Patents Examined by Timothy A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6016024
    Abstract: A piezoelectric component achieves a desired Qm by using a presently available piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric component includes a supporting substrate on which pattern electrodes are provided. Electroconductive supporting members are disposed on the pattern electrodes, and a piezoelectric resonator is mounted on the supporting members. External electrodes of the piezoelectric resonator and the pattern electrodes are electrically connected to each other by the supporting members. Gaps between the piezoelectric resonator and the supporting substrate are filled with a first elastic material element. A second material element may be provided on the surface of the piezoelectric resonator disposed opposite to the surface of the resonator facing the supporting substrate. Only one of these elastic material elements or both these elastic material elements may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Unami, Jiro Inoue, Takashi Yamamoto, Tetsuo Takeshima
  • Patent number: 5914555
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor in which a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element by using a lead board. To fabricate the motor in a simplified manner, it is so constructed that a plurality of conductive patterns on the lead board are joined to a plurality of electrodes formed on the piezoelectric element by solder or the like, the piezoelectric element and the lead board are prevented from contacting each other by bending the conductive patterns to form a gap, then a voltage is applied to the lead board, thereby realizing the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yoshino, Hironobu Itoh, Makoto Suzuki, Masao Kasuga
  • Patent number: 5907211
    Abstract: An actuator having two frames, each frame including a distal end member, a proximal pivot end member or proximal end pivot point, and at least two elongated side members connected between the distal end member and the proximal pivot end member of that frame. A flexure is disposed between an end of the pivot end member of the first frame and an end of the pivot end member of the second frame. A first longitudinal span member is disposed between the distal end member of the second frame and the pivot end member of the first frame, and a second longitudinal span member is disposed between the distal end member of the first frame and the pivot end member of the second frame. At least one of the first and second longitudinal span members is an expansive element having a longitudinal axis along which dimensional strain can be induced in response to an applied stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Steven R. Hall, Eric F. Prechtl
  • Patent number: 5900691
    Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated driving and adjusting apparatus transmits both pure translation movements and rotation movements. The object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectrically actuated driving and adjusting apparatus having a simple, compact and robust mechanical structure, capable of ensuring long adjustment paths and suitable for various adjustment and drive tasks using the same principle structure. Two parallel stacks of piezoelectric elements are arranged as close as possible to each other. The piezoelectric stacks are supported at first front surfaces on a crossbar by a tiltable coupling. Second front surfaces of the piezoelectric stacks, opposite to the first front surfaces, lie flat on a stiff common member that rigidly interconnects both the piezoelectric stacks. A biasing apparatus is provided to apply a symmetrical, predefinable force on the piezoelectric stacks by acting on the crossbar and the common member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: marco Systemanalyse und Entwicklung GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Reuter, Konrad Voigt
  • Patent number: 5895996
    Abstract: A SAW device utilizing elastic surface waves, in which the Q value indicating resonance sharpness is high, and which presents excellent frequency temperature characteristics and short-term frequency stability. In a SAW device according to the present invention, an IDT and two reflectors are in parallel in the propagation direction of the phase of the elastic surface waves. The IDT and reflectors are disposed to cover the power flow direction, which is the propagation direction of energy of the elastic surface waves, whereby the energy of the elastic surface waves is efficiently confined. Moreover, it becomes possible to manufacture the SAW device utilizing a piezoelectric crystal in which angle .theta. and angle .psi. indicating excellent frequency temperature characteristics are 25 to 45 degrees and 40 to 47 degrees, respectively. It is also possible to manufacture the SAW device utilizing a piezoelectric crystal where angle .psi. is related to angle .theta. such that .theta.=2.775.times.(.psi.-32.5)+6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Michiaki Takagi, Eishi Momosaki, Yoshinori Ikusaka
  • Patent number: 5894185
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer includes a piezoelectric plate in which a pair of cuts are formed in the piezoelectric plate at a position corresponding to a nodal point of the piezoelectric plate. The pair of cuts form a cut-out projection. Connection electrodes electrically connected to input electrodes are respectively formed on input-side cut-out projections. In this piezoelectric transformer, the desired support and electrical connection are made through the cut-out projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Asada, Hideya Horiuchi, Akiteru Takatsuka, Michio Kadota
