Force Or Pressure Measuring Type Patents (Class 310/338)
  • Patent number: 8158533
    Abstract: A piezoelectric tactile sensor comprises a piezoelectric membrane with a top surface, a transducer of elastic column with a bottom end surface to overlay over the top surface of the piezoelectric membrane and plural microelectrodes being sandwiched between the top surface of the piezoelectric membrane and the bottom end surface of the transducer in spread manner. When the transducer is subjected to an external stress, the piezoelectric membrane will generate uneven stress distribution to initiate dispersed microelectrodes output a corresponding induced voltage signal for being analyzed to figure out the direction and magnitude of the external stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Southern Taiwan University
    Inventor: Cheng Hsin Chuang
  • Patent number: 8154175
    Abstract: A sensing device is disclosed that includes a bistable snap mechanism having a snap element operatively connected to an input element and an output element. The snap element has two discrete positions that provide the output element in one of first and second positions. A resistive sensing element includes a flexible member operatively connected to the output element and is configured to deflect in response to movement of the output element between the first and second positions. A resistor is mounted on the flexible member and is configured to provide a variable resistance based upon deflection of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8148881
    Abstract: A vibration reduction system has a vibration reduction film and a control unit. The vibration reduction film is constituted of a vibration sensor film, an insulating layer, and a vibration actuator film that are stacked in this order. In each of the vibration sensor film and the vibration actuator film, two pairs of electrodes are formed on both surfaces of a piezoelectric polymer film into a pattern based on a particular mode of vibration. The electrodes of the vibration sensor film overlap with the electrodes of the vibration actuator film. In response to electric charge signals from the electrodes of the vibration sensor film, the particular mode of vibration is detected. By application of voltages into the electrodes of the vibration actuator film, a vibration of opposite phase is generated to counteract the detected vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Yoneyama
  • Publication number: 20120068575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotatable antifriction bearing (1) having a first bearing ring (2), a second bearing ring (3) which can be rotated with respect to the first bearing ring (2), and a plurality of rolling bodies (4) which are arranged between the first and the second bearing ring (2, 3), at least one rolling body (4) being configured as an electric sensor in such a way that the rolling body (4) is set up for changing a directly electrically detectable characteristic variable as a function of a force which is exerted on said rolling body (4). Moreover, the invention relates to a rolling body for an antifriction bearing of this type, and to a device having an antifriction bearing and an electric monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Max Abildgaard
  • Publication number: 20120055257
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a pressure sensing/force generating device comprising a non-planar substrate, a printed pressure sensitive element comprising (a) a piezoelectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a piezoelectric effect/piezoresistive effect and/or (b) a dielectric material containing ink composition capable of producing a capacitive effect. It also includes a first printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition, and a second printed electrode comprising a conductive ink composition. The first and second electrodes are in electrical contact with the printed pressure sensitive element. The first and second printed electrodes and the printed pressure sensitive element collectively form a pressure sensitive junction, which is coupled to the non-planar substrate. The present invention further relates to medical devices comprising the pressure sensing/force generating device and methods of making such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MICROPEN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lori J. SHAW-KLEIN
  • Publication number: 20120053489
    Abstract: A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: DREXEL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: WAN Y. SHIH, WEI-HENG SHIH, ANNA MARKIDOU, STEVEN T. SZWECZYK, HAKKI YEGINGIL
  • Publication number: 20120038249
    Abstract: This disclosure discloses novel responsive polymers that comprise a rod segment and (or) a coil segment. This disclosure also discloses nanomaterial-polymer composite comprising the responsive polymers that are covalently linked with nanomaterials. Also disclosed are polymeric transducer materials and sensor systems that comprise the nanomaterial-polymer composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Jennifer Lu, Shuhuai Xiang
  • Patent number: 8074524
    Abstract: A piezoelectric measuring element comprises at least one bar with transverse effect which can be used with two conductor technology. Poles comprising the metallizations, electrodes and lines in the measuring element are embodied with one or more piezoelectric bars with transverse effect such that the electric capacitances thereof with respect to the housing are identical. There can be a completely symmetrical design of the poles. A capacitor from one pole to the housing can correspond to the difference in capacitance of both poles to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kistler Holding, AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Staiger, Paul Engeler, Claudio Cavalloni
