Bending Type Patents (Class 310/330)
  • Patent number: 11965529
    Abstract: A linear fan including a fan blade attached a fan frame by a wire spring having a first end attached to the fan blade and a second end attached to the fan frame. The fan blade includes a free end such that the blade oscillates by pivoting on the wire spring. The the wire spring flexes to enable the fan blade to oscillate. The fan includes a motor for driving the oscillation of the fan blade. The motor includes an armature or permanent magnet connected to the fan blade and a stator assembly connected to the fan frame. The stator assembly includes a current carrying coil wrapped around a leg of a stator core. The motor is controlled to vary the direction of the current being carried in the coil to thereby change the direction of the magnetic field created by the stator assembly and cause the fan blade to oscillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Neofan, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 11946559
    Abstract: A vessel pressure regulating system with a multidirectional control valve device includes: a pressure source; the multidirectional control valve device, which includes a housing, an actuation unit, and a working element, the housing having an interior space, an input port, and an output port, the input port being in communication with the pressure source, the actuation unit having a stationary portion and a driving portion, and the working element being controlled by the driving portion in order to open or close the output port; a vessel in communication with the output port; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the pressure source and of the driving portion. The vessel pressure regulating system enables a safety airbag of a vehicle or a similar device in a chair, bed, or the like to function effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih Chang, Po-Yuan Liao
  • Patent number: 11901858
    Abstract: An energy harvesting tape comprising a plurality of flexible layers. The plurality of flexible layers includes a solar cell layer configured to capture solar energy, a thermoelectric layer configured to capture thermal energy, one or more piezoelectric layers configured to capture mechanical energy; and an electrode layer configured to capture radiofrequency energy and to transmit a radiofrequency signal. The energy harvesting tape also includes one or more processing units on at least one of the plurality of flexible layers. The one or more processing units are configured to use the captured energy from the plurality of flexible layers to transmit the radiofrequency signal. The energy harvesting tape has a length, a width, and a thickness, where the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Dean Kawaguchi, Brion Koprowski
  • Patent number: 11869549
    Abstract: A suspension for a disk drive includes a plate member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first penetration portion penetrating the first surface and the second surface, and a second penetration portion spaced from the first penetration portion and penetrating the first surface and the second surface, an actuator provided on the second surface and having an electrode located in the first penetration portion, and a flexure having an electrode connection portion connected to the electrode. The electrode connection portion includes a first region and a second region having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the first region, and the second region overlaps the second penetration portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Naoki Tanaka, Kazuhiro Sugiyama, Shuntaro Numata
  • Patent number: 11839159
    Abstract: A transducer includes a supporting body and a suspended structure mechanically coupled to the supporting body. The suspended structure has a first and a second surface opposite to one another along an axis, and is configured to oscillate in an oscillation direction having at least one component parallel to the axis. A first piezoelectric transducer is disposed on the first surface of the suspended structure, and a second piezoelectric transducer is disposed on the second surface of the suspended structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Seghizzi, Federico Vercesi, Claudia Pedrini
  • Patent number: 11831295
    Abstract: Acoustic wave devices based on epitaxially grown heterostructures comprising appropriate combinations of epitaxially grown metallic transition metal nitride (TMN) layers, epitaxially grown Group III-nitride (III-N) piezoelectric semiconductor thin film layers, and epitaxially grown perovskite oxide (PO) layers. The devices can include bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices, surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, high overtone bulk acoustic resonator (HBAR) devices, and composite devices comprising HBAR devices integrated with high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Vikrant J. Gokhale, Brian P. Downey, Matthew T. Hardy, Eric N. Jin, Neeraj Nepal, D. Scott Katzer, David J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11812665
    Abstract: A composition includes at least one Pb/Ni/Nb - Pb/Mg/W - Pb/Zr/Ti mixed oxide. A piezoelectric device may be made by providing at least two layers comprising the composition and coated with an outer electrode material; providing a plurality of layers comprising the composition and coated with an inner electrode material; combining or stacking a plurality of layers coated with inner electrode materials between two outer electrodes; and sintering or co-firing the inner electrode materials and outer electrode materials at a temperature at or below about 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: QorTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Erkan Gurdal, Sinan Dursun, Safakcan Tuncdemir, Clive Randall
  • Patent number: 11807519
