Abstract: There are provided a piezoelectric element in which the peeling of a surface electrode is suppressed, and a piezoelectric vibrating device, a portable terminal, an acoustic generator, an acoustic generating device and an electronic apparatus including the same. A piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element including a plate-shaped stacked body including inner electrodes and piezoelectric layers laminated, a surface electrode disposed on one of main surfaces of the stacked body, the surface electrode being electrically connected to the inner electrodes. The surface electrode has a first area and a second area. The first area is an area mainly containing silver, and the second area is an area mainly containing silver and palladium and disposed so as to contact a piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for applying charge to a piezoelectric element include and/or facilitate implementation of processes including cyclical multi-stage processes for: providing a piezoelectric element with an accumulated charge; providing one or more charge holding elements with a scavenged charge from the piezoelectric element; substantially removing or discharging a remaining charge from the piezoelectric element; and applying the scavenged charge to the piezoelectric element with an opposite polarity in relation to the polarity of the remaining charge.

Abstract: An elastic wave device is provided that has an phase velocity optimum for a high-frequency oscillation as well as a preferred frequency temperature behavior that exhibits a cubic curve by utilizing a rotated Y-cut quartz crystal substrate with novel Euler angles of rotation. The elastic wave device includes a quartz crystal substrate and an excitation-electrode. The quartz crystal substrate is cut out from a quartz crystal body that has a particular three-dimensional crystallite orientation. The quartz crystal substrate is cut at rotation angles specified by right-handed Euler-angles. The excitation-electrode generates a plurality of plate waves on a front surface of the quartz crystal substrate. The quartz crystal substrate is cut at rotation angles in a given range. The selected vibration mode of the quartz crystal substrate is a plate wave having a primary and a secondary temperature coefficient in given ranges with Taylor expansion performed at a particular temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a substrate, a dielectric disposed on the semiconductor substrate, an acoustic resonator disposed on the dielectric, and an electrical interconnect disposed in the dielectric and configured to transmit an electrical signal to or from at least one electrode of the acoustic resonator through a signal path disposed at least partially below a level of the acoustic resonator.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration generating apparatus including: a housing having an internal space; a vibration member having both end portions thereof fixed to the housing; and a piezoelectric element installed on the vibration member, wherein the vibration member includes a first member having the piezoelectric element installed thereon and second members disposed at both end portions of the first member, the second members being formed of a material having a higher degree of tensile strength than the first member.

Abstract: An elastic wave device propagating plate waves includes a stack of an acoustic reflection layer, a piezoelectric layer, and IDT electrode on a supporting substrate. The piezoelectric layer is thinner than a period of fingers of the IDT electrode. The acoustic reflection layer includes low-acoustic-impedance layers and high-acoustic-impedance layers. The low-acoustic-impedance layers are made of SiO2, and the high-acoustic-impedance layers are made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of W, LiTaO3, Al2O3, AlN, LiNbO3, SiN, and ZnO.

Abstract: A piezoelectric bulk wave device that includes a piezoelectric thin plate that is made of LiTaO3, and first and second electrodes that are provided in contact with the piezoelectric thin plate. The piezoelectric bulk wave device utilizes the thickness shear mode of the piezoelectric thin plate made of LiTaO3, and of the Euler Angles (?, ?, ?) of LiTaO3, ? is 0°, and ? is in the range of not less than 54° and not more than 107°.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device has: a ceramic substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to each other; a piezoelectric element arranged on the first principal surface; a frame having a first face and a second face opposed to each other and arranged on the ceramic substrate so as to surround the piezoelectric element; a metal layer arranged on the second face of the frame; and a metal lid arranged on the metal layer so as to close a space surrounded by the frame. The first face of the frame is in contact with the first principal surface of the ceramic substrate. The metal layer and the metal lid are joined to each other by resistance welding. The frame has a composite portion containing a metal and a metal oxide and the composite portion includes the second face and is in contact with the metal layer.

Abstract: A two dimensional structure such as a disk or belt is shaped or distorted to form a buckling wave. At least one contact touches the wave, two contacts squeezing the wave between them providing a firmer connection. The wave is propagated along the structure by any of a variety of means including magnets or piezo actuators. This movement of the wave moves the contacts relative to the two dimensional structure, providing a high leverage ratio.

Abstract: The invention provides hybrid photovoltaic-piezoelectric energy harvesting devices in the form of flexible filaments. The devices harvest energy from ambient light, and also from environmental motions and vibrations. They are particularly suitable for incorporation into fabrics and clothing.

