A droplet discharging head executes multi-path recording in which dot recording in one main scanning line is completed by n main scans when n is an integer of 2 or more. The droplet discharging head includes: a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid as droplets; a pressure chamber defining substrate defining a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzles; a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer containing a perovskite-type composite oxide containing K, Na, and Nb as a main component; and a vibration plate forming a part of a wall surface of the pressure chamber and configured to vibrate by driving of the piezoelectric element. The number of paths n in the multi-path recording, a piezoelectric constant d.sub.31 [m/v] of the piezoelectric element, and a ratio x of a Na molar fraction to a total value of a K molar fraction and the Na molar fraction in the piezoelectric layer satisfy a relationship represented by a formula (1).

Disclosed are an inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the same, the inkjet printhead including: a first layer including an inlet formed to penetrate a substrate and introduce ink therein, and a plurality of membranes; a second layer disposed beneath the first layer, and including a manifold formed to penetrate a substrate and communicate with the inlet or recessed on a top of the substrate, and a plurality of nozzle channels formed to penetrate the substrate below the membrane and allow the ink transferred from the manifold to flow therein; a third layer disposed beneath the second layer, and including a plurality of nozzles formed in a substrate and communicating the plurality of nozzle channels; a piezoelectric actuator formed on the first layer formed with the membrane, and including a lower first electrode, a piezoelectric body on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the piezoelectric body; a first voltage controller configured to oscillate the membrane by applying a pulse voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode; a third electrode disposed beneath the third layer, formed around each nozzle, and surrounded with an insulator; and a second voltage controller configured to discharge droplets of the ink based on induced electric force by applying voltage to the third electrode.

A liquid discharging head includes a pressure chamber partitioning portion that includes a plurality of partitioning walls that partition a pressure chamber in which a pressure to discharge a liquid is applied to the liquid, a diaphragm that includes a wall surface that faces the pressure chamber, The pressure chamber is located between the partitioning walls in a second direction. The wall surface of the diaphragm includes a first portion at a first position, and a second portion. A position of the second portion in the first direction is on an opposite side in the first direction with respect to a position of the first portion in the first direction.

A method of constructing a micro-valve includes providing a substrate for an actuating beam of the micro-valve, the substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a plurality of constituent layers on the first surface of the actuating beam, including a layer of piezoelectric material. The method also includes removing a portion of the substrate from at least one of the first surface or the second surface to define a cantilevered portion of the actuating beam. The method also includes providing an orifice plate including an orifice. The method also includes providing a valve seat on a surface of the orifice plate, the valve seat having an opening aligned with the orifice. The method also includes attaching the surface of the orifice plate to the second surface via an adhesive such that an overlapping portion of the cantilevered portion overlaps the orifice.

A liquid discharge head includes: a chamber substrate; a diaphragm on the chamber substrate; a lower electrode on the diaphragm; a piezoelectric member on the lower electrode; an upper electrode on the piezoelectric member; wiring electrically connected to the upper electrode to transmit driving signal to the piezoelectric member; and a nozzle substrate having a nozzle. The chamber substrate includes an individual chamber facing the diaphragm, the individual chamber has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the piezoelectric member has polygonal shape having four or more sides, the wiring covers a middle point of a first side of the four or more sides of the individual chamber, and a distance A is smaller than a distance B.

Provided is an inkjet head containing: a substrate having a nozzle hole, and a nozzle plate having a liquid repellent layer on an outermost surface of the substrate on an ink discharge surface side, wherein the nozzle plate has a conductive layer between the substrate and the liquid repellent layer.

A piezoelectric actuator includes a substrate, and a first piezoelectric device and a second piezoelectric device formed at the substrate. The first piezoelectric device includes a first lower electrode, a first piezoelectric body, and a first upper electrode. The second piezoelectric device includes a second lower electrode, a second piezoelectric body, and a second upper electrode. A side surface of the first lower electrode is not covered with the first piezoelectric body, and a side surface of the second lower electrode is not covered with the second piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric actuator further includes a common electrode formed at the substrate and coupled to the first upper electrode and the second upper electrode, and an insulating layer located between the common electrode and the first lower electrode and between the common electrode and the second lower electrode.

A piezoelectric transducer includes a semiconductor body with a bottom electrode of conductive material. A piezoelectric element is on the bottom electrode. A first protective layer, on the bottom electrode and the piezoelectric element, has a first opening through which a portion of the piezoelectric element is exposed, and a second opening through which a portion of the bottom electrode is exposed. A conductive layer on the first protective layer and within the first and second openings is patterned to form a top electrode in electrical contact with the piezoelectric element at the first opening, a first biasing stripe in electrical contact with the top electrode, and a second biasing stripe in electrical contact with the bottom electrode at the second opening.

An inkjet head having a metal wiring on a board in an ink flow path or an ink tank includes a base layer and an organic protective layer on the metal wiring, arranged in an order of the metal wiring, the base layer, and the organic protective layer. The base layer has an interface that is in contact with the metal wiring and that includes at least one of a metal oxide and a metal nitride. The base layer has an interface that is in contact with the organic protective layer and that includes at least one of a silicon oxide and a silicon nitride.

A method for producing a piezoelectric actuator including forming a vibration plate, forming a first electrode on the vibration plate, forming a piezoelectric layer on the first electrode, and forming a second electrode on the piezoelectric layer, wherein the forming the vibration plate has a single layer forming step including forming a metal layer containing zirconium by a gas phase method, and forming a metal oxide layer by firing the metal layer, the single layer forming step is repeated, thereby forming the vibration plate in which the metal oxide layers are stacked, and the metal oxide layer has a thickness less than 200 nm.