Piezoelectric Elements And Devices Patents (Class 310/311)
  • Patent number: 11161148
    Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular body including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of side surfaces that connect the first and second ends, piezoelectric vibrators that are fixed to the tubular body and vibrate the tubular body, and a light transmitting body unit that is directly or indirectly connected to the second end of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujimoto, Chikahiro Horiguchi, Kenji Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Kuratani, Shinichiro Ichiguchi
  • Patent number: 11156926
    Abstract: An actuator for an optic mount in a vacuum environment includes a bellows around an actuator compartment. The bellows provides a seal around the actuator. A filter assembly is positioned between the actuator compartment and an interior of a vacuum chamber. The filter assembly includes a first particle filter, a second particle filter, and a purifier medium between the first particle filter and the second particle filter. Vacuum conditions in the actuator compartment can be achieved with a pump for the vacuum chamber, but particles and contaminants from the actuator or actuator compartment are captured by the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Zefram D. Marks, Gildardo R. Delgado, Rudy Garcia, Joseph Walsh, Matthew Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11146247
    Abstract: Acoustic resonators, such as bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators and, in particular, acoustic resonators including stacked crystal filters (SCFs) are disclosed. SCF structures are disclosed with increased spurious free ranges by providing various arrangements of acoustically soft materials in one or more locations that correspond with high stress regions of one or more modes. For SCFs operating in first order modes, relative amounts of acoustically soft materials within shared electrodes may be increased. One or more additional layers of acoustically soft materials may also be added to SCF structures near shared electrodes. Accordingly, SCFs may be provided with increased frequency spreads between first order modes and second order modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Qorvo US, Inc.
    Inventor: Yazid Yusuf
  • Patent number: 11096566
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an imaging element, a voltage-current conversion circuit, a first coaxial cable, and an impedance conversion circuit. The imaging element generates a first voltage. The voltage-current conversion circuit is disposed inside or outside the imaging element and converts the first voltage into a first current. The first coaxial cable has a first conductor and a second conductor. The second conductor is disposed outside the first conductor. The first current is transmitted through the first conductor. The first current transmitted through the first conductor is input to the impedance conversion circuit. The impedance conversion circuit outputs a second current according to the first current. A second voltage according to the first current is input to the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Hagihara
  • Patent number: 11082024
    Abstract: A resonant member of a MEMS resonator oscillates in a mechanical resonance mode that produces non-uniform regional stresses such that a first level of mechanical stress in a first region of the resonant member is higher than a second level of mechanical stress in a second region of the resonant member. A plurality of openings within a surface of the resonant member are disposed more densely within the first region than the second region and at least partly filled with a compensating material that reduces temperature dependence of the resonant frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Hagelin, Charles I. Grosjean
  • Patent number: 11036228
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices related to the control and operation of a carrier for supporting a payload. In one aspect, a carrier may include: a stator configured to be coupled to a base support, wherein the stator include a spherical surface; and a frame operably coupled to the stator via a plurality of piezoelectric actuators, wherein the frame is configured to rotate relative to the stator about one or more rotational axes, and wherein the frame is configured to support a plurality of payloads in a manner that substantially balances a weight of the plurality of payloads relative to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Koyama, Zongyao Qu
  • Patent number: 11009953
    Abstract: A resin film is disposed facing an upper surface of a diaphragm with a gap interposed therebetween. The gap is provided between a lower surface of the resin film and the upper surface of the diaphragm in a tactile feedback keyboard. Consequently, it is possible to secure a key stroke from the resin film to the upper surface of the diaphragm, and make a user feel a sense of an operation that the user has pushed a key. Further, the gap and the resin film reduces the vibrations from the diaphragm reaching an operation surface. Thus, the user feels the vibrations of the diaphragm via only a finger which has pushed the resin film until the resin film contacts the upper surface of the diaphragm, and the other fingers hardly feel the vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kentaro Usui
