Acoustic Wave Type Generator Or Receiver Patents (Class 310/334)
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Patent number: 11813640Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.Inventors: Guofeng Pang, Oleg Ivanytskyy, Robert Kolaja
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Patent number: 11793083Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignees: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., OSAKA UNIVERSITYInventors: Shinya Bitou, Tetsuhiro Kodani, Saori Sakami, Takashi Kanemura, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Takafumi Uemura, Shusuke Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 11731165Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLCInventors: Frederic Lanteri, Edouard Da Cruz, Flavien Daloz, Coraly Cuminatto, Douglas Glenn Wildes
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Patent number: 11723625Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: TRANSDUCERWORKS, LLCInventor: Matthew Todd Spigelmyer
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Patent number: 11720177Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Wu Chin-Chung, Yong-Teng Lin, Chun-Kai Tzeng, Bradford Edward Vier
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Patent number: 11712718Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Inventor: Chikara Kojima
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Patent number: 11711980Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: KOGE MICRO TECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Chung-Han Wu, Hsin-Cheng Wang
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Patent number: 11696507Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini
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Patent number: 11672179Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Susan A. Alie, Jaime Scott Zahorian, Paul Francis Cristman, Keith G. Fife
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Patent number: 11665968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Karl Grosh, Robert J. Littrell
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Patent number: 11656355Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventor: Baik Woo Lee
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Patent number: 11650621Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventors: Si Young Choi, Jong Tae Kim, Young Sik Kim, Sang Wook Yoo, Jeong Heon Lee
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Patent number: 11642697Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Guided Ultrasonics LtdInventor: Jimmy Fong
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Patent number: 11633765Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11635360Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Hyeon Deuk Hwang, Eun Joong Mun, Dong Yeon Lee, Hyung Don Na
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Patent number: 11630205Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Jerker Taudien, Steven Webb
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Patent number: 11631800Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Jia Jie Xia, Ranganathan Nagarajan, Bevita Kallupalathinkal Chandran, Miles Jacob Gehm
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Patent number: 11619527Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 2018Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.Inventors: Henry Charles Straub, Jr., Alex Mezheritsky, Kerry Dwayne Groeschel
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Patent number: 11620973Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Inventors: Dan Xiang, Uday Singh
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Patent number: 11604536Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Naosuke Furutani, Hayato Kurasawa, Makoto Hayashi
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Patent number: 11602771Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 6, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.Inventor: Lei Zhao
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Patent number: 11590533Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Johannes Henneberg, Andre Gerlach, Marko Liebler
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Patent number: 11590536Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignees: 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
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Patent number: 11581478Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Chikara Kojima, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hironori Suzuki, Shuichi Tanaka
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Patent number: 11579011Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM SONOSITE, INC.Inventors: Oleg Ivanytskyy, Guofeng Pang, Alexander Burhoe, Marius Moszczynski, Nicholas Christopher Chaggares
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Patent number: 11571713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Shozo Otera, Jun Endo, Toru Tominaga
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Patent number: 11559236Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventor: Mark B. Kirschenman
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Patent number: 11557711Abstract: An ultrasonic actuator with increased radiating surface is presented. The increased radiating surface is provided by a plurality of piezoelectric stacks that are each compressed by action of a respective bolt against a common backing structure of the actuator. According to one aspect, each of the stacks includes a plurality of stacked piezoelectric rings with the respective bolt arranged through the central opening of the rings. According to another aspect, one or both of the backing structure and the horn of the actuator include tuning grooves and/or tuning slots to produce amplitude uniformity of displacement through the actuator. According to another aspect, the radiating surface has a symmetrical shape about an axial direction of the actuator with a lateral dimension that is in a range between one quarter and one half of the wavelength of operation of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Hyeong Jae Lee, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Mircea Badescu, Stewart Sherrit, Xiaoqi Bao