  • Publication number: 20110298335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromechanical transducer, in particular an electromechanical sensor, actuator and/or generator, which exhibits a polymer element that is obtainable from a reaction mixture comprising a polyisocyanate or a polyisocyanate prepolymer or a mixture thereof and a compound with at least two isocyanate-reactive amino groups. Moreover, the present invention relates to a process for producing an electromechanical transducer of such a type and also to the use of a polymer element of such a type as an electromechanical element. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electronic and/or electrical apparatus that includes an electromechanical transducer according to the invention, and also to the use of an electromechanical transducer according to the invention in an electronic and/or electrical apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BAYER MATERIALSCIENCE AG
    Inventors: Werner Jenninger, Sebastian Dörr, Joachim Wagner, Burkhard Köhler, Heike Heckroth, Mathias Matner
  • Publication number: 20110266923
    Abstract: A flexible piezoelectric tactile sensor having a piezoelectric thin film, a first flexible substrate, a second flexible substrate, and at least one elastic body is revealed. The piezoelectric thin film includes an upper surface and a lower surface while the first flexible substrate is disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric thin film. The first flexible substrate consists of a first surface facing the upper surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface and a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first surface. The second flexible substrate, including a third surface facing the lower surface and a plurality of second electrodes formed on the third surface, is arranged on the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film. Both the first electrodes and the second electrode are electrically connected with the piezoelectric thin film. The elastic body is set on the second surface, corresponding to the first electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: SOUTHERN TAIWAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: CHENG-HSIN CHUANG, YI-RONG LIOU
  • Publication number: 20110239785
    Abstract: A method for processing a ring type piezoelectric device comprises: providing a ring type piezoelectric embryo; printing at least a pair of electrodes to divide the ring type piezoelectric embryo into a plurality of equal sections; and immersing the divided ring type piezoelectric embryo into high temperature silicon oil with high voltage for polarization so as to make the polarization of the ring type piezoelectric device perpendicular to a cross-section thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Yung TING, Sheuan-Perng Lin
  • Patent number: 8004154
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric actuation structure including at least one strain gauge and at least one actuator produced from a stack on the surface of a substrate of at least one layer of piezoelectric material arranged between a bottom electrode layer and a top electrode layer, at least a portion of the stack forming the actuator being arranged above a cavity produced in the substrate, characterized in that the strain gauge is a piezoresistive gauge located in the top electrode layer and/or the bottom electrode layer, the layer or layers including electrode discontinuities making it possible to produce said piezoresistive gauge. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Matthieu Cueff, Emmanuel Defay, François Perruchot, Patrice Rey
  • Patent number: 7999438
    Abstract: A piezoelectric driving device including a laminated body having a base that is capable of being deformed by applying force, a first piezoelectric body that is formed on a first face of the base directly or via another layer, and a second piezoelectric body that is formed on a second face of the base substantially parallel to the first face directly or via another layer, a driving voltage generating section that generates a driving voltage according to a displacement amount of the laminated body, a compensating voltage generating section that generates a compensating voltage compensating for hysteresis caused by the displacement of the laminated body by the driving voltage, and a voltage applying section that applies each of the driving voltage and the compensating voltage to each of the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Hori, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7999449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode, wherein a substrate comprises a porous carbon material and an electroconductive polymer layer formed by an electrolytic polymerization method is provided substantially on the substrate; the electrode, wherein the porous carbon material comprises at least one porous carbon material selected from the group consisting of a carbon paper, a carbon fiber, a porous carbon sheet and an activated carbon sheet; and an actuator having the above electrode as a counter electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: EAMEX Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Hara, Tetsuji Zama
  • Patent number: 7999440
    Abstract: The invention relates to micro-fabricated devices having a suspended membrane or plate structure and micro-fabrication techniques for making such devices. A substrate defines a cavity passing through the substrate, and the cavity defines a first opening. An intermediate portion is disposed over the substrate and defines a second opening. The second opening is larger in size than the first opening, and the dimensions of the second opening are controlled according to a parameter associated with performance of the device. A membrane is positioned adjacent the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: BioScale, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Miller, Brett P. Masters
