All The Claims

1. A vehicle remote control system for transmitting a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal to an on-vehicle communication device of a vehicle identified by the remote control terminal via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device provided in the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the vehicle remote control system comprising:
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal; and
operation timing setting means for setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device so that the on-vehicle device executes the predetermined operation when the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means elapses.
2. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:
actual standby time calculation means for calculating an actual standby time by reducing the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means with a lapse of time;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means and a current time in an area where the vehicle is located; and
display control means for displaying the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means on a screen of the remote control terminal.
3. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the standby time calculation means calculates, as the standby time, a time corresponding to a difference between the preset time set by the remote control terminal and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal.
4. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the estimated time calculation means calculates, as the estimated time, a time obtained by advancing the current time in the area where the vehicle is located by the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means.
5. A vehicle remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the on-vehicle device comprises a charge device for charging an on-vehicle battery.
6. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the remote control terminal being configured to transmit the set preset time and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal to the server.
7. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the remote control terminal comprising the standby time calculation means.
8. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the remote control terminal comprising the display control means.
9. A remote control terminal for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the remote control terminal comprising the estimated time calculation means and the display control means.
10. A remote control terminal for transmitting a setting command relating to a preset time to an on-vehicle communication device of a specific vehicle via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device provided in the specific vehicle to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the remote control terminal comprising:
setting means for setting the preset time;
clock means for outputting a current time;
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the setting means and the current time output by the clock means; and
standby time transmission means for transmitting the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means to the server, thereby setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device.
11. A remote control terminal according to claim 10, further comprising:
actual standby time acquisition means for acquiring an actual standby time by reducing the standby time with a lapse of time;
vehicle position time acquisition means for acquiring a current time in an area where the vehicle is located;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time acquired by the actual standby time acquisition means and the current time in the area where the vehicle is located, which is acquired by the vehicle position time acquisition means; and
estimated time display means for displaying the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means.
12. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the server being configured to receive the preset time set by the remote control terminal and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal, and to transmit the received preset time and the received current time to the on-vehicle communication device.
13. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the server comprising the standby time calculation means.
14. A server for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the server comprising the estimated time calculation means.
15. A server to be provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, the server being configured to receive a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal and to transmit a remote command for controlling an on-vehicle device provided in a vehicle specified by the remote control terminal to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time to an on-vehicle communication device of the vehicle, the server comprising:
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal; and
standby time transmission means for transmitting the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means to the on-vehicle communication device as the remote command, thereby setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device.
16. A server according to claim 15, further comprising:
actual standby time acquisition means for acquiring an actual standby time by reducing the standby time with a lapse of time;
vehicle position time acquisition means for acquiring a current time in an area where the vehicle is located;
estimated time calculation means for calculating an estimated time at which the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the actual standby time acquired by the actual standby time acquisition means and the current time in the area where the vehicle is located, which is acquired by the vehicle position time acquisition means; and
estimated time transmission means for transmitting the estimated time calculated by the estimated time calculation means to the remote control terminal.
17. A vehicle for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 1,
the vehicle comprising the standby time calculation means and the operation timing setting means.
18. A vehicle for use in the vehicle remote control system according to claim 2,
the vehicle comprising the actual standby time calculation means.
19. A vehicle, which is configured to receive by an on-vehicle communication device a setting command relating to a preset time set by a remote control terminal via a server provided in an information center that handles vehicle information, thereby controlling an on-vehicle device to execute a predetermined operation at the preset time, the vehicle comprising:
time acquisition means for acquiring the preset time set by the remote control terminal and a current time of a clock included in the remote control terminal;
standby time calculation means for calculating a standby time until the on-vehicle device is controlled to execute the predetermined operation based on the preset time and the current time of the clock included in the remote control terminal, which are acquired by the time acquisition means; and
operation timing setting means for setting an operation timing of the on-vehicle device so that the on-vehicle device executes the predetermined operation when the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means elapses.
