An impact sensor for a vehicle. The impact sensor includes at least one strain-sensitive sensor element which comprises a sensor material, and at least two terminals, between which the sensor material is electrically connected. The sensor material is a metal-containing carbon material.

A method of making a solvent cast polymer composite film comprising (a) contacting barium titanate, a titanate coupling agent (TCA) and a mixing solvent to form a barium titanate and TCA solution; (b) dispersing at least a portion of the barium titanate and TCA solution to form TCA treated barium titanate; (c) contacting at least a portion of the TCA treated barium titanate with a polyetherimide and a casting solvent to form a polymer composite casting solution; (d) casting at least a portion of the polymer composite casting solution onto a casting substrate to form a solvent cast polymer composite solution; and (e) curing at least a portion of the solvent cast polymer composite solution to form the solvent cast polymer composite film.

A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (“PE”) actuator includes a PE element including a laminated object having a PE layer and a pair of electrodes arranged respectively on both sides of the PE layer, and having an operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and a non-operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is not sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, and a moisture-proof film covering at least the vicinity of a boundary between the operating part and the non-operating part, consisting of a liquid with a saturated moisture content at 25 degree Celsius of 300 ppm or less and a withstand voltage at the saturated moisture content of not less than 6 kV/mm. The liquid contains hydrocarbon system organic compound having a main backbone of carbon-carbon bond and consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.

A high-aspect ratio structure production method and an ultrasonic probe production method of the present invention include: forming, in a principal surface of a substrate, a plurality of pores each extending in a direction intersecting the principal surface; plugging, among the plurality of pores, one or more pores formed in a first region; and forming a recess in a second region by a wet etching process. A high-aspect ratio structure includes a grating having a plurality of convex portions, wherein each of the plurality of convex portions is provided with a plugging member plugging a plurality of pores formed therein in a thickness direction of the structure.

A leaf spring manufactured from composite material has a variable cross sectional area. The leaf spring is manufactured by die forming a core of a constant cross section, then winding fibers onto the core to create a spring with a variable cross section and then cutting the spring to size. A ply lay-up station is shown which winds fiber onto a die formed workpiece as it moves through the station.

An illustrative humidity sensor may include a substrate and a sensing field effect transistor. The sensing field effect transistor may comprise a source formed on the substrate, a drain formed on the substrate, a gate, and a piezoelectric layer disposed over the gate. Another illustrative humidity sensor may comprise a substrate, a semi-conductor layer disposed over the substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the semi-conductor layer, a first electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode disposed on the piezoelectric layer. In some instances, the piezoelectric layer may comprise aluminum nitride.

Provided is a flexible piezoelectric composite. The flexible piezoelectric composite includes a matrix having first and second polymers, wherein Young's modulus of the first polymer and Young's modulus of the second polymer are different from each other; and a conductive nanostructure disposed in the matrix. In addition, a piezoelectric device including the flexible piezoelectric composite is provided.

Provided is an electroacoustic converter film including: a polymeric composite piezoelectric body having piezoelectric particles dispersed in a viscoelastic matrix which is formed of a polymer material exhibiting viscoelasticity at ordinary temperatures; thin film electrodes formed on both sides of the polymeric composite piezoelectric body; and protective layers formed on surfaces of the thin film electrodes. The electroacoustic converter film serves as a speaker capable of being integrated with a flexible display without impairing lightweightness or flexibility, and has considerable frequency dispersion in the storage modulus and also has a local maximum of the loss tangent around ordinary temperatures. A flexible display, a vocal cord microphone and a musical instrument sensor, in each of which the electroacoustic converter film is used, are also provided.

Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric material having satisfactory piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a device driving temperature range (−30° C. to 50° C.) The piezoelectric material includes a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by Formula 1, a first auxiliary component composed of Mn, and a second auxiliary component composed of Bi or Bi and Li. The content of Mn is 0.040 parts by weight or more and 0.500 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis. The content of Bi is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less and the content of Li is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) based on 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide on a metal basis. (Ba.sub.1-xCa.sub.x).sub.a(Ti.sub.1-yZr.sub.y)O.sub.3 . . . (1), wherein, 0.030≦x<0.090, 0.030≦y≦0.080, and 0.9860≦a≦1.0200.

Provided is a piezoelectric element capable of reliably performing an electrical connection to an electrode layer. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, electrode layers formed on both sides of the piezoelectric layer, and a protective layer laminated on a surface of the electrode layer opposite to a surface on the polymer composite piezoelectric body side. The protective layer has a hole that penetrates from the surface to the electrode layer. The piezoelectric element further includes a filling member consisting of a conductive material, which is formed from the inside of the hole to a part of a surface of the protective layer and is electrically connected to the electrode layer, a conductive member which covers at least a part of the filling member and is electrically connected to the filling member, and a fixing member for fixing the conductive member.