Adding Or Subtracting Mass Patents (Class 310/312)
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Patent number: 6002195Abstract: The invention utilizes harmonics of certain clamped ultrasound transducers to generate ultrasound within the liquid of an ultrasonic tank and in a frequency range of between about 100 khz to 350 khz (i.e., "microsonic" frequencies). The application of microsonic frequencies to liquid preferably occurs simultaneously with a sweeping of the microsonic frequency within the transducer's harmonic bandwidth to reduce or eliminate (a) standing waves within the liquid, (b) other resonances, (c) high energy cavitation implosion, and (d) non-uniform sound fields, each of which is undesirable for cleaning and/or processing of semiconductor wafers and other delicate parts. The invention can also drive ultrasonic transducers such that the frequency of applied energy has a sweep rate within the ultrasonic bandwidth of the transducers; and that sweep rate is also varied so that the sweep rate is substantially non-constant during operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1998Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Inventor: William L. Puskas
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Patent number: 5986385Abstract: A vibration driven motor or actuator has a piezoelectric element, arranged in a vibrating member, for generating a vibration in a first direction, and another piezoelectric element, arranged in the vibrating member, for generating a vibration in a second direction different from the first direction. In the motor or actuator, the vibrating member has a recess portion which shaved e.g., by a laser, or a portion added with a mass, so that the natural frequencies of a given vibration mode of the vibrations in the first and second directions coincide or substantially coincide with each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1993Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akio Atsuta
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Patent number: 5977687Abstract: A sensor for detection of a trace fluid component in a fluid environment, comprising: a piezoelectric crystal having a fundamental resonant frequency in response to an applied oscillating electric field; a coating on the piezoelectric crystal of a sensor material which is reactive with the trace fluid component to yield a solid interaction product of changed mass in relation to initial mass of the sensor material interacting with the trace fluid component to yield the solid interaction product; means for applying an oscillating electric field to the piezoelectric crystal which generates an output resonant frequency therefrom; means for (i) sampling the output resonant frequency of the piezoelectric crystal while the oscillating electric field is applied thereto, (ii) determining the change in resonant frequency from the fundamental resonant frequency that occurs on formation of the solid interaction product when the sensor material interacts with the trace fluid component in the fluid environment, and (iii) gType: GrantFiled: July 12, 1996Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.Inventors: Glenn M. Tom, Cynthia A. Miller
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Patent number: 5969463Abstract: An energy trapping piezoelectric device trapping a thickness vibration into projections which suppress a reflection of a vibration from end portions of electrodes provided substantially on a piezoelectric plate, and which suppress unnecessary spurious vibrations, low impedance and higher frequency, and a method of easily producing such a piezoelectric device are provided. The piezoelectric device has an energy trapping projection provided over a piezoelectric plate, and a top electrode is divided into a exciting electrode and dummy electrode. A small gap is provided between the divided electrodes, and the electrodes are electrically insulated from each other. The thickness vibration is not generally reflected, and vibrating energies due to the thickness vibrations are substantially trapped into the projections provided on the piezoelectric plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Tomita, Tetsuyoshi Ogura, Atsushi Komatsu, Shinji Itamochi
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Patent number: 5932953Abstract: A method and system for detecting material bound on a surface of a piezoelectric resonator introduces a signal of a constant frequency through the sensing resonator and detects a change in the insertion phase shift of the resonator as a result of the binding of the material being detected on the surface of the resonator. Environmental effects on the measurement are effectively canceled by the use of a reference resonator driven by the same input signal. A multiple-port sensing device is provided which includes thin-film sensing and reference resonators monolithically formed on a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Dennis M. Drees, Howard R. Shanks, Richard A. Van Deusen, Allen R. Landin
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Patent number: 5920146Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (10) with electrodes (14) having a periodic pattern (28) along a portion of an edge (30) of at least one of the electrodes (26). The periodic pattern (28) has a periodicity that destructively interferes with the undesirable vibrational mode. For example, a rectangular AT-cut quartz resonator, which vibrates in a thickness-shear mode may also possess undesirable flexure and face-shear modes. These modes not only present undesirable spurious frequencies, they also change over temperature, disturbing a frequency-temperature response (16) of the quartz crystal. The periodic pattern (28) substantially reduces these undesirable modes, providing a more uniform frequency-temperature response which is beneficial in temperature compensated crystal oscillator applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Motorola Inc.Inventors: Beverly A. Carroll, Weiping Zhang, Sang Kim
