Acoustic Wave Type Generator Or Receiver Patents (Class 310/334)
  • Patent number: 12107318
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for two-way satellite communication and an asymmetric-aperture antenna for two-way satellite communication are disclosed. In one embodiment, a beam pattern for an asymmetric-aperture antenna is offset in a narrow beamwidth direction, and the offset beam pattern is directed by a mechanical gimbal, with the beam pattern offset made to reduce interference with an adjacent satellite. In additional embodiments, operational areas near the equator are identified for a given offset beam pattern, or a beam pattern offset may be adjusted over time to compensate for movement of the asymmetric-aperture antenna when attached to an airplane, boat, or other mobile vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Irvine
  • Patent number: 12102009
    Abstract: A device (1) comprising an electro-ceramic component (2) which has a first electrical contact (3A), provided on a first side face (2A) of the electro-ceramic component (2) in the excitation zone (11), and a second electrical contact (3B) provided on a second side face (2B) of the electro-ceramic component (2). A sealing compound (20) is placed around the electro-ceramic component (2) so that the first electrical contact (3A) and the second electrical contact (3B) are covered by the sealing compound (20) and a free end (26) of a section (24) of the high-voltage zone (12) of the electro-ceramic component (2) projects beyond a free end (22) of the sealing compound (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: Relyon plasma GmbH, TDK Electronics AG
    Inventors: Stefan Nettesheim, Klaus Forster, Markus Puff, Johann Pichler
  • Patent number: 12085645
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic transducer; a first voltage output circuit to output a transmission voltage signal that oscillates between a first high voltage and a first low voltage, supplied to a first terminal of the ultrasonic transducer; a reception circuit to detect a voltage signal generated at a second terminal of the ultrasonic transducer; and the second voltage output circuit to output a second high voltage smaller than the first high voltage. The first voltage output circuit includes a first switching unit to perform switching between supplying the transmission voltage signal in ultrasonic transmission; and fixing a potential of the first terminal in ultrasonic reception. The second voltage output circuit includes a second switching unit that performs switching between supplying the second high voltage to the second terminal in ultrasonic transmission; and electrically separating the second voltage output circuit from the second terminal in ultrasonic reception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kyogoku
  • Patent number: 12078708
    Abstract: A phase array acoustic device using array of horns and optional faceplates is presented. Said horn phased-array acoustic device can be used as a passive sensor, a sound projector, or both (sonar). It is shown that by correct selection of the fill-factor and apodization faceplate, grating-lobes and side-lobes cab be greatly reduced. An optional use of acoustic valves as phase-shifter in the wave domain to improve Signal to Noise Ratio is presented. An optional aperiodic tiling of the horns' mouth to reduces aliasing is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventor: Moshe Benezra
  • Patent number: 12076192
    Abstract: A coherence indicator of received signals is calculated for pixels with a small amount of calculation, and a high-quality ultrasound image is obtained. A plurality of types of images in which a sound speed for beamforming is changed into a plurality of types are generated. By arranging, in order of the sound speed for beamforming, signal intensities of the pixels at corresponding positions between the plurality of types of images, a change in signal intensities in a direction of the sound speed for beamforming is obtained. A coherence indicator representing coherence of the received signals used for beamforming of the pixels is calculated based on the obtained change in the signal intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Misaki Hiroshima, Nobuhiko Fujii
  • Patent number: 12037268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating sulfur-containing organic wastewater by integrating an energy supply unit and a treatment unit into an integrated device. The treatment unit is used to purify sulfur-containing organic wastewater with an initial concentration of organic sulfur, so that the organic sulfur content in the treated sulfur-containing organic wastewater is within a preset range to enable the device to efficiently purify and treat sulfur-containing organic wastewater with different initial concentrations of organic sulfur, the efficiency of purifying sulfur-containing organic wastewater can be improved to a certain extent, the purification cost can be reduced, and the competitiveness of enterprise can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CO., LTD. OF NORTH BRANCH
    Inventors: Wenlong Liang, Xiaoqing Qiu, Xiang Wang, Yi Luo, Guofeng Li, Changyu Yao, Zhijun Gao, Xianyi Chen, Xiaoming Li, Fuguo Li, Xinge Jiang, Youliang Cen, Ruiyang Wang, Lei Li, Ruixia Wang, Puyan Hou, Binghua Dang
  • Patent number: 12021504
    Abstract: Acoustic resonators and filter devices. An acoustic resonator includes a piezoelectric plate having front and back surfaces, a portion of the piezoelectric plate forming a diaphragm, a conductor pattern on the front surface, the conductor pattern including an interdigital transducer (IDT), fingers of the IDT on the diaphragm, and a front-side dielectric layer on the front surface of the piezoelectric plate between the interleaved fingers. A resonant frequency is determined, in part, by a thickness of the front-side dielectric layer. A ratio of a mark of the interleaved fingers to a pitch of the interleaved fingers is greater than or equal to 0.12 and less than or equal to 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bryant Garcia, Julius Koskela, Robert B. Hammond, Patrick Turner, Viktor Plesski, Ventsislav Yantchev, Soumya Yandrapalli
  • Patent number: 12016726