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical membrane transducer includes: a supporting structure; a cavity formed in the supporting structure; a membrane coupled to the supporting structure so as to cover the cavity on one side; a cantilever damper, which is fixed to the supporting structure around the perimeter of the membrane and extends towards the inside of the membrane at a distance from the membrane; and a damper piezoelectric actuator set on the cantilever damper and configured so as to bend the cantilever damper towards the membrane in response to an electrical actuation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Fabio Quaglia
  • Patent number: 11789557
    Abstract: A touchpad and an electronic device are disclosed. The touchpad includes a touch panel; a plurality of pressure sensors fixed to an elastic bracket and configured to detect a pressure applied on the touch panel; a piezoelectric ceramic assembly including a piezoelectric ceramic plate configured to provide a vibration feedback to a user, where the piezoelectric ceramic assembly is fixed below the touch panel in a suspended manner and spaced from the elastic bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rong Zhang, Zhongbo Luo, Xiaoxia Yan, Xu Lu
  • Patent number: 11788991
    Abstract: An acoustic inspection device according to an embodiment has: an acoustic transducer including a piezoelectric element having at least one of functions of transmitting and receiving acoustic waves, and having an acoustic function surface functioning as at least one of a transmitting surface and a receiving surface of acoustic waves; a couplant, which is provided directly or with an intermediate member therebetween on the acoustic function surface of the acoustic transducer and contains at least an elastomer, having a contact surface to be in contact with an inspection target and an uneven structure provided on the contact surface; and a loading mechanism which applies and removes a load to/from the couplant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Akiko Hirao, Noriko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11736042
    Abstract: An energy producing device includes a piezoelectric layer having a first side and second side opposite of the first side, a first electrical contact arranged on the first side of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrical contact arranged on the second side of the piezoelectric layer, and a counter-layer arranged on the second electrical contact. The piezoelectric layer, first and second electrical contacts, and counter-layer form a beam having a neutral axis outside of the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jürgen Kosel, Mohammed Asadullah Khan
  • Patent number: 11689123
    Abstract: Modular inflation systems and inflation segments including an inflation enclosure and a plurality of artificial muscle layers provided within the inflation enclosure in a stacked arrangement, each of the plurality of artificial muscle layers including one or more artificial muscles, wherein one or more plurality of artificial muscles of each of the plurality of artificial muscle layers are operable between an actuated state and a non-actuated state, and one or more fastening members for attaching the inflation segment to another inflation segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ty B. Ebling, Michael P. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11664758
    Abstract: This invention comprises a panel or system of panels. Each panel comprises a top layer, which is comprised of tempered glass that is highly transparent to allow for maximum light wave transmission. These solar light waves are captured by the photovoltaic cell which comprises the second layer of the panel where this solar energy is converted into usable electrical energy. Vibrations experienced by the photopiezoelectric panel due to foot and lightweight vehicle traffic are absorbed by the PZT sheet layer, which is the third layer of the panel where they are converted into usable electrical energy. The fourth and final layer of the panel consists of the connector plate which serves as the hub and interconnection for gathering the generated electrical energies and transmitting them into the modular grid network to be consumed by various load devices, such as streetlights and other power-dependent city infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Madani, Michael S. Davis
  • Patent number: 11637510
    Abstract: A funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment includes a piezoelectric element configured to be installed at a seabed and to be moved by a fluid in order to convert vibration energy into electricity. The funnel-shaped underwater energy harvesting equipment further includes a fluid collector coupled to the piezoelectric element and configured to increase velocity of the fluid flowing toward the piezoelectric element. The harvesting equipment exhibits improved energy conversion efficiency, while simplifying the shape of the harvesting equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: Agency for Defense Development, Andong National University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Chee-Young Joh, Hee-Seon Seo, Jong-Kil Lee, Hyun-Du Jin, Jin-Hyo Ahn
  • Patent number: 11612901
    Abstract: A micro-pneumatic control unit comprising a plurality of control channels for generating the control pressures in a pneumatically actuated multi-channel coating head for coating components with a coating agent, a control channel being characterized by a valve element comprising a valve bore in a valve plate and a diaphragm layer which is below the valve plate and is configured as a diaphragm closing element in the region of the valve bore, the shape of which diaphragm closing element defined by recesses positioned laterally with respect to the valve bore, by a micro-actuator having a plunger that actuates the diaphragm closing element through the valve bore such that the valve element opens, by a second micro-pneumatic element connected in series with the valve element, the control pressure developing and a cavity located at the connection node thereof, which cavity is connected to at least one pneumatically operated coating agent ejector, and by a pneumatic pressurization of the micro-pneumatic control unit,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES SA
