Patents Examined by J. Aguirrechea
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Patent number: 7157836Abstract: A piezoelectric device including an IC chip mounted on an inner bottom surface of a package, and a piezoelectric vibrating reed electrically and mechanically connected onto a TAB tape in which a lead is provided on a surface of a resin tape. The TAB tape to which the piezoelectric vibrating reed has been joined is mounted in the package, whereby the piezoelectric vibrating reed is arranged above the IC chip.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Yusuke Kinoshita
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Patent number: 7157833Abstract: A tool has a tool insert and an electrically operated drive unit oscillatingly driving the tool insert. The drive unit has a piezo actuator and an adjusting travel enlarger coupled to the piezo actuator. The adjusting travel enlarger has a master piston, at least one slave piston, and at least one pressure chamber. The master piston acts through the at least one pressure chamber on the at least one slave piston. The piezo actuator and the master piston are fixedly connected to one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Atlas Copco Electric Tools GmbHInventor: Achim Hess
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Patent number: 7157837Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator including two or more piezoelectric layers each of which is formed of a piezoelectric material and which are stacked on each other; three or more electrode layers which are stacked alternately with the piezoelectric layers; and one or more active portions each of which includes respective portions of the piezoelectric layers that are sandwiched by the electrode layers in a direction of stacking of the piezoelectric layers. Each active portion is expanded and contracted when an electric voltage is applied to the electrode layers. The piezoelectric layers include one or more first piezoelectric layers each having a first thickness, and one or more second piezoelectric layers each having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masatomo Kojima
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Patent number: 7154207Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode, and a connecting portion that is electrically connected with the IDT electrode. The surface acoustic wave device further includes a wiring portion, a portion of which is disposed on the connecting portion, and a bump disposed on the wiring portion. The connecting portion includes a comb-shaped portion at an end of the connecting portion on which the wiring portion is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Sakaguchi, Kenji Akiyama
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Patent number: 7154208Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus achieving improvement in operation characteristics in the operation of stopping or reversing the direction of or decelerating movement of a vibrating wave actuator constructed to apply an alternating voltage to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element to vibrate a vibration member to obtain a driving force. In the operation of stopping the vibrating wave actuator, it is necessary to cancel the vibration to stop the actuator, in order to stop the actuator in good response. The present invention has achieved the above object by applying an excitation signal, which excites vibration in a direction to cancel free vibration in the vibration member, to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element in the stop operation or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenichi Kataoka
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Patent number: 7154212Abstract: An acceleration insensitive piezo-microresonator provides substantially reduced acceleration sensitivity with a plano—plano piezo-microresonator, upper gap and lower gap embedded in a rigid structural supporting member holding major surfaces of the piezo-microresonator firm and steady. The piezo-microresonator has neither electrodes on its surfaces nor contacts with any electrodes. Electrodes are doped regions incorporated into the support member. The upper and lower gaps are adjacent to the major surfaces of the piezo-microresonator, permitting it to vibrate freely. The support member surrounds and supports the plano—plano piezo-microresonator plate, upper gap and lower gap, maintaining a constant upper gap height and lower gap height. The electrodes provide a thickness-directed electrical field exciting the piezo-microresonator. A method of desensitizing a resonant frequency of a piezo-microresonator to acceleration stresses is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: John A. Kosinski
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Patent number: 7151337Abstract: A pressure monitor has a base and a lid secured to the base to define a substantially fluid tight chamber. At least part of the lid is flexible and forms a diaphragm which deflects responsive to changes in fluid pressure surrounding the monitor. A projection provided on the diaphragm transmits movement thereof to a distortable substrate located within the chamber. A first SAW device is mounted on the distortable substrate, and at least a second and third SAW device are mounted within the chamber. The second SAW device carried on a reference substrate section has its direction of propagation inclined at an angle to the direction of propagation of at least one of the first and third SAW devices. This way movement of the diaphragm induced by a change in pressure in the zone surrounding the monitor results in distortion of the distortable substrate, which is measurable by the SAW device mounted thereon, without distorting said reference substrate section.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Transense Technologies PLCInventors: Victor Alexandrovich Kalinin, Mark Lee, Raymond David Lohr, Arthur John Leigh