    Abstract: A flexible ultrasound transducer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a substrate having a central part and a plurality of extended parts extending from the central part; an ultrasound probe disposed at the central part of the substrate to acquire an ultrasound image of a region of interest; and a focused ultrasound output unit disposed at the extended parts of the substrate to output a focused ultrasound to the region of interest, wherein the focused ultrasound output unit disposed at the extended parts of the substrate has a flexible property and is deformable. According to the structure of an embodiment, it is possible to simultaneously achieve ultrasound imaging and ultrasonic therapy such as lesion stimulation or removal through focused ultrasound, and adjust the focal position of focused ultrasound or improve the focal sensitivity through flexible movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Byung Chul Lee, Shinyong Shim, Dong-Hyun Kang, Hae Youn Kim, Hyung Min Kim, Ki Joo Pahk, Maesoon Im
  • Patent number: 12005476
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a multi-frequency transducer array. In one example, the transducer array includes an element formed of one or more sub-elements, at least one sub-element having a different resonance frequency. A frequency range of the transducer array may thereby be broadened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Edouard Dacruz, Flavien Daloz, Jason Barrett
  • Patent number: 11975360
    Abstract: Described are micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) with convex or concave electrodes, which have enhanced pressure amplitude and frequency response behavior when driven at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, as well as methods of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: EXO IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Haesung Kwon, Brian Bircumshaw, Sandeep Akkaraju
  • Patent number: 11950511
    Abstract: A device for emitting an ultrasound acoustic wave in a propagation medium, comprising: a package including a base substrate and a cap coupled to the base substrate and defining therewith a chamber in the package; a semiconductor die, coupled to the base substrate in the chamber, comprising a semiconductor body; a micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) integrated at least in part in the semiconductor body and including a cavity in the semiconductor body and a membrane suspended over the cavity; and an actuator, operatively coupled to the membrane, which can be operated for generating a deflection of the membrane. The membrane is designed in such a way that a resonance frequency thereof matches an acoustic resonance frequency that, during operation of the MUT, develops in said chamber of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Procopio, Fabio Quaglia
  • Patent number: 11938514
    Abstract: Transducer assembly transmits ultrasonic energy towards a zone acoustically coupled to an object or area of interest, and comprises a piezoelectric subassembly matching a curved support layer disposed behind said subassembly. Piezoelectric subassembly comprises piezoelectric elements and metal connections. Piezoelectric elements are disposed along a first azimuth direction to form parallel curved segments of piezoelectric elements extending in a second elevation direction, each being in contact with a corresponding metal connection extending in the elevation direction for transmitting/receiving electric signals to/from each piezoelectric segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Esaote S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Bertocci, Ramona De Luca
  • Patent number: 11914781
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive user input device comprising: a first electrode layer comprising a first plurality of electrodes; a second electrode layer comprising a second plurality of electrodes; an insulating layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and at least one piezoelectric transducer, wherein an electrode of the at least one piezoelectric transducer is coupled to the first plurality of electrodes of the first electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony S. Doy
  • Patent number: 11913828
    Abstract: A test object includes a sensor housing for vibrating together with a test object in synchronism with vibration of the test object; a piezoelectric substrate for vibrating together with the sensor housing in synchronism with vibration of the sensor housing, where a first interdigital electrode, a first terminal, a second interdigital electrode, and a second terminal are disposed on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and the piezoelectric substrate is disposed inside the sensor housing to be fixed to the sensor housing; an amplifier for receiving a signal output from the second terminal as an input signal, amplifying the received input signal, and transmitting the input signal after the amplification to the first terminal as an output signal; a deformable layer being elastic and having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and a heavy object having a first surface adhered to a second surface of the deformable layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Rokuzo Hara, Tomonori Kimura, Koji Ibata, Yasuhiro Nishioka
  • Patent number: 11917920
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric array, a resin portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric array includes piezoelectric pillars having a columnar shape and made of piezoelectric ceramic. The piezoelectric pillars are provided along a row direction and a column direction in a two-dimensional array such that the piezoelectric pillars are parallel or substantially parallel to each other in height direction thereof. The resin portion is located in and preferably fills a gap between the piezoelectric pillars. The first electrode includes first electrode wires extending in the column direction. The second electrode includes second electrode wires extending in the row direction. Both of the piezoelectric pillars and the resin portion resonantly vibrate in a thickness longitudinal vibration mode, and a resonant frequency of the resin portion is higher than a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric pillars by about 15% or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironari Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11907028