20. A vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising:
actual standby time calculation means for calculating an actual standby time by reducing the standby time calculated by the standby time calculation means with a lapse of time; and
actual standby time transmission means for transmitting the actual standby time calculated by the actual standby time calculation means to the server.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle air conditioning system comprising:
an air duct for blowing conditioned air into a passenger compartment;
a refrigeration cycle having:
a cooling heat exchanger disposed within said air duct to serve as a heat absorber in a dehumidifying mode;
a heating heat exchanger disposed downstream of said cooling heat exchanger, in a direction of airflow within said air duct, to serve as a heat radiator in the dehumidifying mode;
an external heat exchanger disposed external to said air duct to serve as a heat absorber or a heat radiator in the dehumidifying mode;
a first variable throttle valve connected between said heating heat exchanger and said external heat exchanger, wherein said first variable throttle valve is capable of decompressing a refrigerant introduced from said heating heat exchanger as well as changing the degree of valve opening thereof;
a second variable throttle valve connected between said external heat exchanger and said cooling heat exchanger, wherein said second variable throttle valve is capable of decompressing the refrigerant introduced from said external heat exchanger as well as changing the degree of valve opening thereof; and
a dehumidifying mode circulation path for circulating refrigerant discharged from a refrigerant compressor along a path from said heating heat exchanger through said first variable throttle valve, said external heat exchanger, said second variable throttle valve, and said cooling heat exchanger to said refrigerant compressor;

a cycle efficiency sensing means for sensing a current cycle efficiency;
a cycle efficiency determination means for calculating a target cycle efficiency; and
a throttle valve control means for controlling the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in the dehumidifying mode in accordance with a deviation between said target cycle efficiency set by said cycle efficiency determination means and said current cycle efficiency sensed by said cycle efficiency sensing means.
2. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
said refrigerant compressor is a motor-driven refrigerant compressor rotatably driven by a drive motor that is controllably activated by an inverter serving as a drive power supply.
3. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein
said cycle efficiency sensing means is a high-pressure sensing means for sensing a high pressure in said refrigeration cycle,
said cycle efficiency determination means is a first high-pressure determination means, having a first refrigerant temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of said heating heat exchanger, for calculating a target high pressure providing a maximum cycle efficiency in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by said first refrigerant temperature sensing means at the outlet of said heating heat exchanger, and
in accordance with a pressure deviation between a current high pressure sensed by said high-pressure sensing means and the target high pressure set by said first high-pressure determination means, said throttle valve control means controls the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve.
4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a capacity overload sensing means for sensing a capacity overload on said heating heat exchanger, wherein
said cycle efficiency determination means is a second high-pressure determination means, having a second refrigerant temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of said external heat exchanger, for calculating a target high pressure providing a maximum cycle efficiency in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by said second refrigerant temperature sensing means at the outlet of said external heat exchanger, and
when a capacity overload on said heating heat exchanger is sensed by said capacity overload sensing means, said throttle valve control means controls the degree of opening of any one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a pressure deviation between a current high pressure sensed by said high-pressure sensing means and the target high pressure set by said second high-pressure determination means.
5. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein
said capacity overload sensing means further comprises:
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, and a rotational speed sensing means for sensing a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor, and
said capacity overload sensing means determines that said heating heat exchanger is overloaded when a deviation between the current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means is greater than or equal to a certain value, and when a dehumidifying operation condition is satisfied in which the rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor sensed by said rotational speed sensing means is greater than or equal to a certain value.
6. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a blowing temperature determination means for calculating a target blowing temperature of conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment,
a dehumidifying or defogging switch for requesting dehumidification of a passenger compartment or defogging of a glass window in an ON state, and
dehumidifying mode selection means for selecting a dehumidifying mode as an operation mode of said refrigeration cycle when the target blowing temperature set by said blowing temperature determination means is within a predetermined range or when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an ON state.
7. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein
said dehumidifying mode selection means is a dehumidifying mode setting means for requesting either a dehumidifying mode of a dehumidifying priority mode or a blowing temperature priority mode, said vehicle air conditioning system further comprising:
a dehumidifying capacity sensing means for sensing a dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger,
a dehumidifying capacity determination means for calculating a target dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger,
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger,
a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger, and
an air conditioning control means for controlling a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor in accordance with a deviation between a current dehumidifying capacity sensed by said dehumidifying capacity sensing means and the target dehumidifying capacity set by said dehumidifying capacity determination means when the dehumidifying priority mode is requested by said dehumidifying mode setting means as well as for controlling the degree of opening of any other of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a deviation between a current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means.
8. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein
said dehumidifying mode selection means is a dehumidifying mode setting means for requesting either a dehumidifying mode of the dehumidifying priority mode or the blowing temperature priority mode, said vehicle air conditioning system further comprising:
a dehumidifying capacity sensing means for sensing a dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger;
a dehumidifying capacity determination means for calculating a target dehumidifying capacity of said cooling heat exchanger;
a heating capacity sensing means for sensing a heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger;
a heating capacity determination means for calculating a target heating capacity of said heating heat exchanger; and
an air conditioning control means for controlling a rotational speed of said refrigerant compressor in accordance with a deviation between a current heating capacity sensed by said heating capacity sensing means and the target heating capacity set by said heating capacity determination means when the blowing temperature priority mode is requested by said dehumidifying mode setting means as well as for controlling the degree of opening of any other of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve in accordance with a deviation between a current dehumidifying capacity sensed by said dehumidifying capacity sensing means and the target dehumidifying capacity set by said dehumidifying capacity determination means.
9. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising:
a dehumidifying or defogging switch for requesting dehumidification of a passenger compartment or defogging of a glass window in an ON state, and an air conditioner switch for activating said refrigerant compressor in an ON state or when either mode of operation, a cooling mode or a dehumidifying mode, of modes of operation of said refrigeration cycle is requested in an ON state, and
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said dehumidifying priority mode to provide a higher priority to said dehumidifying priority mode than to said blowing temperature priority mode when said air conditioner switch is in an ON state or when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an ON state, or
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said blowing temperature priority mode to provide a higher priority to said blowing temperature priority mode than to said dehumidifying priority mode when said dehumidifying or defogging switch is in an OFF state and when said air conditioner switch is in an OFF state.
10. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising:
a blowing temperature determination means for calculating a target blowing temperature of conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment, and an operation mode setting means for determining an operation mode of said refrigeration cycle in accordance with the target blowing temperature set by said blowing temperature determination means, wherein
said dehumidifying mode setting means selects said blowing temperature priority mode to provide a higher priority to said blowing temperature priority mode than to said dehumidifying priority mode when said operation mode setting means changes the operation mode of said refrigeration cycle from a heating mode to a dehumidifying mode.
11. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein
said refrigeration cycle employs carbon dioxide as the refrigerant,
a supercritical vapor compressive heat pump cycle is employed in which the refrigerant is discharged from said refrigerant compressor at a pressure greater than or equal to a critical pressure of the refrigerant, and
either one of said first variable throttle valve and said second variable throttle valve is said first variable throttle valve.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a telephone device to allow a user to communicate with a remotely located entity, the telephone device including (i) a button which facilitates communication between the telephone device and the remotely located entity, and (ii) a wireless receiver, the method comprising:
(a) an object or a device connected to an object emitting a signal containing a telephone number of the remotely located entity;
(b) the wireless receiver receiving the signal emitted by the object or the device connected to the object; and
(c) the telephone device automatically establishing two-way communication with the remotely located entity upon selection by the user of the button, wherein selection of the button causes the telephone device to automatically dial the telephone number of the remotely located entity.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is a set-top box of a TV system, the method further comprising:
(d) the set-top box receiving the telephone number from broadcast signals sent over the TV system, wherein step (a) is performed by the set-top box emitting a signal containing the telephone number of the remotely located entity.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the telephone device is a wireless telephone device having a base station in the set-top box, and the set-top box is hardwired to a telephone outlet, and wherein step (c) is performed by using the hardwired telephone outlet in the base station of the set-top box to establish two-way communication with the remotely located entity.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the telephone device is a cellular telephone device, and step (c) is performed by using a cellular telephone network to establish two-way communication with the remotely located entity.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic establishment of two-way communication with the remotely located entity in step (c) occurs by:
(i) the telephone device automatically dialing the telephone number of the remotely located entity and communicating user identity information to the remotely located entity, and
(ii) the remotely located entity using the user identity information to initiate a call to the telephone device.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user identity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
(d) the user engaging in an audio session with a person or machine at the remotely located entity upon establishing the two-way communication.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone device includes transceiver circuitry associated with normal telephone communication functions which is separate from the wireless receiver, and the two-way communication in step (c) uses only the transceiver circuitry.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is an outdoor sign or billboard.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the device connected to an object is a wireless transmitter connected to a television, the method further comprising:
(d) the television receiving the telephone number from broadcast signals received by the television, wherein step (a) is performed by the wireless transmitter emitting a signal containing the telephone number of the remotely located entity.
