Sandwich Or Langevin Type Patents (Class 310/325)
  • Publication number: 20110001394
    Abstract: The piezoelectric thin-film tuning fork resonator (40) comprises an integral tuning fork made out of a quartz crystal. The tuning fork comprises a base (48) and a pair of parallel vibrating arms (44, 46) extending from the base. Each of the vibrating arms carries: first and second electrodes (62, 64) provided on at least one main surface of the arm, said first and second electrodes being formed respectively on an inner portion and on an outer portion of said one main surface, in such a way as to be spaced apart, first and second piezoelectric thin films (66, 68) formed over the first and second electrodes respectively, third and fourth electrodes (70, 72) formed over the first and second piezoelectric thin films respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: ETA SA
    Inventors: Silvio Dalla Piazza, Felix Staub
  • Publication number: 20100156241
    Abstract: A supporting substrate and a piezoelectric substrate are prepared. A surface of the supporting substrate is bonded to the backside of the piezoelectric substrate with an organic adhesive layer interposed therebetween to form a laminated substrate. Subsequently, a peripheral surface of the laminated substrate is ground such that a peripheral surface of the piezoelectric substrate, a peripheral surface of the organic adhesive layer, and a peripheral surface of the supporting substrate on the side of the organic adhesive layer are made flush with each other. Subsequently, the surface of the piezoelectric substrate is polished to reduce the thickness of the piezoelectric substrate and performing mirror polishing of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji SUZUKI, Yasunori IWASAKI, Takashi YOSHINO
  • Patent number: 7737607
    Abstract: Temporary assembling is carried out by inserting an ion conducting actuator into a groove which is provided at a central portion of a substrate. Thereafter, a bump is pressed by forcing in a direction of a surface of the substrate while carrying out leveling and thrust control, by a flat portion of a pedestal having a recess which is provided such that the ion conducting actuator is not crushed. At this time, due to a deformation of the bump which is pressed, the electrical connections are carried out assuredly, and the ion conducting actuator is held mechanically by both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Ide, You Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7728489
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator with piezoelectric elements, fastened between an actuator head and an actuator foot, and with a plastic sleeve surrounding at least the piezoelectric elements is proposed, which is set in a clamping ring on the actuator head and/or the actuator foot of the piezoelectric actuator. The respective clamping ring may be a metal part or a plastic part, which is equipped with clamping lugs suitable for setting the plastic sleeve and is thrust, pressed, or shrunk onto the respective actuator head and/or actuator foot of the steel piezoelectric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Heinz, Dieter Kienzler, Udo Schaich
  • Publication number: 20100127600
    Abstract: The invention relates to piezoelectric sensor arrangements, especially sensor arrangements that can be operated in a measuring fluid, in order to be able to detect, for example, elastic properties of the measuring fluid itself or the presence and/or concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid. According to the invention, the sensor arrangement comprises an acoustic resonator which has a sensitive region and is arranged such that a resonance frequency of the sensor arrangement varies according to properties of the measuring fluid. The acoustic resonator is formed by a piezoelectric thin layer resonator and the sensitive region is produced by means of epitaxy, such that transversally polarised vibration modes can be induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Marc Loschonsky, Armin Dadgar, Leonhard Reindl
  • Patent number: 7714481
    Abstract: An ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer that generates ultrasonic vibrations, a probe that includes a proximal end connected with the ultrasonic transducer, and transmits ultrasonic vibrations generated by the ultrasonic transducer from the proximal end to a distal end thereof, and a treatment portion that is formed at the distal end of the probe, and utilizes the transmitted ultrasonic vibrations to treat a living tissue. The treatment portion includes two or more protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Ryoji Sakai
  • Publication number: 20090289526
    Abstract: A tunable acoustic resonator device. The device has a piezoelectric medium as a first thin film layer and a tunable crystal medium as a second thin film layer. The tunable crystal medium has a first acoustic behavior over an operating temperature range under a condition of relatively low applied stress and a second acoustic behavior under a condition of relatively high applied stress. The acoustic behaviors are substantially different. The tunable crystal medium has a highly field-polarizable and lattice-deformable, substantially centrosymmetric structure over an operating temperature range under a condition of relatively low applied stress. The tunable crystal medium has a substantially non-centrosymmetric structure over said operating temperature range under a condition of relatively high applied stress. The dielectric permittivity of the tunable crystal medium is at least 100 at the relatively low applied stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: RESONANCE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajarishi Sinha, L. Richard Carley, Deok-Yang Kim
  • Publication number: 20090149801
    Abstract: A Langevin transducer horn uses split electroding or selective electroding of transducer elements and phase relationships of the voltages applied thereto to determine the relative longitudinal and flexural/transverse motion induced in the tip of the horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Anthony Crandall, Blake Allen, Mark Stringham, Joseph Luis, Olga Jovic, David Blaine