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Patent number: 5918354Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator is provided which is formed of an element piece. This element piece further includes a piezoelectric material and an electrode formed on the surface of the piezoelectric material. A plug for mounting the element piece and a case for housing said element piece in an air-tight manner are also provided. The surface of the element piece is coated with a resin film formed from an excited active species of an organic compound generated through a gas discharge in a predetermined discharge gas at approximately atmospheric pressure. A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric resonator is also provided, which comprises the steps of first mounting the element piece on the plug. Next, a gas discharge in a predetermined discharge gas is produced at approximately atmospheric pressure and an excited active species of an organic compound which is a liquid or a gas at room temperature is generated as a result of this gas discharge in a gas discharge region.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Yasumitsu Ikegami, Takuya Miyakawa
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Patent number: 5889351Abstract: A viscosity measuring device is equipped with a piezo-electric vibrator, an oscillator and a loss factor monitoring means. The elastic properties of the piezo-electric vibrator and the viscous resistance of the fluid are controlled so that the tangent of loss factor of the piezo-electric vibrator may change largely enough to measure the viscosity. The characteristics measuring device is equipped with a first ceramic plate, a piezo-electric element sandwiched between a pair of electrodes attached to one surface of this first ceramic plate, a second ceramic plate having a hollow portion therein sintered integrally with the first ceramic plate, and a lid disposed so as to sandwich the second ceramic plate between the lid and the first ceramic plate and so as to face the other surface of the first ceramic plate. The amount of a glass component on the other surface of the first ceramic plate is regulated to be smaller than that of the glass component on the one surface of the first ceramic plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1995Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Hidemasa Okumura, Kazuyoshi Shibata, Yukihisa Takeuchi
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Patent number: 5869763Abstract: A quartz crystal resonator is excited in two different modes at the same time such that the mass change and the temperature change can be measured independently. In using such a quartz crystal the change in mass can be calculated accurately and in real time, independent of temperature effects.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1995Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: John R. Vig, Raymond L. Filler
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Patent number: 5850166Abstract: Multiple piezoelectric ceramic filter elements have different center frequencies from each other and are cascade connected together. The piezoelectric ceramic filter elements satisfy the condition 0<.vertline.dF.sub.0 .vertline./BW.sub.3 <0.8; where .vertline.dF.sub.0 .vertline. is the absolute value of the frequency difference dF.sub.0 between the center frequencies, and BW.sub.3 is the band width of each piezoelectric ceramic filter element in which the amplitude loss is 3 dB or less. A low insertion loss and an improvement in the group delay characteristics are compatible at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Ikuo Katoh, Tsuyoshi Momiyama
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Patent number: 5850117Abstract: A vibration actuator is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped elastic member of which a surface bears electromechanical converting elements adhered thereto and a relative moving member maintained in pressure contact with the other surface of the elastic member. A driving voltage is applied to excite the electromechanical converting elements to generate, in the elastic member, a longitudinal vibration vibrating in a plane parallel to the surface of the elastic member contacting the relative moving member and a bending vibration vibrating in a direction crossing the contacting surface, thereby generating a relative motion between the elastic member and the relative moving member. The elastic member has working portions for adjusting the difference of the resonance frequencies of the longitudinal and bending vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Michihiro Tobe, Tadao Takagi
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Patent number: 5828159Abstract: A resonator device having an insulating substrate, a strip-shaped vibrating element which is mounted on said insulating substrate and is provided with driving electrodes formed on the main opposing surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate, and terminal electrodes which are provided on said insulating substrate so as to be electrically connected with said driving electrodes and to which driving signals are applied by an external signal source. At least the longitudinal side portions of said vibrating element are coated with a surface active agent. With such a constitution, fluctuations in resonant resistance which are due to the excitation level can be suppressed, thereby contributing to the stable operation of the device, reducing the number of producing steps, and raising the yield rate in production.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Takashi Miyagawa, Masanori Yachi