11. A method of using a telephone device to allow a user to communicate with a remotely located entity, the telephone device including (i) a button which facilitates communication between the telephone device and the remotely located entity, and (ii) a wireless receiver, the method comprising:
(a) an object or a device connected to an object emitting a signal containing an electronic address of the remotely located entity;
(b) the wireless receiver receiving the signal emitted by the object or the device connected to the object; and
(c) the telephone device automatically establishing communication with the remotely located entity upon selection by the user of the button, wherein selection of the button causes the telephone device to automatically contact the electronic address contained within the emitted signal.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronic address is a web site address of the remotely located entity, and selection of the button causes the telephone device to automatically go to the web site address of the remotely located entity.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the telephone device further includes (iii) a display screen that displays content, the method further comprising:
(d) the web site of the remotely located entity displaying content on the display screen retrieved by the telephone device during the communication with the remotely located entity.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the automatic establishment of two-way communication with the remotely located entity in step (c) occurs by:
(i) the telephone device automatically dialing the telephone number of the remotely located entity and communicating user identity information to the remotely located entity, and
(ii) the remotely located entity using the user identity information to initiate a call to the telephone device.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the user identity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein the telephone device includes transceiver circuitry associated with normal telephone communication functions which is separate from the wireless receiver, and the communication in step (c) uses only the transceiver circuitry.
17. A method of using a telephone device to view content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device, the telephone device including (i) a display screen which displays content, (ii) a button which facilitates communication of content between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and (iii) a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:
(a) storing content in the telephone device;
(b) displaying the content on the display screen of the telephone device;
(c) communicating the content from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button; and
(d) the local control device receiving the signal and providing the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the local control device includes a decoder, and step (d) further comprises the local control device using the decoder to convert the signal received from the telephone device into a format for viewing by the nearby display screen.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the content shown on the telephone device display screen is a portion of a full content image, and step (d) further comprises providing the full content image to the local control device for display on the nearby display screen.
20. A method of using a telephone device to view content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device, the telephone device including (i) a display screen which displays content, or a portion thereof, (ii) a button which facilitates communication of content between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and (iii) a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:
(a) storing content, or a portion thereof, and an electronic address of the content in the telephone device;
(b) displaying the content, or a portion thereof, on the display screen of the telephone device;
(c) communicating the electronic address of the content from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button;
(d) the local control device receiving the signal and transmitting a request over an electronic network to retrieve the content from a remote location; and
(e) upon receiving the content, the local control device provides the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the content shown on the telephone device display screen is a portion of a full content image, and step (e) further comprises providing the full content image to the local control device for display on the nearby display screen.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic address is a web site address, the remote location is a web site, and the electronic network is the Internet.
