Patents Examined by Thomas Dougherty
  • Patent number: 9837981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical resonator device comprising a support structure and a semiconductor resonator plate doped to a doping concentration with an n-type doping agent and being capable of resonating in a width-extensional resonance mode. In addition, there is at least one anchor suspending the resonator plate to the support structure and an actuator for exciting the width-extensional resonance mode into the resonator plate. According to the invention, the resonator plate is doped to a doping concentration of 1.2*1020 cm?3 or more and has a shape which, in combination with said doping concentration and in said width-extensional resonance mode, provides the second order temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF2) to be 12 ppb/C2 or less at least at one temperature. Several practical implementations are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Antti Jaakkola, Panu Pekko, Mika Prunnila, Tuomas Pensala
  • Patent number: 9837597
    Abstract: A piezoelectric drive element includes piezoelectric layers, electrode layers between the piezoelectric layers, and electrode layers as the surfaces of the laminated layers. The piezoelectric layers are arranged on the upper side and on the lower side with reference to the center in the thickness direction, and are polarized in opposite directions. The thicknesses of piezoelectric layers at the center which have the least displacement are the thickest. The thicknesses of the piezoelectric layers above and under the thickest piezoelectric layers decrease gradually in an outward direction. A piezoelectric sound-generating body is constructed by affixing the piezoelectric driving element to a support plate and supporting the piezoelectric driving element with a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Sashida, Shigeo Ishii, Yoshiyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9837980
    Abstract: An acoustic wave device includes: a substrate; a pad formed on the substrate; a cap formed of an inorganic insulating material and located on the substrate, the cap including a cavity located in a surface of the cap at a substrate side and a penetration hole formed in a location overlapping with the pad; a terminal filling the penetration hole, coupled to the pad on the substrate, and formed of solder; and a functional element formed on an upper surface of the substrate and in the cavity, the functional element exciting an acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tajima, Kaoru Sakinada
  • Patent number: 9837938
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to a vibration element comprising: a substrate; a ceramic layer containing glass and provided on the substrate; and a piezoelectric element comprising an electrode layer fixed to the substrate with the ceramic layer therebetween and a piezoelectric layer, wherein the piezoelectric layer, the electrode layer, the substrate, and the ceramic layer are integrated by the piezoelectric layer, the electrode layer, the substrate, and the ceramic layer being sintered together at a sintering temperature of from 800° C. or higher to 940° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9831412
    Abstract: An ultrasound vibration device is provided with a stacked transducer in which a plurality of piezoelectric single crystal element layers are stacked between two metal blocks. Since each of the two metal blocks and the plurality of piezoelectric single crystal element layers is fusion-bonded relative to a stack direction by bonding metal having a melting point corresponding to half a Curie point of the plurality of piezoelectric single crystal element layers or below, it is possible to use non-lead material, reduce a processing cost and realize inexpensiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ito
  • Patent number: 9831415
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a piezoelectric vibration module, including a vibration plate mounted with a piezoelectric element, which generates a vibration force in a vertical direction by being repeatedly expanded and contracted depending on external power applied thereto, and a lower case coupled with both ends of the vibration plate so as to be spaced apart from the vibration plate. The piezoelectric vibration module further includes a bar-shaped weight body increasing the vibration force of the piezoelectric element, and an elastic member interposed between the vibration plate and the weight body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: MPLUS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Sun Park, Jung Hyun Park, Jong Woo Hong, Dong Woohn Kim
  • Patent number: 9831418
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a piezoelectric composition and a piezoelectric element. In the piezoelectric composition, the main component is represented by the following formula with a perovskite type structure, (Bi(0.5x+y+z)Na0.5x)m(Ti(x+0.5y)Mg0.5yMez)O3 wherein, 0.05?x?0.7, 0.01?y?0.7, 0.01?z?0.6, 0.75?m?1.0, x+y+z=1 and the transition metal element Me is any one or more selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, Fe and Co.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Masai, Masahito Furukawa, Hiroki Katoh
  • Patent number: 9827592
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic probe that is capable of easily dissipating heat generated therein using porous carbon allotrope foams. The ultrasonic probe includes: a matching layer; a piezoelectric layer disposed on a bottom surface of the matching layer; and a backing layer disposed on a bottom surface of the piezoelectric layer and formed of porous carbon allotrope foams and backing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Min Seon Seo, Bo Yun Kim
  • Patent number: 9825212
    Abstract: A piezoelectric multilayer component having a stack of sintered piezoelectric layers and inner electrodes arranged between the piezoelectric layers. A region which has poling cracks is present on the surface of at least one electrode, and the poling cracks are separated from a surface of at least one of the inner electrodes by the region having the poling cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Alexander Glazunov, Oliver Dernovsek
  • Patent number: 9821341
    Abstract: A device for generating mechanical oscillations is provided. The device has a first mass, a second mass, and a piezoelectric excitation system mechanically coupling the first mass and the second mass to one another, with the piezoelectric excitation system having a stiffness. The piezoelectric excitation system is designed such that its stiffness is settable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Maik Lindner, Jan Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 9818927
    Abstract: A vibration element includes: a substrate; a ceramic layer containing molten glass and provided on the substrate; and a piezoelectric element fixed to the substrate with the ceramic layer therebetween, wherein the piezoelectric element includes a first electrode layer provided in contact with the ceramic layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and the first electrode layer has a thickness larger than that of the second electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9818510