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Patent number: 11541423Abstract: A high frequency ultrasound array having a number of transducer elements that are formed in sheet of piezoelectric material. A frame having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the piezoelectric material surrounds the piezoelectric material and is separated from the piezoelectric material by an epoxy material. Kerf cuts that define the individual elements in the sheet of piezoelectric material extend across a full width of the sheet. In some embodiments, sub-dice kerf cuts that divide a single transducer element into two or more sub-elements also extend all the way across the width of the sheet. A lens positioned in front of the transducer elements can have a radius machined therein to focus ultrasound signals. The frame, transducer elements and lens are bent or curved with the desired radius to focus ultrasound signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.Inventors: Guofeng Pang, Oleg Ivanytskyy, Robert Kolaja, Hossein Amini
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Patent number: 11532780Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes an element substrate having a first and a second surface at an opposite side of the first surface, including an opening section piercing through the element substrate in a Z direction from the first to second surface, a vibrating plate on the first surface of the element substrate to close the opening section, a plurality of vibration regions extending along an X direction orthogonal to the Z direction on the vibration plate in positions overlapping the opening section, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements to correspond to the plurality of vibration regions of the vibration plate. The opening section includes, on the first surface, a first and second side parallel to the X direction and a third and fourth side coupling end portions in the X direction of the first and second sides at an acute or obtuse angle to the first and the second side.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Chikara Kojima, Koji Ohashi, Hironori Suzuki
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Patent number: 11525807Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to a transducer array. The transducer array includes a monolithic crystal, a first array of electrodes provided on a first surface of the monolithic crystal, and a second array of electrodes provided on a second surface of the monolithic crystal. The second surface is an opposing surface to the first surface. The transducer array also comprises a plurality of oscillators wherein the plurality of oscillators include sections of the monolithic crystal that are positioned between opposing portions of an electrode from the first array and portions of an electrode from the second array.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventor: John Kim
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Patent number: 11513418Abstract: An addressing system, an addressing apparatus and a computing apparatus are provided. The addressing system includes a first acousto-optic processing component and a second acousto-optic processing component. The first acousto-optic processing component is used for generating a diffraction beam for an addressing operation in a preset number of dimensions. The second acousto-optic processing component is used for determining emitting directions of the generated diffraction beam in various dimensions, and outputting a diffraction beam according to the determined emitting directions to perform an addressing operation for a qubit array in the preset number of dimensions. A first radio frequency of the diffraction beam generated by the first acousto-optic processing component is used for compensating for a second radio frequency of diffraction beams outputted by the second acousto-optic processing component from different emitting directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITYInventors: Luming Duan, Zichao Zhou
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Patent number: 11504092Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes: a piezoelectric element that is used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves; a signal electrode that is disposed at a rear surface side of the piezoelectric element; and a backing that is disposed at a rear surface side of the signal electrode, wherein the backing has a thermal resistance of 8 K/W or less, and the backing attenuates an ultrasonic wave with the lowest frequency by 10 dB or more, among frequencies at which transmittance and reception sensitivity of the ultrasonic probe is decreased from the maximum value thereof by 20 dB.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Ikuhiro Kitagaki
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Patent number: 11508346Abstract: A package design for a micromachined ultrasound transducer (MUT) utilizing curved geometry to control the presence and frequency of acoustic resonant modes is described. The approach consists of reducing in number and curving the reflecting surfaces present in the package cavity to adjust the acoustic resonant frequencies to locations outside the band of interest. The design includes a cavity characterized by a curved geometry and a MUT mounted to a side of a substrate facing the cavity with a sound emitting portion of the MUT facing an opening in the substrate. The substrate is disposed over an opening of the cavity with the substrate oriented such that the MUT located within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Stefon Shelton, Andre Guedes, David Horsley
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Patent number: 11458504Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of operation for capacitive radio frequency micro-electromechanical switches, such as CMUT cells for use in an ultrasound system. An RFMEMS may include substrate, a first electrode connected to the substrate, a membrane and a second electrode connected to the membrane. In some examples, there is a dielectric stack between the first and second electrodes. The dielectric stack design minimizes drift in the membrane collapse voltage. In other examples, a voltage supply coupled to an ultrasonic array compressing the CMUT cells is adapted to provide a sequence of voltage profiles to the electrodes of the CMUT cell, wherein each profile includes a bias voltage and a stimulus voltage, and wherein a polarity of each subsequent voltage profile in the sequence is opposite to the polarity of the preceding profile. In another example, there is a capacitance sensing circuit provided, which is arranged to determine a drift voltage of the CMUT cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Sergei Shulepov, Peter Dirksen, Hans-Peter Loebl, Franciscus Paulus Maria Budzelaar, Petrus Henricus Maria Timmermans, Nico Maris Adriaan de Wild
