Patents by Inventor Fumiya KUROKAWA

Fumiya KUROKAWA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11856365
    Abstract: A transducer includes a base, beams, and a coupler. The beams each include a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The coupler is fitted in slits between adjacent beams to define a connection between the beams. The coupler extends from an upper portion of the base into each of the slits without a break. A Young's modulus of the material of the coupler is lower than a Young's modulus of the material of the piezoelectric layer. A maximum thickness of the coupler in the upper portion of the base in the direction of the central axis of the base is greater than a thickness of each of the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Seiji Umezawa, Masayuki Suzuki, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11832522
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer includes beam portions each with a fixed end portion and extending in a direction away from the fixed end portion. A base portion is connected to the fixed end portion of each of the beam portions. The beam portions extends in a same plane, and respective extending directions of at least two beam portions are different from each other. The beam portions each include a single crystal piezoelectric layer having a polarization axis in a same direction, an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. A polarization axis has a polarization component in the plane. An axial direction of an orthogonal axis that is orthogonal to the polarization axis and extends in the above-described plane intersects with an extending direction of each of the plurality of beam portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiya Kurokawa, Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Yoichi Mochida, Seiji Umezawa, Nobuyoshi Adachi, Yutaka Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11806750
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a piezoelectric layer made of a piezoelectric single crystal, a first electrode on a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a first layer covering the first surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is included in a membrane portion. The first electrode is covered with the first layer and includes a recess. The piezoelectric layer includes a through hole that passes through the piezoelectric layer between a surface of the piezoelectric layer, which is opposite to the first direction, and the recess at a position corresponding to at least a portion of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kishimoto, Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Katsumi Fujimoto, Tetsuya Kimura, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11784629
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a membrane portion and a piezoelectric layer made of single crystal of a piezoelectric body. At least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is included in the membrane portion. An electrode is provided on a surface of the piezoelectric layer in the membrane portion. The piezoelectric layer includes a first polarization region in a first polarization state and a second polarization region in a second polarization state, and the first polarization region and the second polarization region are spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction or an in-plane direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kishimoto, Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Katsumi Fujimoto, Tetsuya Kimura, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11746000
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a membrane portion, a piezoelectric layer made of a piezoelectric single crystal, a first electrode on a first surface of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrode on a second surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite to the first direction, and a first layer covering the first surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least a portion of the piezoelectric layer is included in the membrane portion. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode has a tapered cross-sectional shape with a width which decreases with increasing distance from the piezoelectric layer on a cross section along a plane vertical to the surface in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kishimoto, Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Katsumi Fujimoto, Tetsuya Kimura, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11706988
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric single crystal body with a homogeneous polarization state and of which at least a portion flexurally vibrates, an upper electrode on an upper surface of the piezoelectric single crystal body, a lower electrode on a lower surface of the piezoelectric single crystal body, and a supporting substrate below the piezoelectric single crystal body. A recess extends from a lower surface of the supporting substrate toward the lower surface of the piezoelectric single crystal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Tetsuya Kimura, Katsumi Fujimoto, Yutaka Kishimoto, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11605775
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, electrode layers are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the normal thereto. A first piezoelectric layer is interposed between two electrode layers of electrode layers in the direction of the normal. A second piezoelectric layer is provided on an opposite side of the first piezoelectric layer from a base portion. The second piezoelectric layer is interposed between two electrode layers of the electrode layers in the direction of the normal. The half-width of a rocking curve measured by X-ray diffraction for a lattice plane of the first piezoelectric layer substantially parallel to a first main surface is smaller than a half-width for the second piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric constant of a material defining the first piezoelectric layer is smaller than the piezoelectric constant of a material defining the second piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Kishimoto, Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Masayuki Suzuki, Fumiya Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20220401994
