Patent ID: 8526165

Claim:
A dielectric ceramic having main phase grains containing a barium titanate compound as their main constituent, the dielectric ceramic comprising 12% to 84% of first crystal grains which are the main phase grains optionally including at least one rare earth element R selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Tb, Lu, and Y in a minute amount present as a solid solution therein, and 16% to 88% of second crystal grains having a core section comprising the main phase grains and a shell section around the core section and comprising main phase grains having therein at least one rare earth element R present as a solid solution, wherein the first crystal grains have an amount of rare earth element R such that its solid solubility distance is 5 nm or less (including 0) in the main phase grain measured from the surface of the main phase grain toward the inside thereof and wherein the shell section has a thickness of ⅛ or more and ⅜ or less the diameter of the main phase grain.