  • Patent number: 7994690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a component for installation in force or pressure sensors, in particular in a glow plug. The component comprises a disc-type or punched-disc type measuring element consisting of a piezoelectric material, punched-disc type or disc-type electrodes that lie on either side of the measuring element. The electrodes have contact points for contacting conductors. The component comprises in addition a respective transmission body or several transmission bodies that are located outside the electrodes, on either side of the latter. The measuring element, electrodes and transmission bodies are held together mechanically by an external, electrically insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Peter Wolfer, Claudio Cavalloni, Reinhold Hess, Michael Mueller, Andrea Bertola, Christoph Kern, Steffen Schott, Pavlo Saltikov, Michael Kleindl, Reiko Zach
  • Patent number: 7977851
    Abstract: A push button switch including a piezoelectric element (10) which is arranged between a first electrode (16) and a second electrode (18) in such a manner that, when a pressure is exerted on the piezoelectric element, an electric voltage is generated between the first and the second electrode (16, 18). The voltage generated between the first and the second electrode (16, 18) of the piezoelectric element (10) is amplified via a suitable amplifier circuit (20) and supplied, for example, to a controller of an operating device of an electronic domestic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Diehl Ako Stiftung & Co., KG
    Inventor: Harald Mangold
  • Publication number: 20110149265
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. The projection system is mounted on a reference structure of the lithographic apparatus by a mount of the lithographic apparatus. The mount includes a first piezoelectric element to exert a force on the projection system, a second piezoelectric element to measure the force, and an interconnection member interposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, the interconnection member comprising a cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Hans BUTLER, Pieter Johannes Gertrudis Meijers, Hendrikus Johannes Schellens
  • Publication number: 20110146412
    Abstract: A connection component is provided that includes an integrated ultrasound sensor, wherein the ultrasound sensor has a layer structure comprising at least two layers, with an electrode layer and at least one layer of a material having piezoelectric properties. The at least one electrode layer and the at least one layer of a material having piezoelectric properties are arranged on a freely accessible end of the connection component. Structures are formed in the electrode layer in order to produce electrodes by laser-ablated regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Gert Hoering, Jafar Zendehroud
  • Patent number: 7965663
    Abstract: Digital Visual Interface (DVI), or High Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI), data is received from a source and sent to a transmitter chip that includes a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) receiver that outputs a 3-data and 1-clock physical signaling stream representing the DVI or HDMI data. This stream is rendered into I and Q data by an ASIC or FPGA and sent to a wireless transmitter for modulation, upconverting, and transmission to, e.g., a nearby display device without ever rendering the data into baseband video on the transmitter chip. The display device has a receiver chip that is essentially the inverse of the transmitter chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hardacker, David A. Desch
  • Patent number: 7965018
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic sensor for measuring a sound wave propagating through a gas such as air or a fluid such as water and an elastic wave propagating through a solid medium, and more particularly, an acoustic sensor with a piezo-arrangement film capable of detecting frequencies in a broad band or amplifying a signal at a specific frequency by comparting a waveguide into an upper waveguide and a lower waveguide by means of a compartment diaphragm and arranging piezoelectric sensors on the compartment diaphragm in several forms. The acoustic sensor can be utilized as a resonant acoustic sensor in which the piezoelectric sensors are arranged on the compartment diaphragm in the same form so that a signal at a specific frequency overlaps for high sensibility or a broadband acoustic sensor in which the piezoelectric sensors are arranged in a different form to detect frequencies in a broad band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Dong Jin Yoon, Young Sup Lee, Jae Hwa Kwon
  • Publication number: 20110131838
    Abstract: An orthotic device comprises a flexible support structure comprising at least one surface for contacting a body part of a user, a plurality of pressure sensors configured for coupling to a microcontroller, and a plurality of displacement regions. Each region defines a portion of said flexible support structure, wherein each portion includes at least one sensor disposed on or below the at least one surface and at least one electrically deformable unit. Each unit comprises at least one electroactive material and is configured for coupling to the microcontroller and to a power source. The device is dynamically adjustable to change its shape and support properties, when an electrical voltage is applied to the electroactive material under the control of a microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sylvia D. PAS, Michael F. PAS