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes first and second acoustic transducers and a housing with a bottomed tubular shape. The second acoustic transducer includes an annular section supporting a second membrane section and contacting an entire periphery of the second membrane section, and an acoustic matching plate facing the second membrane section and spaced apart from the second membrane section. The acoustic matching plate is connected to a surrounding wall portion defining a sealed space with the housing. An ultrasonic transmission path sandwiched between the first membrane section and the second membrane section is provided in the sealed space. A maximum inner width of the ultrasonic transmission path is smaller than a maximum inner width of the surrounding wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Fumiya KUROKAWA, Yasuhiro AIDA, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Seiji UMEZAWA, Masayuki SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11495728
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric body at least a portion of which can bend and vibrate, an upper electrode on an upper surface of the piezoelectric body and in which distortion of a crystal lattice is reduced as a distance from the upper surface of the piezoelectric body increases, a lower electrode on a lower surface of the piezoelectric body and in which distortion of a crystal lattice is reduced as a distance from the upper surface of the piezoelectric body increases, and a support substrate below the piezoelectric body, in which a recess extending from a lower surface of the support substrate toward the lower surface of the piezoelectric device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Tetsuya Kimura, Katsumi Fujimoto, Yutaka Kishimoto, Fumiya Kurokawa, Yuzo Kishi
  • Publication number: 20220329951
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a connecting section connecting a pair of beam sections adjacent to each other. The connecting section is connected to one of the pair of beam sections at a first end portion. The connecting section is connected to another of the pair of beam sections at a second end portion. The second end portion faces the first end portion in a direction in which the pair of beam sections are aligned. A second coupling portion is located along a first coupling portion. The connecting section includes only one first end portion. The connecting section includes only one second end portion. Each of the first end portion and the second end portion is closer to a tip end portion than to a fixed end portion of each of the pair of beam sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Seiji UMEZAWA, Matti LIUKKU, Ville-Pekka RYTKÖNEN, Anssi BLOMQVIST, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Masayuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220303693
    Abstract: A transducer includes a base, beams, and a coupler. The beams each include a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The coupler is fitted in slits between adjacent beams to define a connection between the beams. The coupler extends from an upper portion of the base into each of the slits without a break. A Young's modulus of the material of the coupler is lower than a Young's modulus of the material of the piezoelectric layer. A maximum thickness of the coupler in the upper portion of the base in the direction of the central axis of the base is greater than a thickness of each of the beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Seiji UMEZAWA, Masayuki SUZUKI, Fumiya KUROKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220271728
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a second electrode layer on a second surface of a single-crystal piezoelectric layer. A hole continuous with a through-hole is provided in the second electrode layer. The second electrode layer is made of Pt, Ti, Al, Cu, Au, Ag, Mg, or an alloy including at least one of the metals as a main ingredient. A third electrode layer is on one side of the second electrode layer opposite to the single-crystal piezoelectric layer. The third electrode layer includes at least a portion outside of an edge of the hole with a distance maintained relative to the edge of the hole when viewed in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second surface. The third electrode layer is made of Ni or an alloy including Ni as a main ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Yutaka KISHIMOTO, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Masayuki SUZUKI, Fumiya KUROKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220241817
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes an outer base, a protruding base, and only one cantilevered portion. A protruding base includes a protrusion and a tip portion. The protrusion protrudes from an internal circumferential surface of the outer base toward a center of a ring shape. The tip portion is connected to the protrusion and located at the center. The cantilevered portion is connected to the tip portion, and extends while being spaced apart from the protrusion. The cantilevered portion includes a fixed end portion and a free periphery. The fixed end portion is connected to the tip portion. The free periphery is located along the internal circumferential surface. The protrusion is located between a first end and a second end of the free periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke Ikeuchi, Seiji Umezawa, Fumiya Kurokawa, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20220246830
