Patent ID: 7126261

Claim:
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device comprising: a thin-plate portion; a stationary portion supporting the thin-plate portion; and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element formed at least on a plane of the thin-plate portion, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers arranged alternatingly in layers, and having an exteriorly exposed lateral surface including lateral surfaces of the plurality of electrodes and lateral surfaces of the plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers; wherein a portion of each of the electrodes which portion forms the corresponding lateral surface extends onto both of the lateral surfaces of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers between which the electrode is sandwiched, in such a manner as to partially cover the lateral surfaces of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layers.