  • Patent number: 11002652
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring mechanical properties of electrodes during electrochemical reactions. Such an apparatus includes a fixture having a fluid reservoir that is open to a surrounding atmosphere, first and second electrodes located within the fluid reservoir, and a contact for coupling with a sample material located in the fluid reservoir to define a third electrode. The apparatus further includes a nanoindenter configured for applying a load to a surface of the sample material to form an indentation therein and measuring the load and the size of the indentation over time, a housing enclosing the fixture and the nanoindenter within an inert atmosphere, and a potentiostat configured to charge and discharge an electrochemical cell that is defined by the first, second, and third electrodes and an electrolyte solution in the fluid reservoir while the nanoindenter is applying the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kejie Zhao, Luize Scalco de Vasconcelos, Rong Xu
  • Patent number: 10961980
    Abstract: An actuator device for a wind power installation, in particular for a rotor blade of a wind power installation, and also to an associated wind power installation and a method of assembly, with an actuator component and a control component, wherein the actuator component has at least one actuator layer with a preferential direction and, substantially parallel to the actuator layer, at least one exciting layer, wherein the actuator layer comprises a photoactuator, wherein the photoactuator is designed to change a strain and/or stress of the actuator layer in the preferential direction on the basis of excitation light, wherein the exciting layer is designed to guide excitation light into the actuator layer, wherein the control component comprises a light source and a light guide, wherein the light source is arranged away from the exciting layer and is connected to the exciting layer by means of the light guide. The actuator device makes it possible to ensure greater operational reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Andree Altmikus
  • Patent number: 10955923
    Abstract: A vibrating touch screen includes a plate; two first elongated portions approximately parallel to each other, having an acoustic reflection coefficient greater than that of the plate, and connected to a first surface of the plate; and two strips of piezoelectric actuators approximately parallel to the portions and located therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: HAP2U
    Inventors: Cedric Chappaz, Eric Vezzoli
  • Patent number: 10944040
    Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film-stacked body is provided. A piezoelectric thin film-stacked body has a first electrode layer, a first intermediate layer stacked on the first electrode layer, a second intermediate layer stacked on the first intermediate layer, and a piezoelectric thin film stacked on the second intermediate layer, the first intermediate layer includes K, Na, and Nb, the second intermediate layer is a layer causing stress in a compression direction in the piezoelectric thin film, and the piezoelectric thin film includes (K,Na)NbO3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Nanao, Kouhei Ohhashi, Kenta Ishii
  • Patent number: 10937942
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric layer, which is a layered structure of a plurality of piezoelectric films each containing potassium, sodium, and niobium, formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. A sodium concentration in the piezoelectric layer has a Na local maximum value, which is a local maximum value of the sodium concentration, in a first piezoelectric film, which is among the plurality of piezoelectric films, in the vicinity of the first electrode, a sodium concentration gradient decreasing from the Na local maximum value toward the second electrode, and a Na local minimum value, which is a local minimum value of the sodium concentration, near a boundary between the first piezoelectric film and a second piezoelectric film formed immediately above the first piezoelectric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuya Kitada, Koji Sumi, Tomohiro Sakai, Toshiaki Takahashi, Tsutomu Asakawa
  • Patent number: 10939533
    Abstract: An intelligent light-emitting device integrated with an illuminating object, the illuminator being an independent and removable component, comprising a LED light assembly, a control unit, a rechargeable battery, a switch and a wireless charging module, which are assembled and sealed to form a waterproof, portable and independent light-emitting device; the control unit configured to control different lighting mode of the LED light set and including a wireless remote control unit, remotely controlled by a light control. APP of an intelligent article; wherein the illuminating object includes a transparent or semi-transparent block with light-conducting function and a light-conducting groove; the block is a shoe sole, a lamp holder or a box; the light-emitting device is placed in the light-transmitting groove and removable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Inventor: Szu-Hsiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10921943