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Patent number: 5814525Abstract: A piezoelectric biosensor substrate useful for immobilizing biomolecules in an oriented manner on the surface of a piezoelectric sensor has a ladder polymer of polyacrylonitrile. To make the substrate, a solution of an organic polymer, preferably polyacrylonitrile, is applied to the surface of a piezoelectric sensor. The organic polymer is modifying by heating the polymer in a controlled fashion in air such that a ladder polymer is produced which, in turn, forms the attachment point for the biomolecules comprising the piezoelectric biosensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1996Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Clifford L. Renschler, Christine A. White, Robert M. Carter
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Patent number: 5773912Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator has oscillating electrodes disposed on opposite major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate, which oscillating electrodes are arranged so as to extend from respective opposite ends of the piezoelectric substrate to a central portion of the piezoelectric substrate so that the central portions of the oscillating electrodes overlap with each other, with the oscillating substrate sandwiched between the oscillating electrodes. Oscillation buffer materials are disposed on portions of the opposite major surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate, which portions are displaced by the third harmonic oscillation having a frequency which is substantially equal to about three times the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seiji Saeki, Yoshiharu Kuroda
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Patent number: 5761781Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric ceramic resonator, comprising the steps a of preparing a piezoelectric ceramic plate, polarizing the piezoelectric ceramic plate, and adjusting an anti-resonance frequency of the piezoelectric ceramic plate, by lapping the same to adjust its thickness while measuring the anti-resonance frequency thereof. Preferably a homogeneous material is used as the piezoelectric ceramic plate in this manufacturing method.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1995Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Makoto Teragaki
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Patent number: 5753518Abstract: A method of determining the affinity and kinetic properties of low molecular weight ligands for their interaction with a common receptor comprises the steps of immobilizing the receptor on a sensing structure, mixing in known proportions each ligand with a ligand analogue the response of which on the sensing structure is substantially higher than that of the low molecular weight ligands, contacting each mixture with the sensing structure and measuring the response, and comparing the response of each mixture with that of the ligand analogue alone, the distortion of the ligand analogue response being representative of the affinity and kinetic properties of the ligand.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1995Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Pharmacia ABInventor: Robert Karlsson
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Patent number: 5736911Abstract: In a piezoelectric resonator 11 in which resonance electrodes 13 and 14 are formed on both major surfaces of a rectangular plane piezoelectric plate 12 and which utilizes stretching vibration along the short side of the piezoelectric plate 12, notches 15 and 16 are partially formed on the long sides of the piezoelectric plate 12, respectively in order to increase the resonance frequency.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Toru Watanabe
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Patent number: 5728583Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an abnormal component of blood functions is described. A whole blood sample is cycled as a laminar flow through a flow cell having a measuring element prepared by plating the surface of a plate-shaped quartz oscillator with a protein layer. The amount of adhesion of the blood component on the protein layer is determined on the basis of the change in resonance frequency of the measuring element. The measured value is compared with a standard value of adhesion for blood from a healthy individual.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Jeol, Ltd.Inventors: Keiko Kawakami, Yoshiyuki Harada, Tadashi Sakon, Yutaka Kishida, Yasuo Ikeda
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Patent number: 5708320Abstract: A vibratory gyroscope including an elongated vibrator having a central (neutral) axis (Y-axis), a drive unit for deforming the first direction such that the vibrator vibrates in a first (X) direction, an added mass attached to the vibrator at a position offset from the central axis in a second (Z) direction, and a detector formed on the vibrator. Rotation of the vibratory gyroscope about the second (Z) direction during vibration in the second direction causes Coriolis force to acting on the added mass in a direction parallel to the central axis. Because the added mass is offset from the central axis, a resulting vibration in the second (Z) direction is produced, which is detected by the detector. With this arrangement, the central axis of the vibrator is placed in parallel with the surface of rotation of the rotating system. Thus, rotations about two or three axes in each direction can be detected in such a manner that noise generation is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1995Date of Patent: January 13, 1998Assignees: Alps Electric Co., Ltd, Yoshiro TomikawaInventors: Kazumasa Ohnishi, Akira Satoh, Yoshiro Tomikawa