23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:
(f) retrieving the content, or a portion thereof, that is stored in the telephone device in step (a) from a remote source.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the local control device further comprises a payment module which tracks usage charges for providing content to the nearby display screen, the method further comprising:
(f) the telephone device communicating customer identity information to the payment module; and
(g) the payment module inhibiting at least one of steps (c), (d) and (e) from occurring unless the payment module properly authorizes the telephone device to use the nearby display screen for viewing content.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the customer identity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.
26. A method of using a telephone device to view content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device, the telephone device including (i) a display screen which displays an electronic address of content, (ii) a button which facilitates communication of the electronic address between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and (iii) a wireless transmitter, the method comprising:
(a) the telephone device retrieving an electronic address of content from a remote source, and storing the electronic address in the telephone device;
(b) displaying the electronic address on the display screen of the telephone device;
(c) communicating the electronic address from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button; and
(d) the local control device receiving the signal and transmitting a request over an electronic network to retrieve content at the electronic address from a remote location; and
(e) upon receiving the content, the local control device provides the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the local control device further comprises a payment module which tracks usage charges for providing content to the nearby display screen, the method further comprising:
(f) the telephone device communicating customer identity information to the payment module; and
(g) the payment module inhibiting at least one of steps (c), (d) and (e) from occurring unless the payment module properly authorizes the telephone device to use the nearby display screen for viewing content.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the customer identity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the electronic address is a web site address, the remote location is a web site, and the electronic network is the Internet.
30. A method of using a wireless telephone device and a set-top box of a TV system to allow a user to communicate with a remotely located entity, the wireless telephone device including a button which facilitates communication between the telephone and the remotely located entity, the set-top box including a base station of the wireless telephone device, the set-top box being in communication with a telephone system and being connected to a television, the method comprising:
(a) the set-top box storing a telephone number and causes telephone number information to be displayed on the television; and
(b) upon selection by the user of the button, the telephone device sending a signal to the set-top box to dial the telephone number, thereby establishing two-way communication between the telephone device and the remotely located entity via base station and the telephone system.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:
(c) the set-top box prestoring a listing of telephone numbers corresponding to specified television stations, wherein the telephone number dialed in step (b) is the prestored telephone number of the currently active television channel.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:
(d) the television station automatically forwarding any received telephone calls to a telephone number of the remotely located entity.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein the establishment of two-way communication with the remotely located entity in step (b) occurs by:
(i) the telephone device sending a signal to the set-top box to dial the telephone number of the remotely located entity and communicating user identity information to the remotely located entity, and
(ii) the remotely located entity using the user identity information to initiate a call to the telephone device.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the user identity information is the telephone number of the telephone device.
35. The method of claim 30 further comprising:
(c) the user engaging in an audio session with a person or machine at the remotely located entity upon establishing the two-way communication.
36. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone system is external to the TV system.
37. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone system uses the TV system for establishing and maintaining the two-way communication.
38. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone number information is the telephone number stored at the set-top box.
39. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone number information is a telephone icon which indicates that the telephone number stored at the set-top box will be dialed upon selection of the button.
40. The method of claim 30 wherein the telephone number information is the telephone number stored at the set-top box and a telephone icon which indicates that the telephone number stored at the set-top box will be dialed upon selection of the button.
41. The method of claim 30 further comprising:
(c) the set-top box receiving the telephone number which is stored in step (a) from broadcast signals sent by the TV system.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A dielectric material for use in a capacitor comprising sodium bismuth titantate in which titanium is partially substituted by 5-valent ions and sodium andor bismuth is substituted by monovalent ions.
2. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the monovalent ions comprise Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag andor Cu.
3. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the monovalent ions comprise K.
4. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the monovalent ions comprise Na.
5. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the 5-valent ions comprise Nb, Ta, P andor Sb.
6. The dielectric material of claim 5, wherein the 5-valent ions comprise Ta.
7. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the sodium is partially substituted by monovalent ions.
8. The dielectric material of claim 7, wherein the monovalent ions comprise Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag andor Cu.
