Patents Examined by Thomas Dougherty
  • Patent number: 9941461
    Abstract: An electronic component element includes a piezoelectric substrate and a comb-shaped electrode located on one principal surface of the piezoelectric substrate. A support layer is arranged around the comb-shaped electrode. A cover layer is disposed so as to cover the support layer and the comb-shaped electrode. Via-hole electrodes extend through the cover layer and are connected to the comb-shaped electrode. An uneven portion is located on a principal surface of the cover layer that is opposite to a principal surface of the cover layer that is opposed to the comb-shaped electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadaji Takemura
  • Patent number: 9941822
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Perpetuum Ltd.
    Inventors: David Robert Vincent, Adam Wasenczuk
  • Patent number: 9935256
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a piezoelectric composition containing a composition represented by formula (5) as the main component, wherein the composition represented by formula (5) contains a first perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (1), a second perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (2), a tungsten bronze-type oxide represented by formula (3) and a third perovskite-type oxide represented by formula (4), (K1-x-yNaxLiy)q(Nb1-zTaz)O3 (1), SrZrO3 (2), Ba(Nb1-wTaw)2O6 (3), (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 and/or (Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3 (4), (1?m?n?p)A+mB+nC+pD (5); in formula (1), 0.20?x?0.80, 0.02?y?0.10, 0.01?z?0.30 and 0.800?q?1.050; in formula (3), 0.01?w?0.30; and in formula (5), A represents the composite oxide represented by formula (1), B represents the composite oxide represented by formula (2), C represents the composite oxide represented by formula (3), D represents the composite oxide represented by formula (4), and 0.04?m?0.07, 0?n?0.010 and 0.001?p?0.020.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Nanao
  • Patent number: 9935563
    Abstract: An apparatus for installation within a tire for a vehicle includes a flexible arm and a power generating element coupled to the flexible arm for generating electrical energy. One end of the flexible arm is coupled to a rim of the tire. The opposing end of the flexible arm is configured to be in contact with the inside tread surface of the tire. The flexible arm is capable of deformation in response to a variability of distance between the rim and the inside tread surface during rolling movement of the tire, and the power generating element generates the electrical energy in response to deformation of the flexible arm. The apparatus may be combined with a tire pressure sensor module as a system so as to provide electrical energy for powering the tire pressure sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Tatarchuk, Matthew W. Muddiman
  • Patent number: 9931671
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric vibration actuator including: a flat cover member; a vibration portion including a vibration plate that is spaced apart from the cover member in parallel by a predetermined distance and a piezoelectric element that generates a vibration force by repeatedly expanding and contracting according to power applied from the outside; a weight portion disposed on the vibration portion to increase the vibration force of the piezoelectric element; and a binding member fixing the vibration portion and the weight portion. In addition, an enclosure portion is interposed between the weight portion and the vibration portion to enclose the center areas of the vibration portion, thereby making it possible to protect the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: MPLUS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon Choi, Kyung Su Park, Dong Su Moon, Yeon Ho Son
  • Patent number: 9931670
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitter includes a piezoelectric integrated thin film transistor (PITFT). The transistor includes a top gate electrode, a bottom gate electrode, and a piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer generates vibrations in response to a voltage applied across the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode. The transistor includes micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) mechanically coupled to the PITFT. The MEMS includes a resonator that transmits ultrasonic pressure waves based on the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Amano
  • Patent number: 9935610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic wave device including: a substrate; an IDT arranged on the substrate; a connection electrode arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the IDT; a side wall formed outside the IDT to create a cavity including the IDT on the substrate; a cover formed on a top of the side wall; a connection terminal penetrating the side wall or the cover or formed along an inner or outer peripheral surface of the side wall, and electrically connected to the connection electrode; and a conductive layer formed on a top of the cover not to be overlapped with the connection terminal, in which an area of the conductive layer is less than 50% of an area of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: WISOL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hunyong Lee
  • Patent number: 9933593
    Abstract: A driving apparatus comprises a plurality of vibrators vibrating by application of a high-frequency voltage thereto; a friction member in frictional contact with the vibrators; and a pressing portion for bringing the vibrators into pressed contact with the friction member. The plurality of vibrators are arranged to be juxtaposed and a single drive force is extracted by moving the plurality of vibrators relative to the friction member, and a position where the drive force is extracted is a central position of the plurality of vibrators in a direction in which the plurality of vibrators are juxtaposed and is close to a frictional contact position in a pressing direction of the pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Shiono
  • Patent number: 9935254
    Abstract: The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of patterning electrodes, e.g. in the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit; methods of depositing metal on surfaces; and methods of making integrated matching layers for an ultrasound transducer. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Lukacs, Nicholas Christopher Chaggares, Desmond Hirson, Guofeng Pang
  • Patent number: 9932946
    Abstract: There are provided a multi-layer piezoelectric element in which an increase of oxygen vacancies in an electric-field concentration part of piezoelectric layers is suppressed and a decrease of an amount of displacement is suppressed, as well as to provide a piezoelectric actuator, an injection device and a fuel injection system provided with the multi-layer piezoelectric element. A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stacked body composed of piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers which are stacked on each other, and a resin which evolves OH? when being heated. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a multi-layer piezoelectric element in which an increase of oxygen vacancies in an electric-field concentration part of piezoelectric layers is suppressed and a decrease of an amount of displacement is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9929336