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Patent number: 5705399Abstract: A chemical sensor for measuring a change in the sensor mass relating to the interaction of a surface of the sensor with a solution comprises a crystal detector oscillator capable of providing a measurement signal based upon the resonant frequency of the crystal detector oscillator. The crystal detector oscillator has a first crystal side for directly contacting the solution, and a second crystal side isolated from contacting the solution. A first electrode is integral to the first crystal side, with the first electrode having an inner and outer perimeter defining an outer portion of the first crystal side which is exterior to the outer perimeter of the first electrode and an inner portion of the first crystal side which is interior to the inner perimeter of the first electrode. A second electrode is integral to the second crystal side.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1994Date of Patent: January 6, 1998Assignee: The Cooper Union for Advancement of Science and ArtInventor: Rebecca A. Larue
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Patent number: 5692279Abstract: A monolithic thin film resonator, lattice filter including spaced apart strips of a conductive film positioned on a substrate so as to define a first set of I/O terminals, a layer of piezoelectric material positioned on the conductive film, and spaced apart conductive strips of a conductive film positioned on the piezoelectric layer orthogonal to the first strips to form cross-over areas, each defining a thin film resonator and a second set of I/O terminals. A plurality of portions of a dielectric film are positioned on selected cross-over areas to mass load the thin film resonators so as to lower the resonant frequency.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1995Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: MotorolaInventors: Luke Mang, Fred S. Hickernell, Robert G. Kinsman
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Patent number: 5629472Abstract: A vibrating cylindrical rate sensor (10) is mechanically balanced and mode aligned with respect to the vibrating portion of the sensor (10) by removing material from a vibrating portion of the vibrating cylinder (34) after the drive and pick-off transducers (30, 32, 30a, 18, 20) are fixed to the vibrating portion of the vibrating cylinder (34) of the cylindrical rate sensor (10).Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1995Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited CompanyInventors: Malcolm P. Varnham, James McInnes
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Patent number: 5595908Abstract: A system for detecting polynucleotide hybridization is disclosed. A polynucleotide is immobilized on a surface of a piezoelectric crystal. The resonance frequency of the piezoelectric crystal is measured through means for determining the resonant frequency of a piezoelectric crystal. A separate source of polynucleotide is exposed to the polynucleotide-coated piezoelectric crystal for a sufficient length of time and under conditions suitable for hybridization. The resonance frequency of the crystal is then again measured, and the difference between the resonance frequency before and after the incubation period will indicate the extent of hybridization.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1989Date of Patent: January 21, 1997Assignee: University of Southern MississipiInventors: Newton C. Fawcett, Jeffrey A. Evans
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Patent number: 5587620Abstract: An acoustical resonator comprising top and bottom electrodes that sandwich a PZ layer. The resonance frequency of the acoustical resonator may be adjusted after fabrication by utilizing heating elements included in the acoustical resonator and/or by adjusting the thickness of a tuning layer. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes comprise Mo layers. One embodiment of the present invention is constructed on a Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 membrane. A second embodiment of the present invention is constructed such that it is suspended over a substrate on metallic columns. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrodes are deposited by a method that minimizes the stress in the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1993Date of Patent: December 24, 1996Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Richard C. Ruby, Paul P. Merchant
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Patent number: 5568001Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device (100), includes a piezoelectric substrate (105) having a surface acoustic wave structure with an acoustic region (130). An acoustic element (115) disposed in a portion (110) of the acoustic region (130), has a different mass loading than an acoustic element (122) disposed in another portion (120) of the acoustic region (130).Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1994Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Roger A. Davenport
