Abstract: An inkjet printing head 1 includes a piezoelectric element 6 having a lower electrode 7, a piezoelectric film 8 formed above the lower electrode 7, and an upper electrode 9 formed above the piezoelectric film 8, a hydrogen barrier film 13 covering an entirety of a side surface of the upper electrode 9 and the piezoelectric film 8, and an interlayer insulating film 14 that has an opening 17 at an upper surface center of the upper electrode 9, is laminated on the hydrogen barrier film 13, and faces the entirety of the side surface of the upper electrode 9 and the piezoelectric film 8 across the hydrogen barrier film 13.

Abstract: A vibration device which is possible to secure the fixing of a vibrating element and to reduce deterioration in characteristics of the vibrating element includes a substrate, a plurality of elastic members each of which includes a connection portion connected to a first surface of the substrate, and a support portion extending from the connection portion to a position separated from the connection portion, and a vibrating element that is supported at the support portion, in which the vibrating element is supported by the plurality of elastic members via three or more support portions.

Abstract: A pressing force sensor that includes a flat membrane piezoelectric element and a support. The flat membrane piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric sheet having a piezoelectric constant. A first electrode is formed on a first main surface of the piezoelectric sheet and a second electrode is formed on a second main surface thereof. Long directions of the first electrode and the second electrode and a uniaxial stretching direction of the piezoelectric sheet form an angle of 45°. An opening portion having an elliptical section is formed on the support. The flat membrane piezoelectric element abuts the opening portion of the support. The support and the flat membrane piezoelectric element are disposed such that the opening portion is included within an area of the second electrode.

Abstract: An ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer device includes a transducer array consisting of an array of vibrating elements, and a base to which the array of vibrating elements in the transducer array are attached. The base include integrated electrical interconnects for carrying driving signals and sensed signals between the vibrating elements and an external control circuit. The base can be an ASIC wafer that includes integrated circuitry for controlling the driving and processing the sensed signals. The interconnects and control circuits in the base fit substantially within an area below the array of multiple vibrating elements.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. In accordance with the method, a generator is configured to generate at least one time varying electrical signal having a resonant frequency, monitor the resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal, calculate a frequency slope between frequency data points of the time varying electrical signal, where the frequency slope is the change in resonant frequency over time, compare the frequency slope to a threshold frequency slope, and trigger a first response of the generator when the frequency slope crosses the threshold frequency slope.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a corresponding method for its operation, for precisely moving a movable rotor by urging a motor, such as a piezoelectric motor, into operative engagement with a circumferential rim-like portion of the rotor, with a radial preload force great enough to produce tangential motion in the rim-like portion and thereby to move the rotor in any desired manner and with very high precision. Possible damaging effects of the radial preload force are canceled by the introduction of an oppositely directed radial resistive force, such as by means of one or more pinch rollers positioned opposite the motor and also engaging the rim-like member. The motor is mounted in an assembly that permits limited sliding and pivoting movements of the motor and thereby allows the motor to adapt to any physical irregularities in the driven rim-like member.

Abstract: A rectangular quartz crystal blank having long sides substantially parallel to a Z? axis of the quartz crystal blank, and short sides substantially parallel to an X axis of the quartz crystal blank. The quartz crystal blank includes a first center region, a second region and a third region that are adjacent to the first region along a long-side direction, and a fourth region and a fifth region that are adjacent to the first region along a short-side direction. A thickness of the second region and a thickness of the third region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and/or a thickness of the fourth region and a thickness of the fifth region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and 16.18?W/T?16.97, where W is a length of a short side and T is a thickness.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. In accordance with the method, a generator is configured to generate at least one time varying electrical signal having a resonant frequency, monitor the resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal, compare the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency, and trigger a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film of the present invention is a piezoelectric film including a perovskite oxide represented by the following formula (P), in which crystal phases of the perovskite oxide include tetragonal crystals and rhombohedral crystals at a ratio that satisfies the following formula (1). A1+?[(ZrxTi1?x)1?aNba]Oy??(P) 0.70?rhombohedral crystals/(rhombohedral crystals+tetragonal crystals)?0.95?? (1), where, in the formula (P), A is an A-site element primarily containing Pb, and Zr, Ti, and Nb are B-site elements. x is equal to or higher than 0.4 and lower than 1, excluding x of equal to or higher than 0.51 and equal to or lower than 0.53. a is equal to or higher than 0.08.