    Abstract: A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Bechstein, Collin R. Petty, Martin P. Grunthaner, Andrew W. Joyce, John R. Matthews, Pavan O. Gupta, Albert Lin
  • Patent number: 10912490
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. Each sensor includes two electrodes that are in communication with a force sensitive resistive material. The electrodes and the force sensitive resistive material may have multi-lobed shapes. Additionally, the sensor system may be provided on an insert that may form a sole member of the article of footwear. The insert may have slits therethrough, and may have a defined peripheral shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Andrew A. Owings, Allan M. Schrock, Anthony C. Dean
  • Patent number: 10879453
    Abstract: A spin oscillator device including a first spin Hall effect nano-oscillator, SHNO, having an extended multilayered magnetic thin-film stack, wherein a nano-constriction, NC, is provided in the magnetic film stack providing an SHNO including a magnetic free-layer and a spin Hall effect layer, and having a nanoscopic region, wherein the NC is configured to focus electric current to the nanoscopic region, configured to generate the necessary current densities needed to excite magnetization auto-oscillations, MAO, in the magnetic free layer, wherein a circumferential magnetic field surrounds the NC, wherein an externally applied field with a substantial out-of-plane component is configured to control the spatial extension of the MAO towards a second spin oscillator device, which is arranged in MAO communication and synchronized to the first NC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Nanosc AB
    Inventors: Johan Åkerman, Ahmad A Awad, Philipp Dürrenfeld, Afshin Houshang, Mykola Dvornik
  • Patent number: 10850597
    Abstract: A vehicle body lower structure includes: a battery pack provided below a floor panel and in which a cell is received in an inside of a case; a side frame extending in a vehicle body forward/rearward direction at an outer side of the battery pack in a vehicle width direction and configured to support the battery pack; and a support bracket having a first extension section that is fixed to the cell and that is disposed at an inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a second extension section that is fixed to a longitudinal wall section of the case and that is disposed at an outer side in the vehicle width direction, wherein the second extension section extends in an upward/downward direction at an inner side of the side frame in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Tsuyuzaki, Hiroyuki Ozawa, Ryo Shinoda
  • Patent number: 10833608
    Abstract: A vibration actuator, which is capable of being miniaturized or obtaining stable drive performance, moves a vibration body and a contact body relatively. The vibration actuator includes a support member that supports the vibration body. The support member includes a vibration section joined to the vibration body, a first fixing section and a second fixing section that are provided on opposite sides of the vibration body for fixing the support member at a predetermined position, a first support section that connects the vibration section with the first fixing section to support the vibration body, a second support section that connects the vibration section with the second fixing section to support the vibration body, and conduction members that extend from the vibration body to the first fixing section, extend from the vibration body to the second fixing section, and supply electric power to the vibration body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Shinzato, Kei Suefuji
  • Patent number: 10813623
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes: a substrate that is provided with a first surface and a second surface as a back surface of the first surface and has an opening opened from the first surface to the second surface; a support that blocks the opening on the first surface side; a vibrator provided on the support; and a metal membrane provided in an unopened region, which is not opened by the opening, on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10816152
    Abstract: A body defines an interior region and an exterior region. A liquid-retaining portion retains a liquid. A mist generator transforms the liquid into a mist. A first chamber receives the mist to form mist-infused fluid. A fan applies pressure to fluid in the second chamber. A first fluid-transferring portion: receives at an inlet the mist-infused fluid from the first chamber in the interior region; emits the mist-infused fluid into the exterior region via an outlet; and changes the velocity of the mist-infused fluid between the inlet and the outlet. A second fluid-transferring portion receives at an inlet the fluid from the second chamber in the interior region and emits this fluid into the exterior region via an outlet. A light source emits light to illuminate the mist-infused fluid in the exterior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: STERNO HOME INC.