    Inventor: Burkhard Büstgens
  • Patent number: 11617042
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer for generating electrical signals in response to acoustic signals, comprises a first diaphragm having a first corrugation formed therein. A second diaphragm has a second corrugation formed therein, and is spaced apart from the first diaphragm such that a cavity having a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure is formed therebetween. A back plate is disposed between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm. One or more posts extend from at least one of the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm towards the other through the back plate. The one or more posts prevent each of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm from contacting the back plate due to movement of the first diaphragm and/or the second diaphragm towards the back plate. Each of the first corrugation and the second corrugation protrude outwardly from the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, respectively, away from the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KNOWLES ELECTRONICS, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael Kuntzman, Michael Pedersen, Sung Bok Lee, Bing Yu, Vahid Naderyan, Peter Loeppert
  • Patent number: 11601075
    Abstract: A layered actuation structure includes a first platform pair and a second platform pair. Each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair include an actuation platform and a mounting platform, forming an actuation cavity of each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair. One or more connecting ledges of each platform pair couple at least one of the actuation platform and the mounting platform of each platform pair to at least one of an actuation arm and a support arm, respectively. A collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the first platform pair is different than a collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the second platform pair. The layered actuation structure also includes one or more artificial muscles disposed in the actuation cavity of the first platform pair and the second platform pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Rowe, Shardul S. Panwar, Maduran Palaniswamy
  • Patent number: 11601073
    Abstract: An energy harvester includes a frame having a base, a first side member affixed to the base, and a second side member affixed to the base and spaced apart from the first side member. A beam is coupled between the first side member of the frame and the second side member of the frame. The beam has a substrate layer with a first end affixed to the first side member of the frame, a second end affixed to the second side member of the frame, a first face, and a second face opposite to the first face. The substrate is elastically deformable in response to the vibratory force. The beam further includes a first piezoelectric layer joined to the first face of the substrate layer and having a terminal for electrical connection to a load, the first piezoelectric layer comprising at least one piezoelectric patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Mohammad Amin Karami, Mohammad Hossein Ansari
  • Patent number: 11527700
    Abstract: A microphone device may include: a substrate wafer, a support member bonded to a front surface of the substrate wafer, a single-crystal piezoelectric film provided over the support member, a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The single-crystal piezoelectric film may have a first surface and an opposing second surface. The top electrode may be arranged adjacent to the first surface of the single-crystal piezoelectric film. The bottom electrode may be arranged adjacent to the second surface of the single-crystal piezoelectric film. The substrate wafer may have a through-hole formed therein. The through-hole of the substrate wafer may be at least substantially aligned with at least one of the top electrode and the bottom electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: You Qian, Joan Josep Giner De Haro, Rakesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 11502686
    Abstract: The present inventors have recognized that an electrical switch for opening doors in buildings, calling elevators, and the like can be improved to require less physical contact, larger activation area, and multiple activation methods, with increased reliability, by utilizing a piezoelectric sensor specifically arranged between rigid, parallel mounting plates in which one of the plates (an inner plate) is rigidly fixed to prevent movement while the other plate (an outer plate) is accessible for receiving physical contact. By rigidly fixing the inner plate, such as by mounting to a wall or bollard, the sensor can react with sensitivity upon an application of less pressure on the outer plate. Such pressure compresses the sensor between the plates to produce an electrical signal. A controller receiving the signal can, in turn, execute to open a door, call an elevator and/or activate a light or sound to provide feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Wikk Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Krajewski, Josh L. Smith, Lynn M. Kleppin, Brian D. Hawthorne, Franklin Bradley, Randall Remblake
  • Patent number: 11476405
