Patents Examined by Emily P Pham
  • Patent number: 10979013
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric thin film resonator on a non-silicon substrate, including the following steps: depositing a copper thin film on a silicon wafer; coating photoresist on the copper thin film to perform photoetching so as to remove photoresist in an air gap region under the piezoelectric thin film resonator to be disposed; electroplating-depositing a copper layer, and removing photoresist to obtain a stepped peel sacrifice layer; coating polyimide and performing imidization by heat treatment, making a sandwich structure of the piezoelectric thin film resonator above the polyimide layer; performing etching for the polyimide layer in a region not covered by the piezoelectric thin film resonator by oxygen plasma; placing the obtained device into a copper corrosion solution to dissolve the copper around and under the piezoelectric thin film resonator, attaching a drum coated with polyvinyl alcohol glue onto the piezoelectric thin film resonator, releasing and peeling it from th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Da Chen, Hongfei Wang, Peng Wang, Xiaojun Zhang, Zhongli Li
  • Patent number: 10964878
    Abstract: A piezoelectric composition comprises a plurality of crystal particles, wherein the piezoelectric composition includes bismuth, iron, barium, titanium, and oxygen; the crystal particle include a core and a shell having a contents of bismuth higher than that in the core and covering the core; and the total area of the cross sections of the cores exposed to the cross section of the piezoelectric composition is expressed as SCORE, the total area of the cross sections of the shells exposed to the cross section of the piezoelectric composition is expressed as SSHELL, and 100·SCORE/(SCORE+SSHELL) is 50 to 90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Kitazaki, Keisuke Teranishi, Makoto Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 10965223
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes an actuator with a piezo-electric plate, at least one friction element, an element to be driven in active contact with the friction element, a tensioning device for pressing the friction element against the element to be driven, and a thermo-compensation platform having abutting sections by which displacement of the actuator is only possible along abutting side surfaces of the piezo-electric plate. The tensioning device includes two rotation angle levers of which two tension lever arms are connected to one another via a tensioned tension spring, to exert torque on the rotation angle lever such that pressure lever arms will act on the actuator to be linearly guided by the abutting sections in the direction of the element to be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wladimir Wischnewskiy, Alexej Wischnewski
  • Patent number: 10965271
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator includes a membrane layer disposed on an insulating layer; a cavity formed by the insulating layer and the membrane layer; a resonating portion disposed on the cavity and having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode stacked thereon; a protective layer disposed on the resonating portion; and a hydrophobic layer formed on the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Kyung Lee, Jun Lim, Jong Woon Kim, Ran Hee Shin, Sung Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 10958193
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a first member, a second member, a guide mechanism that guides the second member relative to the first member in a first direction, and a piezoelectric actuator that moves the second member relative to the first member in the first direction, the guide mechanism including a first rail and a second rail spaced apart from the first rail in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the piezoelectric actuator, when viewed from a third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, being disposed between the first rail or an extended line obtained by extending the first rail in the first direction and the second rail or an extended line obtained by extending the second rail in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yutaka Arakawa, Tomohisa Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 10959307
    Abstract: A load control device coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load may operate in a three-wire mode or a two-wire mode based on whether the load control device is connected to a neutral side of the AC power source. The load control device may further comprise first and second zero-cross detect circuits to be respectively used in the two-wire mode or the three-wire mode, and a neutral wire detect circuit configured to generate a neutral wire detect signal indicating whether the load control device is connected to the neutral side of the AC power source. A control circuit of the load control device may determine whether the load control device should operate in the two-wire mode or in the three-wire mode in response to the neutral wire detect signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Benning, Thomas W. Brenner, Quinn Brogan, Donald F. Hausman, Jr., Peter MacLellan, Matthew Kyle Olsen, Matthew Pennock
  • Patent number: 10951110
    Abstract: Disclosed in embodiments of the present invention are a control method and device for an alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit, and a computer storage medium. The alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit comprises a first commutation unit, a second commutation unit, and a coupling unit. By obtaining voltage information and current information of the alternating-current and direct-current conversion circuit, a controllable device of the first commutation unit can be controlled to be turned on in delay or turned off in advance; and the second commutation unit is controlled to work in a controllable rectification state or a controllable inversion state or an uncontrollable rectification state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute Co., Ltd, State Grid Corporation of China
