Orientation Of Piezoelectric Polarization Patents (Class 310/357)
  • Patent number: 11930320
    Abstract: A flexible vibration module is disclosed. The flexible vibration module includes a piezoelectric composite layer, including: a plurality of piezoelectric portions each having a piezoelectric characteristic, where at least two of the plurality of piezoelectric portions have different sizes; and a flexible portion between the plurality of piezoelectric portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YongWoo Lee, Yong-Su Ham, Taeheon Kim, Sung-Eui Shin
  • Patent number: 11903322
    Abstract: An electromechanical device comprising: first and second electrodes each comprising a metal layer; an active layer comprising at least one ferroelectric polymer and disposed between the first and the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode each comprise an interface layer comprising poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). Each interface layer is interposed between the active layer and the corresponding metal layer. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Mohammed Benwadih
  • Patent number: 11694716
    Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: David Glaess, Kuen Chee Ee, Long Zhang, Chris Dunn
  • Patent number: 11600765
    Abstract: The MEMS actuator is formed by a substrate, which surrounds a cavity; by a deformable structure suspended on the cavity; by an actuation structure formed by a first piezoelectric region of a first piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to cause a deformation of the deformable structure; and by a detection structure formed by a second piezoelectric region of a second piezoelectric material, supported by the deformable structure and configured to detect the deformation of the deformable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventors: Domenico Giusti, Carlo Luigi Prelini, Marco Ferrera, Carla Maria Lazzari, Luca Seghizzi, Nicolo′ Boni, Roberto Carminati, Fabio Quaglia
  • Patent number: 11533566
    Abstract: A flexible vibration module is disclosed. The flexible vibration module includes a piezoelectric composite layer, including: a plurality of piezoelectric portions each having a piezoelectric characteristic, where at least two of the plurality of piezoelectric portions have different sizes; and a flexible portion between the plurality of piezoelectric portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: YongWoo Lee, Yong-Su Ham, Taeheon Kim, Sung-Eui Shin
  • Patent number: 11518165
    Abstract: An actuator includes a substrate, a diaphragm on the substrate, a lower electrode on the diaphragm, a piezoelectric body on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the piezoelectric body. A ratio of lead (Pb) and zirconium (Zr) in atomic percent (atm %) present at a grain boundary in the piezoelectric body satisfies a relation of Pb/Zr>1.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Masuda
  • Patent number: 11103866
    Abstract: The present invention involves a fill needle system for aseptically dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid in an aseptic chamber comprises a fill needle tubing in fluid communication with a pharmaceutical fluid source via flexible tubing and extending through a fill needle hub; a fill needle dispensing tip disposed at a dispensing end of the fill needle tubing; a fill needle sheath shaped and arranged to removably mate with and seal aseptically to the fill needle hub to form an aseptically sealed volume enclosing the dispensing tip; and a fluid pressure pulse induction system disposed and configured to compress the flexible tubing in order to dislodge droplets of pharmaceutical fluid retained on the dispensing tip after halting dispensing of the pharmaceutical fluid. An associated method of dispensing pharmaceutical fluid comprises operating the fluid pressure pulse induction system to dislodge the droplets. The system may comprise a controller for automatically controlling the dispensing and droplet dislodging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: V ANRX PHARMASYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Juvenal Naing, Marcin Cichy, Carlos Alberto Diaz Geurrero
  • Patent number: 10854808
    Abstract: Ferroelectric ceramics including: a Pb(Zr1-BTiB)O3 seed crystal film formed on a foundation film; and a Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 crystal film, wherein: the seed crystal film is formed by sputtering while the foundation film is being disposed on an upper side of a sputtering target and the foundation film is being made to face the sputtering target; in the seed crystal film, a Zr/Ti ratio on the crystal film side from the center in the thickness direction thereof is larger than a Zr/Ti ratio on the foundation film side from the center in the thickness direction thereof; the crystal film is crystallized by coating and heating a solution containing, in an organic solvent, a metal compound wholly or partially containing ingredient metals of the crystal film and a partial polycondensation product thereof; and the B and the x satisfy formulae 2 and 3, respectively, below, 0.1<B<1??formula 2 0.1<x<1??formula 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kijima
  • Patent number: 10675186
    Abstract: A fabric that includes a first yarn and a second yarn which generate electric charges having different polarities with the application of external energy thereto. The fabric includes a low-density portion and a high-density portion having a lower porosity than the low-density portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishiura, Nobuhito Tsubaki, Satoshi Takeshima
  • Patent number: 10618285