Abstract: A number of devices are described which can be used to generate electric power from the action of wind or other sources of vibration. The devices comprise Piezo electric materials, which are built into the devices in a way that can capture the generated electric power, and can conduct it to storage devices. Several embodiments are described.

Abstract: A ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a gradual decrease detecting section detecting a gradual decrease start point at which a ultrasonic impedance value starts to gradually decrease, and a peak judging section judging whether or not a held tentative peak value that is a ultrasonic impedance value at the gradual decrease start point is a target peak. The ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes an ultrasonic control section outputting a vibration generating electric power in a second ultrasonic output mode where incision performance provided by an ultrasonic vibration becomes smaller than that in a first ultrasonic output mode before a peak detection point, when at least a prescribed time passes from the peak detection point at which the target peak is detected.

Abstract: A vibrational energy harvesting system is disclosed. Included is a first energy harvesting unit and a second energy harvesting unit that convert mechanical vibrations into first and second AC signals, respectively. A first AC-DC converter coupled to the first energy harvesting unit and a second AC-DC converter coupled to the second energy harvesting unit are configured to convert the first AC signal and the second AC signal into a first DC signal and a second DC signal, respectively. A DC-DC converter is coupled between the second AC-DC converter and a controller, and is configured to receive the second DC signal and provide a regulated DC signal by using energy from the second DC signal in response to a periodic signal generated by the controller. Typically, an energy storage unit is coupled to the DC-DC converter and is configured to receive and store energy from the regulated DC signal.

Abstract: Actuator device has a main body with base and superstructure bodies, the device having a plurality of actuators formed from a piezoelectric or electrostrictive material and each extend from the base body and form the superstructure body. The actuators each have at least two inner actuating electrodes of which at least one first inner actuating electrode extends, in a positive depthwise direction from the front side up to a distance from the rear side, and of which at least one second inner actuating electrode extends in a negative depthwise direction from the rear side up to a distance from the front side. At least one first inner actuating electrode of each actuator is provided for electrical connection to a first connection pole of an actuating device, a rear-side layer which is formed from electrically conductive material arranged on the rear side of the actuator device.

Abstract: An elastic wave device includes a support layer with a through-hole or a recess opened at an upper surface thereof, a piezoelectric thin film arranged on the support layer to extend above the recess or the through-hole of the support layer, and an IDT electrode defined on at least one of upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric thin film in a region of the piezoelectric thin film, the region extending above the recess, or the through-hole. A secondary mode of a plate wave, which contains a U1 component as a main component, is utilized. The piezoelectric thin film is made of LiTaO3, and Euler angles (?, ?, ?) of the LiTaO3 fall within specific ranges.

Abstract: A reduced power consumption actuator drive circuit that includes separate circuit power paths for different portions of the signal spectrum for applications in which lower frequencies have high amplitudes. The low frequency circuit paths use higher power supply voltages at lower currents and the high frequency circuit paths use lower power supply voltages at higher currents. In one embodiment, the drive circuit drives a nutator that employs a resonating circuit that maintains actuator motion with reduced energy supplied by the power supply.

Abstract: An implantable device for harvesting in-vivo blood pressure fluctuations' energy to generate electrical power for powering medical implants while avoiding the need for external power sources.

Abstract: An integrated thermal apparatus includes a piezoelectric device and a thermal module which includes a thermal plate contacting a heat source to remove heat from the heat source. The thermal plate has built-in heat sinks for maximizing the surface area for heat dissipation. Each piezoelectric device includes one or more piezoelectric elements. Through the actions of piezoelectric elements, a jet of air and an influx of air are generated to cool the heat sinks. The airflow also cools the surface of heat plate, which acts like a fan mounted on top of the heat source.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises at least one element comprising at least one sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is mounted on a circuit board comprising at least one conductive layer having at least one opening. The element is located on the opening and supported by edges of the opening in such a manner that the opening extends laterally beyond the area of the sheet of piezoelectric material. The element is sandwiched between an overlay and the circuit board in such a manner that vibrations of the sheet of piezoelectric material are sufficient to cause vibration of the overlay.

Abstract: Improving wind-based piezoelectric power conversion is provided. For example, a piezoelectric element affixed to a vibratory member is provided. A rigid mounting system coupled with a rotatable base is provided for said vibratory member on one end of the vibratory member. A solar generator is coupled with the rigid mounting system and at least one obstacle is provided located on the flexing side of the vibratory member. The obstacle induces a vortex in the wind passing the obstacle and arriving at the vibratory member, which enhances wind-induced displacement in the vibratory member.