    Inventors: Zhanfeng Deng, Jun Ge, Guoliang Zhao, Jieying Song, Weiguo Li, Zhengang Lu, Yunfei Xu, Zhe Zhou, Haijun Liu, Dong Liang, Xiaolin Mo, Pengliang Xu, Guofu Chen, Xiang Wang, Guozhong Zhang, Weidong Shen, Wenyuan Ning, Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 10948011
    Abstract: A vibration drive device that suppresses an increase in the number of component parts and can be easily downsized. Vibration is excited in a vibration element in pressure contact with a driven element to thereby rotationally move the driven element relative to the vibration element. A bearing rotatably supports the driven element. A first and a second bearing portions are joined to the driven element. The second and a third bearing portions are pressed against each other via rolling elements in a direction along the axis of the bearing. The rolling elements are brought into pressure contact with the first raceway surface of the first bearing portion, the second raceway surface of the second bearing portion, and the third raceway surface of the third bearing portion. One of the second and third bearing portions is integrally formed with the driven element from the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kitajima, Yasumichi Arimitsu
  • Patent number: 10944303
    Abstract: Various implementations include a spoke-type rotor design that exhibits low torque ripple with competitive torque density. The rotor includes a rotor core, rotor core (RC) magnets, nonmagnetic caps disposed on an outer radial end of each RC magnet, and flux directing (FD) magnets disposed circumferentially between adjacent RC magnets. Each nonmagnetic cap has a radially tapered shape (e.g., trapezoidal). An outer radial end of each cap and an outer radial end of each RC magnet opening define an air gap therebetween. The magnetic flux directions of the RC magnets are circumferentially directed clockwise or counterclockwise, and the flux directions of circumferentially adjacent RC magnets are opposite from each other. The magnetic flux directions of the FD magnets are directed radially inwardly or outwardly, and the flux directions of circumferentially adjacent FD magnets are opposite from each other. The RC and/or FD magnets may include rare-earth free materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama
    Inventors: Yang-Ki Hong, Hoyun Won, Woncheol Lee
  • Patent number: 10944331
    Abstract: A method for controlling a converter is disclosed. The converter includes a first switch and a second switch. The method includes: turning on then turning off the first switch for storing an energy in the converter; turning on then turning off the second switch for transferring the stored energy in the converter; and turning on the second switch again thereby injecting the energy into the converter, and then turning off the second switch to increase levels of oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sync Power Corp.
    Inventors: Hsian-Pei Yee, Ya-Wu Chung
  • Patent number: 10931193
    Abstract: A voltage supply circuit includes a level shifter that switches between voltages of two voltage input units and that outputs one of the voltages, a charge pump that transforms a voltage of an input power supply and that applies the transformed voltage to the level shifter, and a charge pump control circuit. The voltage supply circuit controls supply and interruption of a predetermined voltage to a voltage-supplied circuit (RF switch 20). The charge pump control circuit causes the charge pump to perform a continuous operation in an on-mode and to perform an intermittent operation in an off-mode, the off-mode representing a state in which the voltage supply to the voltage-supplied circuit (RF switch 20) is stopped, the on-mode representing a state in which the predetermined voltage is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Tokuda, Makoto Tabei
  • Patent number: 10928257
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for measuring a pressure are disclosed. In an embodiment the sensor includes a main body including a piezoelectric material and at least two internal electrodes arranged in the piezoelectric material, wherein the at least two internal electrodes are arranged in such a way that a voltage arises between the at least two internal electrodes when a pressure acts on a side surface of the main body that is provided for an application of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TDK ELECTRONICS AG
    Inventors: Martin Galler, Harald Kastl, Markus Puff
  • Patent number: 10923982
    Abstract: An electric compressor motor housing is provided with: a motor housing main body (8), the interior of which is a cylindrical space for internally equipping a motor, and in which a plurality of refrigerant passages are formed around the cylindrical space, in the direction of the motor axis; an inverter accommodating portion (17) provided in an upper portion of the outer periphery of the motor housing main body (8); compressor attachment feet (19) provided in a plurality of locations in upper and lower portions of the outer periphery of the motor housing main body (8); and a refrigerant intake port (16) provided on a side surface toward the rear end of the motor housing main body (8); wherein one or more lines of ribs (24) are provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the motor housing main body (8), protruding outward and extending in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Goshi Iketaka, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Masayuki Ishikawa, Keita Kitaguchi, Hideo Saho, Noriaki Arashi
  • Patent number: 10923986