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric substrate, the method including: forming an intermediate layer of Ti and a lower electrode of Pt oriented in a (111) axis direction on a substrate without heating the substrate; applying a coating liquid for forming an orientation control layer made of lead titanate onto the lower electrode; drying the coating liquid at a predetermined temperature to form an orientation control layer precursor made of lead titanate; applying a coating liquid for forming a piezoelectric thin film made of lead zirconate titanate; drying the coating liquid at a predetermined temperature to form a piezoelectric precursor made of a lead zirconate titanate precursor; and collectively firing the orientation control layer precursor and the piezoelectric precursor to crystallize both the precursors, to thereby form a piezoelectric thin film made of lead zirconate titanate preferentially oriented in a (110) plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto Numazawa, Minako Nakasu, Motokazu Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10322549
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a processing method for forming a plurality of quadrangular prisms on a plate-shaped substrate having a product area. The processing method includes the steps of preparing an excess-sized plate-shaped substrate having an excess area surrounding the product area, cutting the excess-sized plate-shaped substrate in a first direction by using a cutting blade to thereby form a first cut groove extending in the first direction, cutting the excess-sized plate-shaped substrate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by using the cutting blade to thereby form a second cut groove extending in the second direction, filling the first cut groove and the second cut groove with a resin, and cutting the excess-sized plate-shaped substrate along the boundary between the product area and the excess area by using the cutting blade to thereby remove the excess area from the excess-sized plate-shaped substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenori Harada, Mana Eritate
  • Patent number: 10325621
    Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Kuen Chee Ee, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 10231699
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic wave-dissipation block and an ultrasonic probe having the same, which reflect and diffract a backward ultrasonic wave progressing toward the rear of piezoelectric ceramics for generating ultrasonic waves, so as to dissipate the ultrasonic wave, thereby improving the absorption performance of the ultrasonic wave, while reducing the weight and size of a part performing the role of absorbing the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave-dissipation block comprises: a base body in which an accommodation space is formed; and an ultrasonic reflector disposed in the accommodation space of the base body, and reflecting the ultrasonic wave, flowing in from the outside of the base body, in the direction of the inner sides of side walls of the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HUMANSCAN CO., LTD
    Inventor: Wonseop Park
  • Patent number: 10199560
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a stretchable nanoparticle-polymer composite foams that exhibit piezoelectric properties. In one aspect, a nanoparticle-polymer composite structure includes a curable liquid polymer; piezoelectric nanoparticles; and graphitic carbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Donald J. Sirbuly, William R. McCall, Kanguk Kim
  • Patent number: 10161061
    Abstract: Disclosed is a (K,Na)NbO3 (abbreviated by “KNN”)-based single crystal ceramic. The KNN-based single crystal ceramic according to the present disclosure is formulated by (K0.5?x/2Na0.5?x/2?y?y/2Mx+y/2)Nb1?x/3+yO3, wherein M indicates a metal having a different valence from Na, and ? indicates a metal vacancy. The above formulated KNN-based single crystal ceramic allows compensating for the volatilization of Na in a growing grain due to the addition of M2+ ions, and substituting M2+ ions for Na+ ions to form metal vacancies, thereby making possible the single crystal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY AND MATERIALS
    Inventors: Cheol-Woo Ahn, Jung-Ho Ryu, Byung-Dong Hahn
  • Patent number: 10135420
    Abstract: A rectangular quartz crystal blank having long sides substantially parallel to a Z? axis of the quartz crystal blank, and short sides substantially parallel to an X axis of the quartz crystal blank. The quartz crystal blank includes a first center region, a second region and a third region that are adjacent to the first region along a long-side direction, and a fourth region and a fifth region that are adjacent to the first region along a short-side direction. A thickness of the second region and a thickness of the third region are smaller than a thickness of the first region, and/or a thickness of the fourth region and a thickness of the fifth region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and 19.87?W/T?20.36, where W is a length of a short side and T is a thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ibaragi, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Ryuichi Kawai
  • Patent number: 10009005
    Abstract: A rectangular quartz crystal blank having long sides substantially parallel to a Z? axis of the quartz crystal blank, and short sides substantially parallel to an X axis of the quartz crystal blank. The quartz crystal blank includes a first center region, a second region and a third region that are adjacent to the first region along a long-side direction, and a fourth region and a fifth region that are adjacent to the first region along a short-side direction. A thickness of the second region and a thickness of the third region are smaller than a thickness of the first region, and/or a thickness of the fourth region and a thickness of the fifth region are smaller than the thickness of the first region, and 13.92?W/T?14.44, where W is a length of a short side and T is a thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Asai, Hiroaki Kaida
