Patents Examined by Thomas Dougherty
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Patent number: 10147869Abstract: Provided is a flexible piezoelectric composite. The flexible piezoelectric composite includes a matrix having first and second polymers, wherein Young's modulus of the first polymer and Young's modulus of the second polymer are different from each other; and a conductive nanostructure disposed in the matrix. In addition, a piezoelectric device including the flexible piezoelectric composite is provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Hye Jin Kim, Bora Yeon
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Patent number: 10147863Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters. In the various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters, generated electrical energy may be stored in a super-capacitor/battery as soon as it is generated. The various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters may harvest electrical energy from any environment where temperature variations occur. The various embodiment pyroelectric sandwich thermal energy harvesters may be power sources for space equipment and vehicles in space and/or on earth, as well as the for wireless sensor networks, such as health monitoring systems of oil pipes, aircraft, bridges, and buildings.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Tian-Bing Xu, Jin Ho Kang, Emilie J. Siochi, Glen C. King
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Patent number: 10148247Abstract: An elastic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, first and second IDT electrodes disposed on a first main surface, and bumps each connected to one of the first and second IDT electrodes. First and second side portions extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the polarization axis direction and to a direction normal to the piezoelectric substrate. The length of the piezoelectric substrate along the polarization axis direction at the first side portion is shorter than that at the second side portion. The first IDT electrode is located at a position closer to the first side portion than the second IDT electrode. The bumps include three or more first side bumps including first and second bumps that sandwich the first IDT electrode therebetween. The distance between the first and second bumps is the smallest distance among the distances between adjacent bumps of the first side bumps.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Junpei Yasuda
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Patent number: 10147870Abstract: A method for producing a porous piezoelectric polymer film with a dense surface, includes depositing a polymer solution onto a substrate to form a polymer film including a solvent; evaporating a portion of the solvent to form the dense surface away from the substrate; forming water droplets in interior of the polymer film; and substantially evaporating the water droplets and remaining solvent to form porous interior. A piezoelectric composition includes a piezoelectric material with a porous interior and a dense surface for interfacing with an electrode. A piezoelectric device includes a first electrode; a porous piezoelectric film with a dense surface and porous interior, wherein the porous piezoelectric film is deposited on the first electrode and the dense surface is away from the first electrode; and a second electrode deposited on the dense surface for, together with the first electrode, providing an electrical interface for the porous piezoelectric film.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGEInventors: John X. J. Zhang, Dajing Chen
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Patent number: 10131765Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite (13), characterized in that it comprises: at least one ferroelectric organic polymer with relaxation properties, and at least one phthalate-based plasticizer.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL DES SCIENCES APPLIQUEES DE LYONInventors: Jean-Fabien Capsal, Jeremy Galineau, Pierre-Jean Cottinet, Mickael Lallart, Daniel Guyomar
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Patent number: 10134977Abstract: A piezoelectric element has, from a substrate side, a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer containing a composite oxide of an ABO3 type perovskite structure containing Mg, and a second electrode, which are laminated, in which the first electrode includes a diffusion suppressing layer which suppresses diffusion of the Mg and a diffusion layer which diffuses the Mg as compared with the diffusion suppressing layer, and the diffusion suppressing layer is provided on the substrate side relative to the diffusion layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takayuki Yonemura, Tsutomu Asakawa
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Patent number: 10132676Abstract: Apparatus and related methods are provided for automatically recalibrating a SAW scale for changing environmental factors. During a period of time when there is no change to a weight applied to the scale, readings of SAW transducers which relate to weight indications and environmental factor indications are taken for two adjacent operating modes of the scale, and two calibrated weight calculations are made utilizing those readings. The difference in calibrated weight calculations is then related to a variable utilized to transform the readings into weights, which is updated, thereby recalibrating the scale.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Circuits & Systems, Inc.Inventor: Vyacheslav D. Kats
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Patent number: 10135366Abstract: The electromagnetic field generator includes a shell, an electrostatic generator, a power plant, a thermoelectric generator, and an electric motor. The shell has embedded polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramic material which is polarized such that the ceramic material exhibits strong Piezoelectric Effect properties thus inducing high frequency vibrations. The shell may be further doped with radioactive elements which under high frequency vibrations induce gamma ray emission. The electrostatic generator is for charging up the shell and is disposed within the shell. The power plant is to generate thermal power, and is disposed within the sphere. The thermoelectric generator is to convert the thermal power generated by the power plant to electrical energy. The electric motor powered by the electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric generator, and supplies input voltage such that the shell spins at high angular speeds, vibrates at high frequencies, and generates an electromagnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Salvatore Pais
