Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Shrout

Thomas R. Shrout 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: 11758818
    Abstract: A method of preparing a piezoelectric single crystal with high piezoelectricity and near- perfect transparency. The method includes depositing electrodes on two opposition surfaces of a piezoelectric single crystal which is a ferroelectric crystal; AC-poling the piezoelectric single crystal through the electrodes by repeatedly changing polarity of an AC electric field; and after polarization, removing the electrodes on the two opposition surfaces of the piezoelectric single crystal and then depositing Ag nanowire or indium tin oxide (ITO) as electrodes on the two opposition surfaces of the piezoelectric single crystal. Repeatedly changing the polarity of the polarized electric field can increase the domain size of the ferroelectric crystal, or reduce the domain wall density of the domain structure, thereby improving the transparency of the piezoelectric single crystal having high piezoelectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: XI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fei Li, Chaorui Qiu, Zhuo Xu, Bo Wang, Long-Qing Chen, Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout
  • Patent number: 11486055
    Abstract: A relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3, wherein: M is a rare earth cation; MI is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, and In3+; MII is Nb5+; MI? is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, In3+, and Zr4; MII? is Nb5+ or Zr4+; 0<x?0.05; 0.02<y<0.7; and 0?z?1, provided that if either MI? or MII? is Zr4+, both MI? and MII? are Zr4+. A method for forming the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising pre-synthesizing precursor materials by calcining mixed oxides, mixing the precursor materials with single oxides and calcining to form a feeding material, and growing the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal having the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3 from the feeding material by a Bridgman method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: TRS TECHNOLOGIES, INC., THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jun Luo, Wesley S. Hackenberger, Fei Li, Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout
  • Publication number: 20210050507
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a transparent piezoelectric single crystal with high piezoelectricity and a preparation method thereof, a photoacoustic transducer, a transparent actuator and an optical-electro-mechanical coupling device prepared from the transparent piezoelectric single crystal with high piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric single crystal is a binary/ternary relaxor-PT based ferroelectric crystal poled by an AC electric field, and has ultrahigh piezoelectricity and excellent transparency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Fei Li, Chaorui Qiu, Zhuo Xu, Bo Wang, Long-Qing Chen, Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout
  • Patent number: 10811593
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can be directed to controlling and/or engineering the size and/or volume of polar nanoregions (PNRs) of ferroelectric polycrystalline material systems. Some embodiments can achieved this via composition modifications to cause changes in the PNRs and/or local structure. Some embodiments can be used to control and/or engineer dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may facilitate improvements to the dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may further facilitate generating a piezoelectric material that may be useful for many different piezoelectric applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Fei Li, Dabin Lin, Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Long-Qing Chen
  • Patent number: 10756253
    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: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Chuanying Shen
  • Publication number: 20200098973
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can be directed to controlling and/or engineering the size and/or volume of polar nanoregions (PNRs) of ferroelectric polycrystalline material systems. Some embodiments can achieved this via composition modifications to cause changes in the PNRs and/or local structure. Some embodiments can be used to control and/or engineer dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of polycrystalline materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may facilitate improvements to the dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or electromechanical properties of materials. Controlling and/or engineering the PNRs may further facilitate generating a piezoelectric material that may be useful for many different piezoelectric applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Fei Li, Dabin Lin, Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Long-Qing Chen
  • Publication number: 20190071791
    Abstract: A relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3, wherein: M is a rare earth cation; MI is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, and In3+; MII is Nb5+; MI? is selected from the group consisting of Mg2+, Zn2+, Yb3+, Sc3+, In3+, and Zr4; MII? is Nb5 or Zr4+; 0<x?0.05; 0.02<y<0.7; and 0?z?1, provided that if either MI? or MII? is Zr4+, both MI? and MII? are Zr4+. A method for forming the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal is disclosed, comprising pre-synthesizing precursor materials by calcining mixed oxides, mixing the precursor materials with single oxides and calcining to form a feeding material, and growing the relaxor-PT based piezoelectric crystal having the general formula of (Pb1-1.5xMx){[(MI,MII)1-z(MI?,MII?)z]1-yTiy}O3 from the feeding material by a Bridgman method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jun LUO, Wesley S. HACKENBERGER, Fei LI, Shujun ZHANG, Thomas R. SHROUT
  • Publication number: 20180114895
