A magneto-electric converter capable of converting a variation in magnetic field into a potential difference between two electrical terminals includes a support layer comprising two electrical terminals; a stack disposed on the support layer of a first layer made from a magnetostrictive material defining the reference plane and of a second layer made from a piezoelectric material having a polarization axis in the plane defined by the second layer, parallel to the reference plane; the second layer comprising electrodes; and a means for electrical connection of the electrodes to the electrical terminals.

A piezoelectric substrate manufacturing device that includes first and electrodes that face each other with a piezoelectric substrate interposed therebetween; a cover that surrounds the second electrode such that the leading end of the second electrode is exposed; a supply unit that supplies a processing gas to an internal space of the cover; a processing unit that performs surface processing on the piezoelectric substrate by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes causing the processing gas to change into plasma; a detector that is provided outside the cover with its relative position fixed with respect to the second electrode; a measurement unit that measures the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate using the detector; a driving unit that changes the relative positions of the first and second electrodes; and a control unit that controls the supply unit, the processing unit, the measurement unit, and the driving unit.

There is provided a magnetic deformable member that is deformable upon application of magnetism, and that has a front surface that projects toward the side opposite to a magnet when such a magnet is placed. The front surface provides variations in tactile feel or viewability for humans by providing a soft tactile feel. A magnetic deformable member includes: a flexible sheet; a back plate made of a hard material and stacked on the flexible sheet; a gel charged inside a space between the flexible sheet and the back plate; and a magnetic member having an annular shape as viewed in plan in a direction that is perpendicular to a front surface of the flexible sheet and having a length in the perpendicular direction. The magnetic member is secured to the flexible sheet, and disposed in the gel.

Disclosed is a piezoelectric sensing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of piezoelectric regions, each piezoelectric region including an anode surface and a cathode surface, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric regions are successively connected from the first piezoelectric region to the last piezoelectric region such that between adjacent piezoelectric regions, surfaces of a same polarity are connected, i.e., one anode surface is connected to another anode surface, while one cathode surface is connected to another cathode surface. The piezoelectric sensing apparatus as provided may effectively boost a high-frequency signal while weaken a low-frequency signal, such that an output waveform signal facilitates improving the positioning accuracy.

An electrical generator comprises a converter including two electrical terminals for converting a variation in a magnetic field into a potential difference between the terminals. The generator includes a stack of a first layer comprising an anisotropic magnetostrictive material defining a reference plane and a second layer comprising a piezoelectric material. The first layer has at least one preferential axis of deformation in the reference plane and the second layer has a polarization axis parallel to the reference plane, the preferential axis of deformation of the first layer being aligned to within 15° with the polarization axis of the second layer. The generator includes a source that generates the magnetic field, the strength of which is insufficient to magnetically saturate the material of the first layer. The source and converter are able to rotate with respect to each other so as to vary the orientation of the magnetic field.

A heterostructure includes a substrate exhibiting a piezoelectric effect, and a magnetostrictive film supported by the substrate. The magnetostrictive film includes an iron-gallium alloy. The iron-gallium alloy has a gallium composition greater than 20%.

This invention relates to an operational element and a method for manufacturing the operational element that comprises magnetic shape memory alloy. in the method at least a part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an active region that is responsive to a magnetic field and at least one other part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an inactive region that is unresponsive to a magnetic field.

A dielectric material structure is formed laterally adjacent to a bottom portion of a bottom electrode metal-containing portion that extends upward from an electrically conductive structure that is embedded in an interconnect dielectric material layer. The physically exposed top portion of the bottom electrode metal-containing portion is then trimmed to provide a bottom electrode of unitary construction (i.e., a single piece) that has a lower portion having a first diameter and an upper portion that has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The presence of the dielectric material structure prevents tilting and/or bowing of the resultant bottom electrode. Thus, a stable bottom electrode is provided.

A heterostructure includes a substrate exhibiting a piezoelectric effect, and a magnetostrictive film supported by the substrate. The magnetostrictive film includes an iron-gallium alloy. The iron-gallium alloy has a gallium composition greater than 20%.

Magnetoelectric heterostructures, and related articles, systems, and methods, are generally described.