  • Patent number: 9922767
    Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes an electronic component ceramic main body and internal electrodes disposed within the electronic component main body. The internal electrodes include through holes passing through the internal electrodes in the thickness direction. Ceramic columns are disposed in the through holes and connect the ceramic on one side of the internal electrodes and the ceramic on the other side thereof. An area ratio of the ceramic columns to ends of the internal electrodes located within the electronic component main body is greater than an area ratio of ceramic columns to central portions of the internal electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Hirao, Kenji Ueno
  • Patent number: 9793507
    Abstract: Provided is an OLED device packaging method, which includes: providing an OLED substrate that includes an OLED unit formed on surface thereof; attaching an insulation material to the surface of the OLED substrate to form a first frame having frame members located outside and circumferentially surround arranged the OLED unit; providing a packaging cover having a surface; attaching a low-temperature metal conductive adhesive tape directly on the surface of the packaging cover to form a second frame having frame members corresponding to and having a width smaller than the frame members of the first frame; laminating the packaging cover and the OLED substrate together in a vacuum environment with the frame members of first and second frames stacked on each other; and (6) melting the second frame securely bond the packaging cover and the OLED substrate together. Also provided is an OLED device formed with such a packaging method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yawei Liu
  • Patent number: 9773968
    Abstract: To obtain a piezoelectric film having excellent piezoelectric properties. An aspect of the present invention is a piezoelectric film having a crystal oriented in the c-axis direction and a crystal oriented in the a-axis direction, in which, when denoting the amount of a (004) component of the crystal oriented in the c-axis direction by C and denoting the amount of a (400) component of the crystal oriented in the a-axis direction by A, the piezoelectric film satisfies a formula 1 below. C/(A+C)?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: YOUTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Yuuji Honda, Yukinori Tani
  • Patent number: 9741922
    Abstract: A self-latching piezocomposite actuator includes a plurality of shape memory ceramic fibers. The actuator can be latched by applying an electrical field to the shape memory ceramic fibers. The actuator remains in a latched state/shape after the electrical field is no longer present. A reverse polarity electric field may be applied to reset the actuator to its unlatched state/shape. Applied electric fields may be utilized to provide a plurality of latch states between the latched and unlatched states of the actuator. The self-latching piezocomposite actuator can be used for active/adaptive airfoils having variable camber, trim tabs, active/deformable engine inlets, adaptive or adjustable vortex generators, active optical components such as mirrors that change shapes, and other morphing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
    Inventors: William K. Wilkie, Robert G. Bryant, Christopher S. Lynch
  • Patent number: 9581529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test piece for determining a specific material property of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite under applied mechanical loading. According to the invention, it is provided that an inner core is incorporated in a composite with the fiber-reinforced plastic, the inner core being widened in a transverse axis in relation to the mechanical load in such a way that the composite with the inner core has a greater buckling stability than a comparative body, such as the composite without the inner core, and that the inner core is formed in such a way that an influence on the specific material property to be determined of the fiber-reinforced plastic composite lies in a range of acceptance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Hesse
  • Patent number: 9407173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezo actuator having an electrode structure for a torsional vibration mode, and to a rotation-type ultrasonic motor containing the same. In the piezo actuator having the electrode structure, electrodes may have different lengths from the center point of the piezo actuator in order to form an electrode structure having a pinwheel shape for enabling a torsional vibration mode. Thus, since the electrodes of the piezo actuator for generating torsional vibrations has a simple pinwheel wing structure, a rotor coupled along a groove formed in the side surface of the piezo actuator may be rotated using the torsional directional vibrations due to the electrode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor: Man-Sun Yun
  • Patent number: 9314650
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for the treatment of adipose tissue. The methods comprise application of ultrasound energy to a region of adipose tissue, and the apparatuses comprise at least one source of ultrasound energy configured to direct ultrasound energy through a skin surface into the subcutaneous adipose tissue. In one embodiment, a pressure gradient is created in the region generating relative movement between fat cell constituents having different densities. In another embodiment, a protrusion of skin and underlying adipose tissue containing is formed and ultrasound energy is radiated into the adipose tissue in the protrusion. In another embodiment, an RF electric field is generated inside a region of adipose tissue together with the ultrasound energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SYNERON MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Avner Rosenberg, Shimon Eckhouse, Michael Kreindel