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Patent number: 10128814Abstract: Embodiments of a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device having a guided SAW structure that provides spurious mode suppression and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. In some embodiments, a SAW device includes a non-semiconductor support substrate, a piezoelectric layer on a surface of the non-semiconductor support substrate, and at least one interdigitated transducer on a surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite the non-semiconductor support substrate. A thickness of the piezoelectric layer, a SAW velocity of the piezoelectric layer, and an acoustic velocity of the non-semiconductor support substrate are such that a frequency of spurious modes above a resonance frequency of the SAW device is above a bulk wave cut-off frequency of the SAW device. In this manner, the spurious modes above the resonance frequency of the SAW device are suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.Inventors: Shogo Inoue, Marc Solal
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Patent number: 10123777Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a transformer, a first power source, a second power source, and a switching unit. The transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding, and drives an ultrasound transducer based on a voltage generated in the secondary winding. The first and second power sources cause a potential difference. The switching unit switches a connection path between the primary winding and at least one of the first and second power sources to a first connection path that connects the first power source to one end of the primary winding and the second power source to the other end, a second connection path that connects the first power source to the other end and the second power source to the one end, or a ground connection path that connects the first power source or the second power source to the ground through the primary winding.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems CorporationInventors: Wataru Kameishi, Hiroyuki Shibanuma, Shuta Fujiwara, Satoshi Kamiyama, Takayuki Shiina, Masaaki Ishitsuka, Tomohiro Fujita, Teruki Hagihara
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Patent number: 10116504Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a physiological sensor system. According to an embodiment the sensor system may include a package substrate, a plurality of sensors formed on the substrate, a second electrical component, and an encryption bank formed along a data transmission path between the plurality of sensors and the second electrical component. In an embodiment the encryption bank may include a plurality of portions that each have one or more switches integrated into the package substrate. In an embodiment each sensor transmits data to the second electrical component along different portions of the encryption bank. In some embodiments, the switches may be piezoelectrically actuated. In other embodiments the switches may be actuated by thermal expansion. Additional embodiments may include tri- or bi-stable mechanical switches.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Shawna M. Liff, Adel A. Elsherbini, Sasha N. Oster, Feras Eid, Georgios C. Dogiamis, Thomas L. Sounart, Johanna M. Swan
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Patent number: 10112391Abstract: An electromechanical transducer element includes a lower electrode, an electromechanical transducer film of a piezoelectric material, and an upper electrode which are laminated. A diffraction intensity peak profile of the film obtained by measurement in which a tilt angle is changed in a position where diffraction intensity of a peak profile corresponding to a {200} plane among peak profiles of the film obtained by measurement according to an X-ray diffraction ?-2? method is the maximum can be separated into three peak profiles. When peak intensities of the peak profiles are set to peak1, peak2, and peak3 and half-value widths of the peak profiles are set to ?1, ?2, and ?3, a weighted average FWHMstd(?) of the peak intensities using the half-value widths as weights (=(?1×peak1+?2×peak2+?3×peak3)/(peak1+peak2+peak3)) is equal to or less than 12°.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Satoshi Mizukami
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Patent number: 10115885Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin-film electronic device employing a piezoelectric plate. The method provides a plurality of piezoelectric plates, and a substrate with electronic devices, each electronic device including a top surface well. A piezoelectric plate suspension is formed and flowed over the substrate. In response to the piezoelectric plate suspension flow, piezoelectric plates are captured in the top surface wells. The electric device top surface wells have well bottom surfaces, with bottom electrical contacts formed on the bottom surfaces. Thus, the capture of a piezoelectric plate in a top surface well entails interfacing a piezoelectric plate electrode, either the first electrode or the second electrode, to the bottom electrical contact. Subsequent to capturing the piezoelectric plates in the top surface wells, a thin-film process forms a conductive line overlying the exposed piezoelectric device electrode (i.e., the electrode not connected to the bottom electrical contact).Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: eLux, Inc.Inventors: Mark Albert Crowder, Changqing Zhan, Karen Nishimura, Paul Schuele