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Patent number: 5495135Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (10) with an attenuated spurious response. The resonator (10) includes a piezoelectric crystal plate (12) having opposite surfaces (14, 16), an electrode (18, 24) positioned and overlying relationship on each of the opposite surfaces (14, 16), the electrodes (18, 24) being substantially coextensive and opposite, and providing a primary frequency mode of operation and spurious modes upon suitable energization, and a number of mass loading structures (34) on at least one of the surfaces (14, 16) substantially surrounding at least one of the electrodes (18, 24).Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1994Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Charles Zimnicki, Kevin Haas, Iyad Alhayek
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Patent number: 5478756Abstract: A chemical sensor includes a piezoelectric support (1) capable of supporting a shear horizontal wave provided on its surface with an electrode (2,3). The sensor is characterized in that the surface of the piezoelectric support (1) including the region bearing the electrode (2,3) is covered by a layer of dielectric material (9) of thickness 0.5 to 20 microns. The piezoelectric support (1) is preferably a single crystal. The dielectric layer (1) may be of, for example, silicon dioxide or a suitable polymer, and preferably has a thickness of between 0.5 and 5 .mu.m.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1995Date of Patent: December 26, 1995Assignees: Fisons plc, GEC Marfoni LimitedInventors: Electra Gizeli, Adrian C. Stevenson
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Patent number: 5469010Abstract: A method of adjusting a frequency-to-temperature coefficient of an NS-GT cut quartz resonator comprises providing a coupling resonator having a first order temperature coefficient .alpha..sub.+. A normalized frequency .delta. of the coupled vibrational modes is then calculated according to the relationship .alpha..sub.+ =m.delta.+n, where m and n are constants. The normalized frequency .delta. is then adjusted according to the relationship .alpha..sub.+ =m.delta.+n to set the first order temperature coefficient to substantially zero.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
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Patent number: 5424601Abstract: An electronic circuit including a frequency-selective part including a piezoelectric crystal and an inductance; The crystal is shaped relative to its crystal axes in such a way that its temperature coefficient and the temperature coefficient of the inductance have opposite signs in order to reduce the influence temperature on the pulling range of the frequency-selective part of the circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1991Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventors: Gustaaf E. Arnolds, Jan W. Ooijman
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Patent number: 5422532Abstract: Disclosed herein is an energy trap type piezo-resonator (11) utilizing a thickness shear vibration mode, which is prepared by forming electrodes (13, 14) on both major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate (12) and providing dynamic damper parts (17, 18) being held between grooves (15a, 15b; 16a, 16b) for preventing leakage of vibration from a vibrating part opposing the electrodes (13, 14) to each other to end portions of the piezoelectric substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1994Date of Patent: June 6, 1995Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Inoue, Hiroaki Kaida
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Patent number: 5414320Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope is mounted on a cutting device. The vibrating gyroscope is heated by halogen lamps, and a drift due to temperature variation is measured by a drift measuring device. Resonance frequencies in plural directions of the vibrating gyroscope are measured by a frequency measuring device. A cutting quantity of a vibrating body of the vibrating gyroscope is calculated from the drift due to a temperature variation and a difference of plural resonance frequencies by a control device. The cutting quantity of the vibrating body is decided by deliberating the cutting quantity obtained experientially. When the cutting quantity of the vibrating body is decided, rotating bar files are pressed against the vibrating body responsive thereto, thereby the vibrating body is cut.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1994Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tasuku Mashio
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Patent number: 5376853Abstract: Disclosed is an electroacoustic transducer which comprises a diaphragm including an elastic plate, an added mass secured to a center portion of the elastic plate. The added mass has a contact portion, which contacts the elastic plate and is shaped to provide a portion to allow for deformation of the elastic plate within an imaginary circle defined by connecting an outer surface portion of the contact portion. Thus, the contact portion can provide a deformable elastic-plate portion within that circle. In other words, it is possible to accomplish such a structure obtained as if by connecting different springs having different spring characteristics, located outside and inside the circle. This structure can suppress and stabilize a variation in resonance frequency (f.sub.0) caused by a change in the amplitude of the diaphragm. The follow-up reproducibility of an output to an input is thus improved enough to cope with the case of using the electroacoustic transducer for AM sounds or attenuating sounds.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1992Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Isao Fushimi
