Patents Examined by Jaydi A San Martin
  • Patent number: 8569938
    Abstract: A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator includes a base, a first resonating arm, and a second resonating arm. The base has a generally planar fifth main surface and a generally planar sixth main surface opposite to each other, and has a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface opposite to each other. The first resonating arm is connecting to one side of the base. The second resonating arm is connecting to the same side of the base. A recess is formed on the fifth main surface, and the recess is sized and configured such that a first width near the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm is greater than a second width away from the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Wafer MEMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Cheng Yang, Win-Yng Wang, Hung-Peng Lee
  • Patent number: 8564180
    Abstract: A piezoelectric composition includes a compound represented by a general expression Bi4Ti3O12—SrBi4Ti4O15 as a main component; and Mn or a Mn compound as an additive. A Mn content is less than 1.0% by mass based on a main component amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masahito Furukawa, Daisuke Tanaka, Tadashi Takenaka, Hajime Nagata, Yuji Hiruma
  • Patent number: 8558435
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device has a piezoelectric vibration element mounted in a package wherein the piezoelectric vibration element comprises two stick-like vibration legs; a central leg provided between the two vibration legs; a coupling portion that couples one end of each of the two vibration legs and one end of the central leg; and a protrusion portion that is coupled to another end of the central leg, has a predetermined angle, neither 0 nor 180 degrees, to the length direction of the central leg, and extends into a direction not interfering with the driving legs. In making the piezoelectric device smaller and thinner, this configuration avoids interference between a support point on the central leg, provided for supporting the vibration element, and conductive electrodes, improves insulation between the conductive electrodes, and reduces the generation of short-circuits between the conductive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Murata, Kazuhiro Toriumi, Toshiya Kubo, Takashi Maruyama, Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Taichi Tsuchiya, Izumi Yamamoto, Akiko Katoh, Sadao Horiuchi, Hiroshi Miyauchi, Isao Arai, Akihiro Shioji, Tomoo Ikeda, Maki Takizawa, Keisuke Kigawa
  • Patent number: 8552625
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer provides a very low frequency wide band response by using a quad configuration of piezoelectric cantilevers, providing additive output between the resonant frequencies of the cantilevers and achieves this at great depths under free flooded or oil filled conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Image Acoustics, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Butler, Alexander L. Butler
  • Patent number: 8525389
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for fabricating the same are described. The MEMS device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is disposed on a substrate, and includes at least two metal layers, a first protection ring and a dielectric layer. The first protection ring connects two adjacent metal layers, so as to define an enclosed space between two adjacent metal layers. The dielectric layer is disposed in the enclosed space and connects two adjacent metal layers. The second electrode is disposed on the first electrode, wherein a cavity is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Tzung-Han Tan, Bang-Chiang Lan, Ming-I Wang, Chien-Hsin Huang, Meng-Jia Lin
  • Patent number: 8513862
    Abstract: A package structure realizing a size and/or thickness reduction and suitable for packaging a surface acoustic wave element is provided. The package structure for solving the above challenge includes a base having a thick floor on which to place a surface acoustic wave element and a thin floor on which to place an electronic component, the surface acoustic wave element and the electronic component being mounted close to each other on the plane coordinate system. In addition, in the package structure described above, the difference in height between the thin floor and the thick floor is the same as, or larger than, the thickness of the electronic component mounted on the thin floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 8513860
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer is disclosed in which a set of electrode arrays is arranged around a nominal center point and comprising a set of circumferentially disposed electrode elements. A piezoelectric material is located between a common electrode and said electrode elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Christophe Paget
  • Patent number: 8450909
    Abstract: A piezoelectric power generating apparatus comprises a frame body having an axis line, a moving member and a plurality of piezoelectric portions. The moving member is penetrated into the frame body. Each of the piezoelectric portions comprises a first end and a second end. Each of the first ends is fixed at the frame body and each of the second ends is fixed at the moving member. The moving member is moved back and forth along the axis line of the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-Sen University
    Inventors: Hsien-Hua Lee, Teng-Chieh Tsou
  • Patent number: 8450910
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer, a front end body, and a backing layer assembly. The piezoelectric layer extends between opposite front and back sides and is configured to transmit acoustic waves from the front side. The front end is body disposed proximate to the front side of the piezoelectric layer and is configured to emit the acoustic waves out of a housing. The backing layer assembly is disposed proximate to the back side of the piezoelectric layer. The backing layer assembly includes a first thermally conductive mesh disposed in a matrix enclosure. The first thermally conductive mesh is positioned to conduct thermal energy away from the piezoelectric layer. In one aspect, the first thermally conductive mesh is a grid of elongated strands of a metal or metal alloy material oriented in at least one of transverse or oblique directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Gelly, Anne Cecile Dagonneau, Jean Pierre Malacrida
  • Patent number: 8436514
    Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable acoustic wave device wherein deterioration of electrical characteristics due to deformation of a protective cover is suppressed. A method for manufacturing such acoustic wave device is also provided. The acoustic wave device has a piezoelectric substrate 1 propagating an acoustic wave; an excitation electrode arranged on a first main surface of the piezoelectric substrate 1; a columnar outside connection-use electrode 10 electrically connected to the excitation electrode; a protective cover 17 having a hollow accommodating space 8 in which the excitation electrode is accommodated on the first main surface; and a conductive layer 18 connected to the electrode 10 on the protective cover 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Fukano, Yoshihiro Ookubo, Junya Nishii
  • Patent number: 8436515
    Abstract: Provide a highly efficient manufacturing method of a piezoelectric vibrator and to provide a piezoelectric vibrator manufactured by this manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8432085