Abstract: An electricity generator including a first converter suitable for converting a variation of an energy to be harvested into a corresponding excess of electrical charges. The generator includes a circuit for collecting the excess of electrical charges, the circuit has a first controllable mechanical switch, and a control device for the first switch designed to control the switching of the switch to its closed position when the excess of electrical charges exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The switch is a magnetic switch and the control device comprises a variable magnetic field source which controls the switching of the first switch to its closed position only at the time when the excess of electrical charges exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Matching layers configured for use with ultrasound transducers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a transducer stack can include a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), an acoustic lens, and a matching layer therebetween. The matching layer can be made from a compliant material (e.g. an elastomer and/or an liquid) and configured for use with CMUTs. The matching layer can include a bottom surface overlying a top surface of the transducer and a top surface underlying a bottom surface of the lens.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a body terminal comprising a first body electrode and a second body electrode; a gate terminal comprising a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode; a first actuator between the first body electrode and the first gate electrode, the first actuator comprising a first piezoelectric material; a second actuator between the second body electrode and the second gate electrode, the second actuator comprising a second piezoelectric material; a beam comprising a first end attached to the first actuator, a second end attached to the second actuator, and a suspended section between the first end and the second end; a metal channel attached to the suspended section of the beam; a source terminal extending over the beam; and a drain terminal extending over the beam.

Abstract: A resonator device capable of preventing the characteristics of the resonator element from degrading while ensuring the fixation strength of the resonator element is provided. A vibrator as the resonator device includes a heat generation element as a base body, a first support arm and a second support arm as elastic members each constituting a plate spring having one end connected to the heat generation element and extending from the one end toward the other end disposed at a position distant from the heat generation element, and a resonator element connected to a first support section and a second support section respectively disposed on the other end side of the first support arm and the second support arm so as to be distant from the heat generation element.

Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric adjustment apparatus comprises a piezoelectric stack which has a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material arranged in a stacked manner and each provided with electrodes, and comprises a lever mechanically connected to the piezoelectric stack for converting a drive movement of the stack into an adjustment movement of an adjustment element provided at the lever. A cooling device for dissipating heat from the piezoelectric stack is provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) includes a diaphragm disposed over a cavity, the diaphragm including a piezoelectric layer stack including a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode electrically coupled with transceiver circuitry, and a second electrode electrically coupled with the transceiver circuitry. The first electrode may be disposed in a first portion of the diaphragm, and the second electrode may be disposed in a second, separate, portion of the diaphragm. Each of the first and the second electrode is disposed on or proximate to a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, the first surface being opposite from the cavity. The PMUT is configured to transmit first ultrasonic signals by way of the first electrode during a first time period and to receive second ultrasonic signals by way of the second electrode during a second time period, the first time period and the second time period being at least partially overlapping.

Abstract: A resonator device includes a base including a fixed section and a movable section connected to the fixed section, a resonator element including a first base section, a second base section, and a vibration arm, one end of which is connected to the first base section and the other end of which is connected to the second base section, the first base section being fixed to the fixed section and the second base section being fixed to the movable section, a weight section connected onto the movable section, and a stress relaxing section provided between a connection region of the weight section and the vibration arm.

Abstract: An energy harvester for an aircraft comprises a first portion, a movable element and a kinetic-to-electric-energy-converter. The first portion includes a charge collecting device having an electrical permittivity different to that of air. The charge collecting device is configured to be exposed to an air flow. The movable element is configured to be driven by the charge of the charge collecting device, and the kinetic-to-electric-energy-converter is configured to generate energy by the movement of the movable element.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducer coupling adapters, ultrasonic transducer assemblies with an adapter, and methods for making and for using ultrasonic transducer adapter components are disclosed. An ultrasonic transducer assembly is disclosed for generating and transmitting ultrasonic energy to a work piece (e.g., non-resonant structures). The assembly includes piezoelectric actuators that generate ultrasonic vibrations in response to high-frequency electrical signals. A feedback system monitors and regulates voltages applied to the piezoelectric actuators. The assembly also includes an adapter that is connected to the piezoelectric actuators (e.g., via a front mass) and is configured to distribute the ultrasonic vibrations from the actuators to the work piece. The adapter reduces or substantially eliminates transmission back to the piezoelectric actuators of erratic strain generated by the work piece in response to these ultrasonic vibrations.

Abstract: A MEMS vibrating device includes a substrate, at least one anchor on a surface of the substrate, and a vibrating body suspended over the substrate by the at least one anchor. The vibrating body includes a first piezoelectric thin-film layer, a second piezoelectric thin-film layer over the first piezoelectric thin-film layer, and an inter-digital transducer embedded between the first piezoelectric thin-film layer and the second piezoelectric thin-film layer. Embedding the inter-digital transducer between the first piezoelectric thin-film layer and the second piezoelectric thin-film layer may result in enhanced vibrational characteristics of the MEMS vibrating device, thereby increasing the performance thereof.