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Patent number: 5374521Abstract: A passive process for selectively sensing analyte molecules in a fluid by reflection of acoustic waves from a sensing surface of a bulk accoustive wave quartz sensing device to which analyte molecules bind is provided. The sensing surface has a plurality of receptors for which analyte molecules have an affinity. The process has the following steps:i) contacting a fluid in which analyte molecules are suspected with the sensing surface so that acoustic waves are reflected from the sensing surface;ii) directing acoustic waves at the sensing surface; andiii) detecting a change in a characteristic of acoustic waves reflected from the sensing surface due to analyte molecules binding the receptors. The change in a reflected acoustic wave characteristic being measured by electrical means detecting values which are related to the amplitude and phase of the reflected acoustic waves.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1991Date of Patent: December 20, 1994Inventors: Arlin L. Kipling, Michael Thompson
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Patent number: 5334303Abstract: A quartz crystal resonator is utilized to effect evaluation of the viscoelastic characteristic of a film deposited on an electrode by an electrochemical reaction. The quartz crystal resonator is connected to a resonator characteristic measurement unit comprised of an oscillating circuit, a frequency counter, and an amplitude level meter. An electrochemical measurement unit in the form of a potentiostat is connected to a working electrode which comprises one of the electrodes of the resonator, to a reference electrode and to a counter electrode. The frequency counter, the amplitude level meter and the potentiostat are connected to a CPU. The resonator, reference electrode and counter electrode are all immersed in an electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1992Date of Patent: August 2, 1994Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Muramatsu, Xuanjing Ye
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Patent number: 5306644Abstract: A system for accurate and precise measurements of analyte(s) in a system. The measurement system comprises piezoelectric surface wave sample devices, at least one piezoelectric surface wave reference device, and the measurement instrument.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1993Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Carl A. Myerholtz, May Tom-Moy, Darlene J. Spira-Solomon, Richard L. Baer, Thomas P. Doherty
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Patent number: 5283496Abstract: A thickness, shear crystal resonator and a method of manufacturing therefor in which a natural crystal surface is appeared on at least a part of surfaces of crystal plate thereof to the extent that the part is made substantially transparent, the impedance of the crystal resonator is made small thereby and a large Q factor can be obtained. And, there is found no dip in the temperature characteristics of the impedance and the vibrating frequency of the crystal resonator.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1991Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: Asahi Dempa Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hitoaki Hayashi, Isao Mutai
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Patent number: 5283037Abstract: A sensor suitable for use as a viscosity sensor, a chemically selective sensor, or a chemically specific sensor. The sensor is a surface transverse wave (STW) or Love Wave device that, for solute concentration measurements, includes a chemically reactive layer selected to react with the solute to be measured. The surface trapping structure in this device can include dielectric material either as a protective coating or as the core material of the surface trapping structure. The substrate material and cut are selected so that only shear horizontal acoustic waves are produced. Nonpiezoelectric portions of this device can be utilized in the region in which chemicals react the sensor and/or in the region in which energy is converted between electrical and acoustical forms.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1991Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Richard L. Baer, Curt Flory
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Patent number: 5245245Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes a housing (222) and a piezo-bender (400). The piezo-bender (400) includes a metal beam (402) having at least a portion of a surface mechanically coupled to a piezo-ceramic layer (304). The piezo-bender (400) is flexibly coupled to the housing (222) at an end of the metal beam (402) forming a cantilever structure. A vibratable body (404) is mechanically coupled to the other end of the metal beam (402). A tuning slide (604) is slidably coupled to the piezo-bender (400) for mechanically tuning the resonant frequency of vibration of the piezo-bender (400) by varying the length of the piezo-bender (400) that can vibrate. An electrical drive circuit (708) is electrically coupled to the piezo-bender (400) for electrically driving the piezo-bender (400) with a drive signal to generate vibratory motion in the piezo-bender (400) for providing a vibratory alert.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1992Date of Patent: September 14, 1993Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Goldenberg