  • Publication number: 20110121688
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a piezoelectric sensor. The piezoelectric sensor includes a polymer layer, a first metal layer, and a second metal layer. The polymer layer includes pyrolytic polyacrylonitrile. The first metal layer is located on a surface of the polymer layer. The first metal layer includes a first work function. The second metal layer is located on another surface of the polymer layer and includes a second work function different from the first work function. The present disclosure also relates to a method for making the piezoelectric sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicants: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: XIANG-MING HE, WEI-HUA PU, LI WANG, JIAN-JUN LI, JIAN GAO, JIAN-GUO REN
  • Publication number: 20110121591
    Abstract: A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Publication number: 20110109200
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing two- or multi-layer ferroelectrets with defined voids, with the exception of three-layer ferroelectrets with a perforated middle layer made of PTFE between two FEP layers, involving, introducing one or more clearances into at least one surface side of a polymer film element by means of a method of removal, applying a first covering to the surface side of the polymer film element comprising clearances formed in step A), and joining the polymer film element and the covering to form a polymer film composite, the clearances being closed while voids are formed, and to a two- or multi-layer ferroelectret, with the exception of three-layer ferroelectrets with a perforated middle layer made of PTFE between two FFP layers, in particular produced by this method. The invention also relates to a piezoelectric element containing a ferroelectret multi-layer composite according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Werner JENNINGER, Joachim WAGNER, Carsten BENECKE
  • Patent number: 7936106
    Abstract: Provided herein is a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor device including a surface acoustic wave sensor and an oscillator corresponding to the surface acoustic wave sensor. A horizontal plane defined by the oscillator is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the surface acoustic wave sensor. The predetermined angle is greater than zero degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun Joo Lee, Soo Suk Lee, Yeol Ho Lee, Ki Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7936110
    Abstract: Circularly polarized resonant structures are obtained utilizing piezoelectric resonators made of materials and orientations selected in accordance with the teaching provided herewith. Further provided are radially polarized structures. Furthermore, the utilization of such resonators and structures as sensors, for frequency control application, for signal filtering, and the like, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C Andle, Daniel Scott Stevens, Reichl B Haskell
  • Publication number: 20110062822
    Abstract: A test substrate for measuring contact force and a method for measuring contact force are provided in the technology. The substrate may comprises: a base substrate, and a piezoelectric element provided on a surface of the base substrate. One end of the piezoelectric portion is a detecting voltage input terminal and the other end thereof is a detecting voltage output terminal. According to the technology, the substrate and method for measuring contact force can be used to measure the contact force applied to the substrate by the cleaning apparatus or conveying apparatus, and thus the contact force can be properly controlled and the adverse influence on the substrate from the conveying apparatus or cleaning apparatus can be decreased or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Li LI, Zhilong PENG, Wei WANG
  • Patent number: 7902725
    Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to fixing a first piece of equipment (E1) relative to a second piece of equipment (E2). The device has (i) a structure having a rigid central body (CC) prolonged by two approximately identical terminal bodies (CT1, CT2) each having a neck defining a flexible intermediate part (PD1, PD2) that is symmetric relative to a symmetry element, prolonged by a rigid internal part (PI1, PI2) that is symmetric relative to the symmetry element and joined to one of the ends of the central body (CC), and by a rigid external part (PE1, PE2) that is symmetric relative to a symmetry element, spaced from the internal part, and intended to be joined to the first (E1) or second (E2) piece of equipment. The device has (ii) at least two piezoelectric transducers (T11-T22) with each responsible for converting either an axial dimensional change into a measurement current representing the amplitude of the change, or a control current into a corresponding axial dimensional change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean Dupuis, Laurent Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20110050041
    Abstract: An actuator with a sensor, including an actuator having a pair of electrodes and an ionic conduction layer present between the pair of electrodes, and a sensor having electrodes and an electromechanical conversion element. When the actuator is deformed, the sensor is also deformed. The relationship between the modulus of elasticity (A) of the actuator and the modulus of elasticity (S) of the sensor satisfies S<A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Sotomitsu Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110050040