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Patent number: 11462673Abstract: A piezoelectric substrate attachment structure including a cable-shaped piezoelectric substrate, a press section provided adjacent to the piezoelectric substrate and pressed from an opposite side from the piezoelectric substrate, and a base section provided adjacent to the piezoelectric substrate on an opposite side from the press section. A ratio Eb/Ea of a Young's modulus Eb of the base section to a Young's modulus Ea of the press section being 10?1 or lower.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Mitsunobu Yoshida, Kazuhiro Tanimoto, Masahiko Mitsuzuka
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Patent number: 11438705Abstract: A sound producing device is provided. The sound producing device comprises a substrate; and a membrane pair, disposed on the substrate, comprising a first membrane and a second membrane; wherein when a driving voltage is applied on the membrane pair, the first membrane and the second membrane deform toward each other, such that air between the first membrane and the second membrane is squeezed outward and an air pulse is generated toward a direction away from the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: xMEMS Labs, Inc.Inventors: Jemm Yue Liang, Martin George Lim
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Patent number: 11413653Abstract: A sensor, sensor pad and sensor array for detecting infrasonic signals in a living organism are provided. The sensor, sensor pad and/or array can be utilized for detecting, determining and/or diagnosing level of stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm in arteries, or other similar diagnosis. The sensor can include unique circuitry in the form of a piezoelectric plate or element sandwiched between two conductive O-rings.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: CVR Global, Inc.Inventors: Peter Bakema, Bret Kline, Alan Langston, Gary Stephen
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Patent number: 11417823Abstract: A sensor element includes a first reference potential side terminal located between a first signal side terminal and a second signal side terminal along a first axis passing through the first signal side terminal and the second signal side terminal in a plan view from a direction in which a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element are stacked and a second reference potential side terminal located between the first signal side terminal and the second signal side terminal along the first axis in the plan view from the direction. The first axis is located between the first reference potential side terminal and the second reference potential side terminal in the plain view from the direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Inventors: Hiroshi Komatsu, Hiroki Kawai, Mitsuhiro Tateyama
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Patent number: 11404627Abstract: A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes an actuator and 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. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and supports. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The supports support the vibration plate. The angles, when the actuator is not being driven, between the vibration plate and the supports are acute.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA CorporationInventor: Fumiaki Nakao
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Patent number: 11361575Abstract: Disclosed are a piezoelectric material-based electronic device having high recognition precision for a three-dimensional shape and improved durability, and a manufacturing method thereof. The electronic device includes an anodic oxide film, a first electrode provided on an upper surface of the anodic oxide film, a second electrode provided on an a lower surface of the anodic oxide film, and a piezoelectric column made of a piezoelectric material and provided between the first electrode and the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: POINT ENGINEERING CO., LTD.Inventors: Bum Mo Ahn, Seung Ho Park, Tae Hwan Song
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Patent number: 11350959Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultrasonic medical device is presented. The method includes machining a surgical tool from a flat metal stock, contacting a face of a first transducer with a first face of the surgical tool, and contacting a face of a second transducer with an opposing face of the surgical tool opposite the first transducer. The first and second transducers are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal portion of the surgical tool. Upon activation, the first transducer and the second transducer are configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool and the induced standing wave comprises a node at a node location in the surgical tool and an antinode at an antinode location in the surgical tool.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Cilag GmbH InternationalInventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck
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Patent number: 11349451Abstract: An elastic wave device includes a SiNx layer stacked directly or indirectly on a supporting substrate made of a semiconductor material, a piezoelectric film stacked on directly or indirectly the SiNx layer, and an interdigital transducer electrode stacked directly or indirectly on at least one main surface of the piezoelectric film. In the SiNx layer, x is about 1.34 or more and about 1.66 or less.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Tsutomu Takai, Koji Yamamoto, Hideki Iwamoto
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Patent number: 11318497Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection device according to an embodiment includes: an ultrasonic transducer which includes at least one oscillator group having a plurality of oscillators in a plurality of regions, each region disposing at least one oscillator; a selector which selects at least one region having one or more of the oscillators to be driven from among the plurality of regions; and a driver which individually drives one or more of the oscillators of the at least one region being selected.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Tomio Ono, Yasuharu Hosono