    Inventors: Frederic Boucher, Carlos Carpintero, Lucian Hurduc
  • Patent number: 10814782
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising an operating element, which can be lowered by application of force; a snap dome arranged below the operating element for applying haptic feedback to the operating element when the snap dome is deformed by means of the operating element lowering; a blocking body made of an electroactive polymer arranged below the operating element and next to the snap dome, the shape of which blocking body can be altered depending on an electrical voltage applied thereto such that lowering of the operating element is blocked or lowering of the operating element for deforming the snap dome is enabled; a detection apparatus for detecting a contact position of a finger on the operating element; a control apparatus which is set up to adjust a voltage at the blocking body depending on the detected contact position of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Klaus Meierling
  • Patent number: 10813207
    Abstract: A single-use neutron generator includes a power supply. The single-use neutron generator includes a fuel source configured to provide neutron-producing fuel. The single-use neutron generator includes a plasma confinement device coupled to the power supply and the fuel source and configured to generate a plasma pinch of the neutron-producing fuel. At least one component of the single-use neutron generator is configured for single use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James A. Grossnickle, Dejan Nikic, Mark J. Clemen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10804818
    Abstract: A triboelectric generator includes a resiliently-deformable hexagonal housing including a first housing wall and a second housing wall positioned opposite the first housing wall. A first electrode resides along the first housing wall, and a second electrode resides along the second housing wall. A dielectric contact layer is positioned in intimate contact with the first electrode and between the first electrode and the second electrode. The dielectric contact layer is spaced apart from the second housing wall. The first housing wall is coupled to the second housing wall such that at least one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall is resiliently movable toward the other one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall so as to enable contact between the dielectric contact layer and the second electrode during operation of the triboelectric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Songtao Wu, Khoa Vo, Chi-Ming Wang, Debasish Banerjee, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Shailesh Joshi
  • Patent number: 10797217
    Abstract: A bending actuator device or sensor device for sensing bending comprises a stack of electroactive polymer units. The adjacent electroactive polymer units in the stack are slidable relatively to each other. This means that, for an actuator for example, an increased actuation force is enabled without requiring increased driving voltage, and it also avoids the problems of stress build up by allowing sliding between the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Franciscus Johannes Gerardus Hakkens, Cornelis Petrus Hendriks, Daan Anton van Den Ende, Roland Alexander van De Molengraaf, Valentina Lavezzo
  • Patent number: 10756771
    Abstract: A wireless switch comprising: a movable section provided to be freely displaceable; an operation unit elastically held by the movable section and, when in a non-neutral state, vibrating as a result of an action of elastic force that causes return to a neutral state and displacing the movable section in a direction corresponding to a direction of the vibration; a power generation unit generating a voltage of a polarity corresponding to a direction of displacement when the movable section has been displaced; a wireless transmission unit wirelessly transmitting a signal on the basis of power generated by the power generation unit; and a voltage supply control circuit, when the operation unit in the neutral state has been operated such that the operation unit is brought into a non-neutral state, supplying a voltage to the wireless transmission unit using power generated by the power generation unit at a time of an initial state change of the operation unit and then disabling voltage supply to the wireless transmi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Marumo, Yasushi Kawashima, Hajime Umeki, Junji Obata, Keisuke Yano
  • Patent number: 10707407
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes a substrate having a first opening, a second opening and a wall part partitioning the first opening and the second opening; a first vibration film and a second vibration film which close the first opening and the second opening respectively; a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element which are formed on surfaces of the first vibration film and the second vibration film opposite to the substrate; an acoustic matching layer which is disposed within the first opening and the second opening so as to come into contact with the first vibration film and the second vibration film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kanechika Kiyose
  • Patent number: 10682119
    Abstract: A transducer device includes a transducer array (300) configured on a substrate (312). The substrate is configured to flex in accordance with a surface. The transducer array includes elements for transmitting and/or receiving acoustic energy. A shape sensing optical fiber (314) is disposed within the array and configured to shape sense a position of the elements in the array. Stiffeners (308) are connected to the array and configured to flex in accordance with the surface and provide a limit to an amount of flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Wojtek Sudol
  • Patent number: 10669397
    Abstract: A polymeric piezoelectric film, including a helical chiral polymer (A) having a weight average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 1,000,000 and optical activity, in which, in the film: a crystallinity given by a DSC method is from 20% to 80%; a standardized molecular orientation MORc is from 3.5 to 15.0 when a reference thickness measured by a microwave transmission-type molecular orientation meter is 50 ?m; and when a direction parallel to a phase difference streak is a direction X, a direction perpendicular to the direction X and parallel to a main plane of a film is a direction Y, and the phase difference streak is evaluated by an evaluation method A, per a length of 1,000 mm in the direction Y, a number of phase difference streaks with an evaluation value of 60 or more is 0, and a sum of the evaluation values of phase difference streaks with an evaluation value of 20 or more is 1000 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sato, Katsuki Onishi, Hiroaki Tsushima, Kazuhiro Tanimoto, Toshihisa Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10672528
