Abstract: A two-dimensional ultrasound phased array transducer includes an acoustic backing, a first circuit, which may be a flexible circuit disposed over the acoustic backing or a ground plane, an acoustically absorptive interface layer disposed over the flexible circuit, and a piezoelectric layer disposed over the interface layer. A matching layer may be disposed over the piezoelectric layer, and a second circuit, which may be a ground plane or a flexible circuit, may be disposed over the matching layer. The piezoelectric layer and the matching layer are diced by forming kerfs extending through these layers and at least partially into the interface layer. Extending the kerfs into the interface layer reduces cross-talk between elements, electrically isolates the elements, and facilitates manufacturing by reducing the precision required in controlling the depth of the cut.

Abstract: In an energy-trapping piezoelectric resonator which utilizes a harmonic in a thickness-extensional vibration mode, first and second excitation electrodes are provided partially on both major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate such that they are opposed to each other on the front and rear surfaces via the piezoelectric substrate. First and second lead electrodes are connected to the first and second excitation electrodes, and first and second terminal electrodes provided along edges of the piezoelectric substrate are connected to the first and second lead electrodes, respectively. A spurious suppressing electrode section is connected to a portion of at least one of the first and second lead electrodes.

Abstract: A multilayer-type piezoelectric actuator having a multilayer piezoelectric unit which is capable of enduring the extension of contraction thereof to prevent the disconnection of external electrodes. The multilayer piezoelectric unit (2) includes a plurality of piezoelectric plates (21) of a piezoelectric material and a plurality of internal electrodes (22) of a conductive material arranged in alternate layers. The external electrodes (3) are arranged on the side surfaces (23), respectively, of the multilayer piezoelectric unit (2) and electrically connected to a plurality of the internal electrodes (22). The external electrodes (3) are each configured of an electrode base (31) arranged in contact with a corresponding side surface (23) of the multilayer piezoelectric unit (2), a tabular metal net conductor (32) arranged on the electrode base (31), and a plurality of conductive adhesives (33) for partially bonding the electrode base (31) and the tabular metal net conductor (32).

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator which achieves a compact oscillator with high performance having high thermal resistance and a narrow tolerance includes an element body having an excitation layer and a non-excitation layer. One vibration electrode is provided on the surface of the excitation layer and another vibration electrode is provided between the excitation layer and the non-excitation layer. The two vibration electrodes extend from opposing ends of the excitation layer toward the approximate central portion thereof so as to oppose each other at the approximate central portion of the excitation layer. On end-surfaces of the element body, end-surface electrodes are connected to the vibration electrodes, respectively.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator has a piezoelectric substrate on obverse and reverse surfaces of which electrodes are disposed. Comb-shaped electrodes consisting of electrode fingers and spaces are disposed around the electrode situated at least on one surface of the piezoelectric substrate and at prescribed space intervals between this electrode and each of those comb-shaped electrodes. This arrangement enables obtaining means for suppressing the occurrence of spurious waves due to an inharmonic mode in the 200-MHz band high-frequency resonator or two-pole monolithic filter.

Abstract: A digitally driven piezoelectric transducer uses a flat piezoelectric element having a plurality of electrically isolated conductive sections coupled to one side of said piezoelectric element and a conductive ground plate coupled to another side of said piezoelectric element. In addition, a resonant cavity is coupled to said piezoelectric element and intensifies the acoustic or sound energy produced by said piezoelectric transducer. This digitally driven piezoelectric transducer avoids the problems associated with electromagnetic interference by avoiding additional analog circuitry previously needed to create sound audible for humans.

Abstract: A plurality of piezomaterial bodies, such as panels or slices, are merged together to form a larger piezomaterial body. For example, a 0.75×22 cm polycrystalline piezomaterial body is formed, where the distances are along lateral or footprint dimensions. The thickness of the piezomaterial body is substantially less than either of the distances along first and second lateral dimensions that define the footprint. Preferably, each piezomaterial body has a panel shape, and a plurality of panels are merged to form a large multi-panel.

Abstract: In a device for controlling an injection valve which can be operated by a piezo-actuator and which comprises a charging and discharging circuit for the controlled charging of the piezo-actuator to a certain piezo-voltage, the charging and discharging circuit includes a power supply with a multitude of voltage levels which correspond to various valve opening positions and a switching device for the controlled switch-over between the plurality of voltage levels.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe serving as a sensor array used in a transmitting/receiving device includes a substrate made of a packing material. A plurality of piezoelectric vibrators shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped are fixed in a matrix on one principal surface of the substrate. Each of the piezoelectric vibrators includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers stacked in a direction that crosses two adjoining side faces of the piezoelectric vibrator at an angle of approximately 45°. Inner electrodes are formed between the piezoelectric layers, and outer electrodes are formed on both end faces of the piezoelectric layers.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising a stator; a rotor having a rotor inner circumferential surface; a piezoelectric element retained on the stator; power supply means in communication with said piezoelectric element to operably effect longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations in the element; a plurality of pusher members each having (a) at least one first portion defining a pusher abutting surface abutting the rotor inner surface, (b) at least one second portion defining a piezoelectric element engaging surface distal of the pusher abutting surface, and (c) a third portion defining a retained surface; retainer means in abutment with the pusher member retained surface to releasably retain the pusher member in abutment with the piezoelectric element engaging surface and the rotor inner surface and wherein the longitudinal resilient mechanical oscillations effect coplanar movement of the pusher member; and the first portion is so shaped and inclined as to operably effect circumferential movement of the circumf

