Supported By Elastic Material Patents (Class 310/345)
  • Publication number: 20020033652
    Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric device having a structure which resists impact from the exterior and which can enhance electrical conductance between an electrode side of a package base and a piezoelectric resonator element. A piezoelectric device having a structure in which a piezoelectric resonator element is bonded to electrodes provided on a package base, includes underlying exposed electrodes as mounting electrodes which are provided on the package base and on which the piezoelectric resonator element is mounted; and gold-plated electrodes which are provided on the package base and to which a driving voltage is carried via conduction paths; in which the underlying exposed electrodes and the gold-plated electrodes are connected to each other with conductive adhesives provided therebetween, and the piezoelectric resonator element is bonded to the underlying exposed electrodes with silicone-based conductive adhesives provided therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Serizawa
  • Patent number: 6359532
    Abstract: An energy trapping type piezoelectric filter comprising a first piezoelectric substrate (1A) and a second piezoelectric substrate (1B) having an identical configuration and arranged in layers with an adhesive sheet or spacer (20A) interposed therebetween and insulating top and base plates (30A, 30B) arranged on and under the respective piezoelectric substrates with adhesive sheets or spacers (20B, 20C) also interposed therebetween, wherein a shielding conductive member (40) is provided on an upper surface of the insulating base plate (30B) for preventing an electromagnetic coupling between an input electrode (31) and output electrodes (32A, 32B), the shielding conductive member (40) being connected to grounding electrodes (33A, 33B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Manabu Wakita
  • Patent number: 6344706
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component includes a substantially rectangular shaped piezoelectric element, a first elastic material covering at least a pair of end portions of the piezoelectric element, the pair of end portions including edge parts of the piezoelectric element, a second elastic material covering the entire piezoelectric element and the first elastic material, and an outer-cladding resin covering the whole circumference of the piezoelectric element which is covered with the second elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., LTD
    Inventors: Koji Morita, Masanobu Sugimori, Muneyuki Daidai
  • Publication number: 20020011763
    Abstract: While suppressing that a vibration of a piezo-electric element propagates to a substrate by devising the composition of an electro-conductive support body, the piezoelectric resonant component which secures electroconductivity and can maintain a fall-proof shock property is provided. The piezoelectric resonant component has a substrate 20 on the top surface of which pattern electrodes 21 and 22 are formed, and on the lower surface of which it has electrodes 8 and 9. It has a piezoelectric element 1 using the length vibration on the substrate 20. Electro-conductive support bodies 10 and 11 are fixed to the length direction center section of the lower surface electrodes of the piezoelectric element 1. The connection fixation of these support bodies 10 and 11 to the pattern electrodes 21 and 22 of the substrate 20 is performed by electro-conductive adhesives 12 and 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemasa Kusabiraki, Takeshi Yamazaki, Yuji Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20010045792
    Abstract: A piezoelectric type electric acoustic converter achieves large improvement in shatter resistance strength, increased operating efficiency and reduced size, and includes piezoelectric ceramic layers which are laminated to form a laminate. Main surface electrodes are disposed on the front and back main surfaces of the laminate, and an internal electrode is disposed between respective ceramic layers. A side electrode which connects the main surface electrodes, and a side electrode which is conducted to the internal electrode are formed on the side surface of the laminate. All the ceramic layers are polarized in the same direction, and by applying an alternating signal between the main surface electrodes and the internal electrode, bending vibration of the laminate occurs. The front and back surfaces of the laminate is almost entirely covered with resin-layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20010038257
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonant component is constructed such that it is possible to reduce the thickness of an exterior case member while preventing fracture and chipping of the exterior case member. The piezoelectric resonant component preferably includes exterior substrates defining exterior case members and being stacked on an energy trap type piezoelectric resonant element via adhesive layers disposed therebetween so as to define spaces for allowing for free and unhindered vibration of the piezoelectric vibration portion, and a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the surfaces of the exterior substrates on the opposite side of the surfaces thereof fastened to the piezoelectric resonant element are arranged so as not to overlap with the spaces through the intermediary of the exterior substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Wajima