    Abstract: A multi-modular power plant includes a plurality of on-site nuclear power modules that generate a power plant output, and a number of power plant systems which operate using electricity associated with a house load of the power plant. A switchyard associated with the power plant may electrically connect the power plant to a distributed electrical grid. The distributed electrical grid may be configured to service a plurality of geographically distributed consumers. Additionally, the switchyard may electrically connect the power plant to a dedicated electrical grid. The dedicated electrical grid may provide electricity generated from the power plant output to a dedicated service load, and the power plant output may be equal to or greater than a combined load of the dedicated service load and the house load. At least a portion of the power plant output may be distributed to both the power plant systems and the dedicated electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Ingersoll, Jose N. Reyes, Jr., Bill Galyean, Jeremiah Doyle, Ted Hough, Ross Snuggerud
  • Patent number: 10644222
    Abstract: A piezoelectric drive apparatus for a motor, the apparatus including a substrate having a longitudinal direction and a widthwise direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a piezoelectric element provided on the substrate and having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric body positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a contact section that is attached to a front end section of the substrate in the longitudinal direction thereof or in contact with the front end section of the substrate in the longitudinal direction thereof and comes into contact with a driven body, wherein the longitudinal direction of the substrate roughly coincides with a direction in which Young's modulus is minimized in a plane of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10629800
    Abstract: Power generators that incorporate porous electric generation layers composed of mechanoradical-forming polymers are provided. Also provided are methods for using the generators to convert mechanical energy into and electrical signal to power electronic devices. The porous electric generation material includes an organic polymer that forms free radicals when covalent bonds are homolytically ruptured upon the application of a compressive force to the porous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shaoqin Gong, Qifeng Zheng, Zhenqiang Ma, Yanfeng Tang
  • Patent number: 10625086
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for the generation of electrical power from acousto-mechanical vibrations originating from the vocal folds of the human body. The apparatus and methods can include one or more beams comprising a piezoelectric material, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), coupled to a power circuitry. Each of the one or more beams can also have a predetermined resonance frequency that is within the dominant frequency range of the human voice. The power circuitry can be adapted to receive the electrical charge received by the one or more piezoelectric beams and to convert the electrical charge into an electric current. The power circuitry can also be coupled to a battery for the storage of the converted energy, which in turn can provide power to implantable medical electronic devices (e.g., neurostimulators or cochlear implants) and/or wearable electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyuck Choo, Hyun Jun Cho
  • Patent number: 10627617
    Abstract: A micromechanical constituent includes an actuator designed to impart to a displaceable element a first displacement motion around a first rotation axis and a second displacement motion around a second rotation axis oriented tiltedly with respect to the first rotation axis, the actuator including a permanent magnet on a first spring element and a one second permanent magnet on a second spring element, where the first permanent magnet is excitable to perform a first translational motion tiltedly with respect to the first rotation axis and tiltedly with respect to the second rotation axis, and the second permanent magnet is excitable to perform a second translational motion directed oppositely to the first translational motion, causing the second displacement motion of the displaceable element around the second rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Schatz, Joerg Muchow, Mirko Hattass, Stefan Pinter, Thorsten Balslink
  • Patent number: 10618079
    Abstract: An apparatus may include one or more segmented piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) elements. Each segmented PMUT element may include a substrate, an anchor structure disposed on the substrate and a membrane disposed proximate the anchor structure. The membrane may include a piezoelectric layer stack and a mechanical layer. The anchor structure may include boundary portions that divide the segmented PMUT element into segments. Each segment may have a corresponding segment cavity. The boundary portions may correspond to nodal lines of the entire membrane. The membrane may include a membrane segment disposed proximate each segment cavity. The membrane may be configured to undergo one or both of flexural motion and vibration when the segmented PMUT element receives or transmits signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald William Kidwell, Jr., Ravindra Vaman Shenoy, Jon Bradley Lasiter
  • Patent number: 10622818
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charger, comprising an AC plug and a wire terminals, said AC plug being connected to a high voltage AC and supplying power to the device through a terminal, wherein said terminal is provided with a two-phase AC electrical wiring probe, a DC electrical connection probe and a data line probe; said AC wire probe is connected with a null wire or a live wire through a relay; said DC wire probe is connected with AC through a transformer; said terminal is further provided with a controller; said controller is connected with the sensor to control the connection and disconnection of the relay; the terminal of the electrical equipment is provided with the corresponding probe hole; AC is supplied for equipment while DC is for the internal control components; data line is used for the data communication transmission between electric equipment and the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Hongping You