    Abstract: A portable electronic device, including a first body and a second body, is provided. The second body includes a support structure and a display panel. The support structure is pivotally connected to the first body and is connected to the display panel. The support structure has a first bendable portion. An included angle between the first bendable portion and an edge of the support structure is 45 degrees. The support structure is adapted to be bent along the first bendable portion, so that the second body switches between a first mode and a second mode relative to the first body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Wen Cheng, Wei-Ning Chai, Ting-Wei Liu, Tzu-Yung Huang, Wang-Hung Yeh
  • Patent number: 11910720
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric device and an MEMS device whose size can be reduced. The piezoelectric device includes: a first substrate that includes a first surface on which a piezoelectric element and a first electrode coupled to the piezoelectric element are disposed; a second substrate that includes a second surface on which a second electrode configured to be coupled to a control circuit is disposed; and a third substrate that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and includes a third surface bonded to the first surface and a fourth surface facing the second surface, in which the third substrate has a through hole passing through from the third surface to the fourth surface, and a third electrode provided in the through hole and coupled to the first electrode, and the second electrode is coupled to the third electrode and is electrically coupled to the first electrode via the third electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Osawa, Hikaru Iwai
  • Patent number: 11890140
    Abstract: Ultrasound transducer assemblies and associated systems and method are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasound transducer assembly includes at least one matching layer overlies a transducer layer. A plurality of kerfs extends at least into the matching layer. In some aspects, the kerfs are at least partially filled with a filler material that includes microballoons and/or microspheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Gregg Frey, Simon Hsu
  • Patent number: 11883646
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcurrent patch having a small battery and a circuit unit that are arranged on a substrate and are covered with a glue layer so as to be formed as one body on the substrate, and thus the present invention is easy to use, improves productivity, and has excellent flexibility, thereby facilitating attachment to a human body having many curves, and adjusting the amount of current flowing through the patch according to the linear width of the circuit unit or the number of holes in the glue layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: VITZROCELL CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Nam In Kim, Chae Bong Lee, Aram Choi, Jong Jin Park, Tae Jin Bang
  • Patent number: 11877515
    Abstract: An actuator and tactile sensation providing apparatus include an actuator including a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate and is configured so that an end of the vibration plate is displaced more in a longitudinal direction than in a normal direction of the vibration plate in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The angle between the vibration plate and the support is acute. The tactile sensation providing apparatus can further include an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11857807
    Abstract: Various approaches for computationally generating a protocol for treatment of one or more target BBB regions within a tissue region of interest using a source of focused ultrasound include specifying (i) settings of sonication parameters for applying one or more sequence of sonications to the target BBB region using the source of focused ultrasound and (ii) a characteristic of microbubbles selected to be administered into the target BBB region; electronically simulating treatment in accordance with the protocol at least in part by computationally executing the sequence(s) of sonications and computationally administering the microbubbles having the characteristic; and computationally predicting a tissue disruption effect of the target BBB region resulting from the treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: INSIGHTEC, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoav Levy, Rafi De Picciotto, Javier Grinfeld, Eyal Zadicario
  • Patent number: 11846703
    Abstract: A sonar survey system and method excites reflectors using a broadband message that excites all frequencies within the band providing for selection and evaluation of frequencies of interest after the survey is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventors: Jens Steenstrup, Christopher Tiemann, Peter Bilodeau, Mark Chun, Kirk Hobart
  • Patent number: 11844282
    Abstract: A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) device includes a substrate having an opening therethrough and a membrane attached to the substrate over the opening. An actuating structure layer on a surface of the membrane includes a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the membrane and an upper electrode layer. The actuating structure layer is patterned to selectively remove portions of the actuating structure from portions of the membrane to form a central portion proximate a center of the open cavity and three or more rib portions projecting radially outward from the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Guedes, Fabian Goericke, Stefon Shelton, Benedict Costello, David Horsley
  • Patent number: 11813640
    Abstract: Planar phased ultrasound transducer including a first layer including a sheet of piezoelectric material, a piezo frame surrounding an outer perimeter of the sheet of piezoelectric material, and an epoxy material placed between the piezo frame and the sheet of piezoelectric material. The transducer includes a flex frame secured to a back side of the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.
