Abstract: A transducer vibrated by a vibrator and used in a bonding apparatus, the transducer including holding portions provided so as to protrude at at least two locations that correspond to the nodes of vibration of a transducer main body, and connecting portions each connecting the tip ends of two protruding holding portions to each other. The transducer main body, holding portions and connecting portions are integrally formed from a single material member.

Abstract: A single piezoelectric is excited at a first frequency to cause two vibration modes in a resonator producing a first elliptical motion in a first direction at a selected contacting portion of the resonator that is placed in frictional engagement with a driven element to move the driven element in a first direction. A second frequency excites the same piezoelectric to cause two vibration modes of the resonator producing a second elliptical motion in a second direction at the selected contacting portion to move the driven element in a second direction. The piezoelectric is preloaded in compression by the resonator. Walls of the resonator are stressed past their yield point to maintain the preload. Specially shaped ends on the piezoelectric help preloading. The piezoelectric can send or receive vibratory signals through the driven element to or from sensors to determine the position of the driven element relative to the piezoelectric element or resonator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed that operates efficiently and at low impedance at high frequencies at or near a third harmonic frequency of its piezoelectric crystal. The ultrasonic transducer includes a resonator composed of ceramic material and positioned between a head mass and the piezoelectric crystal.

Abstract: A hot pluggable system includes an interlock between a component fail detect module and a component lock mechanism, such that the component is locked in place when it operates properly and is automatically released to permit a person to remove the component from the system when the component fails. In this way, the risk of human errors in removing the wrong component is reduced.

Abstract: A screening machine that uses electrically controlled transducers to vibrate a separating screen. The transducers can be piezoelectric patches, discrete piezoelectric components, or electromagnetic shakers. Further, the transducers can be coupled directly to the screen or through a vibration amplifier. The transducers and/or amplifiers can be coupled to the screen at different attachment locations. One or more of the transducers can be used as sensors to provide feedback for operation control.

Abstract: Transducer elements having a 2-2 or 1-3 composite structure and driven in a k31 transverse mode for small-feature size transducer arrays, which provide improved electrical impedance matching to an ultrasonic imaging system and improved acoustic matching to the human body. The transducer element includes a plurality of thin piezoceramic wafers which are electroded on opposing major surfaces. The spaced wafers are separated by a passive polymer layer in a composite structure. Methods of producing the transducer elements are also described.

Abstract: A stator includes a longitudinal-vibration sensing electrode. The stator also includes a torsional-vibration sensing piezoelectric element and a torsional-vibration sensing electrode plate for sensing torsional vibrations. A voltage signal from the torsional-vibration sensing electrode plate or a voltage signal from the longitudinal-vibration sensing electrode is sensed. Then, a drive voltage signal for driving the stator is generated in a self-excited oscillation drive circuit in such a manner that an actual vibrational frequency of the stator substantially coincides with a resonance frequency. Thereafter, the generated drive voltage signal is applied between a drive electrode and each one of first and second electrode plates.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator, comprising a stacked structure consisting of a top electrode 5, a piezoelectric film 4, and a bottom electrode 3, wherein the piezoelectric film comprises a first group 42 of piezoelectric ceramic particles and a second group 43 of piezoelectric ceramic particles. A distinctive feature is that the particles constituting the first group of piezoelectric ceramic particles are larger than the jingo particles constituting the second group of piezoelectric ceramic particles, and the first group of piezoelectric ceramic particles and the second group of piezoelectric ceramic particles have mutually different compositions. The piezoelectric actuator can thus be manufactured by an application method in a low-temperature environment, and a thicker piezoelectric film can be obtained. In addition, a highly practical piezoelectric film can be provided by combining the advantages of a plurality of material types.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor with an increased driving force is provided.

Abstract: A rotation-symmetric ultrasound horn for producing a circular seal to effect liquid-tight joining together of, for example, packaging container parts. The ultrasound horn is connected to an ultrasound source which supplies the horn axially via a supply end. The horn displays an opposing, tubular working end with a circular work surface. The mean diameter of the tubular part varies along the axis of the horn so that the horn, in the region of the work surface, is of greater mean diameter and cross-sectional area than in a region located between the work surface and the supply end of the horn. As a result of this design and construction, the initially axial ultrasound waves are given a radial component of sufficient amplitude to achieve welding of thermoplastic material along the circular work surface of the horn.