  • Patent number: 6307300
    Abstract: A piezoelectric acoustic component includes a unimorph-type vibration body, a mounting substrate, and a cover. The vibration body includes a substantially rectangular piezoelectric plate and a substantially rectangular metallic plate bonded to the back side of the piezoelectric plate. Longitudinal opposite end portions of the vibration body are fixed onto the mounting substrate via respective support members. The metallic plate of the vibration body is fixedly connected to a first electrode located on the mounting substrate via one of the support members, whereas the electrode located on the front side of the piezoelectric plate is connected to a second electrode located on the mounting substrate via a conductive wire. A gap between the mounting substrate and each of lateral opposite end portions of the vibration body is charged with silicone rubber, thereby defining an acoustic space between the vibration body and the mounting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., LTD
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Tetsuo Takeshima, Takeshi Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20010022488
    Abstract: A package structure for a piezoelectric resonator includes a base which has a shape of flat box and made of an insulating material, and a thin lid bonded to the upper side of the base. A tuning fork type quartz crystal resonator piece is mounted at its one end, that is its base end, on electrode pads provided on the mounting surface in a cantilever manner using conductive adhesive so that it is parallel to the mounting surface, and hermetically sealed in a package with the lid engaged therewith. Either one or both of the mounting surface of the base and the inner surface of the lid has a recess formed at the location adjacent to the free end of a tuning fork type quartz crystal resonator piece so that the free end does not touch the inside surfaces of the packages when the quartz crystal resonator piece is largely dislocated on external impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Osamu Kawauchi, Hisashi Mikoshiba, Mitsuru Nagai
  • Publication number: 20010015595
    Abstract: A compact quartz oscillator includes a quartz vibrator that is integrally mounted on a circuit substrate. In the quartz oscillator, flux residue can be easily washed away. A cavity is defined in the approximate center of the circuit substrate. Within the cavity, circuit components defining an oscillation circuit, a temperature-compensating circuit, and other such circuits are surface-mounted preferably via reflow soldering. Connection electrodes are disposed at the four corners of walls surrounding the cavity. The connection electrodes are bonded to electrodes of the quartz vibrator mounted on the circuit substrate preferably via reflow soldering. Recesses are provided in the top surfaces of the walls. With the recesses, clearances are created between the circuit substrate and the quartz vibrator. As a result, in order to wash away flux residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Funahara, Akiyoshi Moriyasu, Tadashi Kani, Makoto Fujita
  • Publication number: 20010005108
    Abstract: An electrically driven signal unit is adapted for one-step assembly or injection molding with a device housing to vibrate, flex, beep or emit audio signals, or to sense and provide tactile feedback or control. The signal unit is a package with one or more active areas each containing a layer of ferroelectric or piezoelectric material, connected by inactive areas which may position, align and conduct electricity to the active areas. The active areas may be coupled over a region to transmit compressional, shear or flexural wave energy into the housing, or may contact at discrete regions while bending or displacing elsewhere to create inertial disturbances or impulses which are coupled to create a tactile vibration of the housing. The unit may be assembled such that the housing, the sheet or discrete areas thereof form a bender to provide tactile or sub-auditory signals to the user, or may be dimensioned, attached and actuated to produce audio vibration in the combined structure and constitute a speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Erik Saarmaa, Kenneth B. Lazarus, Charles Van Hoy, Richard Perkins, Mark Beauregard
  • Patent number: 6215221
    Abstract: An actuator device providing an active surface. The actuator has a base having at least one first electrostatic electrode mounted therein which is oriented for electrostatic cooperative action with an opposing electrostatic electrode in a cover mounted above the first electrostatic electrode to define an enclosed cavity. The cover has at least one second electrostatic electrode for cooperative electrostatic activation between the electrostatic electrodes. The cover also has an outer surface forming the active surface. A power supply is operably connected to the electrostatic electrodes for causing the cooperative electrostatic activation. A quantity of fluid is contained within the cavity for pneumatically defining active surface conditions during cooperative electrostatic actuation. The cavity may be closed to provide a sealed cavity for movement of the fluid, either a gas or a liquid, during the cooperative electrostatic actuation, or it may be open to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cleopatra Cabuz, Thomas R. Ohnstein, Michael R. Elgersma