Abstract: A piezoelectric electro-acoustic transducer is constructed such that adherence of a piezoelectric diaphragm to a casing is easily performed, a sufficient supporting strength is achieved, and the piezoelectric diaphragm is supported while hindrance of vibration thereof is minimized. This piezoelectric electro-acoustic transducer includes a piezoelectric diaphragm constructed by adhering a piezoelectric ceramic plate having front and back surfaces including electrodes, onto a metallic plate, and a case in which the piezoelectric diaphragm is accommodated by fixing the peripheral portion thereof with an elastic adhesive. Support portions for supporting the peripheral portion of the piezoelectric diaphragm are provided in the case, and a supporting surface having an arcuate cross-section is provided on the supporting portions so that a center of curvature of the supporting surface is positioned near a lower surface of the peripheral portion of the piezoelectric diaphragm.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a transducer comprising a lead-based single crystal wherein the crystal is diagonally oriented and has an effective coupling constant of at least 0.70. In one embodiment, the lead-based crystal has the formula Pb(B′B″)O3—PbTiO3 wherein B′ is Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ or Sc3+ and B″ is Nb5+, Ta5+ or W6+. Preferably, the lead-based crystal has of the formula Pb(B′B″)O3—PbTiO3 where B′ is Mg2+, Zn2+, Sc3+ and B″ is Nb5+ or more specifically Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3—PbTiO3 (“PMN—PT”), Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3—PbTiO3 (“PZN—PT”), and Pb(Sc1/3Nb2/3)O3—PbTiO3 (“PSN—PT”). The invention also includes a transducer comprising a plurality of lead-based single crystal transducers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer having a pot-like casing has an outer bottom face which is designed in part as a vibrating diaphragm. A stabilizing ring is arranged on the outside of the wall of the pot-like casing, imparting a greater rigidity to the casing and limiting the ultrasonic vibration essentially to the bottom of the pot as a vibrating diaphragm. The propagation and reception beams of the ultrasonic waves can be shaped further by an additional arrangement of a sound directing device in the area of the vibrating diaphragm.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a substrate and a connection plate having a first end joined to the substrate and an opposed second end extending along a first direction, and first and second opposed sides along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A fixing plate is joined to the second end of the connection plate. A first side of a first diaphragm is joined to the first side of the connection plate and an opposed second side of the first diaphragm is joined to the substrate. A first side of a second diaphragm is joined to the substrate and an opposed second side of the second diaphragm is joined to the second side of the connection plate. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is provided on at least a portion of at least one planar surface of at least one of the diaphragms.

Abstract: In a vehicle alternator, a bobbin around which a coil is wound is mounted in a Lundell-type poles, an auxiliary oscillating body is mounted to the poles so as to constitute a vibration system having a two-degree of freedom which is composed of the poles and the auxiliary oscillating body and the auxiliary oscillating body has a natural frequency approximately equal to that of the poles.

Abstract: A product comprised of a non-linear piezoelectric materia, in which a plurality of reference points are defined. The product is exposed to a distribution of an electrical field and is characterized by a distribution of characteristic linear moduli over the reference points, whereby each modulus is determined as an increase in a secant reaching, in an associated characteristic curve, from a zero point up to a point corresponding to the reference point. The characteristic curve is projected from a system of characteristic curves that describes relations between the electrical field and loadings characteristic of additional state quantities in the material. In addition, the invention relates to a method for determining a corresponding distribution of characteristic moduli in a corresponding product.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electromechanical actuator arrangement and a driving device for such an arrangement, having a plurality of drive element to be driven according to a wailing mechanism is provided. The driving device is characterised by an electrical power source (170) and at least two switches (172a, 172b) connected in series between the terminals (177) of the voltage source (170). An element terminal (178) is connected to a point (175) between said switches (172a, 172b), and a motor phase (174) of the actuator arrangement is connected to the element terminal (178). A control unit (171) is connected to control the switches (172a, 172b) in order to charge/discharge the drive elements. A charge control is thereby achieved by the use of the two switches (172a, 172b).

Abstract: An electronic device includes a piezoelectric layer formed of an ordered Langasite structure compound having the formula A3BC3D2E14 wherein A is strontium, B is niobium, C is gallium, D is silicon, and E is oxygen. At least one electrode is connected to the piezoelectric layer and may be configured to define a device, such as a SAW resonator or filter, or a BAW resonator or filter. The ordered Langasite structure compound may have a substantially perfectly ordered structure.

Abstract: A compact and wide band surface acoustic wave device for intermediate-frequency is disclosed. A piezoelectric substrate for use in a surface acoustic wave device having high electromechanical coupling factor and low SAW velocity is also disclosed. The surface acoustic wave device is constituted of a piezoelectric substrate 1 and inter-digital electrodes 2, 2 formed on the piezoelectric substrate 1. The piezoelectric substrate 1 has a crystal structure of Ca3Ga2Ge4O14 and is represented by the chemical formula, Sr3NbGa3Si2O14.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator for actuating control valves or injection valves in motor vehicles. The actuator includes an actuator body in the form of a multilayer laminate of stacked layers of piezoelectric material and intervening metallic or electrically conductive layers acting as electrodes. One bottom plate toward the valve and an opposed top plate are mounted on each of the end faces of the actuator body. The piezoelectric actuator is characterized in that the actuator body on each of its end faces has one piezoelectrically inactive cover layer and that the connection faces of the bottom plate and the top plate which adjoin the end faces of the actuator body have fixation elements that grip the cover layers, for at least nonpositive fixation of the cover layers of the actuator body.