  • Patent number: 10615327
    Abstract: A monolithic ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body including a stack of ceramic layers. Inner electrodes are disposed within the ceramic body and include exposed portions at the end surfaces of the ceramic body. A pair of outer electrodes is arranged on the end surfaces of the ceramic body so as to extend from the end surfaces to the main surfaces and side surfaces of the ceramic body. Each of the outer electrodes includes a lower electrode layer provided on the ceramic body, an intermediate electrode layer located on the lower electrode layer and defined by a plated Ni layer, and an upper electrode layer located on the intermediate electrode layer and defined by a plated Pd layer. A thickness of the intermediate electrode layer on the main surfaces and the side surfaces of the ceramic body is larger than a thickness of the intermediate electrode layer on the end surfaces of the ceramic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Katsuta, Yasuaki Kainuma, Tatsuya Nagaoka, Akihiro Motoki, Satoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 10605903
    Abstract: Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasound Transducer (pMUT) arrays for ultrasonic imaging, and related apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic imaging assembly comprises a substrate and a plurality of array elements arranged on the substrate in an array. Each array element comprises at least one pMUT disposed on the substrate each having a geometry configured to accept a predetermined fundamental mode vibration. The plurality of array elements are configured to transmit and receive at least one ultrasound beam based on the predetermined fundamental mode vibration. By sizing the pMUTs to correspond to a desired fundamental mode vibration, the pMUT array has improved sensitivity, and can be produced relatively cheaply compared to conventional dicing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Olaf T. von Ramm, John B. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 10574204
    Abstract: Systems and methods for growing hexagonal crystal structure piezoelectric material with a c-axis that is tilted (e.g., 25 to 50 degrees) relative to normal of a face of a substrate are provided. A deposition system includes a linear sputtering apparatus, a translatable multi-aperture collimator, and a translatable substrate table arranged to hold multiple substrates, with the substrate table and/or the collimator being electrically biased to a nonzero potential. An enclosure includes first and second deposition stations each including a linear sputtering apparatus, a collimator, and a deposition aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: QORVO BIOTECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin McCarron, John Belsick
  • Patent number: 10574184
    Abstract: A stacked-die oscillator package includes an oscillator circuit die having inner bond pads, and outer bond pads, and a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator die having a piezoelectric transducer with a first and second BAW bond pad on a same side coupled to a top and bottom electrode layer across a piezoelectric layer. A first metal bump is on the first BAW bond pad and a second metal bump is on the second BAW bond pad flip chip bonded to the inner bond pads of the oscillator circuit die. A polymer material is in a portion of a gap between the BAW and oscillator circuit die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ricky A Jackson, Kurt Peter Wachtler
  • Patent number: 10573482
    Abstract: A vacuum transistor includes a substrate and a first terminal formed on the substrate. A piezoelectric element has a second terminal formed on the piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is provided over the first terminal to provide a gap between the first terminal and the second terminal. The gap is adjusted in accordance with an electrical field on the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qing Cao, Kangguo Cheng, Zhengwen Li, Fei Liu
  • Patent number: 10573459
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a first metal terminal including a first terminal joining portion connected to a first end surface, first and second extending portions extending from both ends of the first terminal joining portion toward a mounting surface, and first and second mounting portions connected respectively to the first and second extending portions in a length direction connecting the end surfaces to each other. A second metal terminal includes a second terminal joining portion connected to the second end surface, a third extending portion extending from the second terminal joining portion toward the mounting surface, and a third mounting portion connected to the third extending portion and extending in a length direction connecting the end surfaces to each other. The first and second mounting portions include first, second, and third protrusion bending portions protruding toward the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teppei Akiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10567884
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transduction film including a polymer composite piezoelectric body in which piezoelectric body particles are dispersed in a viscoelastic matrix formed of a polymer material having viscoelasticity at a normal temperature, and thin film electrodes respectively laminated on both surfaces of the polymer composite piezoelectric body is included, and two or more of the electroacoustic transduction films are laminated, and a gap between the adjacent electroacoustic transduction films is less than or equal to 3 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10541666