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Patent number: 5235135Abstract: In-situ adjustments to frequency characteristics of an electronic device such as a piezoelectric element (40) can be accomplished by means of a predetermined atmosphere (18) enclosed within a package comprised of a base (12) and a cover (14) and an included amount of sputterable electrode material (22). By attachment of appropriate electric potentials (2), electrode molecules can be sputtered onto the electrode surfaces adjusting the resonant frequency characteristics of a crystal filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1992Date of Patent: August 10, 1993Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Knecht, Brian M. Mancini, Joseph P. Krause
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Patent number: 5233261Abstract: An AT-cut quartz crystal for a quartz crystal microbalance has a buffer layer sandwiched between an adhesion layer and an electrode layer on the front or deposition side of the crystal. The buffer layer can be a zinc layer of 6000 .ANG. sandwiched between a titanium or chromium adhesion layer of 100 to 160 .ANG. and a gold, silver, or aluminum outer electrode layer of about 2000 .ANG.. The zinc layer has a relatively low bulk modulus, and absorbs stress imposed by the deposited layer. The buffer layer prolongs useful crystal life, particularly when depositing dielectric materials. The crystal should have a modest surface roughness as keying-in structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: Leybold Inficon Inc.Inventor: Abdul Wajid
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Patent number: 5179028Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of a particular chemical by determining the absolute frequency shift in the oscillating frequency of an antibody-coated oscillator. Specific antibodies deposited on a high Q crystal oscillator detect the change in frequency as chemical particulates become trapped by the antibodies and change the effective mass of the crystal. In one embodiment, two oscillating crystals are used, one that has been coated with the antibodies, and one that is uncoated. This permits detection of frequency differences between the oscillating frequencies of the two crystals, thus eliminating pressure, temperature, and humidity corrections that conventionally must be made. The sensor maintains a high specificity by using antibodies that are specifically related to the chemical to be detected, while achieving relatively good sensitivity by using high Q oscillators, such as quartz or sapphire, and eliminating drift problems due to temperature, pressure, and humidity.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1990Date of Patent: January 12, 1993Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Victor Vali, Kenn S. Bates, David B. Chang, Brian M. Pierce
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Patent number: 5168191Abstract: In a process of producing crystal resonators in which the direction and magnitude of the gamma vector is substantially the same for each resonator, a method of altering the resonator during the process to change the resonator mass, shape, or electrode placement so as to reduce the gamma vector magnitude of each crystal. This alteration may be done by adding mass, removing mass, or both adding and removing mass, or by positioning the electrodes to selectively position the electric field in the crystal, all in order to move the location of the active region of vibration and thereby reduce the gamma vector.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1990Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Assignee: Quartztronics, Inc.Inventors: Errol P. EerNisse, Roger W. Ward, O. Lew Wood
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Patent number: 5144184Abstract: A micromechanical device having a frequency trimmable, resonant structure, including a semiconductor substrate forming a support frame. First and second flexures flexibly couple and support a structure within the support frame, to permit rotation with a resonant frequency about a first axis which passes through the flexures. First and second elongated openings located proximate the first and second flexures form first and second tension relief beams adjacent the flexures, for providing stress relief of the tensile forces between the resonant structure and the flexures, and for establishing and trimming the resonant frequency of the resonant structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1990Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Inventor: Paul Greiff
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Patent number: 5138214Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer arranged to allow the adjustment of its oscillation frequency. The piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric member which is encased in an airtight housing having at least one portion which allows transmission of light. The piezoelectric member has on its surfaces electrodes and is coupled to one end portions of electrical conductors the other end portions of which extend toward the external of said airtight housing. Also housed in the airtight housing is a deposition member which is evaporated in response to illumination of a light beam. The deposition member is provided so as to face the light-transmitting portion of the airtight housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1989Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyuki Nakai, Junji Tanaka, Yukio Nishikawa