  • Patent number: 6194817
    Abstract: A tuning-fork vibration gyro includes a tuning-fork vibrator having two arms and a base portion, and a supporting portion located in a center of a rotational motion of the base portion caused by a vibration resulting from a Coriolis force. The supporting portion protrudes from two surfaces of the base portion opposite each other in a direction in which the vibration resulting from the Coriolis force occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masanori Yachi, Yoshio Satoh, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Yoshitaka Takahashi, Kazutugu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6160462
    Abstract: An energy trapping type piezoelectric filter having a minimal surface area comprises a first and second identical piezoelectric substrates 10a and 10b being laid one on the other to form a multilayer structure, each having a first surface provided with a pair of oscillatory electrodes 11 and 12 arranged vis-a-vis relative to each other and a capacitor electrode 14 which is connected to one of the oscillatory electrodes 12, the other oscillatory electrode 11 being electrically connected to an input/output connection terminal 13 also arranged on the first surface, and a second surface provided with a common electrode 16 arranged oppositely relative to said pair of oscillatory electrodes 11 and 12 and a capacitor electrode 17 arranged opposite to said capacitor electrode 14, the capacitor electrode 17 and the common electrode 16 being electrically connected to each other, the pair of oscillatory electrodes 11 and 12 and the common electrode 16 forming an oscillating section V, the capacitor electrodes 14 and 17
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugiyama, Manabu Wakita
  • Patent number: 6150902
    Abstract: A ladder filter includes an insulation substrate and a plurality of pattern electrodes provided on one major surface of the insulation substrate. A piezoelectric resonator which is a first series resonator, a piezoelectric resonator which is a first parallel resonator, a piezoelectric resonator which is a second parallel resonator and a piezoelectric resonator which is a second series resonator are arranged on the substrate in this order. External electrodes of these piezoelectric resonators are respectively bonded to the lands via a conductive bonding agent and are connected to pattern electrodes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co, Ltd
    Inventor: Toshihiko Unami
  • Patent number: 6097132
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer element includes electrodes formed on a maximum-area of the front surface and rear surface of a long-plate shaped piezoelectric body. A case in which the piezoelectric transformer element is housed includes first lead terminals and second lead terminals. The first lead terminals press the electrodes on the front surface of the piezoelectric transformer element and are electrically connected to the electrodes. The second lead terminals press the electrodes on the rear surface of the piezoelectric transformer element and are electrically connected to the electrodes. The piezoelectric transformer element is held within the case by the first and second lead terminals and ring-shaped elastic bodies in which the piezoelectric transformer element is inserted. Thus, inhibition of vibration of the piezoelectric transformer element is suppressed and energy conversion efficiency of the piezoelectric transformer element is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Inoi, Mitsuhiro Sugimoto, Hiromi Suzuki, Naoto Taihaku
  • Patent number: 6093997
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (12) is embedded within an electrically insulating substrate assembly (36), such as a multilayer printed circuit board. Electrical conductors (22,24) extend from electrodes of the resonator (12) through holes (32) in upper and lower layers (26,29) of the substrate assembly (36) and connect to electrical traces (34). The lower layer (29) has a pocket which forms a cavity (38) within the substrate assembly (36) adapted to contain the piezoelectric resonator (12). The conductors (22,24) support the resonator (12) such that the resonator (12) does not contact the assembly (36). As the resonator is substantially larger than associated electrical components, embedding it within a substrate eliminates the size penalty that is normally required to mount a large piezoelectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Zimnicki, James F. Caruba
  • Patent number: 6057633
    Abstract: In order to achieve the above and other objects, a piezoelectric transformer unit is provided. The unit contains a piezoelectric transformer element, a first upper electrode, a first lower electrode, an insulator casing, a first lead terminal, and an insulator elastic member. The piezoelectric transformer element has a upper element surface, a lower element surface, and a first side element surface. The first upper electrode is formed on the upper element surface of the piezoelectric transformer element, and the first lower electrode is formed on the lower element surface of the piezoelectric transformer element. The insulator casing houses the piezoelectric transformer element. The first lead terminal protrudes from an inner surface of the insulator casing, supports the piezoelectric transformer element within the insulator casing, and vertically presses the an oscillation nodal point of the piezoelectric transformer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Inoi, Naoto Taihaku, Hiromi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6057634