Abstract: A vibration type actuator has an elastic member in which a shaft center portion is formed in hollow shape along an axial direction and in which driving vibration is generated in a driving portion, a fastening member which fastens the elastic member to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, an output shaft which penetrates the shaft center portion of the elastic member, a moving member which is kept in press contact with the driving portion of the elastic member and which rotates together with the output shaft, and a bearing member which is located between an inner periphery portion of the elastic member and a distal end portion of the fastening member and which journals the output shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for processing delicate parts within a process tank such as an ultrasonic tank. Typically, one or more transducers connect to the tank and respond to drive signals from a generator to produce ultrasound within process liquid within the tank.

Abstract: A self-regenerating filter unit having a housing which carries an ultrasonic transducer periodically energizable to dislodge caked solids from a filter element in the housing. The removed solids collect in a storage zone where they are periodically removed.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for processing delicate parts within a process tank such as an ultrasonic tank. Typically, one or more transducers connect to the tank and respond to drive signals from a generator to produce ultrasound within process liquid within the tank.

Abstract: A power ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic generator comprised of two pairs of piezoceramic elements which are adjoined to be coupled to each other on the same shaft and a countermass attached at the both ends of the piezoceramic elements; a hollow type body having a length of integer times of half wavelength, in which the ultrasonic generator is positioned; a cylindrical transmitting rod having a length of integer times of half wavelength and for connecting the one side of the body with the one side of the ultrasonic generator to be fixed on the both sides of the ultrasonic generator, respectively; and a threaded stud for securing an electric wire for power supply at the one side end of the outside of the body, the electric wire for power supply passing through the countermass and the interior of the transmitting rod each positioned in the interior of the body to be wired to the piezoceramic elements.

Abstract: A bonding tool for applying pressure and ultrasonic energy simultaneously to join miniature components together includes an ultrasonic driver having four composite wafers separated by electrodes. Such bonding tools are known that use wafers made of wholly of ceramic material. By using wafers having four sector parts of ceramic material separated by layers of polymer as shown, bonding tools are provided with broader bandwidth operation and reduced spurious resonance modes.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for processing delicate parts within a process tank such as an ultrasonic tank. Typically, one or more transducers connect to the tank and respond to drive signals from a generator to produce ultrasound within process liquid within the tank.

Abstract: A composite structure (3) includes a piezoelectric element (1) sandwiched between fiber composite panels (2). The composite structure can be used as an actuator element. In a method for producing the composite structure, the fiber composite panels are pre-stressed and pre-strained by applying respective pre-stressing forces (F.sub.1, F.sub.2) in opposite directions along two substantially perpendicular axes in the plane of the panel. The pre-stressed and pre-strained condition of the fiber composite panels (2) is maintained, while the panels are adhesively bonded (5) surfacially onto the piezoelectric element (1). After the bonding is completed, the pre-stressing forces are removed from the fiber composite panels. As a result, in the finished composite structure (3), the fiber composite panels (2) are under internal tension, while the piezoelectric element (1) is under internal compression. The pre-stressing forces (F.sub.1, F.sub.

Abstract: A device for ultrasonic sealing includes a drive unit, a horn with a long and narrow sealing surface, and one or more reaction bodies which at least partially surround the drive unit. The length of the device consists of a half wave length.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly, having a cobalt-base alloy housing with at least one planar wall section, and at least one ultrasonic transducer mounted to the planar wall section, the ultrasonic transducer operatively arranged to impart an ultrasonic vibrating force to the planar wall section of the housing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus useable for welding metal by vibrations in the ultrasonic frequency range, employs a horn dimensioned to be resonant as a full wavelength resonator for vibrations of a predetermined frequency traveling longitudinally therethrough. To increase the energy available, the horn is coupled to a pair of transducers, one transducer coupled to each of the radially disposed end surfaces of the horn. During operation, one transducer must be in its longitudinal expansion mode when the other transducer is in its longitudinal contraction mode and vice versa. In order to accomplish this, two substantially identical transducers are used, but the orientation of the piezoelectric disc or discs in one of the transducers is reversed with respect to the orientation of the disc or discs in the other transducer.

Abstract: The invention utilizes harmonics of certain clamped ultrasound transducers to generate ultrasound within the liquid of an ultrasonic tank and in a frequency range of between about 100 khz to 350 khz (i.e., "microsonic" frequencies). The application of microsonic frequencies to liquid preferably occurs simultaneously with a sweeping of the microsonic frequency within the transducer's harmonic bandwidth to reduce or eliminate (a) standing waves within the liquid, (b) other resonances, (c) high energy cavitation implosion, and (d) non-uniform sound fields, each of which is undesirable for cleaning and/or processing of semiconductor wafers and other delicate parts. The invention can also drive ultrasonic transducers such that the frequency of applied energy has a sweep rate within the ultrasonic bandwidth of the transducers; and that sweep rate is also varied so that the sweep rate is substantially non-constant during operation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for generating and transmitting ultrasonic wave energy of a predetermined frequency to the surface of an object. The head mass and the tail mass are made from ceramic materials such as silicon carbide or alumina. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the transducer stack includes a resonance enhancing disc also made from ceramic material.

