Patent Publication Number: US-2021166883-A1

Title: First-stage ceramic collective board, second-stage ceramic collective board, manufacturing method for second-stage ceramic collective board, and manufacturing method for multilayer electronic component

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of International application No. PCT/JP2019/031963, filed Aug. 14, 2019, which claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2018-161885, filed on Aug. 30, 2018, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of ceramic collective boards and more particularly to a first-stage ceramic collective board and a second-stage ceramic collective board used for manufacturing a multilayer electronic component. The present disclosure further describes a manufacturing method for the second-stage ceramic collective board and a manufacturing method for a multilayer electronic component. 
     BACKGROUND 
     To manufacture multiple multilayer electronic components together at the same time in a manufacturing process, a ceramic collective board including multiple ceramic multilayer bodies may be prepared and cut into individual ceramic multilayer bodies. Because inner electrodes are formed inside a ceramic collective board, it is necessary that cutting positions of the ceramic collective board be determined carefully. 
     In one approach to the manufacturing method, an image of the inside of a ceramic collective board can be taken, and after the positions of inner electrodes are checked with the image, the cutting positions can be determined. In another approach, positioning marks can be formed on the main surface of a ceramic collective board in advance. Then, an image of the ceramic collective board can be with X rays, and data indicating the association between the positions of inner electrodes and the positioning marks can be created. After the positions of the inner electrodes are checked based on the positioning marks, the cutting positions can be determined. 
     In both approaches, however, a large-scale device, such as an X-ray device, is required to determine the cutting positions. In a typical manufacturing method for a ceramic collective board, multiple ceramic green sheets coated with a conductive paste used for inner electrodes are stacked and pressure-bonded so as to be integrated with each other and are then fired, thereby manufacturing a ceramic collective board. It is desirable to form all the inner electrodes at correct positions in the ceramic collective board. When ceramic green sheets are stacked at high speed, however, some ceramic green sheets may be displaced out of correct positions, and in this state, the ceramic green sheets are stacked on each other. As a result, in the manufactured ceramic collective board after the firing step, the inner electrodes made from the conductive paste applied to the misaligned ceramic green sheets are located out of the correct positions. That is, misalignment of the inner electrodes occurs. 
     In both of the approaches described above, the cutting positions are determined without considering the possibility of occurrence of misalignment of inner electrodes. In a multilayer electronic component manufactured by these approaches, the lengths of some inner electrodes in the ceramic multilayer body may become considerably longer or shorter than the design dimension, and the length of the ceramic multilayer body may also become considerably longer or shorter than the design dimension. Additionally, in multilayer electronic components manufactured by these approaches, two types of ceramic base bodies whose dimensions, such as lengths, are different from each other may be formed together. 
     There thus exists a need to improve the manufacturing methods of multilayer electronic components. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to addressing these shortcomings. To achieve the invention, a first-stage ceramic collective board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first-stage ceramic multilayer body. An X direction, a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and a Z direction perpendicular to both the X direction and the Y direction are used as a basis. Each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction has a positive side and a negative side. The first-stage ceramic multilayer body includes multiple first-stage ceramic layers, multiple first-stage first inner electrodes, and multiple first-stage second inner electrodes. The multiple first-stage ceramic layers extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the Z direction. The multiple first-stage first inner electrodes are disposed between a pair of first-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple first-stage ceramic layers and extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the X direction with a first gap interposed therebetween. The first gap has a width A. The multiple first-stage second inner electrodes are disposed between a pair of first-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple first-stage ceramic layers and extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the X direction with a second gap interposed therebetween. The second gap has a width B. The pair of first-stage ceramic layers sandwiching the multiple first-stage second inner electrodes is different from that sandwiching the multiple first-stage first inner electrodes. The first-stage first inner electrodes each include a first cutout on at least one of end portions in the Y direction. The first cutout extends in the X direction and the Y direction and has the width B in the X direction. The first-stage second inner electrodes each include a second cutout on at least one of end portions in the Y direction. The second cutout extends in the X direction and the Y direction and has the width A in the X direction. When the first-stage ceramic multilayer body is seen through in the Z direction, there are provided a first region where the first gap and the second cutout overlap each other and a second region where the second gap and the first cutout overlap each other. 
     In the above-described first-stage ceramic collective board, the width A and the width B may be equal to each other. With this configuration, a multilayer electronic component including first and second inner electrodes having the same length can be made. 
     A second-stage ceramic collective board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a second-stage ceramic multilayer body. An X direction, a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction are used as a basis. Each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction has a positive side and a negative side. The second-stage ceramic multilayer body includes multiple second-stage ceramic layers, a second-stage first inner electrode, and a second-stage second inner electrode. The multiple second-stage ceramic layers extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the Z direction. The second-stage first inner electrode is disposed between a pair of second-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple second-stage ceramic layers and extends in the X direction and the Y direction. The second-stage second inner electrode is disposed between a pair of second-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple second-stage ceramic layers and extends in the X direction and the Y direction. The pair of second-stage ceramic layers sandwiching the second-stage second inner electrode is different from that sandwiching the second-stage first inner electrode. When the second-stage ceramic multilayer body is seen through in the Z direction, a first end portion of the second-stage first inner electrode in the X direction is separated from a first end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction; at least one of end portions of the second-stage first inner electrode in the Y direction at a second end portion of the second-stage first inner electrode in the X direction is separated from a second end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction; a central portion of the second-stage first inner electrode in the Y direction at the second end portion of the second-stage first inner electrode in the X direction overlaps the second end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction; at least one of end portions of the second-stage second inner electrode in the Y direction at a first end portion of the second-stage second inner electrode in the X direction is separated from the first end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction; a central portion of the second-stage second inner electrode in the Y direction at the first end portion of the second-stage second inner electrode in the X direction overlaps the first end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction; and a second end portion of the second-stage second inner electrode in the X direction is separated from the second end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body in the X direction. 
