Piezoelectric element, ink jet head, and ink jet recording device

Abstract

A piezoelectric element includes a pressure chamber member that has an opening 1 communicating with a nozzle, a vibrating plate that is disposed on the pressure chamber member so as to cover the opening 1, a lower electrode that is disposed on the vibrating plate, a piezoelectric body 5 that is disposed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode 6 that is disposed on the piezoelectric body 5 and in a region opposed to the opening 1, and a lead electrode 7 that is disposed on the piezoelectric body 5, that extends from the upper electrode 6, and that has a width smaller than that of the upper electrode 6. The piezoelectric body 5 includes a groove portion 12 that is disposed in a predetermined region along an edge portion 2a of the opening and an inactive region (piezoelectric inactive region 11) that is a region other than the groove portion 12, that is disposed along the edge portion 2a of the opening, and that does not substantially serve as a piezoelectric element. The lead electrode 7 is disposed in the piezoelectric inactive region 11.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.