Abstract: A device (10) for transferring ultrasonic energy into a liquid or pasty medium, the device consisting of the following functional elements: a) an AC generator (35) designed for frequencies between 1 kHz and 100 kHz, b) a magnetostrictive or piezoelectric transducer (20) controlled by the output voltage of the AC generator to execute high-frequency (longitudinal) mechanical oscillations, c) a cylindrical waveguide (23) which is excited by the transducer to execute longitudinal resonant oscillations and d) a tubular cavity resonator (24) which is acoustically coupled to the waveguide and which converts the longitudinal resonant oscillations into oscillations transverse to its longitudinal axis (26'), the oscillation energy of the resonator being transferred into the medium (11) which is to be exposed to the ultrasonic energy. The cavity resonator (24) is designed so that the resonance condition is fulfilled for both longitudinal and transverse natural oscillations of its case (36).

Abstract: An ultrasonic vibrator which is preferable for transporting a small flow rate of powder is realized. A leaked vibrating energy is reduced to increase an efficiency of the device. A variation in performance influenced by the supporting process is eliminated to attain a stable performance. A vibrating amplitude at the horn part acting against the powder is increased. An AC voltage is applied to the piezo-electric elements through the electrodes. The vibrator may generate a complex vibration of the primary extending or retracting vibration and a secondary flex vibration, a lower end of the horn part is rotationally vibrated at an elliptical orbit indicated. The elliptical orbit has an elongated diameter extending in a lateral direction. The vibrator is made such that the inserting end of the shaft having the upper end flange part fixed thereto supports a section of the complex vibration of the vibrator.

Abstract: Disclosed is the powder feeder in which the sampling timing G, H, . . . is set during the inactive period T.sub.i in synchronism with the cycle of the duty ratio clock when the output voltage V.sub.CELL is fed back to the microcomputer 13, thereby the feedback signal (the output voltage V.sub.CELL) on which noise is not superposed can be sampled and the feed amount of the powder P can be controlled with high accuracy.

Abstract: The invention utilizes harmonics of certain clamped ultrasound transducers to generate ultrasound within the liquid of an ultrasonic tank and in a frequency range of between about 100 khz to 350 khz (i.e., "microsonic" frequencies). The application of microsonic frequencies to liquid preferably occurs simultaneously with a sweeping of the microsonic frequency within the transducer's harmonic bandwidth to reduce or eliminate (a) standing waves within the liquid, (b) other resonances, (c) high energy cavitation implosion, and (d) non-uniform sound fields, each of which is undesirable for cleaning and/or processing of semiconductor wafers and other delicate parts. The invention can also drive ultrasonic transducers such that the frequency of applied energy has a sweep rate within the ultrasonic bandwidth of the transducers; and that sweep rate is also varied so that the sweep rate is substantially non-constant during operation.

Abstract: A pre-stressed, sandwich-type, ultrasonic transducer assembly includes front and rear mass members having stacked therebetween alternating piezoelectric members and electrode members, with each of the members having surfaces which are substantially flat except for minute surface irregularities. Thin, soft, aluminum foil washers are respectively disposed between the facing surfaces of adjacent members of the stack. At least one bolt joins the front and rear mass members to subject it to a compressive pre-load, under which load the washers deform to follow the surface irregularities of the adjacent member surfaces and thereby fill inter-element voids created by such irregularities.

Abstract: A vibration actuator comprises a rod-shaped vibration element including an elastic unit having plural elastic members and an electromechanical converting device with portions mounted between mutually adjacent ones of the elastic members and adapted to generate mutually different plural vibrations and a relative movement member contacting an end face of the vibration element and adapted to effect a movement relative to the vibration element. The vibration element is so formed that the cross section thereof perpendicular to the axis thereof varies along the axis.

Abstract: A vibration wave driven motor including a stator, a rotor, and an urging member for causing the stator and the rotor to contact each other under pressure. The urging member is supported by a supporting member at a predetermined position. The supporting member is shiftable in the urging direction of the urging member.