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Patent number: 10109784Abstract: Embodiments of a sensor device and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor device comprises a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) array configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, where the PMUT array comprises a plurality of PMUTs and the PMUT array is flexible, one or more integrated circuits configured to process the ultrasonic signals, a battery configured to provide power to the PMUT array and the one or more integrated circuits, a coupling material configured to hold the PMUT array, the one or more integrated circuits, and the battery, and a capsule configured to seal the PMUT array, the one or more integrated circuits, the battery and the coupling material within the capsule.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Donald William Kidwell, Jr., Ravindra Shenoy, Jon Lasiter
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Patent number: 10110198Abstract: A piezoelectric quartz tuning fork resonator having a pair of tines formed from a common quartz plate, with a middle electrode and two outer electrodes being disposed at or on top and bottom surfaces of each of the pair of tines and interconnected such that the outer electrodes at or on the top and bottom surfaces of a first one of the pair of tines are connected in common with the middle electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of a second one of the pair of tines and further interconnected such that the outer electrodes at or on the top and bottom surfaces of the second one of the pair of tines are connected in common with the middle electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of the first one of the pair of tines.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventor: Randall L. Kubena
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Patent number: 10103710Abstract: A resonator includes a resonator element including a substrate gradually increasing in thickness from an outer edge toward a center, excitation electrodes respectively disposed on both principal surfaces of the substrate, and a pair of electrode pads electrically connected to the excitation electrodes, disposed on at least one of the both principal surfaces, and disposed on one end side of the substrate, and a second substrate as a base, the pair of electrode pads are bonded to the second substrate via respective first bonding members, two places of the other end of the substrate on the opposite side to the one end are bonded to the second substrate via respective second bonding members, and a distance S1 between the two first bonding members, and a distance S2 between the two second bonding members fulfill S1<S2.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Kiyotaka Matsugi, Kazuki Funatsu
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Patent number: 10103313Abstract: A button device includes a piezoelectric element which includes a piezoelectric body with one surface on which a first external electrode and a second external electrode are formed and a plate with one surface attached to the other surface of the piezoelectric body, a supporting plate disposed on the one surface of the piezoelectric body, a cover disposed on the other surface of the plate, a first spacer provided between an edge portion of the one surface of the plate and the supporting plate, a second spacer provided between at least a part of an edge portion of the other surface of the plate and the cover to provide a separation space between the plate and the cover, and a dot provided in the separation space to transfer an external force to the piezoelectric element or to transfer a vibration of the piezoelectric element to the cover.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: WISOL CO., LTD.Inventors: Yo Sep Choi, Jae Hyung Choi, Bong Soo Kim
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Patent number: 10103708Abstract: An IC for heating includes a semiconductor, substrate on which a diffusion layer is formed; a first pad that applies a power source voltage to the diffusion layer; and a second pad that applies a ground voltage to the diffusion layer. A semiconductor substrate includes slits such that the slits intersect a virtual straight line connecting the pads when the semiconductor substrate is seen in a plan view.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Hayashi, Akihiro Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 10097157Abstract: A crystal vibrating device that includes a crystal resonator mounted on a substrate by a first conductive adhesive layer and a second conductive adhesive layer, and, when the first conductive adhesive layer and the second conductive adhesive layer are viewed in a plan view, the first conductive adhesive layer and the second conductive adhesive layer each have a) a planar shape in which two circles or ellipses are partly superimposed upon each other, b) two conductive adhesive layer portions that are separated from each other, or c) a length direction and an aspect ratio, which is a ratio between a maximum size in the length direction and a maximum size in a width direction that is orthogonal to the maximum size in the length direction, is in a range of 1.5 to 3.0.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Bunta Okamoto, Motoyoshi Sakai
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Patent number: 10096763Abstract: An elastic wave device includes elastic wave elements, each including a piezoelectric layer directly or indirectly supported by a supporting substrate and an electrode disposed in contact with the piezoelectric layer, and a highly heat-conductive member stacked on a surface of the supporting substrate, opposite to the surface supporting the piezoelectric layer, in which the thermal conductivity of the supporting substrate is higher than the thermal conductivity of the piezoelectric layer, the coefficient of linear expansion of the supporting substrate is lower than the coefficient of linear expansion of the piezoelectric layer, the highly heat-conductive member has a larger area than the surface of the supporting substrate supporting the piezoelectric layer, and the thermal conductivity of the highly heat-conductive member is higher than that of the piezoelectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Iwamoto