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Patent number: 7148604Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator according to an embodiment of the present invention has a first transducer connected to a first signal terminal, and a second transducer connected to a second signal terminal. The first transducer and the second transducer are stacked in a predetermined direction. At least one of the first transducer and the second transducer has a first piezoelectric film sandwiched between a pair of electrode films on both sides, and a second piezoelectric film comprised of a film type different from that of the first piezoelectric film and sandwiched between a pair of electrode films on both sides.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Kenji Inoue, Hisatoshi Saito, Takao Noguchi
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Patent number: 7141919Abstract: A piezoelectric electroacoustic transducer includes a piezoelectric sounding body in which bending vibration is generated by applying an alternating signal between two electrodes, a case housing the piezoelectric sounding body, and a pair of terminals insert-molded in the case. In the piezoelectric electroacoustic transducer, internal connection portions of the pair of terminals are exposed on the inside surface of the side wall portion of the case so as to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular relative to the piezoelectric sounding body, and the internal connection portions of the terminals are electrically connected to the electrodes of the piezoelectric sounding body by using conductive adhesive. The internal connection portions of the terminals do not largely extend inside the case and accordingly, the dimensional difference between the case and the piezoelectric sounding body is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Hamada, Tetsuo Takeshima, Manabu Sumita, Keiichi Kami, Mitsunori Ishimasa
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Patent number: 7135808Abstract: A lead portion 10 is made of a rod-like metal conductor and has a step portion 13 at its end portion. A first side plate 11 and a second side plate 12 are formed by using thinned portions of the end portion of the lead portion 10. The first and second side plates 11 and 12 face each other with a distance. One end of the first side plate 11 and one end of the second side plate 12 are continued to each other while the other end of the first side plate 11 and the other end of the second side plate 12 form open end edges 111 and 121 respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Tohru Takahashi, Katsuyuki Takei
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Patent number: 7129620Abstract: The present invention comprises a first vibrator comprising a piezoelectric unit and at least one driving contacting part which vibrates by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, a second vibrator which comprises a piezoelectric unit and a plurality of driving contacting parts which vibrate by applying a predetermined voltage thereto, a pressing component which relatively presses the opposing parts of both the first vibrator and the second vibrator, and a driven component which is sandwiched between the first and second vibrators, in contact with the driving contacting part of the first and second vibrators which are pressed by the pressing component, and supported to enable movement with respect to the first and second vibrators in the long-side direction perpendicular to the direction relative to the opposing part.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Hiromichi Sakano, Yasuo Sasaki
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Patent number: 7129621Abstract: The vibration wave linear motor of the present invention is structured comprising a driven component, a first vibrator having two or more driving contacting parts for driving the driven component in a certain predetermined direction, a second vibrator having one or more driving contacting parts for driving the driven component in the same direction as the drive by the first vibrator, a first supporting part for fixing and holding either one of the first or second vibrators, a second supporting part for holding the other of either the first or second vibrator such that swinging is possible, and a pressing component for pressing the first or second vibrator which is held by the second supporting part, such as to enable swinging, to the driven component.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2005Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Hiromichi Sakano, Yasuo Sasaki
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Patent number: 7126254Abstract: An actuator element has a plate member, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body disposed in facing relation to the plate member, and a beam disposed between the plate member and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and fixing the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body to the plate member. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body has a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer, an upper electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which faces the plate member, and a lower electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer which is opposite to the surface thereof facing the plate member. When an electric field is applied to the upper electrode and the lower electrode, a portion of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is displaced toward or away from the plate member.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura, Natsumi Shimogawa, Hisanori Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7126251Abstract: The invention relates to interfaces acoutics wave components made of lithium tantalate. Two substrate make up the filter have the same cut and the same crystal orientation, the invention gives the best cut angles in particular for optimizing the electromechanical coupling coefficient that determines the final performance characteristics of the component produced. Curves giving the variations of the coupling coefficient an the attenuation as a function of the cut angles and of the direction of propagation are provided. The values of the main acoustic characteristics of the component for these optimum cut angles are also given. The application of this type of device are, on the on hand, uses as a passive component such a resonator or a filter or a delay line, or as an integrated device, either in a measurement chain or in any array of devices operating according to the principle of recognition of the device by a phase code.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: ThalesInventors: Marc Solal, Serge Calisti, Vincent Laude, Sylvain Ballandras, Serge Camou, Thomas Pastureaud