Abstract: In an apparatus for sieving, grading, sifting, filtering or sorting dry solid substances or solid substances in liquids having a sieve surface provided in a sieve frame and an ultrasound transducer (10) which is associated with the sieve surface (18) and by which oscillations can be fed to the sieve surface, associated with the ultrasound transducer (10) is at least one resonator (14) which bears against the sieve surface (18) and which is tuned to the resonance of the ultrasound transducer and which can be caused to oscillate thereby, in particular with flexural oscillations. The resonator (14) which in an embodiment is disposed in the center of the sieve surface (18) is to be provided with resonance-transmitting elements (16) which project finger-like from the resonator on the sieve surface (18) and which project radially from same in the form of bar resonators.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a high density integrated ultrasonic phased array transducer and method for making. The high density integrated ultrasonic phased array includes a backfill material having an array of holes formed therein. Each of the holes are separated a predetermined distance apart from each other and have a predetermined hole depth. Each of the holes contain a conducting material deposited therein forming a high density interconnect with uniaxial conductivity. A piezoelectric ceramic material is bonded to the backfill material at a surface opposite the array of conducting holes. Matching layers are bonded to the piezoelectric ceramic material. The surface opposite the array of conducting holes is cut through a portion of the matching layers, the piezoelectric ceramic material, and the backfill material, forming an array of isolated individual elements each having multiple electrical connections therein.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer assembly which comprises multiple layers of piezoelectric polymer material on an acousto-reflective support member. The inner layer closest to the support member is excited at a fixed frequency and the overall thickness of the multiple layers is about one quarter of the wavelength of the wave of fixed frequency within the layers. In a variation of this structure, the inner layer is subdivided into a plurality of thin layers which are excited with alternating polarities.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor has a plurality of Langevin vibrators arranged in a ring, and the Langevin vibrators vibrate when an alternating voltage is provided thereto. Each of the Langevin vibrators has a first polarized region and a second polarized region which are polarized in mutually opposite directions. When the Langevin vibrators are supplied with an alternating voltage so as to vibrate in the length mode and flexural mode at substantially the same frequency, the edges of the metal terminals move in a elliptical motion, which drives the rotor.

Abstract: According to this invention, a piezo-electric element as an electro-mechanical energy conversion element is urged against a vibration member, and a vibration is excited in the vibration member by a vibration produced in the piezo-electric element. Thus, a contact member, e.g., a rotor which contacts the vibration member, and the vibration member are moved relative to each other. The rigidity of the outer side of the vibration member is larger than that of its inner side.

Abstract: A novel ultrasonic transducer comprises a machined solid metal unibody having a rectangular aperture in the center between a tool mounting end and a balanced end. The end portions are connected by two axial side members which connect to two transverse sides of the rectangular aperture. A stack of piezo electric crystals are mounted in said rectangular aperture between the transverse sides and spaced apart from the axial sides of the aperture. A bonding tool is mounted in a cylindrical aperture in the mounting end of the transducer and tightly mechanically coupled to the mounting end so that the stack of piezo electric crystals are acoustically coupled through the unibody to the bonding tool in a cylindrical aperture by a tightly coupled mounting surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the vibration of an untuned structure by means of an ultrasound converter. The main but not unique purpose is to cause a filtering cloth, a perforated metal sheet or a screening mesh to vibrate in order to improve the flow rate in the filtering or sieving process, with equal surface energy, without clogging the mesh or harming the product being processed. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one electro-acoustic converter (12) ridigly fixed to said structure (10) by means of metallic securing elements (14) tuned to the frequency of the converter, the links with the structure being in a maximum region of amplitude (V)j of said securing elements and resonance of the assembly being provided by a nut or any metallic unit tuned as an integral multiple of a half wave length.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising an ultrasonic vibrator having a pair of resonators for transferring and enlarging ultrasonic vibration, an electro-mechanical energy converter arranged between the pair of resonators, for generating ultrasonic vibration by application of alternating voltage, and a fastening element for crimping and fixing the pair of resonators and the electro-mechanical energy conversion element to each other, and an element to be driven crimped to an end of at least one of the resonators and driven by elliptic vibration which is generated at the ends. The electro-mechanical energy converter element is a pair of sliding vibrators which are polarized respectively in a pair of directions which are perpendicular to an axial direction and which are shift 90.degree. from each other.

Abstract: A vibration driven motor or actuator includes a vibrating member for generating a vibration therein in response to an electrical signal applied thereto, and a contact member frictionally engaged with the vibrating member to be driven by the vibration. The contact member has a structure for causing sin and cos modes of the vibration generated in the contact member to have different natural frequencies when the contact member is driven by the vibration.