  • Patent number: 5894183
    Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor for an electric generator or motor has a core lamination hub formed of a stack of generally round plates with peripheral slots for holding the first end of a rectangular magnet. Each magnet has an outer end which is held by a slotted pole piece formed of laminated plates. First and second side plates overlie each side of the hub, magnets and pole pieces, and fasteners such as rivets are passed through holes in the side plates, hub plates and pole pieces to form a rigid rotor in which each rectangular magnet is supported and restrained on all six sides. A method for fabricating the rotor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Borchert
  • Patent number: 5892318
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic transformer made from a piezoelectric ceramic material stacked in a multilayer package which has a driving section 502 formed by alternately stacking piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in a direction of thickness of the piezoelectric plate. The driving section 502 has internal interdigitated electrode layers 504A, 504B for causing piezoelectric vibration by a driving voltage applied to an input terminal (Vin). A first driven section 506, also made from piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric plate, for generating a first output voltage (Vout1) at a first output by the piezoelectric vibration transmitted from the driving section 502. A second driven section 510, made from piezoelectric ceramic layers polarized in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric plate, for generating a second output voltage (Vout2) at a second output by the piezoelectric vibration transmitted from the driving section 502.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Xunhu Dai, James R. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5892311
    Abstract: An induction generator having a pair of magnetic poles of the same polarity opposed to each other with respect to a rotation shaft is characterized by a high energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki S.R.M. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeaki Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 5886436
    Abstract: In a high-pressure cleaning apparatus comprising an electric motor arranged in a housing, a high-pressure pump arranged in a housing with at least one piston entering a pump chamber in a sealed manner, and a swash plate carried by a motor shaft protruding from the housing of the electric motor, with the piston or pistons of the high-pressure pump resting in a resilient manner against the swash plate, in order to achieve electrical insulation in the region of the swash plate drive, it is proposed that the transition from the motor shaft via the swash plate to the piston or pistons be electrically interrupted by an electrically insulating material being interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Josef Schneider, Eberhard Veit, Gabriele Bonezzi, Rudolf Guhs, Johann G. Wesch
  • Patent number: 5886444
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that a rotary machine attempts to lower the resistance of each coil and realize improvement of efficiency and miniaturization of a motor by shortening the end portion of a coil to be inserted into a stator, and the constitution thereof is that the coil end portion of a stator coil has a shape that a conductor raised and looped back from a slot provided in the core on the rotor side is closer to the end face of the aforementioned core than a conductor raised and looped back in the aforementioned slot on the opposite side of the rotor, and the aforementioned constitution has a stator coil having a loopback shape passing a location other than above the adjacent slot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Enomoto, Noriaki Yamamoto, Yukinori Taneda, Hiromichi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 5886454
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements arrayed on acoustic absorption backing material with predetermined spaces, a plurality of acoustic matching members formed on the piezoelectric elements and arrayed with gaps smaller than array gaps of the piezoelectric elements, polymer resin with which only the gaps between the piezoelectric elements are filled and having hardness lower than material of the piezoelectric elements, and an acoustic lens formed on the plurality of acoustic matching members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yutaka Sato, Toshio Kondo, Takaya Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 5883455
    Abstract: A polygon mirror assembly includes a polygon mirror and a supporting stand for supporting the polygon mirror. The supporting stand and the polygon mirror are combined in a pressure combination manner. The polygon mirror supporting structure can be provided so that the fastening of the polygon mirror is easily carried out, no unbalance of the center of rotation occurs and any eccentricity can be made extremely small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Taga Engineering,Ltd.