    Abstract: A resonant member of a MEMS resonator oscillates in a mechanical resonance mode that produces non-uniform regional stresses such that a first level of mechanical stress in a first region of the resonant member is higher than a second level of mechanical stress in a second region of the resonant member. A plurality of openings within a surface of the resonant member are disposed more densely within the first region than the second region and at least partly filled with a compensating material that reduces temperature dependence of the resonant frequency corresponding to the mechanical resonance mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Hagelin, Charles I. Grosjean
  • Patent number: 10533971
    Abstract: A biosensor, including: a first cover member comprising an element-accommodating recess in an upper face thereof; a detection element using a surface acoustic wave, the detection element including an element substrate accommodated in the element-accommodating recess, and at least one detection unit located on an upper face of the element substrate configured to perform detection of an analyte; and a second cover member joined to the first cover member and covering the detection element, and including an inflow port from which the analyte flows in and a groove which extends from the inflow port to at least above the at least one detection unit and constitutes a capillary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuomi Fukuura, Toru Fukano, Yuji Kishida, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hideharu Kurioka
  • Patent number: 10531704
    Abstract: A rain boot and uniform footwear with an intelligent temperature-controlling air extractor and water-proofing and air-venting functions, includes: a boot upper layer (10), a middle cushion layer (11) and a boot lower layer (12), wherein a miniature air extractor (13) is provided at a position below an instep of the boot bottom layer (12), a magnetic levitation power switch (14), a temperature sensor (15) and a control main board (16) are also provided in the boot bottom layer (12), the temperature sensor (15) being electrically connected to an input end of the control main board (16) and transmitting a temperature sensing signal of the foot to the control main board (16), and an output end of the control main board (16) being electrically connected to the miniature air extractor (13) via the magnetic levitation power switch (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAMBO GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: WaiYip Ko
  • Patent number: 10535469
    Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a body including a dielectric layer and first and second internal electrodes disposed to oppose each other with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, first and second external electrodes each including a connection portion disposed on a side surface of the body and a band portion extending from the connection portion to portions of upper/lower and front/rear surfaces of the body, first and second resin layers each disposed between the band portion and the body and extending from an end of the band portion towards each side surface by a predetermined length, in which the predetermined length is within a range of 3 ?m to 200 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eui Hyun Jo, Hyun Hee Gu, Jang Yeol Lee, Jong Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10536780
    Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer including a substrate, a piezoelectric layer and a stiffening structure is provided. The substrate has a chamber. The piezoelectric layer has a displacement zone, a plurality of sensing zones, a plurality of gaps, a plurality of top electrodes, and a plurality of bottom electrodes. The displacement zone is located over the chamber. The sensing zones are surroundingly connected to an outer edge of the displacement zone and are located over the chamber. The gaps are each formed between any adjacent two of the plurality of sensing zones, and each of the gaps communicates with the chamber. The top electrodes are each disposed on a top surface of each of the sensing zones. The bottom electrodes are each disposed on a bottom surface of each of the sensing zones. The stiffening structure is disposed on a bottom of the displacement zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Merry Electronics(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Yi Chen, Chao-Sen Chang, Kai-Yu Jiang, Jui-Chin Peng
  • Patent number: 10529910
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric vibrating piece, an excitation electrode, an extraction electrode, a container, a pad, a conductive member, and a heat conductive metal film. The excitation electrode is disposed on a front surface and a back surface of the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The extraction electrode is extracted from the excitation electrode. The container houses the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The pad is disposed in the container, and the pad is connected to the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The conductive member connects the pad to the extraction electrode. The heat conductive metal film is disposed at least on a surface of a pad side of the piezoelectric vibrating piece, the heat conductive metal film is extracted from the extraction electrode without contacting the excitation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Sato, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 10530299
    Abstract: A resonator element includes an SC-cut quartz crystal substrate having a thickness t, and an excitation electrode disposed on a principal surface of the quartz crystal substrate, the principal surface being square or rectangular in shape, a side of which has a length L, 28?L/t?60 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10522290
    Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor a multilayer body including ceramic layers and principal surfaces opposing each other, side surfaces opposing each other, and end surfaces opposing each other, the principal surface defining and functioning as a mounting surface; an inner electrode located within the multilayer body and partially extended to the principal surface; an outer electrode located on the principal surface and connected to the inner electrode. The outer electrode includes outer electrode side surface portions located also on portions of the side surfaces. When a length of the outer electrode side surface portions in a direction connecting the principal surfaces is indicated by A, and a length of the multilayer body in the direction connecting the principal surfaces is indicated by B, 0.063?A/B?1.000 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Ota