  • Patent number: 7495370
    Abstract: A longitudinal vibrator-type transducer including: a head mass; a tail mass; a first piezo-resonator positioned between the head and tail masses; and, a coupling member coupling the head mass, tail mass and first piezo-resonator together; wherein, the head mass comprises a piezoceramic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Porzio
  • Patent number: 7495371
    Abstract: A ultrasonic cleaning system includes a tank composed of quartz or silicon carbide and one or more sleeved ultrasonic transducers mounted to the tank. The sleeved ultrasonic transducer has a two-part head mass, including a threaded sleeve and an outer housing that are composed of different materials. The threaded sleeve is preferably a metal that provides superior thread strength for mating with a compression bolt, while the outer housing is preferably silicon carbide or other ceramic material that provides a good thermal expansion match to the tank to facilitate adhesive bonding of the transducer to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Crest Group, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Michael Goodson
  • Patent number: 7489066
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for sensing biometric information in a finger with piezo ceramic elements. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an array of discrete piezo ceramic elements and filler. The array of discrete piezo ceramic elements is responsive to acoustic characteristics of parts of the finger. The filler is distributed between the discrete piezo ceramic elements and provides acoustic attenuation and electric isolation between the discrete piezo ceramic elements. A protective layer can receive a ridge pattern of the finger positioned proximate to the array. Air in valleys between ridges of the ridge pattern of the finger acts as an acoustic barrier. A backing layer (air or foam) can also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sonavation, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter G. Scott, Donald E. Jones
  • Patent number: 7474036
    Abstract: The invention is intended to provide a high-capacity ultrasonic composite oscillating device that is sufficiently rigid as a composite oscillating body for various strong ultrasonic applications. One constructed such that BLTs (1, 1?, 2, 2?, . . . n, n?) of the same characteristics are disposed around an outer peripheral portion of a disk-shaped oscillating body 4 in n-sets opposed to each other and disposed at regular intervals, opposed BLTs being driven in an opposite phase mode, and driven in an oscillating mode in which the phase between the BLTs in adjacent sets is shifted by ?/n, and an oscillating rod connected to a center of the disk-shaped oscillating body is induced with a composite oscillation output of oscillation capacity n-times that of one set of BLTs induced in the center of the disk-shaped oscillating body 4, and one in which a plurality of these oscillating devices are jointed together to increase the oscillation capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Asahi E.M.S. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiromaru Tsujino
  • Patent number: 7425791
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7425792
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7418102
    Abstract: An echo sounder includes front and rear masses and a layered product of piezoelectric ceramics sandwiched therebetween, and a hollow space is formed in the front mass for defining a bending vibratory plate portion; a ring-shaped piezoelectric vibrator is accommodated in the hollow space, and has flat major surface or an outer side surface held in contact with the front mass without being fixed to the bending vibratory plate; while the layered product of piezoelectric ceramics gives rise to bending vibrations in the bending vibratory plate, the ring-shaped piezoelectric vibrator is driven for vibrations at the resonant frequency so that an acoustic wave with a large amplitude is radiated from the echo sounder; the bending vibratory plate and ring-shaped piezoelectric vibrator are independently designed so that the echo sounder achieves a high acoustic radiation efficiency without sacrifice of high withstand water pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Hama
  • Patent number: 7285895
    Abstract: Ultrasonic devices having transducer assembly including a stack of alternating electrodes and piezoelectric elements. A mounting device having a first and second end is adapted to receive ultrasonic vibration from the stack and transmit it from the first to the second end. A bolt including a head and shaft is configured to threadedly engaged the mounting device. The transducer assembly includes a deformable pressure element having a central opening that permits insertion of the shaft therethrough, and has a convex side facing the bolt head and a concave side facing the stack in a non-deformed state, but, in a deformed state, applies compression forces to the stack based on the deformation. The deformable pressure element may alternately include a surface area, in its deformed state, substantially equivalent to the surface area of a piezoelectric element and/or a first and second beveled surface defining the concave side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Crescendo Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jean Beaupré
  • Patent number: 7276824
    Abstract: Devices including a magnetostrictive transducer, an oscillating system and a tool for ultrasonic impact treatment of constructions, construction units and components of machines and mechanisms are disclosed. The invention provides high reliability of magnetostrictive transducers, oscillating systems and their components, tools and their parts affected by simultaneous action of static, dynamic and impact load on a work surface, high stability of characteristics and interchangeability thereof under conditions of small-scale, full-scale and mass production. The invention also includes design solutions with the use of new methods of the realization and manufacturing technique of the above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: U.I.T., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Efim S. Statnikov, Oleg V. Korolkov, Voldemar O. Muktepavel, Vladislav Y. Korostel