     A manufacturing method for a second-stage ceramic collective board according to an embodiment of the present disclosure incudes a step of making a first-stage ceramic collective board and a step of making a second-stage ceramic collective board. An X direction, a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and a Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction are used as a basis. Each of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction has a positive side and a negative side. The first-stage ceramic collective board includes a first-stage ceramic multilayer body. The first-stage ceramic multilayer body includes multiple first-stage ceramic layers, multiple first-stage first inner electrodes, and multiple first-stage second inner electrodes. The multiple first-stage ceramic layers extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the Z direction. The multiple first-stage first inner electrodes are disposed between a pair of first-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple first-stage ceramic layers and extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the X direction with a first gap interposed therebetween. The first gap has a width A. The multiple first-stage second inner electrodes are disposed between a pair of first-stage ceramic layers adjacent to each other in the Z direction among the multiple first-stage ceramic layers and extend in the X direction and the Y direction and are arranged side by side in the X direction with a second gap interposed therebetween. The second gap has a width B. The pair of first-stage ceramic layers sandwiching the multiple first-stage second inner electrodes is different from that sandwiching the multiple first-stage first inner electrodes. The first-stage first inner electrodes each include a first cutout on at least one of end portions in the Y direction. The first cutout extends in the X direction and the Y direction and has the width B in the X direction. The first-stage second inner electrodes each include a second cutout on at least one of end portions in the Y direction. The second cutout extends in the X direction and the Y direction and has the width A in the X direction. When the first-stage ceramic multilayer body is seen through in the Z direction, there are provided a first region where the first gap and the second cutout overlap each other and a second region where the second gap and the first cutout overlap each other. The second-stage ceramic collective board is obtained by dividing the first-stage ceramic collective board into multiple portions in the Y direction. The second-stage ceramic collective board includes a second-stage ceramic multilayer body constituted by multiple second-stage ceramic layers stacked on each other. In the second-stage ceramic collective board, a second-stage first inner electrode is formed between at least one pair of second-stage ceramic layers of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body, and a second-stage second inner electrode is formed between at least one pair of second-stage ceramic layers of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body. The at least one pair of second-stage ceramic layers sandwiching the second-stage first inner electrode is different from the at least one pair of second-stage ceramic layers sandwiching the second-stage second inner electrode. When the first-stage ceramic collective board is seen through in the Z direction, the first region includes a first-region positive side and a first-region negative side, the first-region positive side extending in the Y direction and being positioned on the positive side in the X direction, the first-region negative side extending in the Y direction and being positioned on the negative side in the X direction; the second region includes a second-region positive side and a second-region negative side, the second-region positive side extending in the Y direction and being positioned on the positive side in the X direction, the second-region negative side extending in the Y direction and being positioned on the negative side in the X direction; an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the first-region positive side and from the first-region negative side and extending in the Y direction is set to be a first cutting line; and an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the second-region positive side and from the second-region negative side and extending in the Y direction is set to be a second cutting line. The second-stage ceramic collective board is obtained by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board into multiple portions in the Y direction along the first cutting line and the second cutting line. As a result of dividing a second-stage ceramic collective board manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present disclosure, a multilayer electronic component can be manufactured. 
     With the use of the first-stage ceramic collective board and the second-stage ceramic collective board of the present disclosure, even with the occurrence of misalignment of inner electrodes in the first-stage ceramic collective board, a multilayer electronic component including inner electrodes having suitable lengths can be made. Moreover, in completed multilayer electronic components, there are less variations in the lengths of ceramic multilayer bodies. According to the manufacturing method of a multilayer electronic component of the present disclosure, a multilayer electronic component can be made in which inner electrodes are disposed at suitable positions. 
     The above simplified summary of example aspects serves to provide a basic understanding of the present disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the present disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description of the disclosure that follows. To the accomplishment of the foregoing, the one or more aspects of the present disclosure include the features described and exemplarily pointed out in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more example aspects of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain their principles and implementations. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a step performed in an example of a manufacturing method for a multilayer electronic component  100  according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 1  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 2  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 3  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 4  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 5  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a step subsequent to the step in  FIG. 6  performed in the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of mother green sheets  11   a ′,  11   b ′, and  11   c;    
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the positional arrangement of first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and first-stage second inner electrodes  15 ; 
         FIG. 10( a )  is a front view illustrating the positional arrangement of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  in a first example; 
         FIG. 10( b )  is a front view of the multilayer electronic component  100  in the first example; 
         FIG. 11( a )  is a front view illustrating the positional arrangement of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  in a second example; 
         FIG. 11( b )  shows front views of multilayer electronic components  100  in the second example; 
         FIG. 12( a )  is a front view illustrating the positional arrangement of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  in a first comparative example; 
         FIG. 12( b )  shows front views of multilayer electronic components  500  and  600  in the first comparative example; 
         FIG. 13( a )  is a front view illustrating the positional arrangement of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  in a second comparative example; 
         FIG. 13( b )  shows front views of multilayer electronic components  700  and  800  in the second comparative example; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a multilayer electronic component  200  according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a front view illustrating the positional arrangement of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  in a third example; 
         FIG. 16  shows front views of multilayer electronic components  200  in the third example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The individual embodiments merely illustrate examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not restricted thereto. Different embodiments may suitably be combined with each other and be carried out, and the content of such a combined embodiment is encompassed within the disclosure. The drawings are provided for the better understanding of the specification and some drawings are only schematically shown. The size ratio of each component or the size ratio of one component to another component shown in the drawings may not match that described in the specification. Some components described in the specification may not be shown in the drawings, or a component shown in a drawing may not be as many as that described in the specification. 
     First Embodiment 
     A manufacturing method for a multilayer electronic component  100  according to a first embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 .  FIGS. 1 through 7  are perspective views showing individual steps performed in this embodiment. The perspective view of  FIG. 7  also illustrates the completed multilayer electronic component  100 . 
     In the perspective views in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the left-right direction is the X direction, the front-back direction is the Y direction, and the top-bottom direction is the Z direction. In the X direction, the right direction is the positive side, while the left direction is the negative side. In the Y direction, the back direction is the positive side, while the front direction is the negative side. In the Z direction, the top direction is the positive side, while the bottom direction is the negative side. 
     In  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are indicated by the arrows. The head of each arrow indicates the positive side, while the tail of each arrow indicates the negative side. 
     In this embodiment, a multilayer piezoelectric actuator is made as the multilayer electronic component  100 . However, the type of multilayer electronic component to be made in the disclosure is not limited to a multilayer piezoelectric actuator and may be another type, such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a multilayer thermistor. 
     Reference is first made to  FIG. 7  to discuss the completed multilayer electronic component (multilayer piezoelectric actuator)  100  made in this embodiment. 
     The multilayer electronic component  100  includes a ceramic multilayer body  1  having three ceramic layers  1   a ,  1   b , and  1   c . The ceramic layers  1   a ,  1   b , and  1   c  are each made of piezoelectric ceramics and are stacked on each other. The ceramic multilayer body  1  has a first main surface (bottom main surface)  1 B and a second main surface (top main surface)  1 T. The ceramic multilayer body  1  also has a pair of side surfaces  1 S 1  and  1 S 2  and a pair of end surfaces  1 E 1  and  1 E 2  that link the first main surface  1 B and the second main surface  1 T. 