    Abstract: A reusable piezoelectric sensor for damage identification includes a piezoelectric ceramic plate and a metal box bonded to the surface of a test piece, where a wire through hole is formed in the center of a top plate of the metal box, and a side wall of the metal box extends vertically upwards to form a striking face for being struck to remove the metal box from the test piece; the piezoelectric ceramic plate arranged in the metal box is closely and fixedly bonded to a bottom plate of the metal box; and wires of the piezoelectric ceramic plate penetrate through the wire through hole to be connected to an external impedance analyzer. The reusable piezoelectric sensor for damage identification is easy to manufacture and convenient to operate and can effectively eliminate the testing error caused by the difference of the piezoelectric ceramic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ningbo University
    Inventors: Junhua Li, Sicong He
  • Patent number: 11462677
    Abstract: A diaphragm for a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) is presented having resonance frequency and bandwidth characteristics which are decoupled from one another into independent variables. Portions of at least the piezoelectric material layer and backside electrode layer are removed in a selected pattern to form structures, such as ribs, in the diaphragm which retains stiffness while reducing overall mass. The patterned structure can be formed by additive, or subtractive, fabrication processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Bernhard Boser, David Horsley, Richard Przybyla, Ofer Rozen, Stefon Shelton
  • Patent number: 11464140
    Abstract: A cooling system is described. The cooling system includes a cooling element having a central region and a perimeter. The cooling element is anchored at the central region. At least a portion of the perimeter is unpinned. The cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element is actuated to induce vibrational motion to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Frore Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth Saran Yalamarthy, Suryaprakash Ganti, Vikram Mukundan, Seshagiri Rao Madhavapeddy, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, Narayana Prasad Rayapati
  • Patent number: 11451168
    Abstract: A frame for an energy transducer device for generating electrical current, the frame being a single monolithic structure including a pressure receiver unit, a first arm and a second arm joined to respective lateral sides of the pressure receiver unit, a first attachment unit joined to the second end of the first arm, and a second attachment unit joined to the second end of the second arm. The frame is configured to be joined to a current generating unit, such that the first attachment unit is joined to a first edge of the current generating unit while the second attachment unit is joined to second edge of the current generating element. An external force applied at the pressure receiver unit of the frame causes the frame to deform and thereby change the mechanical strain of the current generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Shihyu Lu
  • Patent number: 11440318
    Abstract: A sodium niobate-barium titanate-based coating liquid composition including: (a) a sol-gel raw material containing (i) a niobium component, such as a niobium alkoxide, (ii) a sodium component, such as a sodium alkoxide, (iii) a titanium component, such as a titanium alkoxide, and (iv) a barium component, such as a barium alkoxide; and (b) a compound including at least one kind selected from the group consisting of a ?-ketoester compound and a ?-diketone compound represented by the following formula (1): where R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 or more to 6 or less carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kotani, Motokazu Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Ohashi, Minako Nakasu
  • Patent number: 11432433
    Abstract: A cooling system is described. The cooling system includes a cooling element having a central region and a perimeter. The cooling element is anchored at the central region. At least a portion of the perimeter is unpinned. The cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element is actuated to induce vibrational motion to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Frore Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Ananth Saran Yalamarthy, Suryaprakash Ganti, Vikram Mukundan, Seshagiri Rao Madhavapeddy, Prabhu Sathyamurthy, Narayana Prasad Rayapati
  • Patent number: 11383273
    Abstract: The invention comprises a piezo motor with a U-shaped housing lower part and a mounted cover. The piezo actuator is mounted between two clamping jaws. Planar guide tracks are formed in the housing lower part to both sides of the piezo actuator. Bearing elements of circular cross-section are arranged between the clamping jaws and the guide tracks. Thrust pieces are braced between the housing cover and the bearing elements, which thrust pieces press the bearing elements against the clamping jaws. Here, the thrust pieces together with the guide tracks of the housing lower part form V-shaped guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Mathias Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 11272295
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first support member, a second support member and one or more electro-active polymer members between the first support member and the second support. The one or more electro-active polymer members include a first end configured to be coupled to the first support member, a second end configured to be coupled to the second support member and a middle portion located between the first end and the second end, where the middle portion includes a curved member in a first state of the one or more electro-active polymer members. A curved shape of the one or more electro-active polymer members is configured to create linear movement in a vertical direction, by bending in a curved direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ossi Maenpaa