  • Patent number: 7256531
    Abstract: A driving apparatus of the invention comprises a fixed member, a piezoelectric element fixed at one end to the fixed member, and a driving friction member fixed to the other end of the piezoelectric element. The driving apparatus of the invention is arranged to move a movable unit which is slidably mounted on the driving friction member by expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. Herein, a bonded surface of the piezoelectric element to the driving friction member is included in a bonded surface of the driving friction member to the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7250706
    Abstract: The present invention achieves the wideband operation of a bolted Langevin-type echo sounder transducer by enabling low frequency operation with securing a sound pressure level above a certain level without changing the external dimensions of the echo sounder transducer. This is an echo sounder transducer includes a Langevin-type vibrator having a front mass and a rear mass, and a cylindrical active vibrator which is sandwiched between the front mass and rear mass, a bend vibrator constituted of a diaphragm arranged in an acoustic radiation surface section of the front mass of the Langevin-type vibrator, and a disc type active vibrator fixed to the diaphragm. This has such structure that a slit, communicating from an outer peripheral side face toward an axial center, is provided on the circumference in the side of the lower portion of the front mass of the Langevin-type vibrator toward the rear mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shiba
  • Patent number: 7224099
    Abstract: A piezoelectric apparatus comprising a piezoelectric element that is held in static compression is manufactured using moldable materials and a molding process, e.g., injection molding or die casting. The static compression is caused by an intrinsic urge of the moldable material to expand, contract, or deform otherwise, which develops in the material during the hardening phase of the molding process. To enhance the usefulness of the device, a variety of inserts can be connected to the device and various features can be formed by the moldable material at the same time as the molding process takes place. Static preloads may also be caused by mechanically preloaded elements that are introduced during the molding process or by elements that concurrently introduced but that are permanently deformed thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Elliptec Resonant Actuator Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bjoern Magnussen, Peter C. Varadi
  • Patent number: 7224103
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7218033
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7218034
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Daniel A. Phillips, Brant James Callahan
  • Patent number: 7187105
    Abstract: A transducer includes a Langevin type vibrator, a bending vibrator, and a ring-like member. The Langevin type vibrator has a construction in which a front mass, a cylindrical vibrator, and a rear mass are provided in tandem, and those elements are tightened by a bolt. The bending vibrator is provided apart from the front mass. The ring-like member is provided in outer peripheral portions of the front mass and the bending vibrator to couple the front mass and the bending vibrator to each other. The transducer generates a large sound pressure over a wide frequency band since a sound wave radiation surface is wide and its amplitude amount is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shiba
  • Patent number: 7148606
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with a spherical cavitation chamber is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass, coupled together with a centrally located threaded means (e.g., all thread, bolt, etc.). The driver assembly is either attached to the exterior surface of the spherical cavitation chamber with the same threaded means, a different threaded means, or a more permanent coupling means such as brazing, diffusion bonding or epoxy. In at least one embodiment, the transducer is comprised of a pair of piezo-electric transducers, preferably with the adjacent surfaces of the piezo-electric transducers having the same polarity. The surface of the head mass that is adjacent to the external surface of the chamber is non-flat and has a spherical curvature less than the spherical curvature of the external surface of the chamber, thus providing a ring of contact between the acoustic driver and the cavitation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Dario Felipe Gaitan, Daniel A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7126256
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7126258
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7125468
    Abstract: Method of making a gas matrix composite ultrasound transducer comprises aligning piezoelectric rods or fibers substantially parallel to each other on an adhesive side of a plurality of curable adhesive-faced sheets, stacking the sheets so as to maintain the gaps between the rods or fibers, curing the adhesive, cutting the cured structure perpendicular to the rods or fibers into narrow slices, and applying a conductive layer to each cut face to form electrical contacts with both ends of the rods or fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Ultran Group
    Inventor: Mahesh C. Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 7124870
    Abstract: A mechanism for mechanically coupling a driving source and a driven member. The mechanism includes a first member coupled to the driving source and a second member coupled to the driven member. A resilient member exerts a force to bring the first and second members into pressure contact at a contact surface. A vibration is excited in the contact surface of the first member to produce a levitation force, based on an ultrasonic levitation, acting upon the second member. Frictional force between the first member and the second member is changed depending on the levitation force, thereby changing power transmitted between the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaishi Ohashi, Takashi Maeno, Kenjiro Takemura, Tatsuya Koyama
