first piezo-electric actuator configured to generate a first actuator voltage signal in response to a first force applied by a user, and to generate a first haptic feedback to the user in response to a first haptic voltage signal transmitted from the controller thereto; and a first virtual button in the outer frame configured to transmit the first force to the first piezo-electric actuator, and to transmit the first haptic feedback to the user.

A piezoelectric element that includes a substrate, a lower electrode layer on the substrate, an intermediate layer on the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a first piezoelectric layer including an aluminum nitride as a main component thereof and located between the lower electrode layer and the upper electrode layer, a first buffer layer including an aluminum nitride as a main component and located between the first piezoelectric layer and the upper electrode layer, a first intermediate electrode layer located between the first buffer layer and the upper electrode layer, and a second piezoelectric layer located between the first intermediate electrode layer and the upper electrode layer.