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Patent number: 7126262Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric vibration gyro element including a pair of detecting resonant arms at its center, connecting arms each on, the right and left of the center, and a pair of driving resonant arms at each far end of the connecting arms, which makes it possible to secure the symmetry of the resonant arms' flexure and vibrating, and easily and accurately separate electrodes. In particular, two side surfaces of extension parts that extend along the direction in which each end surface of connecting arms extends, flat surfaces are provided to both sides in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which driving resonant arms extend. A wiring passing across the end surface of the extension parts in its thickness direction and joining front and back main surfaces of the end surface of the connecting arms and the extension parts can be formed so as to electrically couple the first driving electrodes each on the front and back main surfaces of the driving resonant arms.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Osamu Kawauchi, Koji Watanabe
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Patent number: 7119478Abstract: A step-motion actuator using piezoelectric material to launch a flight mass which, in turn, actuates a drive pawl to progressively engage and drive a toothed wheel or rod to accomplish stepped motion. Thus, the piezoelectric material converts electrical energy into kinetic energy of the mass, and the drive pawl and toothed wheel or rod convert the kinetic energy of the mass into the desired rotary or linear stepped motion. A compression frame may be secured about the piezoelectric element and adapted to pre-compress the piezoelectric material so as to reduce tensile loads thereon. A return spring may be used to return the mass to its resting position against the compression frame or piezoelectric material following launch. Alternative embodiment are possible, including an alternative first embodiment wherein two masses are launched in substantially different directions, and an alternative second embodiment wherein the mass is eliminated in favor of the piezoelectric material launching itself.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLCInventor: Charles P. Mentesana
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Patent number: 7116033Abstract: When starting a vibration-type drive device, the frequency of a drive signal is lowered from a predetermined frequency at a first change rate. When the vibration state of a vibration member reaches a predetermined state, it is determined whether or not a relative movement speed has reached a reference speed. When the relative movement speed has not reached the reference speed, the frequency of the drive signal is lowered at a second change rate that is smaller than the first change rate. This avoids problems which could occur when moisture intervenes on a slide surface of the vibration-type drive device, such as the vibration-type drive device not starting, and a desired rpm not being achieved.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Seki, Kosuke Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7109642Abstract: The present invention relates to composite piezoelectric apparatus, transducers and methods of manufacture. In an embodiment, a composite piezoelectric apparatus has a sacrificial base and pillar array. Different volume percents of piezoelectric material are used in the sacrificial base and pillar array. A first volume percent in the base is lower than the second volume percent in the pillar array. In this way, the sacrificial base can be easily removed from the pillar array after the base and pillar array are sintered in the manufacture of a final composite piezoelectric transducer. A method of manufacturing a composite piezoelectric transducer from a sacrificial base and pillar array and a composite piezoelectric transducer made by the method are provided. A composite piezoelectric transducer stack is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Inventor: Walter Guy Scott
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Patent number: 7109639Abstract: A vibration-type driving device comprises a vibration element including a driving member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element having an electrode and arranged to displace the driving member with a driving signal supplied to the electrode, and a driven element that is kept in contact with the driving member of the vibration element. According to the driving signal supplied to the electrode of the electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration element excites vibrations in two flexural vibration modes in which a direction of generation of a node in one mode is perpendicular to that in the other mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Kojima
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Patent number: 7105987Abstract: The piezoelectric motor (6) comprises a stator (1) and a runner (4) which form a gap (7) as well as comprising a piezoelectric transducer (3) which is connected to the stator (1) or the runner (4) and which with the stator (1) or the runner (4) forms a resonator (1,3;4,3), wherein the resonator (1,3; 4,3) may be excited in a main oscillation direction (H), characterised in that the stator (1) comprises an engagement surface (1a) facing the runner (4), or the runner (4) an engagement surface which faces the stator (1), and that the stator (1) or the runner (4) comprises an elastic advance element (5) which bridges the gap (7) between the stator (1) and the runner (4) in a manner such that the advance element (5) at least temporarily lies on the engagement surface (1a). The advance element (5) comprises a first part-section (5c) as well as a second part-section (5d), wherein the part-sections (5c, 5d) have a different resonant frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2003Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Miniswys S.A.Inventor: Bonny Witteveen