    Inventors: Guofeng Pang, Oleg Ivanytskyy, Robert Kolaja
  • Patent number: 11793083
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration sensor in which the frequency dependence of the output is small. The present invention provides a vibration sensor 1 comprising: a support 2; an organic piezoelectric material 3 deformably disposed in or on the support 2; and an electrode 4 for extracting an electrical signal generated by deformation of the organic piezoelectric material 3, the electrode 4 being formed on the organic piezoelectric material 3, the organic piezoelectric material 3 comprising a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and one or more monomers copolymerizable with vinylidene fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinya Bitou, Tetsuhiro Kodani, Saori Sakami, Takashi Kanemura, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Takafumi Uemura, Shusuke Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11731165
    Abstract: A backing panel for a transducer of an ultrasound scanner probe, comprising a core layer sandwiched by a first skin layer and a second skin layer. The transducer may comprise a front portion and a rear portion, where the front portion points to a direction of a target for the ultrasound scanner probe, and the first skin layer is adjacent to the rear portion of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Lanteri, Edouard Da Cruz, Flavien Daloz, Coraly Cuminatto, Douglas Glenn Wildes
  • Patent number: 11723625
    Abstract: In one aspect, ultrasound transducers are described herein comprising acoustic lenses having enhanced wear resistance. Such transducers can be employed in applications having harsh operating conditions, including veterinary applications. A transducer described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a polymeric acoustic lens having an acoustic velocity greater than 1.7 mm/?s, the polymeric acoustic lens arranged over an array of transducer elements wherein the array of transducer elements has a curvature in an elevation plane sufficient to compensate for wave refraction induced by the acoustic velocity of the polymeric acoustic lens to provide elevation focusing of an ultrasound beam generated by the transducer element array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TRANSDUCERWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Todd Spigelmyer
  • Patent number: 11720177
    Abstract: A touch panel device includes a face plate, a force-feedback device, and a touch panel circuit. The face plate receives at a first surface a contact with the face plate. The force-feedback device includes a PCB affixed by a first surface of the PCB to a second surface of the face plate. The PCB includes a first metallic ring on a second surface of the PCB. The piezo disc includes a piezoelectric wafer and a second metallic ring. The piezo disc is adjacent to the second surface of the PCB. The touch panel circuit is coupled to the first metallic ring, the second metallic ring, and the piezoelectric wafer. The touch panel circuit determines a capacitance between the first metallic ring and the second metallic ring, determines a force associated with the contact based upon the capacitance, and triggers a haptic feedback response in the piezoelectric wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Wu Chin-Chung, Yong-Teng Lin, Chun-Kai Tzeng, Bradford Edward Vier
  • Patent number: 11712718
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a substrate in which an opening is formed; a vibration plate that is provided on the substrate so as to block the opening; and a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode that are stacked on an opposite side of the opening of the vibration plate, in which when a direction in which the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode are stacked is a Z direction, and a portion that is completely overlapped by the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer, and the second electrode in the Z direction is an active portion, a plurality of active portions are provided so as to face the each opening, and a columnar member is provided between the adjacent active portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Chikara Kojima
  • Patent number: 11711980
    Abstract: A fluid actuator includes an actuating portion, a piezoelectric unit, a conduction unit, and a levelness regulating portion. The actuating portion includes a first actuating area, a second actuating area, and at least one connecting section between the two actuating areas. The piezoelectric unit includes a first signal area and a second signal area. The two signal areas are provided in the same plane and are isolated from each other by an isolating portion. The piezoelectric unit corresponds in position to the first actuating area of the actuating portion. The conduction unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first signal area of the piezoelectric unit is electrically connected to the first electrode, and the second signal area of the piezoelectric unit to the second electrode. The levelness regulating portion, the piezoelectric unit, and the conduction unit are located on the same side of the actuating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Han Wu, Hsin-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 11696507