Abstract: A first ball lace and a second ball lace, which is arranged at a position opposite to the first ball lace to sandwich a ball between itself and the first ball lace are coaxially assembled in a pencil shaped vibration driven motor or actuator, so that the second ball lace can be operated externally, and the rotational force of the ball can be output to an external device.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer having impedance matched layers that can be deployed in environments having wide temperature variations. An anisotropic layer provides a low coefficient of thermal expansion orthogonally to the direction of sound wave propagation. The anisotropic layer may be a solid matrix embedded with fibers, such as glass, arranged in a common orientation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprises a rotor and a stator between which a pressurized face-to-face contact is established. The stator includes a longitudinal vibrator for producing a longitudinal thrust in the axial direction thereof and a torsional vibrator for transmitting a torsional thrust to the rotor in response to a longitudinal thrust timely generated by the longitudinal vibrator. The stator is supported by a structure which comprises a ring portion secured to the stator and a plurality of limb portions radially extending from the ring portion. Each of the limb portions has such an effective length and a width that the oscillation frequency of the motor matches the primary resonant frequency of a vibration of the limb portion generated on a plane normal to the axial direction of the stator and has such a thickness that the oscillation frequency matches an intermediate point between adjacent antiresonant frequencies of a vibration of the limb portion generated in the axial direction of the stator.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus and method for generating sonic sound waves having a far field wavefront amplitude pattern in a Bessel or Gaussian distribution is disclosed. The transducer includes a piezoelectric element having uniformly poled dipoles formed therein. An unpoled backing body having the same dielecctric constant as the piezoelectric element contacts and is attached to the piezoelectric element. An indentation shaped to produce a beam amplitude distribution of a predetermined function is formed on the backing body.

Abstract: A transducer and method for imparting vibrational signals to a structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of piezoelectric disks are constructed in conjunction with a deformable housing to impart controlled distortions to the structure, such as to a well pipe string. Torsional forces are applied to the structure due to the orientation of the piezoelectric material relative to the electric field applied thereto. The piezoelectric material is placed in layers, with the polarization axis orthogonal to the direction of the electric field. Alternate layers are oriented in opposing directions, and alternating electrodes are connected together, so that each layer cooperates with the others to twist the housing in the same direction. To improve transmission, the apparatus can be tuned to a frequency determined by a spectrum analysis of the pipe string.

Abstract: The contact portion of a movable member is endowed with a spring property to thereby effect uniform contact over the entire circumference of the movable member, thereby realizing an ultrasonic motor which is good in efficiency and suffers little from the occurrence of sounds.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic transducer for the transmission of ultrasonic energy to a liquid which has ultrasonic generators coupled to opposite ends of rod-like resonators which both operate at the same frequency to transmit ultrasonic vibration to the resonator to be emitted therefrom, no radiation is emitted from the ends occupied by the generators so that all radiation is emitted from the resonator in a desired radial fashion.

Abstract: A surgical operation device comprising an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations, an oscillation feedback type oscillator for supplying high-frequency power to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration transmitter connected to the ultrasonic transducer for transmitting and amplifying mechanical vibrations at an ultrasonic frequency, a suction unit and an irrigator. The ultrasonic transducer includes a bolted Langevin type transducer. The feedback circuit of the oscillation feedback type oscillator includes an oscillation voltage detector, a phase comparator, a low pass filter, a differential amplifier, and a voltage controlled oscillator. Thus, the mechanical resonant frequency can be traced in a wide range of fluctuations of a load on the vibration transmitter during vibration and vibrations can start an appropriate mechanical resonate frequency irrespective of the load status of the vibration transmitter at the start-up.

Abstract: A transducer assembly providing a conversion between the electrical and sonic energy, the transducer assembly being adapted for operating submerged at great depths in ocean waters. The transducer assembly is formed by a front and back plate which are affixed in one embodiment to the ends of a first mechanically distributed impedance member, a second mechanically distributed impedance member located between the front and the back plate and a transducer of electroacoustical material mechanically coupling the first and second members for imparting sonic vibrations to these members. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer is bonded at one end thereof to the back plate and at the other end thereof to the second member. External hydrostatic pressure present at the front and back plates does not compress the electroacoustical material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic oscillator comprising piezoelectric elements and a resonator fixed thereto and having one or more inclined surfaces, elliptical oscillations being generated at the front end of the resonator. Also disclosed is an ultrasonic motor utilizing this oscillator and adapted to rotate a rotatably supported rotor by pressing it with an appropriate pressurizing force against the section where the elliptical oscillations are generated.

Abstract: Sieving apparatus has a piezoelectric transducer directly bonded to a grating (100), the transducer comprising a number of piezoelectric elements (1) sandwiched between first and second bodies (2,3 ). The first body (2) is in two parts (2A, 2B) which are releasably secured together (6, 7), one part (2B) being directly bonded (5) to the grating (100). The arrangement allows use of a transducer with different gratings with different parts (2B) of a first body (2) bonded thereto in order to achieve a required operational mode.