    Abstract: A multi-layer piezoelectric element having high durability of which amount of displacement is suppressed from varying even when operated continuously over a long period of time with a higher electric field under a high pressure is provided. The multi-layer piezoelectric element which has a multi-layer structure, the multi-layer structure comprising a plurality of piezoelectric material layers and a plurality of metal layers that are stacked alternately, wherein the piezoelectric material layer is constituted from a plurality of piezoelectric crystal grains, the plurality of metal layers comprise internal electrodes and low-rigidity metal layer that has rigidity lower than those of the internal electrodes and the piezoelectric material layer, and wherein the low-rigidity metal layer has a plurality of metal parts that are separated from each other, and an end of the metal part infiltrates between the piezoelectric crystal grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 8421311
    Abstract: A flexible piezoelectric tactile sensor having a piezoelectric thin film, a first flexible substrate, a second flexible substrate, and at least one elastic body is revealed. The piezoelectric thin film includes an upper surface and a lower surface while the first flexible substrate is disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric thin film. The first flexible substrate consists of a first surface facing the upper surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first surface. The second flexible substrate, including a third surface facing the lower surface and a plurality of second electrodes formed on the third surface, is arranged on the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film. Both the first electrodes and the second electrode are electrically connected with the piezoelectric thin film. The elastic body is set on the second surface, corresponding to the first electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Southern Taiwan University of Technology
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsin Chuang, Yi-Rong Liou
  • Patent number: 8410660
    Abstract: A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Helvajian, William W. Hansen, Lee F. Steffeney
  • Patent number: 8410663
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator unit which undergoes less change in the amount of displacement and shows high durability in continuous operation under a high voltage and a high pressure over a long period of time is provided. The piezoelectric actuator unit including a multi-layer piezoelectric element having piezoelectric layers and metal layers with the piezoelectric layers and the metal layers being stacked one on another, and a case which houses the multi-layer piezoelectric element, wherein at least one of the plurality of metal layers is stress relieving layer which consists of a plurality of partial metal layers that are scattered throughout the entire region between two piezoelectric layers which adjoin the partial metal layers in the direction of stacking, and voids, and a peel-off section is formed at least in a part of the interface between the stress relieving layer and the piezoelectric layer that adjoins therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Kyocera Corporation, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Takami Sakamoto, Masahiro Inagaki, Harald-Johannes Kastl, Carsten Schuh, Bernhard Doellgast, Atsushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 8405280
    Abstract: [Object] There has been a need for a composite piezoelectric body and a composite piezoelectric element using the composite piezoelectric body which does not cause electrode defects, disconnection, and peeling even if the piezoelectric body is subjected to fine-pitch processing. [Solution] A composite piezoelectric body of the present invention includes a piezoelectric ceramic and an organic polymer material containing air bubbles mixed therein, wherein among surfaces of the piezoelectric ceramic and the organic polymer material on which an electrode is to be formed, an insulating layer is formed on the entire or a portion of the surface of the organic polymer material on which the electrode is to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Mobile Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Ochi, Hiroki Kubota
  • Patent number: 8400048
    Abstract: A tuning-fork type piezoelectric resonator plate includes: at least a plurality of leg portions serving as vibrating portions; a bonding portion bonded to the outside, and a base portion from which the leg portions and the bonding portion protrude. The plurality of leg portions protrude from a first end face of the base portion and are provided side-by-side on the first end face. The bonding portion protrude from a second end face located opposite the first end face of the base portion at a position located opposite a center position of the plurality of leg portions in a width direction of the first end face of the base portion. And, at least a base end portion of the bonding portion is used as a bond region that is bonded to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Daishinku Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Shirai, Yoshinobu Sakamoto, Syunsuke Satoh, Tomo Fujii, Masato Itoh, Yoshinari Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8384268
    Abstract: An inexpensive surface acoustic wave device that increases an acoustic velocity of a surface acoustic wave and an electromechanical coupling coefficient includes a piezoelectric substrate in which a LiNbO3 single-crystal plate having Euler angles (0°, 67° to 160°, ?5° to +5°) or (90°, 51° to 133°, ?5° to +5°) is provided on a high acoustic-velocity substrate in which an acoustic velocity of a transverse wave is in a range of about 5400 m/sec to about 8660 m/sec or lower, and an electrode provided on the piezoelectric substrate and made of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Kadota
  • Patent number: 8378554
    Abstract: A multi-layer piezoelectric element of high durability wherein external electrodes do not peel off the surface of a stack even when operated continuously over a long period of time under a high electric field and a high pressure, a method for manufacturing the same and an injection apparatus using the same are provided. The multi-layer piezoelectric element comprises a stack 10 consisting of a plurality of piezoelectric layers 1 and a plurality of metal layers 2 which are stacked alternately one on another and external electrodes (covering member) 4 that cover at least a part of the side faces of the stack 10, wherein at least one metal layer 2a among the plurality of metal layers 2 is a porous metal layer 2a which has more voids than the metal layers 2b that adjoin the metal layer 2a on both sides thereof in the stacking direction, and a part of the external electrodes 4 infiltrates between two piezoelectric layers 1, 1 which adjoin the porous metal layer 2a in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenobu Nakamura, Susumu Ono, Takeshi Kato, Koichi Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 8368288
    Abstract: In an actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the difference in the longitudinal extension when a change of temperature of the piezoelectric actuator element occurs affecting the actuator unit is equalized compared to the actuator housing due to different thermal expansion coefficient values in that a fastening element is arranged on the actuator housing. The fastening element is made of a different material than the actuator housing and thus affects a force acting counter to the change of length of the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Dick, Hellmut Freudenberg, Richard Pirkl