    Abstract: An actuator with a sensor, including an actuator having electrodes and an ionic conduction layer, a sensor and a rigid body member provided in contact with the sensor. The actuator is connected to the sensor through the rigid body member such that the sensor is not deformed attending on deformation of the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Sotomitsu Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20110043077
    Abstract: In a light-transmitting vibration unit and the module thereof, which the vibration unit comprises a first and a second substrates stacked sequentially with each other, and made of a conductive polymer material, such that both first and second substrates have light transmittance and uniform resistance, and after a vibration driven component is electrically coupled to the first and second substrates, an electric field will be acted for converting electric energy into mechanical energy to produce vibrations. If the vibration unit is coupled directly to a touch-sensitive display unit, an image displayed by the touch-sensitive display unit will be able to pass through the vibration unit, and the vibrations produced by the vibration unit will be more directly transmitted to a touch object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: J TOUCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu-Chou YEH, Min-Hui Chiang
  • Patent number: 7893602
    Abstract: A transducer for use with a boundary-stiffened panel has an inter-digitated electrode (IDE) and a piezoelectric wafer portion positioned therebetween. The IDE and/or the wafer portion are triangular, with one edge or side aligned with a boundary edge of the panel. The transducer generates and transmits an output force to the panel in response to an input voltage signal from a sensor, which can be another transducer as described above or an accelerometer. A controller can generate an output force signal in response to the input voltage signal to help cancel the input voltage signal. A method of using the transducer minimizes vibration in the panel by connecting multiple transducers around a perimeter thereof. Motion is measured at different portions of the panel, and a voltage signal determined from the motion is transmitted to the transducers to generate an output force at least partially cancelling or damping the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as reprensented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Noah H. Schiller, Randolph H. Cabell
  • Patent number: 7876024
    Abstract: The invention is a device for influencing the vibration of a planar element having two opposite surfaces and a neutral fiber plane running between the two surfaces including at least one actuator and at least one sensor which each are provided with transducer materials and are connected to at least one electronic component or an electronic module. The at least one actuator and at least one sensor are completely integrated into the planar element so as to be spaced from the two surfaces as well as from the neutral fiber plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Tobias Melz, Dirk Mayer
  • Publication number: 20110006641
    Abstract: An example flexoelectric-piezoelectric apparatus provides an electrical response to an applied force, and/or an actuation in response to an applied electric field, that originates from the flexoelectric properties of a component. For example, shaped forms within the apparatus may be configured to yield a stress gradient on application of the force, and the stress gradient induces the flexoelectric signal. A flexoelectric-piezoelectric apparatus can be substituted for a conventional piezoelectric apparatus, but does not require the use of a piezoelectric material. Instead, the response of the apparatus is due to the generation of stress gradients and/or field gradients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: L. Eric Cross, Wenyi Zhu, Nan Li, John Y. Fu, Baojin Chu
  • Publication number: 20110001396
    Abstract: The innovations herein include a compact sensing device that is capable of measuring the conditions (e,g, pressure, temperature) inside a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Aspects also include a cost-effective method of fabricating the sensing device. An exemplary sensing device includes a substrate, a beam, and piezo-resistive sensing elements. The beam, which is formed on the substrate, is capable of deflecting according to different pressures applied to different beam surfaces. The piezo-resistive sensing elements are coupled to the beam and detect beam deflection. The piezo-resistive sensing elements generate an electrical signal corresponding to the beam deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Analatom Incorporated
    Inventor: Trevor Graham Edward Niblock
  • Publication number: 20100301706
    Abstract: A differential piezoelectric sensor (20) includes a suspended structure (24) coupled to a substrate (22). The suspended structure (24) has at least one location (44) in a first stress state (70) and at least one location (46) in a second stress state (72) when the suspended structure (24) is in a stress position (69). Piezoelectric elements (26) are located on the suspended structure (24) at the locations (44), each producing a signal (78) in response to mechanical stress (68) experienced by the suspended structure (24). In addition, piezoelectric elements (28) are formed on the suspended structure (24) at the locations (46), each producing a signal (80) in response to the mechanical stress (68). The piezoelectric elements (26, 28) are electrically connected to combine the signals (78, 80) so as to obtain a signal (76) representative of the mechanical stress (68) experienced by the suspended structure (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Koury, JR.
