An apparatus comprises a stressed glass member and an actuator mounted on the stressed glass member. A power source is coupled to the actuator. An abrasion structure is disposed between the actuator and the stressed glass member. The abrasion structure comprises abrading features in contact with the stressed glass member. The abrading features have a hardness higher than a hardness of the stressed glass member. When energized by the power source, the actuator is configured to induce movement of the abrasion structure that causes the abrading features to create scratches in the stressed glass member to a depth sufficient to initiate fracture of the stressed glass member.

There is disclosed a mechanical-vibration-generating-device for generating a mechanical vibration, the mechanical vibration having a vibration direction. The mechanical-vibration-generating-device comprises: rigid bushings comprising at least a beginning rigid bushing and a end rigid bushing, at least one axial piezoelectric stack positioned between the beginning rigid bushing and the end rigid bushing, the at least one axial piezoelectric stack having an imaginary axis; the imaginary axis being aligned with the vibration direction, a coupling for interconnecting the beginning rigid bushing and the end rigid bushing, a common internal channel defined in the rigid bushings and the piezoelectric stack, the first connective passage and the second connective passage defined in the rigid bushings providing a fluid path between the common internal channel and an ambient environment, the first connective passage having a first valve and the second connective passage having a second valve, the first valve being configured as an inlet valve and the second valve being configured as an outlet valve.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laminated piezoelectric element obtained by folding and laminating a piezoelectric film, in which, in a case where a pressure is applied, it is possible to prevent an electrode layer from breaking at a folded-back portion, and to provide an electroacoustic transducer using the laminated piezoelectric element. The object is achieved by including a bonding layer for bonding adjacent layers to each other in the lamination of the piezoelectric film, in which, in a case where a thickness of the bonding layer at a center portion in a folding-back direction of the piezoelectric film is denoted as d1 and a spacing between piezoelectric films at a folded-back portion of the piezoelectric film in a lamination direction is denoted as d2, a relationship of d2<d1 is satisfied.

A three-degrees-of-freedom adjustment device driven by piezoelectric ceramics includes a Z-direction deflection mechanism at a bottom, an X-direction deflection mechanism mounted at the bottom, a Y-direction deflection mechanism mounted on the X-direction deflection mechanism, and a stage mounted on a deflect block of a deflection mechanism angle output; wherein the Z-direction deflection mechanism is located at the bottom, including a mounting substrate and two pre-compressed piezoelectric stacks; the piezoelectric stacks in the Z-direction deflection mechanism deflect in a Z direction under equal voltages; the X-direction deflection mechanism is similar to the Y-direction deflection mechanism in principle, including a deflection mechanism frame and a pair of piezoelectric stacks, wherein the X-direction deflection mechanism and the Y-direction deflection mechanism are vertically mounted, and are perpendicular to the Z-direction deflection mechanism plane as a whole.

A vibration wave actuator has a vibration member including an elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy transducer, and a contact member in contact with the vibration member, and the contact member and the vibration member move relative to each other. The vibration wave actuator includes a detected portion configured to move, together with the contact member, relative to the vibration member, and a detection unit configured to move, together with the vibration member, relative to the contact member to detect displacement information or position information for the detected portion. The vibration member has two projections provided side by side in a direction intersecting with the direction of the relative movement. The contact member contacts the two projections. The detection unit and the detected portion are located between the contact member and the vibration member when viewed from the direction of the relative movement.

A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration portion, a support portion that is integrally configured with the vibration portion and supports the vibration portion, and a piezoelectric element that is disposed on the vibration portion. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric film including columnar crystal grains extending in a thickness direction. When a thickness of the piezoelectric film is referred to as T [?m] and an average diameter of the crystal grains in the width direction is referred to as D [?m], T/D is within a range of 10 to 100. The thickness T of the piezoelectric film is larger than or equal to 2 ?m. A standard deviation of diameters of the crystal grains in the width direction is less than or equal to 1.8 ?m.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate. The vibration plate and the support are integrally molded.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and supports. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The supports support the vibration plate. The angles between the vibration plate and the supports are acute.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a holder. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates an object of vibration in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The holder is joined to the vibration plate and holds the object of vibration. The height of the holder is less than the maximum bending displacement at which the piezoelectric element is not damaged by an external force.

An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, a support, a holder, and first and second fixing portions. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and bends and vibrates in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate on a base to allow bending and vibration of the vibration plate. The holder holds an object of vibration to the vibration plate. The first fixing portion is coupled to the support and fixes the support to the base. The second fixing portion is coupled to the holder and fixes the object of vibration to the holder. The first and second fixing portions are each displaceable in a direction intersecting the direction of the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element.