Abstract: An elastic wave control element includes a piezoelectric material which is inserted into a propagation path for an elastic wave or installed in an oscillator to allow the elastic wave in a selected frequency to be damped, reflected, or transmitted. The piezoelectric material is provided with a pair of electrodes between which a negative capacitance circuit is connected to allow a loss factor of the negative capacitance circuit in a selected frequency or frequency band to be matched with a dielectric loss factor of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter comprising as a substrate a piezoelectric single crystal having the composition of formula (I) with high dielectric and piezoelectric constants, low temperature coefficient and good electromechanical properties has a high piezoelectric constant, a low insertion loss, and a broad bandwidth in a high frequency region, and therefore can be useful for preparing a SAW filter for high frequency telecommunication systems: x(A)y(B)z(C)—p(P)n(N)  (I) wherein, (A) is Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 or Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3, (B) is PbTiO3, (C) is LiTaO3, (P) is a metal selected from Pt, Au, Ag, Pd and Rh, (N) is an oxide of a metal selected from Ni, Co, Fe, Sr, Sc, Ru, Cu and Cd, x is a number of 0.65 to 0.98, y is a number of 0.01 to 0.34, z is a number of 0.01 to 0.1, and p and n are each independently a number of 0.01 to 5.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode and reflectors disposed on a piezoelectric substrate. Each of the IDT electrode and the reflectors has a multi-layer film structure including at least one layer (high specific gravity metal component containing layer) including as a major component a metal with a specific gravity of at least about 15 and having a film-thickness of at least about 10 nm, and at least one layer (low specific gravity metal component containing layer) including as a major component a metal with a specific gravity of up to about 10 and a volume resistivity as a bulk value (at about 20° C.) of up to about 10×10−8 &OHgr;·M, and having a film-thickness of at least about 10 nm.

Abstract: The Lame mode quartz crystal resonator vibrating in overtone mode is formed of an X-plate quartz crystal obtained in a manner that a blank X-plate quartz crystal having a coordinate of x, y and z axes is rotated through 36.5° to 47° about its y-axis and further rotated through 65° to 85° about a new x′-axis corresponding to the x-axis produced by the rotation about the y-axis and the thus rotated blank X-plate quartz crystal is then cut out along planes parallel to x-y, y-z and z-x planes of the original coordinate system, respectively. The quartz crystal resonator includes a vibrating portion, a supporting frame and a mounting portion formed integrally. The vibrating portion is connected through two connecting portions to the supporting frame and the mounting portion, as a result of which the quartz crystal resonator has less series resistance R1 and exhibits minimum vibrational energy losses and minimum frequency change over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: A combined acoustic backing and interconnect module for connecting an array of ultrasonic transducer elements to a multiplicity of conductors of a cable utilizes the backing layer volume to extend a high density of interconnections perpendicular to the transducer array surface. The module is made by injecting flowable backfill material into a mold made up of a plurality of spacer plates having aligned channels, with interleaved flexible circuit boards. The backfill material is cured to form a backing layer which supports the flexible circuit boards in mutually parallel relationship. Excess flexible circuit material on one side of the backing layer is cut flush with the front face of the backing layer, leaving exposed ends of the conductive traces on the flexible circuit boards. The module is then laminated to a piezoelectric ceramic layer, and diced. The flexible circuit board conductive traces are aligned with, and electrically connected to, signal electrodes of the transducer elements.

Abstract: The invention utilizes multiple frequency sound in liquids to improve the cleaning or processing effect. The sound frequencies are produced in two or more non-overlapping continuous frequency ranges. The sound frequencies are controlled to change frequency within the frequency ranges and the sound frequencies are programmed by a digital code to jump amongst the frequency ranges. The sound frequencies may change continuously within the frequency ranges, and the sound frequencies may jump discontinuously from one frequency range to another. The frequency ranges may also be within different, non-contiguous and non-overlapping frequency bands.

Abstract: A microwheel having stators constructed on a wafer material forming an evacuated. cavity in which a rotor is levitating to lessen friction losses. A plurality of microwheels can be integrated to serve as energy storage and/or momentum control devices.

Abstract: A chip-type piezoelectric component has greatly increased bond strength of external electrodes while allowing the external electrodes to be easily formed. The external electrodes including a conductive paste are continuously formed on the side surface of a laminated body in which a piezoelectric element is laminated with seal substrates in addition to embedding a part of the external electrodes in recesses in which terminal electrodes of the piezoelectric element have been exposed. A metal plating layer having good solder wettability is provided on the outermost layer of the external electrode. The bonding strength between the external electrode and the laminated body is greatly improved by the wedge effect of the conductive paste penetrated in the recess, thereby preventing the electrode from peeling.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a base 10a including a pair of right and left movable parts 11, 12 and a fixing part 13 on one end thereof, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 10b on the side surfaces of movable parts 11, 12 of base 10a. The adhesive force of bonding a component H sandwiched and held on the other end of movable parts 11, 12 is enhanced. Base 10a constituting the piezoelectric/electrostrictive device has a pair of long mounting parts 15, 16 for mounting component H on the other end of movable parts 11, 12. Mounting parts 15, 16 extend for a predetermined length while holding slit-shaped gaps 15a, 16a of a predetermined width along the inside surfaces of movable parts 11, 12 by being turned around at the other end of movable parts 11, 12. This increases the bonding area of mounting parts 15, 16 to component H, thereby greatly improving the adhesive force of bonding the component.

Abstract: A first charging circuit and a third charging circuit are provided as first-step charging circuits to first and second piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, and a second charging circuit and a fourth charging circuit are provided as next-step charging circuits. Moreover, the first-step charging circuits of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements serve also as first-step discharging circuits, and a first discharging circuit and a second discharging circuit are provided as next-step discharging circuits. Resistances as well as coils intervene in the first charging circuit and the third charging circuit in a series with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements.