    Abstract: A self-powered generator is provided. The generator includes a piezoelectric nanorod member layer that includes a first layer; a second layer; and a plurality of piezoelectric nanorods disposed between the first and second layers. The piezoelectric nanorod is a biaxially-grown nanorod. When mechanical energy is applied from an outside, an upper half and a lower half of each of the plurality of piezoelectric nanorods generate piezoelectric potentials having opposite polarities, the upper half and the lower half being on both sides of a longitudinal axis along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Hong Koo Baik, Jae Min Myong, Woo Soon Jang, Tae Il Lee
  • Patent number: 9927786
    Abstract: An expandable and collapsible structure comprising at least two first members and a second member. Each first member includes two plates rotatably connected at an edge of each of the two plates. One of the two plates of each of the first members is adapted to be slidably coupled with the second member. When the two plates of each of the pair of first members are disposed in a non-parallel configuration, the structure is disposed in an expanded state and when the two plates of each of the first members are disposed in a parallel configuration, the structure is disposed in a collapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Anne Dewitte
  • Patent number: 9925598
    Abstract: A machining device including a casing, a transmission shaft (3) and a drive mechanism (1) including a first gearing member (13) that is able to rotate the shaft about its axis (A), a second gearing member (17) that is in a helicoidal connection with the shaft in order to drive the shaft translationally along its axis in a feed movement, depending on the relative rotational speed of the first and second gearing members, and means for generating axial oscillations. The second gearing member (17) is able to move translationally along the axis (A) with respect to the casing, the means for generating axial oscillations including an electromechanical actuator (20) mounted at a fixed location, connected to the casing, and able to be coupled axially to the second gearing member (17) in order to make it oscillate translationally, so as to superimpose an axial oscillation component on said feed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE TECHNIQUE DES INDUSTRIES MECANIQUES, AMVALOR
    Inventors: Ugo Masciantonio, George Moraru
  • Patent number: 9929717
    Abstract: An elastic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate and an interdigital transducer electrode disposed in a piezoelectric vibrating portion of the piezoelectric substrate to pass through the piezoelectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kimura, Michio Kadota
  • Patent number: 9919342
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Bibl, Hung-fai Stephen Law, Kevin von Essen, Mats G. Ottosson
  • Patent number: 9919418
    Abstract: A piezoelectric driving device includes a vibrating plate, a first piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the first surface of the vibrating plate; a second piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the second surface of the vibrating plate; and a protrusion which is provided on the vibrating plate and comes into contact with a body to be driven, wherein the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body have asymmetry that the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body are asymmetrical to each other with respect to the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuharu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9923544
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a thin vibration region and a thick section integrated along three sides excluding one side of the vibration region, excitation electrodes respectively arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the vibration region, and lead electrodes. The thick section includes a first thick section and a second thick section arranged to be opposed to each other across the vibration region and a third thick section connected between proximal ends of the first and second thick sections. The second thick section includes an inclined section connected to the one side of the vibration region, a second thick section main body connected to the other side of the inclined section, and at least one slit for stress relaxation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ishii
  • Patent number: 9923136
    Abstract: A high temperature piezoelectric sensor device such as a high temperature accelerometer, force sensor, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, acoustic sensor and/or acoustic transducer for use at temperatures up to 1000° C. The high temperature device includes a base, a piezoelectric element attached to the base and a pair of electrodes in electrical communication with the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element can have a d15 piezoelectric coefficient between 16.0-18.0 pC/N for all temperatures between 25 to 700° C., and a rotated d33 piezoelectric coefficient of 8.0-9.5 pC/N with zero face shear/thickness shear piezoelectric coefficients d34. d35 and d36 in the same temperature range. The piezoelectric element can also have an electromechanical coupling factor k15 variation of less than 7%, and d15 and rotated d33 piezoelectric coefficient variations of less than 5% for temperatures between 25 to 700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Chuanying Shen
  • Patent number: 9917568
    Abstract: A substrate structure for an acoustic resonator device. The substrate has a substrate member comprising a plurality of support members configured to form an array structure. In an example, the substrate member has an upper region, and optionally, has a plurality of recessed regions configured by the support members. The substrate has a thickness of single crystal piezo material formed overlying the upper region. In an example, the thickness of single crystal piezo material has a first surface region and a second surface region opposite of the first surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AKOUSTIS, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Shealy
  • Patent number: 9911912
    Abstract: A piezoelectric composite for use in an ultrasonic transducer and a method of forming the same is provided. The composite has a piezoelectric ceramic component and a hydrophobic polymer component arranged to form a 1-3, 2-2, or 3-3 composite type. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic polymer is selected to polymerize at a moderate temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Harvey Krohn, Kwok Pong Chan