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, a cantilever portion includes a fixed edge portion and a free edge portion. A plate-shaped portion includes a facing edge portion, a support edge portion, a first lateral support edge portion, and a second lateral support edge portion. The facing edge portion faces the free edge portion. The support edge portion is on an opposite side from the facing edge portion in an extension direction of the cantilever portion. The plate-shaped portion is connected to an inner surface at at least a portion of the support edge portion, at least a portion of the first lateral support edge portion, and at least a portion of the second lateral support edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Seiji UMEZAWA, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Masayuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220246831
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a beam portion with a fixed end portion and a free end portion opposite to the fixed end portion. The beam portion extends from the fixed end portion towards the free end portion. The beam portion includes a multilayer body including a piezoelectric layer and first and second electrode layers. A base is connected with the fixed end portion of the beam portion. As viewed from a layering direction of the multilayer body, the base surrounds the beam portion at an interval from the beam portion except for the fixed end portion. As viewed from the layering direction, an average of a dimension of a width of the beam portion in an orthogonal or substantially orthogonal direction to an extension direction of the beam portion is greater than a maximal dimension of a length thereof in the extension direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Seiji UMEZAWA, Masayuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220209098
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a connecting electrode. The piezoelectric layer includes first and second surfaces, and a through-hole. The second electrode layer is adjacent to the second surface of the piezoelectric layer. The second electrode layer faces the through-hole. The second electrode layer includes silicon as a major component. The connecting electrode is on a connecting surface of the second electrode layer, and the connecting surface faces the through-hole. The connecting electrode is made of a metal. A surface roughness of the connecting surface is greater than a surface roughness of a major surface. The major surface is a portion, other than the connecting surface, of a surface of the second electrode layer, and the surface is adjacent to the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Yutaka KISHIMOTO, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Masayuki SUZUKI, Fumiya KUROKAWA
  • Publication number: 20220209095
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The piezoelectric layer includes first and second surfaces opposed to each other. The first electrode layer is located on the first surface. The second electrode layer is located on the second surface. At least a portion of the second electrode layer faces the first electrode layer with the piezoelectric layer interposed therebetween. The second electrode layer mainly includes silicon. The piezoelectric layer is monocrystalline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Masato KOBAYASHI, Masayuki SUZUKI, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Yutaka KISHIMOTO, Hajime YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220199891
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a coupling electrode. At least a portion of the second electrode layer faces the first electrode layer with the piezoelectric layer interposed therebetween. The second electrode layer includes a coupling area. The coupling area meets a through hole in a region of the second electrode layer not facing the first electrode layer. The coupling electrode is on the coupling area. Between the coupling area and the surface of the second electrode layer on the piezoelectric layer side excluding the coupling area, the difference in position is about 5 nm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Masayuki SUZUKI, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Yutaka KISHIMOTO, Hajime YAMADA, Masato KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20220045261
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a membrane portion including a single-crystal piezoelectric layer, an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. The upper electrode layer is on a first surface. The lower electrode layer is on a second surface facing at least a portion of the upper electrode layer sandwiching the single-crystal piezoelectric layer. The single-crystal piezoelectric layer includes piezoelectric body cleavage directions extending along a boundary line between a cleavage plane occurring when the single-crystal piezoelectric layer is cleaved and the first surface. When viewed in a vertical direction, at least a portion of an upper electrode outer edge and at least a portion of a lower electrode outer edge are non-parallel to at least one of the piezoelectric body cleavage directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Masayuki SUZUKI, Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Fumiya KUROKAWA, Yutaka KISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220040737
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a substrate including a first main surface and a second main surface. A piezoelectric element is on the first main surface. A cover on the first main surface. The cover covers the piezoelectric element and is spaced apart from piezoelectric element on the first main surface side. The piezoelectric element includes a base portion and a membrane portion. The base portion is on the first main surface and has an annular external shape when viewed from the first main surface side. The membrane portion is inside the annular base portion when viewed from the first main surface side. The cover includes a first through hole. The substrate includes a second through hole facing the membrane portion and extends between the first main surface and the second main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Shinsuke IKEUCHI, Seiji UMEZAWA, Fumiya KUROKAWA