  • Patent number: 11234080
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a surface arranged to be mechanically displaced, a first magnet coupled with the surface, at least one supporting member for supporting the surface, a base comprising a second magnet, wherein the second magnet is arranged, at least partially, to face the first magnet, a coil coupled with the second magnet, and a signal port electrically coupled with the coil. An electrical signal is configured to travel between the signal port and the coil, and the electrical signal in the coil is proportional to mechanic displacement of the surface when a force equilibrium state of the surface is broken either by the electrical signal in the coil or the mechanic displacement of the surface from a position of the force equilibrium state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PS AUDIO DESIGN OY
    Inventor: Vesa Kajanus
  • Patent number: 11223912
    Abstract: A vibrator including a housing, a transducer positioned within the housing such that there is a gap between the transducer and housing, and a damper assembly, disposed in the gap between the housing and at least a portion of the transducer, the damper assembly extending a sub-distance of the total distance of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jan Vermeiren, Travis Rian Andrews
  • Patent number: 11211544
    Abstract: An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Rene Leonardus Jacobus Marie Ubachs, Valentina Lavezzo, Cornelis Petrus Hendriks, Eduard Gerard Marie Pelssers, Daan Anton Van Den Ende, Mark Thomas Johnson, Roland Alexander Van De Molengraaf, Peter Coops
  • Patent number: 11168493
    Abstract: The lock includes an actuator (130), a generator (160), an engagement mechanism (114) to convey mechanical insertion power to the electric generator (160), and an electronic circuit (120), powered by the electric power (310), to read encrypted data (312) from a memory (102) embedded into the key (100), and, if the encrypted data (312) matches a predetermined criterion, to operate the actuator (130), with the electric power (310), to set (314) the actuator (130) to the unlocked position (300). The engagement mechanism (114) is also configured to engage with an extraction (400) of the key (100) and convey mechanical extraction power to the electric generator (160), and the electronic circuit, powered by the electric power (600), is also configured to operate the actuator (130), with the electric power (600), to reset (602) the actuator (130) to the locked position (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: ILOQ OY
    Inventor: Mika Kellokoski
  • Patent number: 11065771
    Abstract: A device for electroadhesion and conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy, for example electrostatic actuation, is provided, including a soft polymeric dielectric support having at least two sets of overlapping electrodes patterned respectively on the upper surface and bottom surface of the polymeric support, the electrodes of the two sets can be electrically activated through a power supply for providing voltage change suitable for electroadhesion, electrostatic actuation or both at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jun Shintake, Samuel Rosset, Bryan Schubert, Dario Floreano, Herbert Shea
  • Patent number: 11056638
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an inkjet print head includes determining a misfit strain-electric field crystal phase relation for at least one composition of a piezoelectric material; selecting a misfit strain value and a composition of the piezoelectric material based on the determined misfit strain-electric field crystal phase relation for said at least one composition; and based on the selected misfit strain and the selected composition of the piezoelectric material, forming a base layer and an actuator stack on the base layer, the actuator stack including the piezoelectric material, wherein the base layer and the actuator stack have predetermined properties providing the selected misfit strain value and the selected composition. Thus, an inkjet print head having a piezoelectric actuator that is operated on the basis of a crystal phase change is reliably manufacturable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CANON PRODUCTION PRINTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus R. Blom
  • Patent number: 11041832
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device has a substrate in which ultrasonic elements transmitting an ultrasonic wave in a first direction are arrayed. A reverberation reduction film which reduces reverberant vibration of the substrate is arranged on a side of the first direction in the ultrasonic element. In the reverberation reduction film, a groove is arranged between the ultrasonic elements next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hironori Suzuki, Chikara Kojima
  • Patent number: 10991871
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric element main body as a laminated body of a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer disposed on the piezoelectric layer, and a metal layer disposed on the second electrode layer via an insulating layer, the piezoelectric layer extends from an inner side of at least a part of an overlapping part of an outer peripheral edge of the second electrode layer overlapping an outer peripheral edge of the piezoelectric element main body to an outer side, and the metal layer and the insulating layer extend from an inner side of at least a part of the overlapping part to an outer side to overlap the piezoelectric layer on an outer side of an outer peripheral edge of the second electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Chikara Kojima
  • Patent number: 10957351