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Patent number: 5130680Abstract: A small ladder-type electric filter for use in radio equipment or the like, includes a casing, a plurality of resonators having a small mechanical quality coefficient and a frequency constant, and a plurality of resonators having a large mechanical quality coefficient. The small mechanical quality coefficient resonators and the large mechanical quality coefficient resonators being combined in series-parallel to each other. The external size of the large mechanical quality coefficient resonators is substantially equal to the external size of the small mechanical quality coefficient resonators. A plurality of terminal plates hold the plurality of small and large mechanical quality coefficient resonators in the casing. Slits are selectively formed in side edges of each of the plurality of large mechanical quality coefficient resonators for adjusting the resonance frequency of the large mechanical quality coefficient resonators to a predetermined resonance frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1991Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takesumi Nagai, Shoji Shimizu
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Patent number: 5117146Abstract: Solid-state acoustic sensors for monitoring conditions at a surface immersed in a liquid and for monitoring concentrations of species in a liquid and for monitoring electrical properties of a liquid are formed by placing interdigital input and output transducers on a piezoelectric substrate and propagating acoustic plate modes therebetween. The deposition or removal of material on or from, respectively, a thin film in contact with the surface, or changes in the mechanical properties of a thin film in contact with the surface, or changes in the electrical characteristics of the solution, create perturbations in the velocity and attenuation of the acoustic plate modes as a function of these properties or changes in them.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1991Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of EnergyInventors: Stephen J. Martin, Antonio J. Ricco
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Patent number: 5109175Abstract: A monolithic resonator structure for a vibrating beam force sensor, comprising an accelerometer and pressure transducer, is provided which comprises an outer structure including a mounting structure, a force transfer structure, a plurality of flexure beams extending between the mounting and force transfer structures; and an inner structure including a vibrating beam extending between the mounting structure and the force transfer structure. The monolithic resonator is non-planar in that the outer structure has a thickness greater than said inner structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1990Date of Patent: April 28, 1992Assignee: Lucas Schaevitz Inc.Inventor: William C. Albert
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Patent number: 5045745Abstract: A method for adjusting a piezoelectric beam of a dual-axis angular rate sensor, in which the piezoelectric beam is excited in a direction at right angles to the lengthwise direction of two piezoelectric sensors and to a rotary shaft; detected voltages of the two piezoelectric sensors are measured by a signal measuring circuit; a bending portion of at least one of the two piezoelectric sensors is ground so that the levels of the two measured signals and the difference therebetween become small; the piezoelectric beam is excited again in the lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric sensors at right angles to the rotary shaft; detected voltages of the two piezoelectric sensors are measured by the signal measuring circuit; and a weight mounted on the free end of at least one of the two piezoelectric sensors is ground so that the levels of the two measured signals and the difference therebetween become small.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry LimitedInventors: Kaneyuki Umemoto, Toshio Tamura, Teruo Yano
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Patent number: 5032755Abstract: A method and arrangement for providing damping of undesired modes of piezoelectric vibrators is disclosed that eliminates the tedious and often inaccurate methods of known mass-loading techniques. Instead, the arrangement relies on physically altering a controlled amount of the piezoelectric material located at a predetermined point to effect the selective damping needed to minimize the undesired responses and to minimally interfere with the desired mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1988Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: Motorola, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Witte
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Patent number: 5022130Abstract: In a process of producing crystal resonators in which the direction and magnitude of the gamma vector is substantially the same for each resonator, a method of altering the resonator during the process to change the resonator mass, shape, or electrode placement so as to reduce the gamma vector magnitude of each crystal. This alteration may be done by adding mass, removing mass, or both adding and removing mass, or by positioning the electrodes to selectively position the electric field in the crystal, all in order to move the location of the active region of vibration and thereby reduce the gamma vector.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1989Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Quartztronics, Inc.Inventors: Errol P. EerNisse, Roger W. Ward, O. Lew Wood