    Inventors: Iko Fukasawa, Takeshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5880550
    Abstract: A variable-speed dynamotor has a stator having a first set of windings that provide a number of poles for rotating a rotor and a second set of windings that provide a number of poles different from the number of poles provided by the first set of windings. Voltages or currents supplied to the second set of windings are controlled to generate radial forces acting on the rotor for thereby controlling a radial position of the rotor, suppressing vibrations of the rotor, adjusting rotational balancing of the rotor, and controlling radial damping of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignees: Tadashi Fukao, Akira Chiba, Chikara Michioka, Seiki Co., Ltd., Nikkiso, Co., Ltd., Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Fukao, Akira Chiba, Chikara Michioka
  • Patent number: 5877581
    Abstract: The piezoelectric layers of a laminated piezoelectric transformer include outermost ceramic layers having first openings defined therein for connection to inner electrodes. The inner electrodes comprise full-face electrodes, each of the inner electrodes having a second opening defined in a corner thereof and filled with an electrically conductive electrode and a third opening defined in another corner thereof and filled with an electrically conductive electrode surrounded by an electrode-free gap. The piezoelectric layers are stacked such that the inner electrodes are alternately electrically interconnected through the second and third openings which are alternately superposed one on another. The electric generator comprises piezoelectric layers and web-shaped inner electrodes. Each of the web-shaped inner electrodes has a fourth opening defined in at least one end thereof and filled with an electrically conductive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Inoi, Susumu Saitou
  • Patent number: 5872417
    Abstract: A multiple degrees of freedom vibration actuator capable of motion around multiple axes. The vibration actuator includes a vibration element having drive force output members, and a relative moving member having a curved surface. The curved surface contacts the drive force output member To generate relative motion of the relative moving member with respect to the vibration element. The vibration element includes a frame shaped elastic member having the drive force output members attached thereto, and having electromechanical converting elements contacting the elastic member. When the electromechanical converting elements are excited by a drive voltage, vibrations are generated in the elastic member to produce a drive force which is transmitted To the relative moving member via the drive force output members. The vibration element can be controlled to generate relative motion in various axis directions by selectively controlling the electromechanical converting elements which are excited by a drive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Sugaya
  • Patent number: 5872416
    Abstract: A rotating machine comprises a stator that is excited to vibrate to generate progressive surface waves at a frequency within a resonance frequency range of a predetermined rank. The rotor is designed so that the vibrations in the stator generate vibrations of the same frequency and of lower magnitude. A vibration sensor is mounted on the rotor to provide a signal. The difference in frequency between the excitation frequency of the stator and the vibration frequency detected on the rotor corresponds to the rotation speed of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Crouzet Automatismes
    Inventor: Bertrand Nogarede
  • Patent number: 5872412
    Abstract: A motor is provided with a speed reducer. The motor includes a rotatable motor shaft having an end face and a threaded portion. The speed reducer includes a gear for communicating with the threaded portion of the motor shaft. A speed reduction case encloses at least a part of the speed reducer and includes a thrust receiving portion facing the end face of the motor shaft. An end spacer is disposed between the thrust receiving portion of the speed reduction case and the end face of the motor shaft. The end spacer includes a press-fitting portion secured at the thrust receiving portion of the speed reduction case to prevent the end spacer from rotating relative to the speed reduction case. The end spacer also includes a protrusion. A thrust force applied to the motor shaft presses the end face of the motor shaft to the protrusion of the end spacer to brake the rotation of the motor shaft by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Mita, Hiroshi Mori
  • Patent number: 5869918
    Abstract: An actuator which includes an electromechanical converting element having a first connection portion and a second connection portion, an inertia member connected to the first connection portion of the electromechanical converting element, and a moving member connected to the second connection portion of the electromechanical converting element. A drive signal control unit produces a drive signal having an asymmetric voltage waveform. The asymmetric voltage waveform has a voltage level increasing portion in which the voltage level of the asymmetric voltage waveform is increasing. The drive signal control unit controls the voltage level of the asymmetric voltage waveform during the voltage level increasing portion of the asymmetric voltage waveform, and applies the drive signal to the electromechanical converting element to generate an inertia force in the inertia member and cause the moving member to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 5866959
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine has openings (105) in its stator teeth (101) occupying a substantial part of the surface area of each tooth so that the stator windings (103) have only a short thermal path to axial cooling ducts created by the openings. In another embodiment, each rotor tooth (109) is provided with a recess (110) at one corner of the tooth to form a recess axial cooling duct; the recess may be of such a depth as to expose part of an adjacent slot (118) to the recess duct. Cooling is by air, either in a single-ended or a double-ended axial ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Limited
    Inventor: Graham Le Flem