  • Patent number: 7839057
    Abstract: A movement detector which is rotatably installed on a base member includes a rotating member which has a body portion, and a connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, a piezoelectric layer which is formed on the connecting portion, and a plurality of electrodes which are provided on the piezoelectric layer, to be arranged in a direction of a rotation axis of the body portion, and which detect a voltage generated in the piezoelectric layer corresponding to a deformation of the connecting portion when the body portion has displaced with respect to the base member. Since the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes are provided to the connecting portion which rotatably connects the body portion to the base member, it is possible to detect a plurality of types of movements of the body portion by the piezoelectric layer and the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 7839052
    Abstract: A sensing membrane applied to a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device includes a body, a stress releasing structure and a connecting portion. The stress releasing structure for releasing a membrane residual stress surrounds the body. The stress releasing structure has several first perforations and several second perforations. The first perforations are located between the body and the second perforations. The connecting portion connects the stress releasing structure and a substrate of the MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Wu, Jien-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7839056
    Abstract: A piezoelectric pressure sensor includes—an outer housing separated by an annular gap from an inner housing, which inner housing is attached to the outer housing on the pressure side. At least one piezoelectric measuring element is positioned between a diaphragm placed on the pressure side of the inner housing and a base part of the inner housing. The inner housing is provided with a massive cylindrical wall throughout whose wall thickness essentially corresponds to the thickness of the adjacent outer housing. In the annular gap between the outer housing and the inner housing a heat-transfer liquid is contained, or in the space between the base part of the inner housing and an interior shoulder of the pressure sensor a heat-transfer spring or bellows is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Piezocryst Advanced Sensorics GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Friedl
  • Patent number: 7839051
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a device is provided comprising an accelerometer and an electroactive material. A control circuit is coupled between the accelerometer and the electroactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Klinghult
  • Publication number: 20100281962
    Abstract: A PEFS (Piezoelectric Finger Sensor) acts as an “electronic finger” capable of accurately and non-destructively measuring both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus of tissues with gentle touches to the surface. The PEFS measures both the Young's compression modulus and shear modulus variations in tissue generating a less than one-millimeter spatial resolution up to a depth of several centimeters. This offers great potential for in-vivo early detection of diseases. A portable hand-held device is also disclosed. The PEF offers superior sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: DREXEL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: WAN Y. SHIH, WEI-HENG SHIH, ANNA MARKIDOU, STEVEN T. SZWECZYK, HAKKI YEGINGIL
  • Patent number: 7821182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for actuating a sanitary appliances which comprises at least one sensor arranged in a housing and provided with a pressure-sensitive element and is actuatable by applying a force on the sensor sensitive area for deforming said element. The inventive device also comprises a control system which determines the deformation of the element and produces a signal by which the operation of the sanitary appliances is controllable. Coupling means extending perpendicularly to the operating direction of the sensor outside of the sensitive area thereof enable a force which is generated at a distance from said sensitive area to be transferable thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
    Inventor: Horst Kunkel
  • Patent number: 7816838
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring absolute pressure applied to a piezoelectric element by measuring a transition time of a voltage pulse applied to a piezoelectric element. The transition time (such as the rise time and/or fall time of the voltage pulse) is affected by the capacitance of the piezoelectric element, which in turn is affected by the amount of pressure currently being applied to the piezoelectric element. The system may also provide haptic feedback via the same piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Miikka Leskinen, Jukka Jalkanen, Turo Keski-Jaskari