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a microactuator includes a wiring substrate, and a piezoelectric element connected to first and second connecting pads of the wiring substrate. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate. The first electrode includes a first electrode portion on an end portion on a first main surface. The second electrode includes a fifth electrode portion having an electrode end which faces the first electrode portion across a gap and provided on the first main surface. The piezoelectric element includes a protective insulating layer covering at lease an end portion of the fifth electrode including the electrode end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Nesori
  • Patent number: 10946655
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nozzle head includes a nozzle plate, a piezoelectric element, an actuator plate, a fixing part, and a conductive part. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzle holes. The piezoelectric element includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes provided alternately and a piezoelectric part provided between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. The piezoelectric element is provided for each of the plurality of nozzle holes. The actuator plate is provided on opposite side of the nozzle plate from a side to which the plurality of nozzle holes are opened. The fixing part is insulative and provided between each of a plurality of the piezoelectric elements and the actuator plate. The conductive part is conductive and provided between each of a plurality of the piezoelectric elements and the actuator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Haruhiko Ishihara, Shizuo Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10928956
    Abstract: A pressure sensor for use in a folding structure that includes a foldable piezoelectric film, a first electrode disposed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric film, a plurality of second electrodes disposed side by side on a second main surface of the piezoelectric film so as to face the first electrode and to be positioned along a direction orthogonal to a folding line of the piezoelectric film, a folding detection unit that detects a folded state of the piezoelectric film, and a processing unit that changes processing of at least one of signals generated on the second electrode when the piezoelectric film receives a pressing operation and the folding detection unit is detecting the folded state of the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitada
  • Patent number: 10897677
    Abstract: An implantable component, such as by way of example, an implantable component of a transcutaneous bone conduction device, the implantable component comprising a piezoelectric transducer, wherein the implantable component is configured to temporarily prevent the piezoelectric transducer from moving inside the housing while the housing is implanted in the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Joris Walraevens, Charles Roger Aaron Leigh, Rishubh Verma, Katrien Geeraerts, Kristof I. Buytaert, Kenneth Oplinger
  • Patent number: 10855209
    Abstract: The electrical power generating carpet is a carpet having piezoelectric-based electrical power generating tiles embedded therein. Each energy generating tile includes upper and lower plates, each having opposed top and bottom surfaces, at least one piezoelectric strip mounted on the top surface of the lower plate, and an engaging member attached to the bottom surface of the upper plate. The upper and lower plates are stacked such that the engaging member contacts the at least one piezoelectric strip. In use, when a person steps on the carpet, the upper plate of the at least one energy generating tile flexes, causing the engaging member thereof to apply pressure to the at least one piezoelectric strip to generate electrical voltage. When the person steps off the tile, the pressure is relieved, generating a current. An energy harvesting circuit including a rectifier and a buck converter are connected to the piezoelectric strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zinab Ahmed Al Haddad, Maitha Al Kaabi, Razan Youssef Kharouf, Hamda Al Derei, Walid Shakhatreh
  • Patent number: 10786011
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a power supply device, an atomizer, a liquid storage structure, a fluid transportation device, a casing and a mouthpiece. The atomizer includes an electric heater and a liquid conduit. The electric heater is disposed around liquid conduit. The liquid storage structure includes a liquid container for storing cigarette liquid. The fluid transportation device includes an input channel in communication with the liquid container and an output channel in communication with the liquid conduit. The cigarette liquid is transferred to the liquid conduit through the fluid transportation device at a certain amount. Consequently, an atomized vapor is generated. The casing has an inlet in communication with the atomizer through an airflow chamber. The inlet and the airflow chamber form an airflow path for an airflow to pass through. The mouthpiece is located at an end of the casing and in communication with the airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li-Pang Mo, Shih-Chang Chen, Chi-Feng Huang, Yung-Lung Han, Wei-Ming Lee, Chia-Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 10773274