     The ceramic layers  1   a ,  1   b , and  1   c  are polarized in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the ceramic layers  1   a  and  1   c  are polarized in the same direction, while the polarization direction of the ceramic layers  1   a  and  1   c  is opposite that of the ceramic layer  1   b.    
     The ceramic multilayer body  1  has a length J in the direction in which the end surfaces  1 E 1  and  1 E 2  oppose each other. The length J is a design dimension. 
     A first inner electrode  2  is provided between the ceramic layers  1   a  and  1   b . In the first inner electrode  2 , the end portion on the negative side of the X direction reaches the end surface  1 E 1  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 , while the end portion on the positive side in the X direction does not reach the end surface  1 E 2 . The first inner electrode  2  has a length K in the X direction. A distance D 1  having a length L is provided between the end portion of the first inner electrode  2  on the positive side in the X direction and the end surface  1 E 2  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The lengths K and L are design dimensions. 
     A second inner electrode  3  is provided between the ceramic layers  1   b  and  1   c . In the second inner electrode  3 , the end portion on the positive side of the X direction reaches the end surface  1 E 2  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 , while the end portion on the negative side in the X direction does not reach the end surface  1 E 1 . The second inner electrode  3  has a length M in the X direction. A distance D 2  having a length N is provided between the end portion of the second inner electrode  3  on the negative side in the X direction and the end surface  1 E 1  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The lengths M and N are design dimensions. 
     In this embodiment, the length K of the first inner electrode  2  and the length M of the second inner electrode  3  are designed to be equal to each other. The length L of the distance D 1  and the length N of the distance D 2  are also designed to be equal to each other. 
     Any suitable material may be used for the first inner electrode  2  and the second inner electrode  3 . For example, a metal, such as AgPd or Pt, may be used. 
     A first outer electrode  4  is provided on the end surface  1 E 1  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The first outer electrode  4  is partly disposed also on the first main surface  1 B and the second main surface  1 T of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The first inner electrode  2  is connected to the first outer electrode  4 . 
     A second outer electrode  5  is provided on the end surface  1 E 2  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The second outer electrode  5  is partly disposed also on the first main surface  1 B and the second main surface  1 T of the ceramic multilayer body  1 . The second inner electrode  3  is connected to the second outer electrode  5 . 
     Any suitable structure and material may be used for the first and second outer electrodes  4  and  5 . Each of the first and second outer electrodes  4  and  5  may be formed in a double layer structure in which a first layer is made of NiCr and a second layer is made of Au. 
     In the multilayer electronic component (multilayer piezoelectric actuator)  100 , the ceramic multilayer body  1  is bent as a result of applying a voltage to between the first outer electrode  4  and the second outer electrode  5 . 
     An example of the manufacturing method for the multilayer electronic component  100  will be described below. 
     To make multiple ceramic multilayer bodies  1  together at the same time, a first-stage ceramic collective board is first formed. 
     In the specification of this application, the ceramic collective board which is initially made may be called a first-stage ceramic collective board, while multiple ceramic collective boards produced by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board may be called second-stage ceramic collective boards. 
     First of all, three mother green sheets  11   a ′,  11   b ′, and  11   c ′ are prepared, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and are each formed as follows. A slurry is first prepared by mixing piezoelectric ceramic powder, a binder, and a solvent, for example, and is then formed into a sheet by doctor blading, for example. The mother green sheets  11   a ′,  11   b ′, and  11   c ′ each have a rectangular shape as viewed from above and extend in the X and Y directions. 
     The plan view of each of the mother green sheets  11   a ′,  11   b ′, and  11   c ′ is shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 8 , the left-right direction is the X direction, and the top-bottom direction is the Y direction. 
     Three first-stage first inner electrodes  12  are formed on the top main surface of the mother green sheet  11   a ′ by applying a conductive paste thereto in a predetermined shape. Each of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from above and has a pair of sides extending in the X direction and a pair of sides extending in the Y direction. 
     Each of the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  is disposed next to another first-stage first inner electrode  12  with a first gap  13  interposed therebetween. The first gap  13  has a width A and extends in the Y direction. The first gap  13  has a negative side  13 B positioned on the negative side in the X direction and a positive side  13 A positioned on the positive side in the X direction. 
     A first cutout  14  is formed at the central portion of each side extending in the X direction of each first-stage first inner electrode  12 . The first cutout  14  is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from above and has a width B and extends in the Y direction. The first cutout  14  has a positive side  14 A positioned on the positive side in the X direction and a negative side  14 B positioned on the negative side in the X direction. 
     Likewise, three first-stage second inner electrodes  15  are formed on the top main surface of the mother green sheet  11   b ′ by applying a conductive paste thereto in a predetermined shape. Each of the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from above and has a pair of sides extending in the X direction and a pair of sides extending in the Y direction. 
     Each of the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  is disposed next to another first-stage second inner electrode  15  with a second gap  16  interposed therebetween. The second gap  16  has a width B and extends in the Y direction. The second gap  16  has a negative side  16 B positioned on the negative side in the X direction and a positive side  16 A positioned on the positive side in the X direction. 
     A second cutout  17  is formed at the central portion of each side extending in the X direction of each first-stage second inner electrode  15 . The second cutout  17  is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from above and has a width A and extends in the Y direction. The second cutout  17  has a positive side  17 A positioned on the positive side in the X direction and a negative side  17 B positioned on the negative side in the X direction. 
     In this embodiment, the length K of the first inner electrode  2  and the length M of the second inner electrode  3  are designed to be equal to each other. The length L of the distance D 1  and the length N of the distance D 2  are also designed to be equal to each other. In this embodiment, the width A of the first gap  13  and the width A of the second cutout  17  is accordingly equal to the width B of the first cutout  14  and the width B of the second gap  16 . That is, the width A is equal to the width B. 
     The first-stage first inner electrodes  12  are formed on the top main surface of the mother green sheet  11   a ′ and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  are formed on the top main surface of the mother green sheet  11   b ′ with a very high dimensional accuracy by screen printing, for example. In the mother green sheet  11   a ′, the first-stage first inner electrodes  12 , the first gaps  13 , and the first cutouts  14  are individually formed in predetermined shapes with predetermined dimensions at predetermined positions almost without errors. Likewise, in the mother green sheet  11   b ′, the first-stage second inner electrodes  15 , the second gaps  16 , and the second cutouts  17  are individually formed in predetermined shapes with predetermined dimensions at predetermined positions almost without errors. 