    Abstract: In an electronic component, an outer electrode includes a sintered layer containing a sintered metal, an insulation layer containing an electric insulation material, and a Sn-containing layer containing Sn. The sintered layer extends from each of end surfaces of an element assembly onto at least one main surface thereof so as to cover each of the end surfaces of the element assembly. The insulation layer is directly provided on the sintered layer at each of the end surfaces of the element assembly so as to extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a side surface of the element assembly, and defines a portion of a surface of the outer electrode. The Sn-containing layer covers the sintered layer except for a portion of the sintered layer that is covered by the insulation layer, and constitutes another portion of the surface of the outer electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Mori, Hiroyuki Otsuna
  • Patent number: 9818929
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes a substrate having a first opening, a second opening and a wall part partitioning the first opening and the second opening; a first vibration film and a second vibration film which close the first opening and the second opening respectively; a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element which are formed on surfaces of the first vibration film and the second vibration film opposite to the substrate; an acoustic matching layer which is disposed within the first opening and the second opening so as to come into contact with the first vibration film and the second vibration film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kanechika Kiyose
  • Patent number: 9818511
    Abstract: In an electronic component, an outer electrode includes a sintered layer including a sintered metal, a reinforcement layer not containing Sn but including Cu or Ni, an insulation layer, and a Sn-containing layer. The sintered layer extends from each end surface of an element assembly onto at least one main surface thereof to cover each end surface of the element assembly. The reinforcement layer extends on the sintered layer and covers the sintered layer entirely. The insulation layer is directly provided on the reinforcement layer at each end surface of the element assembly, extends in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a side surface of the element assembly, and defines a portion of a surface of the outer electrode. The Sn-containing layer covers the reinforcement layer except for a portion of the reinforcement layer that is covered by the insulation layer, and defines another portion of the surface of the outer electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Mori, Hiroyuki Otsuna
  • Patent number: 9812631
    Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive (“PE”) actuator includes a PE element including a laminated object having a PE layer and a pair of electrodes arranged respectively on both sides of the PE layer, and having an operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and a non-operating part corresponding to the portion in which the PE layer is not sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, and a moisture-proof film covering at least the vicinity of a boundary between the operating part and the non-operating part, consisting of a liquid with a saturated moisture content at 25 degree Celsius of 300 ppm or less and a withstand voltage at the saturated moisture content of not less than 6 kV/mm. The liquid contains hydrocarbon system organic compound having a main backbone of carbon-carbon bond and consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., NGK Ceramic Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ebigase, Koji Katsu
  • Patent number: 9812633
    Abstract: The present invention is a piezoelectric composition and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric composition, the composition being characterized by: having a Perovskite structure represented by general formula ABO3; being represented by composition formula x(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-zBiFeO3, x+y+z=1 in the composition formula above; and in a triangular coordinate using x, y and z in the composition formula above, having a composition represented by a region which is surrounded by a pentagon ABCDE with apexes of point A (1, 0, 0), point B (0.7, 0.3, 0), point C (0.1, 0.3, 0.6), point D (0.1, 0.1, 0.8) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8) and which does not include the line segment AE that connects point A (1, 0, 0) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hisashi Minemoto, Satoshi Wada
  • Patent number: 9812995
    Abstract: A piezoelectric power generator using wind power is provided. To elaborate, the piezoelectric power generator has a central axis unit with a charger, a piezoelectric film supporting frame engaged onto an outer circumference surface of the central axis unit, and a piezoelectric film having a pre-set area and at least one side engaged to at least one of one side part of the piezoelectric supporting frame and the central axis unit. In addition, the piezoelectric film supporting frame has a shape corresponding to a shape of an edge of the piezoelectric film to surround the edge of the piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TECHNO-PARK
    Inventors: Jin Oh Kim, Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 9806640
    Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting motion to a moveable body comprising: a first bar having ends; two articulated arms, each comprising first and second arms connected at a joint having an axis about which the first and second arms rotate, wherein the first arms are of equal length, the second arms are of equal length and the second arm of each articulated arm is connected to a different end of the bar at a joint having an axis about which second arm and bar rotate; a mount connected to the first arm of each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which first arm rotates; a second bar coupled to each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which the second bar rotates; and a piezoelectric motor coupled to the first bar controllable to apply a force selectively in either direction along the bar's length; wherein, the joints are configured so that all the axes are substantially parallel and the first arms are parallel and the second arms are parallel for all rotations about the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NANOMOTION LTD.
    Inventors: Hovav Elhayani, Gal Peled, Tomer Saar, Nir Karasikov, Michael Trakhimovich, Eitan Rogel, Guy Rogel, Benny Gaber
  • Patent number: 9795808
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Eitan T. Wiener, Brian T. Noyes, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, James R. Giordano, Robert J. Beetel, III, Daniel J. Abbott, Matthew C. Miller, Aaron C. Voegele, Jeffrey P. Wiley, Nathan J. Price, Daniel W. Price, Robert L. Koch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9788641
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a band, including: an energy harvesting mechanism that stores energy in response to deformation of the band; a device; and a connection coupling the stored energy of the band to the device. In an embodiment, a force is applied to deform a deformable band along a length dimension of the deformable band. The force acts to move an energy harvesting mechanism of the deformable band such that the energy harvesting mechanism transforms deformation of the deformable band into stored energy. The stored energy may be used, e.g., to collect information using a sensor of said deformable band. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Jennifer Greenwood Zawacki, Debra Kay Kobs-Fortner, Douglas Warren Robinson