  • Patent number: 9291812
    Abstract: This light modulation panel is provided with: a first substrate having comb electrodes disposed on a uniformly planar electrode with an insulating layer therebetween; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate and provided with a uniformly planar electrode; a light modulation layer obtained by dispersing anisometric members in a medium; and formed between the substrates; and a circuit for changing the direction in which an electric field is applied, which changes the direction of an electric field applied to the light modulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Satoh, Kohzoh Nakamura, Hisashi Watanabe, Takahiro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 9059406
    Abstract: A PZT-based ferroelectric thin film formed on a lower electrode of a substrate having the lower electrode in which the crystal plane is oriented in a (111) axis direction, having an orientation controlling layer which is formed on the lower electrode and has a layer thickness in which a crystal orientation is controlled in a (111) plane preferentially in a range of 45 nm to 270 nm, and a film thickness adjusting layer which is formed on the orientation controlling layer and has the same crystal orientation as the crystal orientation of the orientation controlling layer, in which an interface is formed between the orientation controlling layer and the film thickness adjusting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Noguchi, Toshihiro Doi, Hideaki Sakurai, Toshiaki Watanabe, Nobuyuki Soyama
  • Patent number: 8998390
    Abstract: Provided is an NBT-BT lead-free piezoelectric film having a high crystalline orientation and a high piezoelectric constant. The present invention is a piezoelectric film comprising a NaxM1-x layer and a (Bi, Na)TiO3—BaTiO3 layer. The (Bi, Na) TiO3—BaTiO3 layer is formed on the NaxM1-x layer, where M represents Pt, Ir, or PtIr and x represents a value of not less than 0.002 and not more than 0.02. Both of the NaxM1-x layer and the (Bi, Na) TiO3—BaTiO3 layer have a (001) orientation only, a (110) orientation only, or a (111) orientation only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takakiyo Harigai, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Hideaki Adachi, Eiji Fujii
  • Publication number: 20150076966
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device and a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric device are provided. The piezoelectric device includes first and second electrodes disposed on a first surface of a piezoelectric layer; third and fourth electrodes disposed on a second surface of the piezoelectric layer, a first conductor electrically connecting the first and fourth electrodes, and a second conductor electrically connecting the second and third electrodes, in a cross-link with the first conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung-hoon CHO, Hwi-yeol PARK, Jin S. HEO
  • Patent number: 8980010
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed to be opposed to each other on plate surfaces of the piezoelectric device, a first electrode plane of the piezoelectric device is fixedly bonded to a plate surface of a vibrating plate, a piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric device is polarized in a direction parallel to the first electrode plane, the piezoelectric device is fixed to a base through a second electrode plane of the piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric device generates a thickness-shear vibration with the fixed second electrode plane being a reference plane. The piezoelectric vibration generated by the piezoelectric device generates a flexural vibration in the vibrating plate, to thereby remove dust adhering to a surface of the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ifuku, Tatsuo Furuta, Hiroshi Saito, Kenichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8979065
    Abstract: A piezoelectric valve has a body with an input passage and an output passage each configured to connect to a fluid flow system, a flow control member movable with respect to the valve seat between a fully open position and a closed position and a piezoelectric motor directly connected to the flow control member. The piezoelectric motor has a piezoelectric resonator in which two orthogonal vibrational modes across a length and a width of the piezoelectric resonator are excited, a working element and one or more contact sites providing frictional contact between the working element and the piezoelectric resonator. One of the working element and the piezoelectric resonator is connected to the flow control member and configured to move relative to the other of the working element and the piezoelectric resonator due to the frictional contact, thereby moving the flow control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Valentin Zhelyaskov, Mark Oudshoorn, Serhiy Petrenko
  • Patent number: 8973229
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite piezoelectric substrate in which a piezoelectric substrate and a supporting substrate are prepared, ions are implanted in the piezoelectric substrate to form a defective layer at a predetermined depth in the piezoelectric substrate, impurities that are adhered to a surface of the piezoelectric substrate or a surface of the supporting substrate are removed to expose the constituent atoms thereof and to activate the surfaces, the supporting substrate is bonded to the piezoelectric substrate to form a bonded substrate body, the bonded substrate body is separated at the defective layer so that a separation layer between the surface of the piezoelectric substrate and the defective layer is separated from the piezoelectric substrate and bonded to the supporting substrate to form a composite piezoelectric substrate, and the surface of the separation layer of the composite piezoelectric substrate is smoothed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kando, Yoshiharu Yoshii