  • Patent number: 7122943
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped to limit the contact area between the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached, the contact area being limited to a centrally located contact region. The area of contact is controlled by limiting its size and/or shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7122941
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with any of a variety of cavitation chamber configurations, including spherical and cylindrical chambers as well as chambers that include at least one flat coupling surface, is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass. The end surface of the head mass is shaped so that only a ring of contact is made between the outer perimeter of the head mass of the driver assembly and the cavitation chamber to which the driver is attached. The area of the contact ring is controlled by shaping its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, David G. Beck
  • Patent number: 7019439
    Abstract: A transducer assembly for receiving a stimulating signal and producing ultrasound therefrom at one or more frequencies, over an ultrabroad bandwidth at each frequency, includes a front mass disposed about a central axis, and a back mass disposed about the central axis, laterally offset from the front mass. The transducer assembly also includes one or more resonators disposed about the central axis and between the front mass and the back mass, including at least one electrical contact for receiving the stimulating signal. The back mass consists of a low-density material, such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, or magnesium alloy, or any of various low-density materials known in the art. In general, the back mass is characterized by a density of less than 6.0 g/cc. In one embodiment, the front mass and the back mass are made from different materials, and the front mass includes a deviation from symmetrical symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Blackstone-Ney Ultrasonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene A. DeCastro, Benjamin R. Johnson, Eugene Phaneuf, Timothy W. Piazza
  • Patent number: 7002283
    Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasonic transducer assembly for a bonding apparatus, comprising a bonding tool mounted to an amplifying horn secured between first and second ultrasonic-generating means. A method of forming a transducer for a bonding apparatus is also provided, comprising the steps of providing an amplifying horn, securing first and second ultrasonic-generating means to the amplifying horn such that the amplifying horn is located between said first and second ultrasonic-generating means and mounting a bonding tool to the amplifying horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation Ltd.
    Inventors: Hing Leung Marchy Li, Kin Yik Hung, Ming Wai Kelvin Ng
  • Patent number: 6987347
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator component includes an energy-trapped piezoelectric resonator utilizing a third order harmonic wave of thickness longitudinal vibration and including a piezoelectric substrate having first and second major surfaces and polarized in a direction of thickness between the first and second major surfaces, and first and second vibrating electrodes opposed to each other with the piezoelectric substrate interposed therebetween, and first and second casing substrates respectively laminated on the first and second major surfaces of the piezoelectric resonator so that cavities are arranged so as not to interfere with vibration of a vibration section where the first and second vibrating electrodes face each other through the piezoelectric substrate. The first and second vibrating electrodes are dimensioned so that the difference between the peak values of the phases of S0 and S1 modes of the fundamental wave of the thickness longitudinal vibration falls within a range of about ±5 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Yoshio, Kenichi Kotani, Mitsuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 6964327
    Abstract: An ultrasonic clutch includes a driving element, a driven element and at least one alternating current (AC) power source. The driving element and the driven element are connected to a shaft of a driving device and an output axle of a loading, respectively. At least one of the driving element and the driven element is a piezoelectric device. When at least one of the driving element and the driven element is electrically connected to an AC power source, the near-field acoustic levitation, generated from the flexural vibration of the piezoelectric resonator above the piezoelectric resonator, occurs to push the driven element away from the driving element. Thus, the output shaft of the loading does not rotate with the axle of the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Kuo-Tsi Chang, Min-Shen Ouyang
  • Patent number: 6960869
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with a spherical cavitation chamber is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass, coupled together with a centrally located threaded means (e.g., all thread, bolt, etc.). The driver assembly is either attached to the exterior surface of the spherical cavitation chamber with the same threaded means, a different threaded means, or a more permanent coupling means such as brazing, diffusion bonding or epoxy. In at least one embodiment, the transducer is comprised of a pair of piezo-electric transducers, preferably with the adjacent surfaces of the piezo-electric transducers having the same polarity. The surface of the head mass that is adjacent to the external surface of the chamber has a spherical curvature less than the spherical curvature of the external surface of the chamber, thus providing a ring of contact between the acoustic driver and the cavitation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Dario Felipe Gaitan, Daniel A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6958569