    Abstract: A MEMS device having a body with a first and a second surface, a first portion and a second portion. The MEMS device further has a cavity extending in the body from the second surface; a deformable portion between the first surface and the cavity; and a piezoelectric actuator arranged on the first surface, on the deformable portion. The deformable portion has a first region with a first thickness and a second region with a second thickness greater than the first thickness. The second region is adjacent to the first region and to the first portion of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini
  • Patent number: 11672179
    Abstract: An ultrasound-on-a-chip device has an ultrasonic transducer substrate with plurality of transducer cells, and an electrical substrate. For each transducer cell, one or more conductive bond connections are disposed between the ultrasonic transducer substrate and the electrical substrate. Examples of electrical substrates include CMOS chips, integrated circuits including analog circuits, interposers and printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Keith G. Fife
  • Patent number: 11665968
    Abstract: A microphone including a casing having a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall joining the front wall to the back wall, a transducer mounted to the front wall, the transducer including a substrate and a transducing element, the transducing element having a transducer acoustic compliance dependent on the transducing element dimensions, a back cavity cooperatively defined between the back wall, the side wall, and the transducer, the back cavity having a back cavity acoustic compliance. The transducing element is dimensioned such that the transducing element length matches a predetermined resonant frequency and the transducing element width, thickness, and elasticity produces a transducer acoustic compliance within a given range of the back cavity acoustic compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
  • Patent number: 11656355
    Abstract: For direct chip-on-array for a multi-dimensional transducer array, the generally rigid and conductive dematching layer is extended beyond a footprint of the transducer array. The ASIC is directly connected to the dematching layer on one side, while the other side provides for electrical connection to the elements of the array and I/O pads for connections (e.g., flex-to-dematching layer) to the ultrasound imaging system. By using the dematching layer rigidity, the ASIC may be protected during formation of the acoustic stack. By using the dematching layer conductivity, any mis-alignment is compensated by the routing through the dematching layer, and/or a large flat region is provided for I/O, allowing for good low temperature asperity contact connections with larger area than flip-chip solder bumps. By providing the I/O for the system connections on a different side of the dematching layer than the ASIC, a large keep-out distance due to underfill may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Baik Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11650621
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a circuit board for a display device includes: a first layer; a first lead line disposed on the first layer; and a sound generator disposed on the first layer, and the sound generator including: a first electrode to receive a first driving voltage; a second electrode to receive a second driving voltage; and a second layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to contract or expand according to the first driving voltage and the second driving voltage; and a first solder to electrically communicate the first lead line and the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Si Young Choi, Jong Tae Kim, Young Sik Kim, Sang Wook Yoo, Jeong Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11642697
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The transducer includes a wear cap and an active element. The wear cap includes at least one slot arranged so as to define a strip. The strip is arranged to be in vibrational communication with the active element. The ultrasonic transducer may include a rigid block. The active element may be interposed between the wear cap and the rigid block, and the rigid block may be configured to provide a backing mass for the active element. Optionally, the rigid block may include chamfered edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Guided Ultrasonics Ltd
    Inventor: Jimmy Fong
  • Patent number: 11635360
    Abstract: A method for evaluating a binder includes disposing the binder on a first plate, bringing a second plate, which faces the first plate, into contact with one surface of the binder, applying a stress to the binder through the second plate, measuring a strain of the binder due to the applied stress, and calculating a curing rate of the binder based on the strain of the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeon Deuk Hwang, Eun Joong Mun, Dong Yeon Lee, Hyung Don Na
  • Patent number: 11633765
    Abstract: A system for controlling damages in cleaning a semiconductor wafer comprising features of patterned structures, the system comprising: a wafer holder for temporary restraining a semiconductor wafer during a cleaning process; an inlet for delivering a cleaning liquid over a surface of the semiconductor wafer; a sonic generator configured to alternately operate at a first frequency and a first power level for a first predetermined period of time and at a second frequency and a second power level for a second predetermined period of time, to impart sonic energy to the cleaning liquid, the first predetermined period of time and the second predetermined period of time consecutively following one another; and a controller programmed to provide the cleaning parameters, wherein at least one of the cleaning parameters is determined such that a percentage of damaged features as a result of the imparting sonic energy is lower than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Fufa Chen, Fuping Chen, Jian Wang, Xi Wang, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yinuo Jin, Zhaowei Jia, Liangzhi Xie, Jun Wang, Xuejun Li