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component includes a substrate on which pattern electrodes are disposed. A piezoelectric resonator is placed on the substrate. The piezoelectric resonator generates a longitudinal vibration and includes a base member. External electrodes are disposed at both sides of a groove formed on one side surface of the base member. At the center of the base member in the longitudinal direction, support members made from an electrically conductive material are provided on the external electrodes. The support members are bonded to the pattern electrodes of the substrate via electrically conductive adhesive. An insulating adhesive is disposed between the support members. As a result of this structure, the piezoelectric component has a sufficient bonding strength between the base member and the piezoelectric resonator and prevents a short circuit from occurring between the support members formed in the piezoelectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohide Yoshino, Yuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 6037705
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer includes a piezoelectric transforming element supported at its vibrational node region N on a base plate through a resilient adhesive member. Input electrodes of the piezoelectric transforming element are electrically connected to input electrode connecting lands of the base plate through a conductive adhesive which is adapted to be freely deformed according to the vibration of the piezoelectric transforming element. An output electrode of the piezoelectric transforming element is electrically connected to an output electrode connecting land of the base plate through a lead wire or a conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawabata, Tetsuo Tatsumi, Hiroyuki Ishizaki, Etsuo Nishikawa, Isamu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6016024
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component achieves a desired Qm by using a presently available piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric component includes a supporting substrate on which pattern electrodes are provided. Electroconductive supporting members are disposed on the pattern electrodes, and a piezoelectric resonator is mounted on the supporting members. External electrodes of the piezoelectric resonator and the pattern electrodes are electrically connected to each other by the supporting members. Gaps between the piezoelectric resonator and the supporting substrate are filled with a first elastic material element. A second material element may be provided on the surface of the piezoelectric resonator disposed opposite to the surface of the resonator facing the supporting substrate. Only one of these elastic material elements or both these elastic material elements may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Unami, Jiro Inoue, Takashi Yamamoto, Tetsuo Takeshima
  • Patent number: 6004644
    Abstract: A zirconia diaphragm structure, and a method of producing such structure in which the zirconia diaphragm structure includes a zirconia substrate having at least one window, and a zirconia diaphragm plate formed integrally with the zirconia substrate so as to close each window, the zirconia substrate comprising a zirconia material as a major component, and containing 0.1-3.0% by weight of alumina, 0.1-3.0% by weight of silica, 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina and silica, 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina and magnesia, or 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina, silica and magnesia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Hideo Masumori, Katsuyuki Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki
  • Patent number: 5998909
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer has input and output terminal electrodes (12c, 12d, 13c, 13d) exposed on a bottom surface thereof. The terminal electrodes are mechanically and electrically connected to connection portions (15a-15d) of a flexible printed circuit (18) for connecting with an external circuit. The transformer is held between a base element (21b, 22) and a cover (21a, 23, 25) coupled to each other. The base element may be a circuit board on which the transformer should be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Kumasaka, Masafumi Katsuno, Koichi Okamoto, Yoshiaki Fuda
  • Patent number: 5984447
    Abstract: An ink jet print head is provided with high integration in which a substrate formed with a wiring pattern of a driver circuit is adhered to an actuator plate to provide a joined body, which is formed with a number of channels serving as ink chambers. An actuator is formed between the channels, and conductive films serving as driving electrodes are formed over the substrate and the actuator plate at a part of side walls of the channels by electrically connecting to a wiring pattern by an oblique vapor deposition method and an electrolytic plating method. Accordingly, voltage can be directly applied to the driving electrodes from the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yumiko Ohashi
  • Patent number: 5925974