    Abstract: A miniature fluid control device is provided and includes a gas inlet plate, a resonance plate and a piezoelectric actuator. The resonance plate is assembled and combined with the gas inlet plate. The piezoelectric actuator is assembled and combined with the resonance plate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a suspension plate, an outer frame, at least one bracket and a piezoelectric plate. The suspension plate has a first surface and a second surface. The outer frame is arranged around the suspension plate and has an assembling surface. The piezoelectric plate is attached on the second surface. The at least one bracket is formed between the suspension plate and the outer frame as making the first surface of the suspension plate non-coplanar with the assembling surface of the outer frame, so that a specific chamber spacing is maintained between the first surface of the suspension plate and the resonance plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao-Jan Mou, Ying-Lun Chang, Shih-Chang Chen, Chih-Feng Lin, Yung-Lung Han, Chi-Feng Huang, Chang-Yen Tsai
  • Patent number: 10749448
    Abstract: A device may include a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer element disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The electroactive polymer element may include a nanovoided polymer material whereby resistance to deformation of the electroactive polymer element is non-linear with respect to an amount of deformation of the electroactive polymer element. Various other devices, method, and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Lindsay, Katherine Marie Smyth, Thomas John Farrell Wallin, Andrew John Ouderkirk, Tanya Malhotra, Austin Lane, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Yigit Menguc
  • Patent number: 10748564
    Abstract: A multi-layer microactuator for a hard disk drive suspension includes a piezoelectric (“PZT”) layer, a constraining layer, a lower electrode layer, a middle electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer. The lower electrode layer is on a bottom surface of the PZT layer and includes a first lower electrode island, a second lower electrode island, and a third lower electrode island. The second lower electrode island includes a finger extending from a main body portion towards a first end of the PZT layer. The middle electrode layer is disposed between a top surface of the PZT layer and a bottom surface of the constraining layer. The middle electrode layer including a first middle electrode island and a second middle electrode island, the second middle electrode island including a finger extending from a main body portion towards the first end of the PZT layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Kuen Chee Ee, Long Zhang, Peter Hahn, David Glaess, Amornrat Jaturawit
  • Patent number: 10746705
    Abstract: A method for evaluating noise of a glass run of an automobile door includes: detecting oscillation of the door glass by a sensor for the door glass and then storing the oscillation as an oscillatory wave form of the door glass and detecting oscillation of the frame by a sensor for the frame and then storing the oscillation as an oscillatory wave form of the frame, with the glass run coupling to the automobile door; synthesizing the oscillatory wave form of the door glass and the oscillatory wave form of the frame, picking out relative oscillation of the door glass in relation to the frame and storing the relative oscillation as a synthesized oscillatory wave form; making oscillation corresponding to the synthesized oscillatory wave form by an oscillator and oscillating the door glass with the automobile stopped; and detecting sound of the oscillation by a microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koso Deguchi, Hiromu Oda
  • Patent number: 10710011
    Abstract: A filter that includes a plurality of fibers arranged to form a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite the first principal surface, and a plurality of first piezoelectric fibers that generate negative charges by stretching are arranged at least on a side of the first principal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi Inoue, Kenichiro Takumi, Daiji Tamakura, Masamichi Ando
  • Patent number: 10682845
    Abstract: A film transducer has a holding part, an electroactive composite structure which includes at least one deformable carrier and at least two electrodes arranged on opposite sides of the deformable carrier, and a load application member which is mounted to the composite structure. The holding part engages two ends of the composite structure facing away from each other and the load application member is arranged between the two ends of the composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: BUERKERT WERKE GMBH
    Inventors: Cricia De Carvalho Rodegheri, Marcel Konstandin, Peter Krippner, Stefan Seelecke, Marc Hill
  • Patent number: 10675882
    Abstract: There are provided a liquid ejection apparatus with low costs, a liquid container, and a manufacturing method thereof. To this end, a rocking body is assembled to the liquid container to suppress the drop thereof by melting and swaging of a support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Shiba, Tsubasa Takaoka, Hiroki Hayashi, Kazuya Yoshii, Ryo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 10674769
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a power supply device, a sensing unit, an atomizer, a liquid storage structure and a fluid transportation device. The atomizer includes an electric heater and a liquid conduit. The liquid conduit has an input port at one end and plural perforations at the other end, and the electric heater is disposed around the liquid conduit. The liquid storage structure includes a passageway and a liquid container. A cigarette liquid is stored in the liquid container. The fluid transportation device includes an input channel and an output channel. The input channel is in communication with the liquid container. The output channel is in communication with the liquid conduit of the atomizer. The cigarette liquid is transferred to the atomizer at a certain amount. Consequently, an atomized vapor is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MICROJET TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Chen, Li-Pang Mo, Shou-Hung Chen, Mei-Yen Chen, Chi-Feng Huang, Yung-Lung Han