    Abstract: A magnetic anti-lock device for a rotating shaft is described. The magnetic anti-lock device utilizes opposing magnets to reduce the varying force required to rotate the shaft and increases efficiency of the rotating shaft. The magnetic anti-lock device includes at least one inner magnet attached to the rotating shaft, and at least one outer magnet fixed in position relative to the rotating shaft. The inner magnet passes the outer magnet each time the shaft rotates creating a repulsive force to reduce the force necessary to rotate the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: David Brian Baker, Sam Bryan Williams
  • Patent number: 10924022
    Abstract: A flyback converter having a transformer that includes a primary coil connected to the input terminal and a secondary coil, a semiconductor switch configured to switch current flow through the primary coil, a first measurement unit configured to measure the DC input voltage, and a second measurement unit configured to measure a voltage across the semiconductor switch. The flyback converter also includes a control unit having a synchronization terminal and configured to output a switching signal to the semiconductor switch with a constant frequency in accordance with a synchronization signal input to the synchronization terminal. In addition, the flyback converter includes a frequency adjustment unit configured to transmit a synchronization signal to the synchronization terminal based on the DC input voltage and the voltage measured by the second measurement unit such that the frequency of the switching signal output from the control unit becomes variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Manfred Krämer
  • Patent number: 10924010
    Abstract: A control circuit for a switching regulator can include: an ON signal generator that generates an ON signal; an OFF signal generator that generates a first control signal according to an input voltage and an output voltage of the switching regulator; an on time regulator that generates an adjustment signal according to a switching signal and the first control signal; and a logic circuit configured to generate an off signal according to the first control signal, and to generate the switching signal according to the ON signal and the OFF signal, where the on time of the first switch is regulated according to the off time of the first switch when the off time of the first switch is less than the reference time, in order to regulate a duty cycle of the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD
    Inventor: Liangwei Sun
  • Patent number: 10917011
    Abstract: A power supply includes a power converter, a reference voltage generator, and a controller. During operation, the power converter produces an output voltage to power a load. The reference voltage generator (such as a voltage mode amplifier circuit) generates a floor reference voltage, a magnitude of which varies as a function of the output voltage. The controller compares an output voltage feedback signal (derived from the output voltage) to the floor reference voltage to produce control output to control timing of activating switches in the power converter to maintain the output voltage within a desired voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Anthony B. Candage, Keng Chen, Paul Sisson
  • Patent number: 10916993
    Abstract: A torque motor includes a large area rotor, a stator surrounding at least a portion of the rotor, and a small air gap separating the rotor from the stator to allow frictionless thermal coupling between the rotor and the stator. Heat from the rotor is transferred to the stator by conduction. The stator contacts an inner surface for a housing of the torque motor for conductively coupling to a cold environment air flow exterior to the torque motor housing. The air gap may have a dimension of about 0.002 to 0.003 inches. The stator may be conductively coupled to the torque motor housing by one of a thermal gap pad or high conductivity thermal gap filling compound. Heat conduction from the rotor to the stator preferably occurs without rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kirk A. Miller, Brian M. Graue, William T. Bogert
  • Patent number: 10917025
    Abstract: A power generating element according to the present invention includes a pedestal formed in a frame shape in plan view, a vibrating body provided inside the pedestal, at least three first bridge supporting portions, each of the first bridge supporting portions extending along a first extending axis and configured to arrange the vibrating body to be supported on a pedestal, and a charge generating element. The first extending axes of a pair of the first bridge supporting portions adjacent to each other form a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction with the vibrating body defined as a center in plan view. At least one first electrode layer of the charge generating element is arranged on each of the first bridge supporting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: WACOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Okada, Miho Okada
  • Patent number: 10913093
    Abstract: An MEMS piezoelectric transducer and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The first substrate includes a first base, at least one conductive layer, a signal processing circuit and/or a driving circuit arranged on a side of the first base, where the signal processing circuit and/or the driving circuit is electrically connected to the at least one conductive layer. The second substrate includes a second base, a first electrode arranged on a side of the second base, and a piezoelectric layer arranged on the first electrode. A side of the first substrate where the at least one conductive layer is arranged is attached and fixed to a side of the second substrate where the first electrode and the piezoelectric layer are arranged. The first electrode and the at least one conductive layer are electrically connected through a conductive through via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MEMSEN ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Manhing Chau