    Abstract: An acoustic driver assembly for use with a spherical cavitation chamber is provided. The acoustic driver assembly includes at least one transducer, a head mass and a tail mass, coupled together with a centrally located threaded means (e.g., all thread, bolt, etc.). The driver assembly is either attached to the exterior surface of the spherical cavitation chamber with the same threaded means, a different threaded means, or a more permanent coupling means such as brazing, diffusion bonding or epoxy. In at least one embodiment, the transducer is comprised of a pair of piezo-electric transducers, preferably with the adjacent surfaces of the piezo-electric transducers having the same polarity. The surface of the head mass that is in contact with the external surface of the chamber has a spherical curvature equivalent to the spherical curvature of the external surface of the chamber, thus providing maximum surface contact between the driver assembly and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Alan Tessien, Dario Felipe Gaitan, Daniel A. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6953122
    Abstract: A screening machine that includes a screen having a periphery and a central porous region is provided. A motion amplifier is substantially rigidly attached in direct contact with the periphery of the screen and not in direct contact with the central porous region. A transducer is substantially rigidly attached to the motion amplifier, wherein the transducer imparts a vibratory motion to the screen via the motion amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Quality Research, Development & Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Daryoush Allaei
  • Patent number: 6938778
    Abstract: A screening machine having a base is provided. A screen is coupled to the base to separate material by size. The screening machine includes a vibration motor having piezoelectric elements and a vibration amplifier located between the piezoelectric elements and the screen. One or more of the piezoelectric elements can be used as sensors to provide feedback for operation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Quality Research, Development & Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Daryoush Allaei
  • Patent number: 6933656
    Abstract: A stator includes first and second piezoelectric elements, a flexible aluminum-based connective arrangement and upper and lower aluminum-based metal blocks. The flexible aluminum-based connective arrangement includes first to fourth aluminum-based electrodes, which apply a voltage to the piezoelectric elements to generate a vibration. Each aluminum-based electrode is made of one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy and directly contacts a corresponding one of axial ends of the piezoelectric elements. Each aluminum-based metal block is made of one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy. The piezoelectric elements and the aluminum-based electrodes are interposed between the aluminum-based metal blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Matsushita, Motoyasu Yano, Masahiko Komoda
  • Patent number: 6927528
    Abstract: The piezoactive actuator with amplified movement comprises a first sub-assembly formed by a mechanical movement amplifier and a second sub-assembly equipped with piezoactive elements. An interface with a load and an interface with a base, respectively placed at the peaks of a small axis of the shell and designed for actuating the load with respect to the base, define an actuating axis. A longitudinal deformation of the large axis enables a deformation of the small axis to be induced, designed to generate a movement at the interface with the load, the component of which movement along the small axis is amplified. At least one zone made of elastomer material is arranged at least substantially along the actuating axis to dampen deformations and increase the capacity of the actuator to resist external stresses. The actuator comprises at least one free space adjacent to the elastomer material zones in a direction orthogonal to the actuating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Cedrat Technologies
    Inventors: François Barillot, Frank Claeyssen, Ronan Le Letty
  • Patent number: 6924585
    Abstract: A sleeved ultrasonic transducer has a two-part head mass, including a threaded sleeve and an outer housing that are composed of different materials. The threaded sleeve is preferably a metal such as titanium that provides superior thread strength for mating with a compression bolt, while the outer housing is preferably aluminum or ceramic or other metal or non-metallic material that provides good thermal heat sink capacity and/or transmission of vibrational energy. The combination of the two components provides an improved ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: The Crest Group, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Michael Goodson
  • Patent number: 6876128
    Abstract: A vibration attenuator, for an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer shaft, having: a compressible sleeve mountable on said shaft wherein said sleeve comprises vibration attenuating material; a housing for said sleeve mountable on the shaft, and a compression device attachable to the housing and for compressing the sleeve, wherein the sleeve snugly abuts against said shaft when compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Toan Huu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6836054
    Abstract: A thickness mode piezoelectric transducer is provided that has masses attached to opposing faces of the transformer. The end-masses increase the thickness of the transformer and decrease its resonant frequency. The end-masses increase the magnitude of resonant vibrations in the output layer(s) as well as the mechanical Q of the device to provide a low profile piezoelectric transformer with high power density. Each of the input and output portions is resonant tank circuit having a electrical resonant frequency substantially matching the mechanical resonance whereby the amplitude of the mechanical vibrations are increased. These mechanical vibrations are used in conjunction with a mechanical amplifier or horn for use of the device as a vibrational transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Face International Corp.