  • Publication number: 20100253183
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film sensor includes a substrate 1 having a signal electrode 2 and a ground electrode 3 formed on the surface thereof, the substrate being folded to cause the signal electrode 2 and the ground electrode 3 to be overlapped with each other in a plane view, a piezoelectric film 5 inserted between the signal electrode 2 and the ground electrode 3 formed on the substrate 1 and a bonding layer 6 for bonding the folded substrate 1 thereby to affix the signal electrode 2, the ground electrode 3 and the piezoelectric film 5 together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KUREHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Ando, Eiji Fujioka, Shunsuke Kogure, Hitoshi Takayanagi, Nobuhiro Moriyama, Ryuichi Sudo
  • Publication number: 20100237745
    Abstract: A sensor or actuator includes a piezoelectric thin film device including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric thin film and an upper electrode, and a voltage detecting device connected between the lower and upper electrodes of the piezoelectric thin film device. The piezoelectric thin film is formed of an alkali niobium oxide-based perovskite material expressed by (K1-xNax)NbO3 (0<x<1), and a dependency of the piezoelectric constant d31 of the piezoelectric thin film on applied electric field [=|(d31 under 70 kV/cm)?(d31 under 7 kV/cm)|/|d31 under 70 kV/cm|] is 0.20 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Kenji Shibata, Fumihito Oka
  • Patent number: 7781941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Horvath, Mark Buczek, T. Scott Rowe
  • Patent number: 7781940
    Abstract: A novel flexible tactile sensor for sensing the force direction was designed by introducing the concept of structural electrodes on a piezoelectric film. The structural electrodes comprised an elastomeric column and distributed microelectrodes between the column and piezoelectric film. As a periodic small force acts at the elastomeric column, the force is transferred to the piezoelectric film based on the column bending behavior therefore the scale of force can be detected by the output voltages from the distributed electrodes due to the corresponding force state under the column. In addition, two opposite output signals from different sides of the column can differentiate the force direction as the column is bent by external force. The resulting signal for sensing force and its direction depends on the size of column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Southern Taiwan University
    Inventor: Cheng Hsin Chuang
  • Publication number: 20100207490
    Abstract: A novel flexible tactile sensor for sensing the force direction was designed by introducing the concept of structural electrodes on a piezoelectric film. The structural electrodes comprised an elastomeric column and distributed microelectrodes between the column and piezoelectric film. As a periodic small force acts at the elastomeric column, the force is transferred to the piezoelectric film based on the column bending behavior, therefore the scale of force can be detected by the output voltages from the distributed electrodes due to the corresponding force state under the column. In addition, two opposite output signals from different sides of the column can differentiate the force direction as the column is bent by external force. The resulting signal for sensing force and its direction depends on the size of column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Southern Taiwan University
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsin Chuang
  • Publication number: 20100194243
    Abstract: A vibration reduction system has a vibration reduction film and a control unit. The vibration reduction film is constituted of a vibration sensor film, an insulating layer, and a vibration actuator film that are stacked in this order. In each of the vibration sensor film and the vibration actuator film, two pairs of electrodes are formed on both surfaces of a piezoelectric polymer film into a pattern based on a particular mode of vibration. The electrodes of the vibration sensor film overlap with the electrodes of the vibration actuator film. In response to electric charge signals from the electrodes of the vibration sensor film, the particular mode of vibration is detected. By application of voltages into the electrodes of the vibration actuator film, a vibration of opposite phase is generated to counteract the detected vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi YONEYAMA