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component has a substantially stronger connection between a substrate and a piezoelectric resonator and has improved electrical reliability. The piezoelectric resonator includes an insulating substrate having pattern electrodes disposed therein. A piezoelectric resonator capable of vibrating, for example in a longitudinal vibration mode is mounted on the substrate. A supporting member prepared separately as a pre-formed material member is bonded to the piezoelectric resonator at a nodal point of the resonator. A first flat surface of the supporting member is bonded to a vibrating electrode on the piezoelectric resonator by a first bonding and supporting material while a second flat surface of the supporting member is bonded to one of the pattern electrodes on the substrate by a second bonding and supporting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamoto, Shigemasa Kusabiraki, Toshihiko Unami, Hirohide Yoshino, Tetsuo Takeshima
  • Patent number: 5896000
    Abstract: A vibration resistant mounting is described formed of a membrane on which an electronic device is mounted. The membrane is formed of a sheet material made of a suitable rubber such a solid silicone rubber and which is supported by a frame. The electronic device can be mounted to the membrane in various ways to provide vibration isolation that is a significant improvement over conventional mountings for small light weight electronic devices such as electronic oscillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Vectron Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Shniper
  • Patent number: 5869767
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer (10) comprises a flexible transmitter (18), a flexible receiver array (22), and flexible electrodes (14), (16), (20), for the transmitter and receiver. The elements of the transducer are arranged such that the transducer may be flexed for conformity with surfaces of test specimens of a variety of non-planar configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: University of Strathclyde
    Inventors: Gordon Hayward, David James Powell
  • Patent number: 5847490
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer element is wrapped together with primary lead members and secondary lead members by a thin soft insulating sheet, with the primary and secondary lead members being exposed outside the wrapping sheet, so that the transformer element is small in size, and easy in handling, and mounting operation on a circuit board. The primary and secondary lead members can be formed of a flexible flat cable. In an electric power supply device using the piezoelectric transformer element, the transformer element, and the flexible flat cable are wrapped by the wrapping sheet together with a portion of a circuit board on which the transformer element and other circuit elements are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Katsunori Kumasaka, Masafumi Katsuno, Koichi Okamoto, Yoshiaki Fuda
  • Patent number: 5841217
    Abstract: In a surface mounting crystal unit comprising a quartz plate, a receptacle-like terminal member holding the quartz plate therein in such a way as to enable it to oscillate, and a lid covering an opening of the terminal member, the quartz plate is prepared in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and disposed such that one or both of shorter sides of the quartz plate at its both ends can be fixedly attached to flat surface portions of the terminal member with an electrically conductive adhesive of high plasticity so that the impact of a drop is buffered by the adhesive. A likelihood of any leakage is minimized by airtight bonding of the lid to the opening of the terminal member with an inorganic material such as a solder, and the like. Furthermore, crystal impedance is lowered by producing a vacuum inside the terminal member airtightly bonded by the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kizaki, Yoshikazu Sakaguchi, Hachiro Kimura, Kazuo Murata, Issei Nakayama, Takamasa Tanaka, Toshihide Ohi
  • Patent number: 5838092
    Abstract: An active constrained layer system includes a passive viscoelastic damping material positioned on top of a substrate. An active piezoelectric layer is positioned on top of the passive viscoelastic damping material. An edge element physically connects the active piezoelectric layer to the substrate to transmit active forces and moments from the piezoelectric layer to the substrate. The novel edge element yields higher active control from the piezoelectric layer, while preserving the damping capacity of the passive viscoelastic layer. The edge element may be implemented in a variety of ways, including an edge element clamp structure and an edge element post structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kon-Well Wang, Wei-Hsin Liao
  • Patent number: 5834881
    Abstract: Mounting arrangements are provided for crystals, which greatly reduces or iminates the effect of the force which develops on the crystal when acceleration is encountered. In these arrangements, flexible bushings are incorporated to absorb energy during periods of acceleration and collars are incorporated between which portions of the crystal are gripped to stiffen the structural characteristics thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: John A. Kosinski
  • Patent number: 5831539