  • Patent number: 11630205
    Abstract: An acoustic dual-frequency phased array system with common beam angles is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a planar array of transducer elements and a multiplexing circuit for selecting between a first state and a second state during either transmit operation, receive operation or both transmit and receive operation. The multiplexer is configured to connect transducer elements to a plurality of connections different between the first state and second state. The system is configured to transmit and receive beams at a first frequency when the multiplexer is in the first state and transmit and receive beams at a second frequency when the multiplexer is in the second state. The angle of the beams from vertical in the first and second state are substantially similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerker Taudien, Steven Webb
  • Patent number: 11631800
    Abstract: In a non-limiting embodiment, a device may include a substrate, and a hybrid active structure disposed over the substrate. The hybrid active structure may include an anchor region and a free region. The hybrid active structure may be connected to the substrate at least at the anchor region. The anchor region may include at least a segment of a piezoelectric stack portion. The piezoelectric stack portion may include a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer over the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer over the piezoelectric layer. The free region may include at least a segment of a mechanical portion. The piezoelectric stack portion may overlap the mechanical portion at edges of the piezoelectric stack portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia Jie Xia, Ranganathan Nagarajan, Bevita Kallupalathinkal Chandran, Miles Jacob Gehm
  • Patent number: 11620973
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The ultrasonic transducer includes a stainless steel backing comprising a piezoelectric element mounted on a front face of the backing, wherein the stainless steel backing enables operation in high temperature and radiation applications. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first enclosure comprising a threaded through hole and a second enclosure comprising an opening, wherein the first and second enclosure encapsulates the stainless steel backing, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are joined together using a plurality of enclosure screws, wherein the first enclosure is configured to receive a set screw through the threaded through hole, and wherein the set screw upon being received is configured to make contact with a ceramic ball, and wherein tightening of the set screw pushes the piezoelectric element out of the opening in the second enclosure to make a contact with a work structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Dan Xiang, Uday Singh
  • Patent number: 11619527
    Abstract: A flow meter includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers. Each transducer includes a housing, a piezoelectric crystal disposed within the housing, and a mini-horn array coupled to the housing. The mini-horn array, which may be formed via a 3D printing technique, includes an opening-free enclosure, a closed cavity inside the enclosure, and a plurality of horns enclosed within the closed cavity. The horns include a horn base portion adjacent to a proximal end surface of the cavity and a horn neck portion that extends from the base portion in a direction away from the piezoelectric crystal and towards a distal end surface of the cavity. The horn neck portions are separated by spaces within the cavity, wherein the spaces between the horn necks may be filled with powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Charles Straub, Jr., Alex Mezheritsky, Kerry Dwayne Groeschel
  • Patent number: 11602771
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer and a manufacturing method thereof, an ultrasonic transducer array and a display device. The ultrasonic transducer includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, an insulation layer on a side of the first electrode away from the substrate, and a second electrode on a side of the insulation layer away from the first electrode. The second electrode is disposed opposite to the first electrode, and the ultrasonic transducer further includes a through hole penetrating both the substrate and the first electrode and a chamber in the insulation layer. The chamber is opposite to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively, the chamber is communicated with the through hole, and the second electrode is not in contact with the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Lei Zhao
  • Patent number: 11604536
    Abstract: A display device with a touch sensor having a display function and a touch sensor function is provided. The display device includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode; a first electrode along a first direction; and a second substrate including a second electrode that includes patterns of electrodes along a second direction crossing the first direction and that faces the first electrode and the pixel electrode, wherein upon the display function being activated, the pixel electrode is supplied with a pixel signal, and the second electrode is supplied with common voltage, and upon the touch sensor function being activated, the first electrode is applied with a first signal and the second electrode is configured to receive the first signal to be a second signal as a touch detecting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Naosuke Furutani, Hayato Kurasawa, Makoto Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11590536