    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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Chuanying Shen
  • 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: 9673380
    Abstract: The application is directed to piezoelectric single crystals having shear piezoelectric coefficients with enhanced temperature and/or electric field stability. These piezoelectric single crystal may be used, among other things, for vibration sensors as well as low frequency, compact sonar transducers with improved and/or enhanced performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventors: Wesley S. Hackenberger, Jun Luo, Shujun Zhang, Fei Li, Thomas R. Shrout, Kevin A. Snook, Raffi Sahul
  • Publication number: 20150340591
    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: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Thomas R. Shrout, Chuanying Shen
  • Publication number: 20150076391
    Abstract: The application is directed to piezoelectric single crystals having shear piezoelectric coefficients with enhanced temperature and/or electric field stability. These piezoelectric single crystal may be used, among other things, for vibration sensors as well as low frequency, compact sonar transducers with improved and/or enhanced performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Wesley S. HACKENBERGER, Jun LUO, Shujun ZHANG, Fei LI, Thomas R. SHROUT, Kevin A. SNOOK, Raffi SAHUL
  • Patent number: 8907546
    Abstract: The application is directed to piezoelectric single crystals having shear piezoelectric coefficients with enhanced temperature and/or electric field stability. These piezoelectric single crystal may be used, among other things, for vibration sensors as well as low frequency, compact sonar transducers with improved and/or enhanced performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventors: Wesley S. Hackenberger, Jun Luo, Thomas R. Shrout, Kevin A. Snook, Shujun Zhang, Fei Li, Raffi Sahul
  • Patent number: 8889030
    Abstract: A ternary polycrystalline material based on lead hafnate (PbHfO3) and having improved dielectric, piezoelectric, and/or thermal stability properties. The Pb(Hf,Ti)O3 based material can exhibit enhanced electromechanical coupling factors when compared to PZT based ceramics and can be used as high performance actuators, piezoelectric sensors and/or ultrasonic transducers. The ternary polycrystalline material can have a perovskite crystal structure with an ABO3 formula and can be characterized by a substitution of heterovalent acceptor and donor ions at A or B (Zr/Hf) sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Dawei Wang, Mingfu Zhang, Shiyi Guo, Thomas R. Shrout
  • Patent number: 8501031
    Abstract: Piezoelectric compounds of the formula xNamBinTiO3-yKmBinTiO3-zLimBinTiO3-pBaTiO3 where (0<x?1), (0?y?1), (0?z?1), (0.3?m?0.7), (0.3?n?0.7), (0<p?1) (0.9?m/n?1.1) as well as to doped variations thereof are disclosed. The material is suitable for high power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Hyeong Jae Lee, Thomas R Shrout
  • Patent number: 8241519
    Abstract: A <110> domain engineered relaxor-PT single crystals having a dielectric loss of about 0.2%, a high electromechanical coupling factor greater than about 85%, and high mechanical quality factor greater than about 500 is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relaxor-PT material has the general formula, Pb(B1B2)O3—Pb(B3)O3, where B1 may be one ion or combination of Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Sc3+, In3+, Yb3+, B2 may be one ion or combination of Nb5+, Ta5+, W6+, and B3 may be Ti4+ or combination of Ti4+ with Zr4+ and/or Hf4+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: TRS Technologies, Inc., Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jun Luo, Wesley S. Hackenberger, Shujun Zhang, Richard J. Meyer, Jr., Thomas R. Shrout, Nevin P. Sherlock
  • Publication number: 20120037839
    Abstract: The application is directed to piezoelectric single crystals having shear piezoelectric coefficients with enhanced temperature and/or electric field stability. These piezoelectric single crystal may be used, among other things, for vibration sensors as well as low frequency, compact sonar transducers with improved and/or enhanced performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TRS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wesley S. HACKENBERGER, Jun LUO, Thomas R. SHROUT, Kevin A. SNOOK, Shujun ZHANG, Fei LI, Raffi SAHUL
  • Publication number: 20110017937
    Abstract: A <110> domain engineered relaxor-PT single crystals having a dielectric loss of about 0.2%, a high electromechanical coupling factor greater than about 85%, and high mechanical quality factor greater than about 500 is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relaxor-PT material has the general formula, Pb(B1B2)O3—Pb(B3)O3, where B1 may be one ion or combination of Mg2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Sc3+, In3+, Yb3+, B2 may be one ion or combination of Nb5+, Ta5+, W6+, and B3 may be Ti4+ or combination of Ti4+ with Zr4+ and/or Hf4+.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: TRS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun LUO, Wesley S. HACKENBERGER, Shujun ZHANG, Richard J. MEYER, JR., Thomas R. SHROUT, Nevin P. SHERLOCK
  • Publication number: 20100133461
    Abstract: Piezoelectric compounds of the formula xNamBinTiO3-yKmBinTiO3-zLimBinTiO3-pBaTiO3 where (0<x?1), (0?y?1), (0?z?1), (0.3?m?0.7), (0.3?n?0.7), (0<p?1) (0.9?m/n?1.1) as well as to doped variations thereof are disclosed. The material is suitable for high power applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Hyeong Jae Lee, Thomas R. Shrout
  • Patent number: RE46445
    Abstract: Piezoelectric compounds of the formula xNamBinTiO3-yKmBinTiO3-zLimBinTiO3-pBaTiO3 where (0<x?1), (0?y?1), (0?z?1), (0.3?m?0.7), (0.3?n?0.7), (0<p?1) (0.9?m/n?1.1) as well as to doped variations thereof are disclosed. The material is suitable for high power applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shujun Zhang, Hyeong Jae Lee, Thomas R Shrout