A vibration structure that includes a film having a first electrode on a first main surface thereof, the first electrode defining a first connection region on the first main surface where the first electrode is not present, and the film is constructed to be deformed in a plane direction when a voltage is applied thereto; a frame-shaped member; a vibration portion surrounded by the frame-shaped member; a first connection member that connects the first main surface of the film to the frame-shaped member at the first connection region; a second connection member that connects the film to the vibration portion; and an extended electrode that is connected to the first electrode.

Artificial muscles comprising a body of dielectric elastomer, wherein the body contains a pair of microfluidic networks are presented. Each microfluidic network includes a plurality of channels fluidically coupled via a manifold. The channels of the microfluidic networks are interdigitated and filled with conductive fluid such that each set of adjacent channels functions as the electrodes of an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator. By using the manifolds as compliant wiring to energize the electrodes, artificial muscles in accordance with the present disclosure mitigate some or all of the reliability problems associated with prior-art artificial muscles.

The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to optical systems. The optical systems may include a proximal lens that may transmit light toward an eye of a user. The optical systems may also include a distal lens that may, in combination with the proximal lens, correct for at least a portion of a refractive error of the eye of the user. The optical systems may further include a selective transmission interface. The selective transmission interface may couple the proximal lens to the distal lens, transmits light having a selected property, and does not transmit light that does not have the selected property. The optical system can also include an accommodative lens, such as a liquid lens. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric single-crystal element, a MEMS device using same, and a method for manufacturing same, wherein the piezoelectric single-crystal element includes a wafer, a lower electrode stacked on the wafer, a piezoelectric single-crystal thin film stacked on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode stacked on the piezoelectric single-crystal thin film, wherein the piezoelectric single-crystal thin film is composed of PMN-PT, PIN-PMN-PT or Mn:PIN-PMN-PT, and the piezoelectric single-crystal thin film has a polarization direction set to a <001> axis, a <011> axis or a <111> axis, and a MEMS device using same.

A power factor improvement and power generation apparatus using a piezoelectric element may include: a first piezoelectric element having first and second electrodes, and vibrating when voltage is applied from a power line; and a second piezoelectric element having first and second electrodes, and generating electricity in accordance with vibration of the first piezoelectric element. This apparatus is possible to improve a power factor of a power line and generate power using the inherent condenser component, which a piezoelectric element has, instead of a power factor compensation condenser, and it is also possible to generate power.

A crystal oscillator includes a piezoelectric substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a support frame. The first electrode includes a first electrode portion disposed on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The second electrode is disposed on a second surface of the piezoelectric substrate opposite to the first surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The support frame is made of a photoresist material, and is disposed on the second surface. The support frame surrounds the second electrode portion. At least a portion of the second extending electrode portion is located outside the support frame. A method for making the crystal oscillator is also provided herein.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cut sheet-like piezoelectric film which includes electrode layers on both surfaces of a piezoelectric layer and is capable of preventing a short circuit of the electrode layers. The object is achieved by providing a cut sheet-like piezoelectric film including a piezoelectric layer which contains piezoelectric particles in a matrix containing a polymer material, and electrode layers which are provided on both surfaces of the piezoelectric layer, in which a distance between the electrode layers at an end portion in a thickness direction is 40% or greater with respect to a thickness of the piezoelectric layer.

An ultrasonic transducer array including a substrate, a membrane overlying the substrate, the membrane configured to allow movement at ultrasonic frequencies, and a plurality of anchors connected to the substrate and connected to the membrane. The membrane includes a piezoelectric layer, a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodes, wherein each ultrasonic transducer of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers includes at least a first electrode and at least a second electrode. The plurality of anchors includes a first anchor including a first electrical connection for electrically coupling at least one first electrode to control circuitry and a second anchor including a second electrical connection for electrically coupling at least one second electrode. The ultrasonic transducer array could be either a two-dimensional array or a one-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers.

Described herein are embodiments of fiber scanning systems and methods of scanning optical fibers. The disclosed systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the scanning range, the oscillation amplitude, and/or the maximum pointing angle for an optical fiber in a fiber scanning system by inducing a buckling of a portion of the optical fiber.

Described herein are embodiments of fiber scanning systems and methods of scanning optical fibers. The disclosed systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the scanning range, the oscillation amplitude, and/or the maximum pointing angle for an optical fiber in a fiber scanning system by inducing a buckling of a portion of the optical fiber.