     Then, the mother green sheet  11   a ′ having the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  formed on its top main surface, the mother green sheet  11   b ′ having the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  formed on its top main surface, and the mother green sheet  11   c ′ are stacked in the Z direction and are pressure-bonded so as to be integrated with each other. When stacking the mother green sheets, the mother green sheet  11   b ′ is positioned on the mother green sheet  11   a ′ so that the first gaps  13  and the second cutouts  17  overlap each other and the second gaps  16  and the first cutouts  14  overlap each other. 
     Subsequently, the mother green sheets  11   a ′,  11   b ′, and  11   c ′ stacked and integrated with each other are fired to make a first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . The first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  includes first-stage ceramic layers  11   a ,  11   b , and  11   c  arranged side by side in the Z direction. In the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11 , in the Z direction, each first gap  13  and the corresponding second cutout  17  overlap each other in a first region  18 , while each second gap  16  and the corresponding first cutout  14  overlap each other in a second region  19 . 
     In the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11 , the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  are disposed between the first-stage ceramic layers  11   a  and  11   b , while the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  are disposed between the first-stage ceramic layers  11   b  and  11   c.    
     The first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  includes multiple second-stage ceramic multilayer bodies  21 , which will be discussed later. The multiple second-stage ceramic multilayer bodies  21  are arranged side by side in the X direction. In  FIG. 2 , each boundary line between two adjacent second-stage ceramic multilayer bodies  21  is indicated by the long dashed dotted line P. Both end portions of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  in the X direction are portions each adjacent to a second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  in the X direction. Both end portions of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  in the X direction each include only one of the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  and are thus discarded after the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  is cut into the second-stage ceramic multilayer bodies  21 . In  FIG. 2 , the boundary line between the end portion of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  on the positive side in the X direction and its adjacent second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  and that between the end portion of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  on the negative side in the X direction and its adjacent second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  are also indicated by the long dashed dotted lines P. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a bottom-surface electrode  22  is formed on the bottom main surface of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  by sputtering, for example, while a top-surface electrode  23  is formed on the top main surface of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  by sputtering, for example. The bottom-surface electrode  22  and the top-surface electrode  23  each form part of the first outer electrode  4  or the second outer electrode  5  in the completed multilayer electronic component  100 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom-surface electrode  22  and the top-surface electrode  23  are processed into a desired shape by etching. 
     After the above-described steps, a first-stage ceramic collective board  50  in this embodiment has been completed. The first-stage ceramic collective board  50  includes multiple second-stage ceramic multiplayer bodies  21  arranged side by side in the X direction, which will be discussed later. 
     Then, the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  is cut along the long dashed dotted lines P, thereby resulting in the multiple second-stage ceramic multilayer bodies  21 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 5 . The second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  has second-stage ceramic layers  21   a ,  21   b , and  21   c.    
     When cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , extra care should be taken not to cause misalignment between the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  stacked on each other in the X direction. An explanation will be given regarding how to set cutting lines by using  FIG. 10(A)  of a first example,  FIG. 11(A)  of a second example, and  FIG. 15  of a third example. Reference is preferably made mainly to  FIG. 15  and to  FIGS. 10(A) and 11(A)  if necessary. 
     The setting of cutting lines will be discussed more specifically. Seeing through the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  in the Z direction, the region where all the first gaps  13  and second cutouts  17  overlap each other in the Z direction through the first-stage ceramic layers  11   a  through  11   c  is set to be a first region  18 . Then, seeing through the first region  18  in the Z direction, the side extending in the Y direction and positioned on the positive side in the X direction is set to be a first-region positive side  18 A, while the side extending in the Y direction and positioned on the negative side in the X direction is set to be a first-region negative side  18 B. An imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the first-region positive side  18 A and from the first-region negative side  18 B and extending in the Y direction is set to be a first cutting line  51 . The first-region positive side  18 A coincides with one of the positive sides  13 A of the first gaps  13  and the positive sides  17 A of the second cutouts  17  which is positioned on the most negative side in the X direction, as viewed from the Z direction. The first-region negative side  18 B coincides with one of the negative sides  13 B of the first gaps  13  and the negative sides  17 B of the second cutouts  17  which is positioned on the most positive side in the X direction, as viewed from the Z direction. 
     Seeing through the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  in the Z direction, the region where all the second gaps  16  and first cutouts  14  overlap each other in the Z direction through the first-stage ceramic layers  11   a  through  11   c  is set to be a second region  19 . Then, seeing through the second region  19  in the Z direction, the side extending in the Y direction and positioned on the positive side in the X direction is set to be a second-region positive side  19 A, while the side extending in the Y direction and positioned on the negative side in the X direction is set to be a second-region negative side  19 B. An imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the second-region positive side  19 A and from the second-region negative side  19 B and extending in the Y direction is set to be a second cutting line  52 . The second-region positive side  19 A coincides with one of the positive sides  16 A of the second gaps  16  and the positive sides  14 A of the first cutouts  14  which is positioned on the most negative side in the X direction, as viewed from the Z direction. The second-region negative side  19 B coincides with one of the negative sides  16 B of the second gaps  16  and the negative sides  14 B of the first cutouts  14  which is positioned on the most positive side in the X direction, as viewed from the Z direction. The first-stage ceramic collective board  50  is then cut along the first cutting lines  51  and the second cutting lines  52  in the Y direction. Details of the cutting of the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  will be discussed later in first and second examples and first and second comparative examples. 
     The first-region positive side  18 A, the first-region negative side  18 B, the second-region positive side  19 A, and the second-region negative side  19 B can be determined easily by applying light to the bottom main surface or the top main surface of the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  and seeing the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  from above in the Z direction. In the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  is constituted by the very thin first-stage ceramic layers  11   a  through  11   c , and also, in the Z direction, the first gap  13  and the second cutout  17  overlap each other and the second gap  16  and the first cutout  16  overlap each other. The state of the inside of the first-stage ceramic multilayer body  11  can be recognized easily by applying light from the outside without using a special device, such as an X-ray device. 
     In the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21 , a second-stage first inner electrode  42  is disposed between the second-stage ceramic layers  21   a  and  21   b , while a second-stage second inner electrode  43  is disposed between the second-stage ceramic layers  21   b  and  21   c . The second-stage first inner electrode  42  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the first-stage first inner electrode  12 . The second-stage second inner electrode  43  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the first-stage second inner electrode  15 . 