    Abstract: A particle blockage monitoring system employs a flexible piezoelectric particle sensor element in a portion of a particle flow path so that a number of particles traveling in the particle flow path strike the flexible particle sensor element while preventing damage to the particles and maintaining the forward momentum of all the particles in the particle flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring particles of different types and to increase the information rate, the use of a one-shot multivibrator to temporarily store a particle detection signal as in the prior art is avoided. Also, serial sampling of the particle sensor data is avoided to increase the information rate. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: John C. Thomas, Douglas L. Hauck, Christopher J. Skarie, Jon T. Jacobson, John D. Paulson, Trevor D. Fuss, Daryl N. Roehrich, Jeffrey G. Hopman
  • Patent number: 5831542
    Abstract: A seed blockage monitoring system employs a flexible, generally flat piezoelectric seed sensor element inserted at an acute angle of about 13 degrees into a seed flow path so that a portion of seeds traveling in the seed flow path strike the seed sensor element, preventing damage to the seeds and maintaining forward momentum of all seeds in the seed flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring seeds of different types and to increase the data rate that information can be obtained from numerous multiple seed sensor elements, the use of a one-shot to temporarily store a seed detection signal and serial sampling of the temporarily stored signals from the sensors as in the prior art is avoided. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: John C. Thomas, Douglas L. Hauck, Christopher J. Skarie, Jon T. Jacobson, John D. Paulson, Trevor D. Fuss, Daryl N. Roehrich
  • Patent number: 5815466
    Abstract: An active element in a hydrophone includes a piezoelectric hydrophone crystal mounted to a backing plate. The piezoelectric crystal may be divided into separate segments. If so segmented, the polarities of the segments are oriented in the same direction. Whether or not segmented, the center portion or segment of the crystal is in abutting contact with a motion limiter, which acts as a spring between the piezoelectric crystal and the casing surrounding the crystal and backing plate. The portions or segments or the crystal are connected to electrical signal leads with the minimum amount of solder necessary to ensure secure electrical and mechanical coupling, thereby reducing the effects of the solder connection on the stress flux profile in regions of the crystal close to the solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Syntron, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis W. Erath
  • Patent number: 5590866
    Abstract: A mount for a vibratory member, such as an elongate half wavelength resonator, includes a pair of cylindrical flexural tubes, each tube coupled with one end to the nodal region of the member and the other end of each tube coupled to a stationary member. The axial length and the thickness of the tubes are selected to enable the tubes to flex radially responsive to the substantially radial vibrations manifest at the nodal region of the member so as to decouple the vibrations of the member from the stationary member. A method of decoupling a vibration member from its stationary mount is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Branson Ultrasonics Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick M. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5575050
    Abstract: A method of assembling an electronic component, such as a ladder-type filter, having at least one element being held between terminal plates under pressure and stored in a case. First, the terminal plates are inserted in a cavity of a base so as to align the terminal plates along a direction of thickness thereof. Then, the element is inserted between the terminal plates in the cavity, and a spring plate is inserted in the cavity at an outside of one of the terminal plates. Thereafter, all parts inserted in the cavity are compressed by a presser along the direction of thickness so that an overall thickness of the parts is smaller than an inner size of the case. Then, the case is set on the base, and all parts are inserted from the cavity into the case simultaneously. Electrode surfaces of the element are not damaged since they are not in sliding contact with the terminal plates, and working efficiency is improved by this compressed insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisaku Kugo
  • Patent number: 5572487
    Abstract: A high frequency transducer capable of transmitting and receiving having an operational range from 100 kHz to 2 MHz, a free field voltage sensitivity (FFVS) greater than -218 dB re 1 V/.mu.Pa (300 kHz), and a maximum hydrostatic pressure rating of 20.68 Mpa (3000 psi). The sensor element is made of lead titanate with a radial mode of 150 kHz being suppressed by the use of a rubber grommet surrounding the lead titanate element. The sensor element is retained within a sensor housing by a plurality of annealed iron wires attached to an annealed iron ring, both of the faces of the sensor housing are then covered with an acoustically transparent window of natural gum rubber. The sensor housing is attached to a non-metallic preamplifier housing made of a rigid polyurethane containing a preamplifier circuit, a transmit protection circuit, and a plurality of relays for switching the preamplifier circuit during the transmit and receive modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James A. Tims