9. The dielectric material of claim 8, wherein the monovalent ions comprise K.
10. The dielectric material of claim 8, wherein the monovalent ions comprise Rb.
11. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the bismuth is partially substituted by trivalent ions.
12. The dielectric material of claim 11, wherein the trivalent ions comprise La, Y, Dy andor Sm.
13. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the sodium and bismuth are partially substituted by divalent ions.
14. The dielectric material of claim 13, wherein the divalent ions comprise Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb, Sr andor Si.
15. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the titanium is further partially substituted by tetravalent ions.
16. The dielectric material of claim 15, wherein the tetravalent ions comprise Hf, Zr andor Sn.
17. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the titanium is further substituted by 6-valent ions.
18. The dielectric material of claim 17, wherein the 6-valent ions comprise W.
19. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf; Zr and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.01, 0.05<s<0.6, t<0.01, z<0.01, 0<w<0.2 and y<0.01.
20. The dielectric material of claim 19, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in an amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
21. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is Sr and 0.08<s<0.52.
22. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is Sr and 0.10<s<0.35.
23. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is Ca and 0.10<s<0.25.
24. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is a combination of Ca and Ba, 0.05<Ca<0.20 and 0.04<Ba<0.20.
25. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is a combination of Ca and Ba, 0.08<Ca<0.12 and 0.10<Ba<0.20.
26. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein Me2 is a combination of Sr and Ba, 0.25<Sr<0.35 and 0.25<Ba<0.35.
27. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 5%, the strain is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 109 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 1500.
28. The dielectric material of claim 19, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 3%, the strain is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb110% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb115% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 2500.
29. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf, Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein 0.10<x<0.30, s<0.01, t<0.01, z<0.01, 0<w<0.2 and y<0.01.
30. The dielectric material of claim 29, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in an amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
31. The dielectric material of claim 29, wherein Me1 is K and 0.15<x<0.25.
32. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf. Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.01, 0.02<s<0.20, 0.005<t<0.12, z<0.01, 0<w<0.20 and y<0.01.
33. The dielectric material of claim 32, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in an amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
34. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein Me2 is Pb and Me3 is La.
35. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein 0.08<s<0.14 and 0.01<t<0.06.
36. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein Me is Ba and Me is La.
37. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein 0.03<s<0.09 and 0.005<t<0.03.
38. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 5%, the strain coefficient is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 109 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 1500.
39. The dielectric material of claim 32, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 3%, the strain coefficient is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb110% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb115% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 2500.
40. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf. Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.01, 0.03<s<0.60, t<0.01, 0.01<z<0.25, 0<w<0.2 and y<0.01.
41. The dielectric material of claim 40, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in an amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
42. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein Me2 is Sr and Me4 is Zr.
43. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein 0.22<s<0.28 and 0.01<z<0.06.
44. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein Me2 is Ba and Me is Zr.
45. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein 0.03<s<0.17 and 0.01<z<0.06.
46. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein Me2 is a combination of Ba and Sr and Me4 is Sn.
47. The dielectric material of claim 46, wherein 0.10<Ba<0.30, 0.10<Sr<0.30 and 0.10<Sn<0.25.
48. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 5%, the strain coefficient is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 109 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 1500.
49. The dielectric material of claim 40, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 3%, the strain coefficient is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb110% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb115% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 2500.
50. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf. Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.30, s<0.01, t<0.01, z<0.01, 0<w<0.20 and y<0.01.
51. The dielectric material of claim 50, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence state selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in the amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
52. The dielectric material of claim 50, wherein Me1 is K and Me5 is Ta.
53. The dielectric material of claim 50, wherein 0.05<x<0.15 and 0.05<w<0.15.
54. The dielectric material of claim 50, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 5%, the strain coefficient is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 109 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 1500.
55. The dielectric material of claim 50, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within the band 50-500\xb0 C.: loss is less than 3%, the strain coefficient is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb110% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb115% from its value at the center of the temperature range, the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m and the dielectric constant is greater than 2500.
56. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf. Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.30, 0.02<s<0.10, t<0.01, z<0.01, 0.05<w<0.30 and y<0.01.
57. The dielectric material of claim 56, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in the amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
58. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein Me2 is Ba and Me5 is Ta.
59. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein x is 0, 0.03<s<0.07 and 0.15<w<0.30.
60. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein Me1 is K, Me2 is Ba and Me5 is Ta.
61. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein 0.03<x<0.20, 0.03<s<0.07 and 0.03<w<0.20.
62. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein the loss is less than 5% from \u221230 to 200\xb0 C., the strain is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its ambient value between \u221230 and 200\xb0 C., the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m from \u221230 to 200\xb0 C. and the ambient dielectric constant is greater than 1000.
63. The dielectric material of claim 56, wherein the loss is less than 3% from \u221230 to 200\xb0 C., the strain is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than \xb115% from its ambient value between \u221230 and 200\xb0 C., the resistivity is greater than 1011 ohm-m from \u221230 to 200\xb0 C. and the ambient dielectric constant is greater than 1100.
64. The dielectric material of claim 1, wherein the material corresponds to the formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm, or combinations thereof, Me4 is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf, Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W and wherein x<0.30, s<0.01, t<0.01, z<0.01, 0.15<w<0.60 and y<0.01.
65. The dielectric material of claim 64, further comprising a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in the amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material.
66. The dielectric material of claim 64, wherein Me1 is Na and Me5 is Nb.
67. The dielectric material of claim 64, wherein x is 0 and 0.20<w<0.50.
68. The dielectric material of claim 64, wherein x is 0 and 0.25<w<0.35.
69. The dielectric material of claim 64, wherein the loss is less than 5% from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C., the strain is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb110% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than 200 ppm\xb0 C. from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C., the resistivity is greater than 1010 ohm-m from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C. and the dielectric constant is greater than 300 from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C.
70. The dielectric material of claim 64, wherein the loss is less than 2% from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C., the strain is less than 30 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, the voltage coefficient is less than \xb15% from 0-10 MVm, the temperature coefficient is less than 100 ppm\xb0 C. from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C., the resistivity is greater than 1011 ohm-m from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C. and the dielectric constant is greater than 500 from \u221255 to 200\xb0 C.
71. A capacitor comprising a partially substituted sodium bismuth titanate dielectric material of general formula:
{(Na0.5-x+Me1x)(Bi0.5-t+Me3t)1-s+Me2s)}1-w{Ti1-z+Me4z}1-wO3-3w+{Me1w-y+Me5w-y+Me6y}O3w
where Me1 is a monovalent metal ion selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Ag and Cu or combinations thereof, Me2 is a divalent metal ion selected from Ba, Ca, Mg, Pb andor Sr or combinations thereof, Me3 is a trivalent metal ion selected from La and its series in the periodic table, Y, Dy, Sm or combinations thereof, Me is a tetravalent metal ion selected from Hf, Zr, and Sn or combinations thereof, Me5 is a 5-valent ion selected from Nb, Ta, P, Sb or combinations thereof, and Me6 is a 6-valent ion including W; and
a resistivity enhancing additive comprising an oxide of one or more metals capable of multiple valence states selected from Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr andor Nd added in an amount of 0.01-0.20 wt % of the material, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 200\xb0 C. temperature range within a band \u221255-400\xb0 C.: loss is less than 5%, strain is less than 100 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, temperature coefficient is less than +25% from its value at the center of the temperature range, resistivity is greater than 108 ohm-m, and dielectric constant is greater than 500.
72. The capacitor of claim 71, wherein the following properties are obtained across a 300\xb0 C. temperature range within a band \u221255-350\xb0 C.: loss is less than 4%, strain is less than 50 microstrains at an applied field of 2 MVm, voltage coefficient is less than \xb120% from 0-10 MVm, temperature coefficient is less than \xb125% from its value at the center of the temperature range, resistivity is greater than 109 ohm-m, and dielectric constant is greater than 1000.