Abstract: A SAW component has a component system that is mounted on a base plate such that it makes electrical contact with the base plate. A protective coating is provided on a component side of the component system that faces away from a connecting region between the component system and the base plate. The protective coating forms a seal, which is proof against environmental influences, for the component system toward the base plate.

Abstract: A micro actuator driven load beam mechanism for use in a head suspension assembly is disclosed. The mechanism includes a load beam including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a hinge portion connecting the proximal and distal end portions of the load beam for permitting relative movement therebetween, and a piezoelectric beam connecting the proximal and distal end portions, the piezoelectric beam being selectively energizable to effect relative movement between the proximal and distal end portions. The load beam includes a pocket for holding at least one end of the piezoelectric beam. The piezoelectric beam and the pocket may be inclined relative to a hinge plane to control the load beam twist and minimize the altitude variations of the beam tip.

Abstract: An ultrasonic processor operated at multiple frequencies comprises a nonpiezoelectric plate, an input IDT, an output IDT, a first piezoelectric substrate, and a second piezoelectric substrate. The input IDT with a dispersive type of electrode-finger pattern has an overlap length L and interdigital periodicities Pi (i=1, 2, . . . , m). The output IDT with a dispersive-slant type of electrode-finger pattern has the electrode-finger direction slanting to that of the input IDT by an angle &thgr;, and also has an overlap length LP along the electrode-finger direction of the output IDT and interdigital periodicities Qi (i=1, 2, . . . , m) along the orthogonal direction to the electrode-finger direction of the output IDT. The input- and output IDTs, and the first- and second piezoelectric substrates form a transducer-unit. If one of input electric signals Si (i=1, 2, . . . , m) with frequencies fi (i=1, 2, . . .

Abstract: Systems and circuits embodying the invention include means for sensing at least one of the peaks, amplitude and frequency of an oscillatory input force impinging on a power generating device for controlling the turn-on of a switch used to transfer energy collected by the power generating device to an associated load. The power generator may be a transducer such as a piezoelectric device or a wave energy converter (WEC). Sensors and sensing means embodying the invention are used to control the point in time at which power extracting circuits are switched in circuit with the power generating device. The power extracting circuit may include components which can resonate with the power generating circuit at a higher frequency than, and independent of, the frequency at which the power generating device is being operated. Thus, an electric power generator device operated and controlled by a slowly changing source of energy (e.g.

Abstract: In a structure in which a piezoelectric transformer element (11) is mounted on a circuit board (27) equipped with a circuit component for driving the piezoelectric transformer element (11), at least one of a fixing member (33, 35) and a supporting member (37, 39, 41) made of an elastic material having flexibility is interposed between the piezoelectric transformer element (11) and the circuit board (27) so as to cover vibration node portions (29, 31) of the piezoelectric transformer element (11) and at least a part of the remaining portion except the vibration node portions (29, 31). Thus, the piezoelectric transformer element (11) is fixed to the circuit board (27).

Abstract: A multi-layer PZT comprises a plurality of stacked ceramic layers. The stack of ceramic layers includes a top ceramic layer on which negative and positive contacts for electrically coupling the PZT to external circuitry are formed. The stack of ceramic layers also includes at least one negatively poled ceramic layer having a negative conductive pattern formed thereon and at least one positively poled ceramic layer having a positive conductive pattern formed thereon. The PZT also includes a negative pattern interconnect for electrically connecting the negative contact and the negative conductive pattern and a positive pattern interconnect for electrically connecting the positive contact and the positive conductive pattern. The multi-layer PZT can be fabricated using a ceramic co-firing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an array of ultrasound transducers which each comprise a substrate (1), a membrane (2), a first electrode (4), a piezoelectric layer (5), and a second electrode (6), wherein the substrate (1) comprises at least one opening (3) which adjoins the membrane (2) at one side, while the piezoelectric layer (5) has a high piezoelectric coupling coefficient k and is textured. The invention further relates to an ultrasound transducer and to a method of manufacturing an array of ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts through the application of a drive voltage, the electromechanical conversion element includes a first end and a second end. The apparatus further includes a support member that is fixed to the first end of the electromechanical conversion element in a direction of expansion or contraction of the electromechanical conversion element; a drive member that is fixed to the second end of the electromechanical conversion element in the direction of expansion or contraction; an engaging member that engages with the drive member with a friction force; and a drive circuit that drives the electromechanical conversion element.

Abstract: A driving method and a driving circuit for a piezoelectric transformer are capable of driving the piezoelectric transformer with high driving efficiency independently of an impedance change of a load such as a cold cathode tube by corresponding to the characteristic variance of the piezoelectric transformer, thereby also suppressing mechanical damage to be imposed on the piezoelectric transformer itself even if the load changes abruptly. The piezoelectric transformer is driven with a predetermined first frequency, and a power supply for a load connected to the secondary side of the piezoelectric transformer is started, and when an impedance of a load changes and reaches a predetermined impedance during the power supply, the driving frequency of the piezoelectric transformer is changed without a sweep from the first frequency to a predetermined second frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes a stator and a rotor. A plurality of slits are arranged at substantially equal angular intervals along an outer peripheral surface of the rotor. A photosensor is supported inside of an upper housing of the motor. The photosensor is arranged to oppose each one of the slits in a radial direction of the rotor when the slit comes in front of the photosensor during rotation of the rotor. Based on a signal outputted from the photosensor, a control device applies a high frequency alternating voltage between first and second electrode plates of the stator.