  • Patent number: 8966704
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed to be opposed to each other on plate surfaces of the piezoelectric device, a first electrode plane of the piezoelectric device is fixedly bonded to a plate surface of a vibrating plate, a piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric device is polarized in a direction parallel to the first electrode plane, the piezoelectric device is fixed to a base through a second electrode plane of the piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric device generates a thickness-shear vibration with the fixed second electrode plane being a reference plane. The piezoelectric vibration generated by the piezoelectric device generates a flexural vibration in the vibrating plate, to thereby remove dust adhering to a surface of the vibrating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ifuku, Tatsuo Furuta, Hiroshi Saito, Kenichi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20150054888
    Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric element that has a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer provided on the first electrode, and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer, an average grain size of crystal grains aligned in a planar direction within 15° from a (100) plane is less than the average grain size of the crystal grains facing a planar direction inclined by more than 15° from the (100) plane, in a case in which the crystal orientation of the piezoelectric layer is analyzed using an electron beam backscatter diffraction method (EBSD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tomohiro SAKAI, Tatsushi KATO
  • Publication number: 20150057540
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, an ultrasound probe, and a droplet discharge unit of the present invention, each of a pair of first and second electrodes is placed on a piezoelectric member having a single orientation in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction thereof to extend in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction or along the thickness direction and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the orientation. Therefore, the piezoelectric device of the present invention has excellent piezoelectric properties. Further, the ultrasound probe and the droplet discharge unit of the present invention have good efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouichi Sameshima, Takashi Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20150035906
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric actuator, including: first and second piezoelectric layers; a driving electrode arranged between the first and second piezoelectric layers; a second electrode maintained at a predetermined first electrical potential; and a third electrode maintained at a second electrical potential. A neutral plane of the piezoelectric actuator is positioned at a side opposite to the second piezoelectric layer relative to a center plane of the first piezoelectric layer in a direction of stacking of the first and second piezoelectric layers. A first portion of the first piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the second electrode, and a second portion of the second piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between the driving electrode and the third electrode. The first and second portions are polarized parallel to the stacking direction such that they are polarized in mutually opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Taisuke MIZUNO, Mizuyo Takebayashi, Kyohei Naito, Shotaro Kanzaki, Masato Sueyasu, Keiji Kura
  • Patent number: 8937426
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of polarizing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film without metalized electrode includes providing a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film that is stretched into ? phase; providing two glass substrates having an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer respectively, wherein the PVDF piezoelectric film is located between the two glass substrates, and the two ITO layers are coated located separately on top of and below the PVDF piezoelectric film; and imposing a DC electric field onto two ITO layers, wherein the DC electric field of polarization is 400 to 900 kV/cm approximately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Chung-Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Yung Ting, Sheuan-Perng Lin, Hariyanto Gunawan
  • Patent number: 8919933
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element including a first electrode, a seed layer provided on the first electrode and containing BiFeO3 with (001) plane preferential orientation, a piezoelectric layer provided on the seed layer and containing a perovskite-structure (Bi, Nd)(Fe, Mn, Al)O3 composition with (001) plane preferential orientation, and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaoxing Wang
  • Patent number: 8910370
    Abstract: A universal air bubble detector allows for use with a variety of sizes and types of tubing. The detector maintains proper alignment of a sensor emitter and receiver with different sizes of tubing. The detector may be mounted on existing equipment or may be used to monitor a tubing at any position along the tubing, and may operate in a stand alone mode or in combination with existing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Zevex, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Riley, Mark D. Stringham, David H. Blaine, Frank A. Crandall, Philip N. Eggers