     The second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  includes multiple ceramic multilayer bodies  1 . The multiple ceramic multilayer bodies  1  are arranged side by side in the Y direction. In  FIG. 6 , each boundary line between two adjacent ceramic multilayer bodies  1  is indicated by the long dashed dotted line Q. Both end portions of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  in the Y direction are portions each adjacent to a ceramic multilayer body  1  in the Y direction. Both end portions of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  in the Y direction each include the first cutout  14  and the second cutout  17  and are thus discarded after the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  is cut into the ceramic multilayer bodies  1 . In  FIG. 6 , the boundary line between the end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  on the positive side in the Y direction and its adjacent ceramic multilayer body  1  and that between the end portion of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  on the negative side in the Y direction and its adjacent ceramic multilayer body  1  are also indicated by the long dashed dotted lines Q. 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a second-stage first outer electrode  34  and a second-stage second outer electrode  35  are formed on the divided surfaces of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  by sputtering, for example. The second-stage first outer electrode  34  and the second-stage second outer electrode  35  are each integrated with the bottom-surface electrode  22  remaining on the bottom main surface of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  and the top-surface electrode  23  remaining on the top main surface of the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21 . 
     Then, poling treatment required for the second-stage ceramic multilayer body  21  is performed by applying a predetermined voltage to between the second-stage first outer electrode  34  and the second-stage second outer electrode  35 . Poling treatment is performed so that the polarization direction of the second-stage ceramic layers  21   a  and  21   c  becomes opposite that of the second-stage ceramic layer  21   b  in the thickness direction. 
     After the above-described steps, a second-stage ceramic collective board  60  of this embodiment has been completed. 
     Subsequently, the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is cut along the long dashed dotted lines Q, thereby resulting in multiple multilayer electronic components  100 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 7 . In the multilayer electronic component  100 , the first inner electrode  2  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the second-stage first inner electrode  42 , while the second inner electrode  3  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the second-stage second inner electrode  43 . In the multilayer electronic component  100 , the first outer electrode  4  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the second-stage first outer electrode  34 , while the second outer electrode  5  is one of the portions obtained by cutting the second-stage second outer electrode  35 . As a result, the multilayer electronic component  100  according to the first embodiment has been completed. 
     As stated above, when cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , extra care is taken so as not to cause misalignment between the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  stacked on each other in the X direction. An explanation will be given regarding how to cut the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  are disposed so that each first gap  13  and the corresponding second cutout  17  overlap each other in the first region  18  in the Z direction and each second gap  16  and the corresponding first cutout  14  overlap each other in the second region  19  in the Z direction. For enhancing the visibility, in  FIG. 9 , the first cutouts  14  and the second cutouts  17  only at the near side of the drawing are designated by reference numerals. 
     Ideally, it is desirable that the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  be disposed without misalignment therebetween in the X direction. 
     The case in which the first-stage first inner electrodes  12  and the first-stage second inner electrodes  15  are positioned without misalignment therebetween in the X direction is shown in  FIG. 10(A)  as a first example. In  FIG. 10(A) , the left-right direction is the X direction, and the top-bottom direction is the Z direction. In the first example, the multilayer electronic component  100  shown in  FIG. 10(B)  is made, as described below. 
     In the first example, as viewed in the Z direction, in the first region  18 , the positive side  13 A of the first gap  13  and the positive side  17 A of the second cutout  17  overlap each other, which corresponds to the first-region positive side  18 A, while the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13  and the negative side  17 B of the second cutout  17  overlap each other, which corresponds to the first-region negative side  18 B. An imaginary line positioned between the first-region positive side  18 A (positive side  13 A and positive side  17 A) and the first-region negative side  18 B (negative side  13 B and negative side  17 B) at an equal distance from the first-region positive side  18 A and from the first-region negative side  18 B is set to be a first cutting line  51 . In  FIG. 10(A) , although the first cutting line  51  is shown in the Z direction for easy visibility, it actually extends in the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in  FIG. 10(A) ). 
     In the first example, as viewed in the Z direction, in the second region  19 , the positive side  16 A of the second gap  16  and the positive side  14 A of the first cutout  14  overlap each other, which corresponds to the second-region positive side  19 A, while the negative side  16 B of the second gap  16  and the negative side  14 B of the first cutout  14  overlap each other, which corresponds to the second-region negative side  19 B. An imaginary line positioned between the second-region positive side  19 A (positive side  16 A and positive side  14 A) and the second-region negative side  19 B (negative side  16 B and negative side  14 B) at an equal distance from the second-region positive side  19 A and from the second-region negative side  19 B is set to be a second cutting line  52 . In  FIG. 10(A) , although the second cutting line  52  is shown in the Z direction for easy visibility, it actually extends in the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in  FIG. 10(A) ). 
     In the first example, by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  along the first cutting lines  51  and the second cutting lines  52 , the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is made. Then, by cutting the second-stage ceramic collective board  60 , the multilayer electronic component  100  is made. The multilayer electronic component  100  made in the first example is shown in  FIG. 10(B) . 
     In the multilayer electronic component  100  made in the first example, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J. The first inner electrode  2  has the design length K and the distance D 1  has the design length L. The second electrode  3  has the design length M and the distance D 2  has the design length N. 
     The case in which misalignment occurs between the first-stage inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction is shown in  FIG. 11(A)  as a second example. More specifically, in the second example, it is assumed that the first-stage first inner electrode  12  is displaced toward the positive side in the X direction, while the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is displaced toward the negative side in the X direction and that the amount of misalignment between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is a length α. In the second example, two types of multilayer electronic components, multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B shown in  FIG. 11(B) , are made, as described below. 
     In the second example, in the first region  18 , the positive side  13 A of the first gap  13  and the positive side  17 A of the second cutout  17  are compared with each other as viewed from the Z direction, and the positive side  17 A of the second cutout  17  positioned on the more negative side in the X direction is set to be the first-region positive side  18 A. In the first region  18 , the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13  and the negative side  17 B of the second cutout  17  are compared with each other as viewed from the Z direction, and the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13  positioned on the more positive side in the X direction is set to be the first-region negative side  18 B. Then, as viewed from the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the positive side  17 A of the second cutout  17 , which is the first-region positive side  18 A, and from the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13 , which is the first-region negative side  18 B, is set to be the first cutting line  51 . 
     In the second example, in the second region  19 , the positive side  16 A of the second gap  16  and the positive side  14 A of the first cutout  14  are compared with each other as viewed from the Z direction, and the positive side  16 A of the second gap  16  positioned on the more negative side in the X direction is set to be the second-region positive side  19 A. In the second region  19 , the negative side  16 B of the second gap  16  and the negative side  14 B of the first cutout  14  are compared with each other as viewed from the Z direction, and the negative side  14 B of the first cutout  14  positioned on the more positive side in the X direction is set to be the second-region negative side  19 B. Then, as viewed from the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the positive side  16 A of the second gap  16 , which is the second-region positive side  19 A, and from the negative side  14 B of the first cutout  14 , which is the second-region negative side  19 B, is set to be the second cutting line  52 . 
