Patent ID: 8628174

Claim:
A piezoelectric element comprising: a supporting body; a lower electrode that is formed over the supporting body; a piezoelectric layer that is formed over the lower electrode; and an upper electrode that is formed over the piezoelectric layer so as to oppose the lower electrode via the piezoelectric layer, the piezoelectric layer including a first portion at a lower electrode side and a second portion at an upper electrode side, a step portion being formed at a peripheral portion of the first portion of piezoelectric layer such that a surface of the piezoelectric layer at the lower electrode side is larger than a surface of the piezoelectric layer at the upper electrode side, the step portion having a top surface substantially parallel to the lower electrode, a side surface of the step portion at a first substantially constant angle θ 1 to the surface of the piezoelectric layer at the lower electrode side, a side surface of the second portion at a second substantially constant angle θ 2 to the surface of the piezoelectric layer at the lower electrode side, the angle θ 1 being in the range of 45° to 75° , the angle θ 2 being in the range of 75° to 90° , and the angle θ 1 being less than the angle θ 2 .