Piezoelectric single crystal, ultrasonic probe, and array-type ultrasonic probe

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a piezoelectric element having an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface;
• and
• a pair of electrodes formed on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric element and a surface opposite to said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface, respectively, and
• wherein said piezoelectric element is made of a single crystal consisting essentially of a general formula:
• Pb{[M1.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.(2/3)-(2z/3) Ta.sub.2z/3 ].sub.1-x-y Ti.sub.x M2.sub.y }O.sub.3
• wherein M1 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, and Mg, M2 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Bi, Rh, and Ir, and x, y, and z are defined as 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.2, 0.00001.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.01, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.1, respectively.

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a piezoelectric element having an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface;
• and
• a pair of electrodes formed on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric element and a surface opposite to said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface, respectively, and
• wherein said piezoelectric element is made of a single crystal consisting essentially of a general formula:
• Pb{[M3.sub.1/2 Nb.sub.(1/2)-(z/2) Ta.sub.z/2 ].sub.1-x-y Ti.sub.x M2.sub.y }O.sub.3
• wherein M.sub.2 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Bi, Rh, and Ir, M3 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Sc and In, and x, y, and z are defined as 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.6, 0.00001.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.01, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.1, respectively.

An array-type ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a plurality of piezoelectric elements aligned and each having an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface;
• and
• a pair of electrodes formed on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of each piezoelectric element and a surface opposite to said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface, respectively, and
• wherein said piezoelectric element is made of a single crystal consisting essentially of a general formula:
• Pb{[M1.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.(2/3)-(2z/3) Ta.sub.2z/3 ].sub.1-x-y Ti.sub.x M2.sub.y }O.sub.3
• wherein M1 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, and Mg, M2 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Bi, Rh, and Ir, and x, y, and z are defined as 0.05.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.2, 0.00001.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.01, and 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.1, respectively.

An array-type ultrasonic probe comprising:

• a plurality of piezoelectric elements aligned and each having an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface;
• and
• a pair of electrodes formed on the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of each piezoelectric element and a surface opposite to said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface, respectively, and
• wherein said piezoelectric element is made of a single crystal consisting essentially of a general formula:
• Pb{[M3.sub.1/2 Nb.sub.(1/2)-(z/2) Ta.sub.z/2 ].sub.1-x-y Ti.sub.x M2.sub.y }O.sub.3
• wherein M2 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Fe, Bi, Rh, and Ir, M3 represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Sc and In, and x, y, and z are defined as 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.6, 0.00001.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.01, and0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.1, respectively.