     In the second example, by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  along the first cutting lines  51  and the second cutting lines  52 , the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is made. Then, the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is cut into the individual ceramic multilayer bodies  1 . As a result, the multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B are made. The multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B made in the second example are shown in  FIG. 11(B) . 
     In both of the multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B made in the second example, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J. 
     In the multilayer electronic component  100 A, the first inner electrode  2  is longer than the design length K and has a length (K+½α), while the second inner electrode  3  is longer than the design length M and has a length (M+½α). In the multilayer electronic component  100 A, the distance D 1  between the edge of the first inner electrode  2  and the end surface  1 E 2  is shorter than the design length L and has a length (L−½α), while the distance D 2  between the edge of the second inner electrode  3  and the end surface  1 E 1  is shorter than the design length N and has a length (N−½α). 
     In the multilayer electronic component  100 B, the first inner electrode  2  is shorter than the design length K and has a length (K−½α), while the second inner electrode  3  is shorter than the design length M and has a length (M−½α). In the multilayer electronic component  100 B, the distance D 1  between the edge of the first inner electrode  2  and the end surface  1 E 2  is longer than the design length L and has a length (L+½α), while the distance D 2  between the edge of the second inner electrode  3  and the end surface  1 E 1  is longer than the design length N and has a length (N+½α). 
     That is, in the multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B, a misalignment length α between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction occurred during the making of the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  is adjusted in a well-balanced manner by the length K of the first inner electrode  2 , the length M of the second inner electrode  3 , the length L of the distance D 1  between the edge of the first inner electrode  2  and the end surface  1 E 2 , and the length N of the distance D 2  between the edge of the second inner electrode  3  and the end surface  1 E 1 . In the multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B, the amounts of misalignment of the lengths K, L, M, and N deviating from the respective design lengths are contained within +½a or −½α. Usually, the misalignment length α in the X direction that may occur during the manufacturing steps is extremely small, and the above-described amounts of misalignment deviating from the design lengths K, L, M, and N are totally acceptable. Moreover, in both of the multilayer electronic components  100 A and  100 B, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J. 
     The case in which the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  are cut by an approach of the related art is shown in  FIG. 12(A)  as a first comparative example. In the first comparative example, two types of multilayer electronic components, multilayer electronic components  500  and  600  shown in  FIG. 12(B) , are made, as described below. 
     In the first comparative example, as well as in the second example, misalignment occurs between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction. More specifically, in the first comparative example, it is assumed that the first-stage first inner electrode  12  is displaced toward the positive side in the X direction, while the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is displaced toward the negative side in the X direction and that the amount of misalignment between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is a length α. 
     In the first comparative example, no first cutout  14  is formed in the first-stage first inner electrode  12 , while no second cutout  17  is formed in the first-stage second inner electrode  15 . 
     In the first comparative example, as viewed in the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned between the positive side  13 A and the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13  at an equal distance from the positive side  13 A and from the negative side  13 B is set to be a first cutting line  51 . The first cutting line  51  is difficult to determine unless a special device, such as an X-ray device, is used. 
     In the first comparative example, as viewed in the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned between the positive side  16 A and the negative side  16 B of the second gap  16  at an equal distance from the positive side  16 A and from the negative side  13 B is set to be a second cutting line  52 . The second cutting line  52  is difficult to determine unless a special device, such as an X-ray device, is used. 
     In the first comparative example, by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  along the first cutting lines  51  and the second cutting lines  52 , the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is made. Then, the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is cut into the individual ceramic multilayer bodies  1  so as to make multilayer electronic components. In the first comparative example, two types of multilayer electronic components, the multilayer electronic components  500  and  600  whose ceramic multilayer bodies  1  have different lengths, are made, as shown in  FIG. 12(B) . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12(B) , neither of the ceramic multilayer body  1  of the multilayer electronic component  500  nor that of the multilayer electronic component  600  has the design length J. More specifically, the ceramic multilayer body  1  of the multilayer electronic component  500  has a length (J+α), while the ceramic multilayer body  1  of the multilayer electronic component  600  has a length (J−α). 
     In the multilayer electronic component  500 , the first inner electrode  2  does not have the design length K and instead has a length (K+α), while the second inner electrode  3  does not have the design length M and instead has a length (M+α). In the multilayer electronic component  500 , however, the distance D 1  has the design length L, while the distance D 2  has the design length N. 
     In the multilayer electronic component  600 , the first inner electrode  2  does not have the design length K and instead has a length (K−α), while the second inner electrode  3  does not have the design length M and instead has a length (M−α). In the multilayer electronic component  600 , however, the distance D 1  has the design length L, while the distance D 2  has the design length N. 
     In this manner, according to the approach of the first comparative example, the length J of the ceramic multilayer body  1 , the length K of the first inner electrode  2 , and the length M of the second inner electrode  3  of the multilayer electronic component  500  and those of the multilayer electronic component  600  significantly different from each other. More specifically, the length of the ceramic multilayer body  1  of the multilayer electronic component  500  is (J+α), while that of the multilayer electronic component  600  is (J−α); the length of the first inner electrode  2  of the multilayer electronic component  500  is (K+α), while that of the multilayer electronic component  600  is (K−α); and the length of the second inner electrode  3  of the multilayer electronic component  500  is (M+α), while that of the multilayer electronic component  600  is (M−α). According to the approach of the first comparative example, the characteristics of the multilayer electronic component  500  and those of the multilayer electronic component  600  become significantly different from each other, and thus, they are not suitable to be put to practical use. Additionally, the length of the ceramic multilayer body  1  of the multilayer electronic component  500  and that of the multilayer electronic component  600  are significantly different from each other, and thus, they are not suitable to be put to practical use. 
     The case in which the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  are cut by another approach of the related art is shown in  FIG. 13(A)  as a second comparative example. In the second comparative example, two types of multilayer electronic components, multilayer electronic components  700  and  800  shown in  FIG. 13(B) , are made, as described below. 
     In the second comparative example, as well as in the second example and the first comparative example, misalignment occurs between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction. More specifically, in the second comparative example, it is assumed that the first-stage first inner electrode  12  is displaced toward the positive side in the X direction, while the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is displaced toward the negative side in the X direction and that the amount of misalignment between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is a length α. 
     In the second comparative example, as well as in the first comparative example, no first cutout  14  is formed in the first-stage first inner electrode  12 , while no second cutout  17  is formed in the first-stage second inner electrode  15 . 
     In the second comparative example, as viewed in the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned between the positive side  13 A and the negative side  13 B of the first gap  13  at an equal distance from the positive side  13 A and from the negative side  13 B is set to be a first cutting line  51 . The first cutting line  51  is difficult to determine unless a special device, such as an X-ray device, is used. 