    Abstract: A wafer level ultrasonic chip module includes a substrate, a composite layer, a conducting material, and a base material. The substrate has a through slot that passes through an upper surface of the substrate and a lower surface of the substrate. The composite layer includes an ultrasonic body and a protective layer. A lower surface of the ultrasonic body is exposed from the through slot. The protective layer covers the ultrasonic body and a partial upper surface of the substrate. The protective layer has an opening, from which a partial upper surface of the ultrasonic body is exposed. The conducting material is in contact with the upper surface of the ultrasonic body. The base material covers the through slot, such that a space is formed among the through slot, the lower surface of the ultrasonic body and an upper surface of the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: PEKING UNIVERSITY SHENZHEN GRADUATE SCHOOL, SONICMEMS (ZHENGZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Feng Jin, Sheng-Lin Ma, Qian-Cheng Zhao, Yi-Hsiang Chiu, Huan Liu, Hung-Ping Lee, Dan Gong
  • Patent number: 11590533
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer, in particular for an ultrasonic sensor, is proposed. The acoustic transducer has a functional group, the functional group encompassing a diaphragm cup and at least one electroacoustic transducer element. The acoustic transducer furthermore has a housing. The diaphragm cup encompasses a vibration-capable diaphragm and an encircling wall, as well as at least one electroacoustic transducer element, the transducer element being embodied to excite the diaphragm to vibrate and/or to convert vibrations of the diaphragm into electrical signals. The diaphragm cup is constituted from a plastic material, the at least one transducer element being integrated into the vibration-capable diaphragm, the transducer element having an electrically active polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Henneberg, Andre Gerlach, Marko Liebler
  • Patent number: 11581478
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes: a first substrate that has a first surface on which a functional element is provided; a wiring portion that is provided at a position, which is different from a position of the functional element on the first surface, and is conductively connected to the functional element; a second substrate that has a second surface that is opposite to the first surface; and a conduction portion that is provided on the second surface, is connected to the wiring portion, and is conductively connected the functional element. The shortest distance between the functional element and the second substrate is longer than the longest distance between the second substrate and a position where the wiring portion is connected to the conduction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Chikara Kojima, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hironori Suzuki, Shuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11579011
    Abstract: A hydrophone used for measuring acoustic energy from a high frequency ultrasound transducer, or a method of manufacturing the membrane hydrophone. The membrane assembly is supported by the frame and comprises a piezoelectric. The hydrophone also includes an electrode pattern formed within the piezoelectric to define an active area. In addition, the hydrophone includes a built in-situ coaxial layer connected to the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.
    Inventors: Oleg Ivanytskyy, Guofeng Pang, Alexander Burhoe, Marius Moszczynski, Nicholas Christopher Chaggares
  • Patent number: 11571713
    Abstract: A vibration structure that includes a film constructed to deform in a plane direction as voltage is applied thereto, a frame-shaped member, a vibration portion surrounded by the frame-shaped member in a plan view of the vibration structure, a support portion connecting the vibration portion and the frame-shaped member and supporting the vibration portion within the frame-shaped member, a first connection member that connects the film and the frame-shaped member, and a second connection member that connects the film to the vibration portion such that the vibration portion vibrates in the plane direction when the film is deformed in the plane direction. The support portion is disposed at a position closer to a center of gravity of the vibration portion than an end portion of the vibration portion when viewed in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Shozo Otera, Jun Endo, Toru Tominaga
  • Patent number: 11559236
    Abstract: An elongate medical device may comprise an elongate tubular body, an electrode, and a trace. The elongate tubular body may comprise a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the body defining a longitudinal axis. The electrode may comprise electrically-conductive ink extending circumferentially about a portion of the distal end portion. The trace may comprise electrically-conductive ink, electrically coupled with the electrode, extending proximally from the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark B. Kirschenman