    Inventor: Clark D. Boyd
  • Patent number: 6822373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a broadband transducer which comprises a tail mass located at a first end of the transducer, an active compliant driver section positioned adjacent the tail mass, a first center mass positioned adjacent an end of the active compliant driver section, a first passive compliant member positioned adjacent the first center mass, and a head mass located generally adjacent a second end of the transducer, which second end is opposed to the first end. In one embodiment, the head mass is proximate the second end and another center mass and a second passive compliant members are interposed between the first center mass and the head mass. In another embodiment, a quarter-wave matching layer which forms another mass component and a second passive compliant member component, is interposed between the head mass and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stephen C. Butler
  • Patent number: 6781283
    Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus includes an electro-mechanical energy conversion element that is sandwiched and fixed between elastic members, in which a flange-shaped elastic member is provided between the electro-mechanical energy conversion element and one of the elastic members. When a driving vibration is applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, bending vibrations are excited in a vibration element and those bending vibrations allow out-of-plane bending vibrations to be excited in the flange-shaped elastic member. A rotor is brought into contact with the third elastic member sandwiched between the elastic member and the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. A travelling wave produced by the bending vibration of the vibration element and a travelling wave produced by the out-of-plane bending vibration of the third elastic member are generated at the frictional surface of the vibration element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Tsukimoto
  • Patent number: 6765333
    Abstract: A power assistance device for an ultrasonic dental handpiece (5) includes a working circuit with a parallel impedance (Ls) between the output terminals (S1,S2) and a control circuit with a current transformer (T2), the primary winding (7) thereof is serially arranged in the working circuit and the secondary winding (11) thereof forms an RLC circuit in conjunction with a capacitor (13) and a resistor (15) associated therewith. The voltage of the circuit at the terminals of the resistor (15) is transmitted to the input of a power supply (1). The control circuit enables variations in the value of the capacitor (13) and/or the value of the self-inductance coil of the secondary winding (11) of the transformer (T2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Satelec SA
    Inventors: Dominique Mariaucue, Xavier Capet, Pascal Cabrignac
  • Patent number: 6762535
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a spindle structure of an ultrasonic machine which can reduce the number of assembling steps, can improve working accuracy, and can reduce heat generation due to an ultrasonic wave leakage during the working process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Takesho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Take, Masayoshi Kawanami
  • Patent number: 6737787
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a stator and a rotor which is press fit to the stator and rotates in accordance with the vibration of the stator. The stator includes a pair of metal blocks, a piezoelectric element located between the metal blocks, a tightening member and a positioning member. The tightening member is inserted through the metal blocks and the piezoelectric element to tighten the metal blocks and the piezoelectric element in the axial direction. The positioning member determines the radial position of the metal blocks. This reduces misalignment of metal blocks and the tightening member, and the stator for the ultrasonic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Komoda, Yukiyasu Kato
  • Patent number: 6720707
    Abstract: A vibration type actuator has an elastic member in which a shaft center portion is formed in hollow shape along an axial direction and in which driving vibration is generated in a driving portion, a fastening member which fastens the elastic member to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, an output shaft which penetrates the shaft center portion of the elastic member, a moving member which is kept in press contact with the driving portion of the elastic member and which rotates together with the output shaft, and a bearing member which is located between an inner periphery portion of the elastic member and a distal end portion of the fastening member and which journals the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Tamai, Satoru Kitajima