     In the second comparative example, as viewed in the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned between two adjacent first cutting lines  51  at an equal distance from one first cutting line  51  and from the other first cutting line  51  is set to be a second cutting line  52 . In the second comparative example, the distance between each first cutting line  51  and the second cutting line  52  has the length J. 
     In the second comparative example, by cutting the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  along the first cutting lines  51  and the second cutting lines  52 , the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is made. Then, the second-stage ceramic collective board  60  is cut into the individual ceramic multilayer bodies  1  so as to make multilayer electronic components. In the second comparative example, two types of multilayer electronic components, the multilayer electronic components  700  and  800 , are made, as shown in  FIG. 13(B) . 
     In both of the multilayer electronic components  700  and  800  made in the second comparative example, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J. Additionally, the first inner electrode  2  has the design length K, while the distance D 1  has the design length L. 
     In the multilayer electronic component  700  made in the second comparative example, however, the second inner electrode  3  does not have the design length M and instead has a length (M+α), while the distance D 2  does not have the design length N and instead has a length (N−α). 
     In the multilayer electronic component  800  made in the second comparative example, the second inner electrode  3  does not have the design length M and instead has a length (M−α), while the distance D 2  does not have the design length N and instead has a length (N+α). 
     In this manner, according to the approach of the second comparative example, the length M of the second inner electrode  3  and the length N of the second distance D 2  of the multilayer electronic component  700  and those of the multilayer electronic component  800  significantly different from each other. More specifically, the length of the second inner electrode  3  of the multilayer electronic component  700  is (M+α), while that of the multilayer electronic component  800  is (M−α); and the length of the second distance D 2  of the multilayer electronic component  700  is (N+α), while that of the multilayer electronic component  800  is (N−α). According to the approach of the second comparative example, the characteristics of the multilayer electronic component  700  and those of the multilayer electronic component  800  become significantly different from each other, and thus, they are not suitable to be put to practical use. In particular, in the multilayer electronic component  700 , the length of the distance D 2  is (N−α) so that the edge of the second inner electrode  3  excessively approaches the end surface  1 E 1  of the ceramic multilayer body  1 , which may cause short-circuiting between the second inner electrode  3  and the first outer electrode  4 . Hence, the multilayer electronic component  700  is not suitable to be put to practical use. 
     As described above, in the first example of the first embodiment, misalignment does not occur between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction. In the second example of the first embodiment, the first-stage first inner electrode  12  is displaced toward the positive side in the X direction, while the first-stage second inner electrode  15  is displaced toward the negative side in the X direction, which produces the misalignment length α between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15 . Nevertheless, not to mention the first example, even in the second example in which misalignment has occurred, the resulting multilayer electronic component  100  can safely be put to practical use. In contrast, in the first and second comparative examples in which the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  are cut by the approaches of the related art, the resulting multilayer electronic components  500 ,  600 ,  700 , and  800  have become defective, or if not, the characteristics of the multilayer electronic component  500  have become different from those of the multilayer electronic component  600  and the characteristics of the multilayer electronic component  700  have become different from those of the multilayer electronic component  800 . It is thus found that the multilayer electronic components  500 ,  600 ,  700 , and  800  are not suitable to be put to practical use. The effectiveness of the present disclosure has thus been validated. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A multilayer electronic component  200  made in a second embodiment is shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the multilayer electronic component  200 . 
     The multilayer electronic component  200  according to the second embodiment is an electronic component in which part of the configuration of the multilayer electronic component  100  of the first embodiment is modified. More specifically, in the multilayer electronic component  200 , the ceramic multilayer body  1  is constituted by five ceramic layers  1   a  through  1   e . In the ceramic multilayer body  1 , a first-layer first inner electrode  2  counted from the bottom is disposed between the ceramic layers  1   a  and  1   b ; a second-layer second inner electrode  3  counted from the bottom is disposed between the ceramic layers  1   b  and  1   c ; a third-layer first inner electrode  2  counted from the bottom is disposed between the ceramic layers  1   c  and  1   d ; and a fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  counted from the bottom is disposed between the ceramic layers  1   d  and  1   e . The configurations of the other portions of the multilayer electronic component  200  are the same as the multilayer electronic component  100 . 
     In the multilayer electronic component  200 , as shown as a third example in  FIG. 15 , it is assumed that, although the second-layer first-stage second inner electrode  15  and the third-layer first-stage first inner electrode  12  are disposed at correct positions, the first-layer first-stage first inner electrode  12  is displaced toward the positive side in the X direction, while the fourth-layer first-stage second inner electrode  15  is displaced toward the negative side in the X direction. It is also assumed that the amount of misalignment between the first-layer first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the fourth-layer first-stage second inner electrode  15  is a length α. 
     In the third example, in the first region  18 , among the positive sides  13 A of the first gaps  13  and the positive sides  17 A of the second cutouts  17 , the positive side  17 A of the fourth-layer second cutout  17  positioned on the most negative side in the X direction is set to be the first-region positive side  18 A. In the first region  18 , among the negative sides  13 B of the first gaps  13  and the negative sides  17 B of the second cutouts  17 , the negative side  13 B of the first-layer first gap  13  positioned on the most positive side in the X direction is set to be the first-region negative side  18 B. Then, as viewed from the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the first-region positive side  18 A (the positive side  17 A of the fourth-layer second cutout  17 ) and from the first-region negative side  18 B (the negative side  13 B of the first-layer first gap  13 ) is set to be the first cutting line  51 . 
     In the third example, in the second region  19 , among the positive sides  16 A of the second gaps  16  and the positive sides  14 A of the first cutouts  14 , the positive side  16 A of the fourth-layer second gap  16  positioned on the most negative side in the X direction is set to be the second-region positive side  19 A. In the second region  19 , among the negative sides  16 B of the second gaps  16  and the negative sides  14 B of the first cutouts  14 , the negative side  14 B of the first-layer first cutout  14  positioned on the most positive side in the X direction is set to be the second-region negative side  19 B. Then, as viewed from the Z direction, an imaginary line positioned at an equal distance from the second-region positive side  19 A (the positive side  16 A of the fourth-layer second gap  16 ) and from the second-region negative side  19 B (the negative side  14 B of the first-layer first cutout  14 ) is set to be the second cutting line  52 . 
     In the third example, two types of multilayer electronic components, multilayer electronic components  200 A and  200 B shown in  FIG. 16 , are made. 