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Patent number: 11266311Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for mechanically disturbing tissues of the central nervous system including a brain of a subject are provided. An elastogram of brain tissue may be generated using mesoscopic wavelength ultrasound composed of longitudinal waves in brain tissues to produce micromechanical disturbances of brain nuclei and circuits for characterization of their mechanical properties (e.g., stiffness, elasticity, rigidity, viscoelasticity). A magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) system includes an MRE engine in electronic communication with at least one transducer and with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. The MRE engine is configured to electronically control operation of the at least one transducer to emit ultrasound, to electronically receive, from the MRI device, at least one signal indicative of measurements of displacement of the brain tissue by the ultrasound, and to electronically generate an elastogram of the brain tissue based on the at least one signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITYInventor: William Tyler
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Patent number: 11233188Abstract: An ultrasonic wave sensor includes an oscillating plate including a plurality of oscillators, a wall portion provided on the oscillating plate and surrounding the oscillator, a first piezoelectric element provided in the predetermined number of oscillators among the plurality of oscillators, and a second piezoelectric element provided in the oscillator where the first piezoelectric element is not provided. An input and an output of a drive signal are possible to the first piezoelectric element, and the first piezoelectric element is connected to at least another first piezoelectric element in parallel. The second piezoelectric element is electrically insulated from the first piezoelectric element. The second piezoelectric element is disposed between the first piezoelectric elements adjacent in one direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Inventors: Koji Ohashi, Chikara Kojima
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Patent number: 11190164Abstract: A micromechanical system (MEMS) resonator includes a base substrate. A piezoelectric layer has a first electrode attached to a first surface of the piezoelectric layer and a second electrode attached to a second surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite the first electrode. The first electrode is bounded by a perimeter edge. A patterned acoustic mirror is formed on a top surface of the first electrode opposite the piezoelectric layer, such that the patterned acoustic mirror covers a border strip of the top surface of the first electrode at the perimeter edge and does not cover an active portion of the top surface of the first electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Ting-Ta Yen, Jeronimo Segovia Fernandez, Bichoy Bahr, Peter Smeys
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Patent number: 11185886Abstract: A MEMS device may include a first electrode region; a first piezoelectric layer arranged over the first electrode region; a second electrode region arranged over the first piezoelectric layer; a second piezoelectric layer arranged over the first piezoelectric layer and the second electrode region; a third electrode region arranged over the second piezoelectric layer; a first input port coupled to the first electrode region and/or the second electrode region for providing a first electrical signal to the first piezoelectric layer to generate a first vibration in the first piezoelectric layer; a second input port coupled to the second electrode region and/or the third electrode region for providing a second electrical signal to the second piezoelectric layer to generate a second vibration in the second piezoelectric layer; and an output port configured to receive an output signal including a superposition of the first vibration and the second vibration.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: VANGUARD INIERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.Inventors: Humberto Campanella Pineda, Joan Josep Giner De Haro, You Pak-Chum Qian, Rakesh Kumar
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Patent number: 11189777Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric element body, a first internal electrode and a second internal electrode, a plurality of first connecting conductors, a plurality of second connecting conductors, and an external member. The piezoelectric element body is formed by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric element body layer. The piezoelectric element body includes a first main surface and a second main surface, and a side surface. The plurality of first connecting conductors are connected to the first internal electrode. The plurality of second connecting conductors are connected to the second internal electrode. The external member is conductive and is bonded to the first main surface in such a way as to cover the first end portions of the plurality of first connecting conductors. The external member is electrically connected to the plurality of first connecting conductors.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshiki Ohta, Tetsuyuki Taniguchi, Hideya Sakamoto, Kazushi Tachimoto, Junpei Kikuchi, Akihiro Takeda
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Patent number: 11167154Abstract: A system for use in managing a neuromodulation therapy includes an ultrasound transducer array controlled by a control unit to deliver ultrasound waveforms for causing modulation of neural tissue in a patient. The system acquires data indicating a response to the modulation, analyzes the acquired data to determine correlation data between a response to the modulation and an ultrasound control parameter, and reports the correlation data to enable identification of at least one therapy parameter to be used to deliver a neuromodulation therapy to the patient by a therapy delivery system.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Jamu Alford, Steven M. Goetz, Lothar Krinke, Mark S. Lent, Erik R. Scott, Xuan K. Wei, John D. Welter