  • Patent number: 5569969
    Abstract: The vibrator includes for example, a triangular prism shaped vibrating body. On each of three side faces of the vibrating body, piezoelectric elements are formed respectively. The vibrating body makes bending vibration by giving a driving signal to one or two piezoelectric elements. The vibrator is used in a vibratory gyroscope. In this case, for example, one piezoelectric element is used for vibrating the vibrator. When a rotating force is applied to the vibratory gyroscope, a Coriolis force is exerted to produce output voltages on the remaining two piezoelectric elements corresponding to the rotational angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Kasanami, Takeshi Nakamura, Keiichi Okano, Yoshiko Morishita
  • Patent number: 5493166
    Abstract: The vibrator includes, for example, a triangular prism shaped vibrating body. On each of three side faces of the vibrating body, piezoelectric elements are formed respectively. The vibrating body makes bending vibration by giving a driving signal to one or two piezoelectric elements. The vibrator is used in a vibratory gyroscope. In this case, for example, one piezoelectric element is used for vibrating the vibrator. When a rotating force is applied to the vibratory gyroscope, a Coriolis force is exerted to produce output voltages on the remaining two piezoelectric elements corresponding to the rotational angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Kasanami, Takeshi Nakamura, Keiichi Okano, Yoshiki Morishita
  • Patent number: 5484216
    Abstract: A planar auxiliary supporting member for supporting an elastic member for generating a vibration is arranged. The elastic member contacts a rail-shaped stationary member, and moves along the stationary member. The rigidity of the supporting member is set to be low, so that the elastic member as a stator stably moves along the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kimura, Yoshifumi Nishimoto, Hideki Tanaka, Hiroyuki Seki, Toshiaki Harada, Yoshitaka Okamura, Shinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5478756
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignees: Fisons plc, GEC Marfoni Limited
    Inventors: Electra Gizeli, Adrian C. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5457353
    Abstract: For certain applications, such as detecting of glass breakage, it is advantageous to use frequency-selective ultrasonic transducers. In this case, one can dispense with using costly filter configurations to filter out relevant frequency components of the received ultrasonic spectrum. An ultrasonic sandwich transducer, which shows a high sensitivity for certain predetermined frequencies, can be produced by selectively adapting at least one of its geometric dimensions to the frequency selectivity which is required of the transducer. The ultrasonic sandwich transducer preferably has a piezoelectric-ceramic wafer, which is surrounded on at least one of its two wafer surfaces by a layer of low acoustical impedance. The piezoelectric-ceramic wafer is effectively rectangular, resulting in a block-shaped member. One of the dimensions of height, length and width is fixed to correspond to a desired fundamental frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Thurn, Hans-Joachim Burger
  • Patent number: 5449964
    Abstract: Disclosed is a triggering transducer for signaling external equipment from an acoustic device having a foundational structure and an acoustic member, The transducer includes a base for mounting to the foundational structure; an elastic beam member having an anchor portion supported relative to the base and having a beam extremity for limited area contact with the acoustic member; a piezoelectric element attached to the beam member between the beam extremity and the anchor portion for coupling bending strain from the beam member to the piezoelectric element in response to vibration of the acoustic member, the piezoelectric element being in proximate facing contact with an active portion of the beam member, the active portion being inclined at an angle .theta. from the acoustic member, the angle .theta. is between approximately 30.degree. and approximately 45.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventor: Michael J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 5443240
    Abstract: Mounting means for a vibratory member, such as an elongate half wavelength resonator, include a pair of cylindrical tubes, each tube coupled with one end to the nodal region of the member and the other end of each tube coupled to a stationary clamping means disposed about the member. The axial length and the thickness of the tubes are selected to enable the tubes to flex radially responsive to the substantially radial vibrations manifest at the nodal region of the member, whereby to decouple the vibrations of the member from the stationary clamping means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Branson Ultrasonics Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick M. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5315203