     In the multilayer electronic component  200 A, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The first-layer first inner electrode  2  has a length (K+½α) and the distance D 1  of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  has a length (L−½α). The second-layer second inner electrode  3  has the design length M and the distance D 2  of the second-layer second inner electrode  3  has the design length N. The third-layer first inner electrode  2  has the design length K and the distance D 1  of the third-layer first inner electrode  2  has the design length L. The fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  has a length (M+½α) and the distance D 2  of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  has a length (N−½α). 
     In the multilayer electronic component  200 A, the length (K+½α) of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  is longer but is not too long, while the length (M+½α) of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  is longer but is not too long. The first-layer first inner electrode  2  and the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  do not present any problem in terms of practical use. In the multilayer electronic component  200 A, the distance D 1  (L−½α) of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  is shorter but is not too short, while the distance D 2  (N−½α) of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  is shorter but is not too short. The distance D 1  and the distance D 2  do not present any problem in terms of practical use. In this manner, the multilayer electronic component  200 A of the third example can safely be put to practical use. 
     In the multilayer electronic component  200 B, the ceramic multilayer body  1  has the design length J, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The first-layer first inner electrode  2  has a length (K−½α) and the distance D 1  of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  has a length (L+½α). The second-layer second inner electrode  3  has the design length M and the distance D 2  of the second-layer second inner electrode  3  has the design length N. The third-layer first inner electrode  2  has the design length K and the distance D 1  of the third-layer first inner electrode  2  has the design length L. The fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  has a length (M−½α) and the distance D 2  of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  has a length (N+½α). 
     In the multilayer electronic component  200 B, the length (K−½α) of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  is shorter but is not too short, while the length (M−½α) of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  is shorter but is not too short. The first-layer first inner electrode  2  and the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  do not present any problem in terms of practical use. In the multilayer electronic component  200 B, the distance D 1  (L+½α) of the first-layer first inner electrode  2  is longer but is not too long, while the distance D 2  (N+½α) of the fourth-layer second inner electrode  3  is longer but is not too long. The distance D 1  and the distance D 2  do not present any problem in terms of practical use. In this manner, the multilayer electronic component  200 B of the third example can safely be put to practical use. 
     As described above, in the third example, too, in the multilayer electronic components  200 A and  200 B, a misalignment length α between the first-stage first inner electrode  12  and the first-stage second inner electrode  15  in the X direction occurred during the making of the first-stage ceramic collective board  50  is adjusted in a well-balanced manner by the length K of the first inner electrode  2 , the length M of the second inner electrode  3 , the length L of the distance D 1  between the edge of the first inner electrode  2  and the end surface  1 E 2 , and the length N of the distance D 2  between the edge of the second inner electrode  3  and the end surface  1 E 1 . 
     As is seen from the front views of the multilayer electronic components shown in  FIG. 16 , in a multilayer electronic component such as the multilayer electronic component  200 A, when the length of the shortest distance D 1  is equal to that of the shortest distance D 2 , it can be assumed that the length of the shortest distance D 1  is (L−½α) and that of the shortest distance D 2  is (N−½α). It can thus be assumed that this multilayer electronic component has been made by the method in the second embodiment. Alternatively, in a multilayer electronic component such as the multilayer electronic component  200 B, when the length of the longest distance D 1  is equal to that of the longest distance D 2 , it can be assumed that the length of the longest distance D 1  is (L+½α) and that of the longest distance D 2  is (N+½α). It can thus be assumed that this multilayer electronic component has been made by the method in the second embodiment. In both the cases, the above-described assumptions can hold true on condition that the multilayer electronic component has two or more first inner electrodes  2  and two or more second inner electrodes  3  and that the design length L of the distance D 1  and the design length N of the distance D 2  are equal to each other (L=N), that is, the width A of the first gap and the second cutout  17  is equal to the width B of the first cutout  14  and the second gap  16  (a=b) in the first-stage ceramic collective board. 
       FIG. 16  used for explaining the third example shows the front views of the multilayer electronic component  200  of the third example. Each of the front views coincides with a sectional view cut along a surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board extending in the X direction and the Z direction. Hence, in a sectional surface cut along a surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board extending in the X direction and the Z direction, when the length of the shortest distance between the edge of the second-stage first inner electrode and the outer surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board (second-stage ceramic multilayer body) opposing this second-stage first inner electrode is equal to the length of the shortest distance between the edge of the second-stage second inner electrode and the outer surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board (second-stage ceramic multilayer body) opposing this second-stage second inner electrode, it can be assumed that this second-stage ceramic collective board has been made by the method of the second embodiment. Alternatively, in a sectional surface cut along a surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board extending in the X direction and the Z direction, when the length of the longest distance between the edge of the second-stage first inner electrode and the outer surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board (second-stage ceramic multilayer body) opposing this second-stage first inner electrode is equal to the length of the longest distance between the edge of the second-stage second inner electrode and the outer surface of the second-stage ceramic collective board (second-stage ceramic multilayer body) opposing this second-stage second inner electrode, it can be assumed that this second-stage ceramic collective board has been made by the method of the second embodiment. In both the cases, the above-described assumptions can hold true on condition that the second-stage ceramic collective board has two or more second-stage first inner electrodes and two or more second-stage second inner electrodes and that the width A of the first gap and the second cutout  17  is equal to the width B of the first cutout  14  and the second gap  16  (a=b) in the first-stage ceramic collective board. 
     The first and second embodiments have been discussed above. The present disclosure is not restricted to the above-described content and various modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     For example, in the multilayer electronic components  100  and  200 , the length of the first inner electrode  2  and that of the second inner electrode  3  are designed to be equal to each other. The width A of the first gap  13  and the second cutout  17  and the width B of the first cutout  14  and the second gap  16  are thus formed to be the same. Nevertheless, the width A and the width B are not necessarily formed to be the same. If it is desired that the length of the first inner electrode  2  and that of the second inner electrode  3  be different from each other, the width A and the width B are made different from each other. In this case, too, the first cutting line  51  and the second cutting line  52  are determined by the same approaches discussed in the above-described embodiments. 
     In the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , the first cutout  14  is provided on both sides of the first-stage first inner electrode  12  extending in the X direction. However, the first cutout  14  may be provided only on one side of the first-stage first inner electrode  12 . Likewise, in the first-stage ceramic collective board  50 , the second cutout  17  is provided on both sides of the first-stage second inner electrode  15  extending in the X direction. However, the second cutout  17  may be provided only on one side of the first-stage second inner electrode  15 . 
     Although the multilayer electronic components  100  and  200  are multilayer piezoelectric actuators, any type of multilayer electronic component may be made. That is, the multilayer electronic components  100  and  200  are not limited to multilayer piezoelectric actuators and may be another type of multilayer electronic component, such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a multilayer thermistor. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting in any way. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and it should be understood that all the changes conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the present disclosure.