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the motion of a structural member on a space platform truss structure, launch vehicle, automobile, building, or the like is comprised of a first driving piezoelectric element and a second constraining piezoelectric element. The first piezoelectric element is embedded in or bonded onto the structural member. The second piezoelectric element is bonded onto the structural member, with a viscoelastic material (VEM) layer sandwiched between the structural member and the second piezoelectric element. The first and second piezoelectric elements are electrically connected in opposite phase. When the structural member is deformed by an applied force, the first driving piezoelectric element is correspondingly deformed, generating an electrical field. The electrical field is then applied in an opposite sense to the second piezoelectric element through the electrical connections, thereby oppositely deforming the second piezoelectric element with respect to the first piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew S. Bicos
  • Patent number: 5311219
    Abstract: An adhesive layer 15 is formed over one major surface of a flat base plate 1 having a relatively high rigidity, a piezoelectric plate 2 is joined to the adhesive layer 15, a plurality of parallel grooves 3 are formed through the piezoelectric plate 2 into the adhesive layer 15, a metal is deposited over the surfaces of the grooves 3 to form electrodes 8, a top plate 10 is attached to the upper surface of the piezoelectric plate 2 so as to close the upper open ends of the grooves 3, and a nozzle plate 12 provided with a plurality of ink jets is attached to one end of the assembly of the base plate 1, the adhesive layer 15, the piezoelectric plate 2 and the top plate 10 so as to close the open longitudinal ends of the grooves 3 to form a plurality of pressure chambers 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ochiai, Shigeo Komakine
  • Patent number: 5306981
    Abstract: A vibrator assembly for mounting on the bottom wall of a tank including a three-part insulating support housing including an outer support housing portion in the form of a nut which is located underneath the wall, a cap and intermediate support housing portion which is mounted with the cap above the wall and with the intermediate support housing portion below the wall and which threadably receives the nut, an inner support housing portion which is held by the nut within the intermediate support housing portion, with the inner support housing portion being part of a subassembly which includes a rubber vibrator support and electrodes and a vibrator and a rubber sealing insert all held within the inner support housing portion of the insulating support support housing and sealed therein by the tightening of the nut onto the intermediate support housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Humonics International Inc.
    Inventors: Earl D. Martel, Michele C. Blokhuis
  • Patent number: 5299739
    Abstract: An ultrasonic wave nebulizer for converting water or liquid to mist has a disc-shaped piezoelectric vibrator (1) which has a pair of surfaces one of which is defined as an operation surface. A mesh (3) is located close to said operation surface so that a gap (G) or a thin water or liquid film is defined between the mesh and the operation surface. The gap spacing is smaller than the diameter of water drop which is composed by surface tension of water when no mesh were located. Upon excitation of the vibrator with high frequency, the water film is converted to mist. Fresh water is supplied in said gap spacing through capillarity. The exciting frequency is almost the same as the resonant frequency of the vibrator. The present nebulizer is useful for a small atomizer which operates with small power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Takahashi, Makoto Ono
  • Patent number: 5256929
    Abstract: A vibrator support structure for a vibrator having a vibrating body comprises a support stand, a first damper material disposed on top of the support stand, and a first substrate disposed on top of the first damper material. In addition, the vibrator support structure includes a second damper material disposed on top of only a portion of the first substrate and a second substrate disposed on top of the second damper material. Two support filaments are also provided for supporting the vibrating body, one of which is mounted on the exposed portion of the first substrate, while the other of which is mounted on the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Akai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kokichi Terajima
  • Patent number: 5250870
    Abstract: An ultra thin piezoelectric quartz crystal package can be realized by using adhesive dollops to compliantly mount a piezoelectric device within a thin package. The adhesive dollops maintain spacing between the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric device (18) and the surfaces (13 and 15) of the housing that is comprised of upper and lower substrates (12 and 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Fenlon, Thomas A. Knecht, Robert S. Witte, William G. Skoda, R. Victor Thompson
  • Patent number: 5216317
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a mechanical force into an electrical signal. The apparatus includes a piezoelectric disk crystal (1), connecting electrode layers (2, 3) disposed on opposite sides of the disk-shaped crystal (1), the electrode layer (3) on the one side being divided into a transmitter electrode layer (6) and a ground or o-electrode layer (5), and the electrode layer (2) on the opposite side being divided into a receiver electrode layer (7) and a ground or o-electrode layer (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Inventor: Sten A. Rydborn