  • Patent number: 8910356
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrical component is provided. The method comprises preparing a subassembly by electrically connecting an integrated circuit to a flexible circuit; and attaching the subassembly to a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a mounting surface with a curvature deviation exceeding 0.008 inches per inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Randall, Chris Wayne, John McConnell
  • Patent number: 8905934
    Abstract: Object is that an output sound pressure at transmission or an output voltage at reception of a predetermined higher resonance component becomes higher than those of the primary resonance component. The piezoelectric material layer 24 has an electrode on the surface of the piezoelectric material of between the layer and both ends, and outputs and inputs an electrical signal with this electrode. The piezoelectric material 24 has a remanent polarization in a thickness direction, the relationship of the (4P+1)th layer piezoelectric material from fixed end side is used as the basic relationship, piezoelectric materials are periodically arranged so that piezoelectric materials of (4p+2)th and (4p+3)th layer each has an opposite relationship, and (4p+4)th layer has the same relationship as the basic relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuichi Nishikubo
  • Patent number: 8899729
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a vibration plate which is joined to a flow passage unit to cover a pressure chamber formed in the flow passage unit, a piezoelectric layer arranged on the vibration plate, a first electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer to face the pressure chamber, a second electrode arranged on the piezoelectric layer while being opposed to the first electrode, and a third area arranged in the remaining area of the piezoelectric layer opposed to the pressure chamber. A first portion of the piezoelectric layer interposed by the first and second electrodes is polarized in parallel to the thickness direction. A second portion of the piezoelectric layer disposed between the first and third electrodes in the plane direction, is polarized in parallel to the plane direction. Accordingly, there are provided the piezoelectric actuator having a high driving efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20140339960
    Abstract: A piezoelectric bulk-wave resonator has a single-crystal LiNbO3 substrate whose Euler Angles are in the ranges of about (78° to 106°, 78° to 104°, 18° to 53°), a first driver electrode on a first main surface of the single-crystal LiNbO3 substrate, and a second driver electrode on a second main surface. The first driver electrode and the second driver electrode overlap with the single-crystal LiNbO3 substrate therebetween. The piezoelectric bulk-wave resonator uses the thickness-shear mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Kadota
  • Publication number: 20140327340
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a piezoelectric material that endures high temperatures, the resources of raw materials of which are abundant, and that is stably suppliable. Disclosed is a piezoelectric element, including: a piezoelectric member having a surface for receiving external stress and a side surface that is perpendicular to the surface for receiving external stress; and at least one pair of a first electrode and a second electrode that are placed on the side surface, the first electrode being provided so as to separate from the second electrode. The piezoelectric member is preferably cut out from a piezoelectric material that includes gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) in a predetermined crystal orientation. The piezoelectric member utilizes a transverse piezoelectric effect, and is preferably a (XYt) 45°-cut piece. The electrodes are preferably provided on surfaces that are parallel to the YZ plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicants: Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Energy Storage Materials LLC
    Inventors: Energy Storage Materials LLC, Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8866367
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrical device having a {100}-textured platinum electrode comprising: depositing a textured metal thin film onto a substrate; thermally oxidizing the metal thin film by annealing to convert it to a rocksalt structure oxide with a {100}-texture; depositing a platinum film layer; depositing a ferroelectric film. An electrical device comprising a substrate; a textured layer formed on the substrate comprising metal oxide having a rocksalt structure; a first electrode film layer having a crystallographic texture acting as a template; and at least one ferroelectric material layer exhibiting spontaneous polarization epitaxially deposited on the first electrode film layer whereby the rocksalt structure of the textured layer facilitates the growth of the first electrode film layer with a {100} orientation which forms a template for the epitaxial deposition of the ferroelectric layer such that the ferroelectric layer is formed with an {001} orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Glen R. Fox, Ronald G. Polcawich, Daniel M. Potrepka
  • Publication number: 20140309562
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound transducer device including a plurality of piezoelectric single-crystal plates that are stacked such that polarization components thereof are alternately inverted. The plurality of piezoelectric single-crystal plates are stacked such that directions thereof in which strain deformation in a direction orthogonal to a direction of voltage application from electrodes respectively interposed between the plurality of piezoelectric single-crystal plates becomes largest coincide with each other. There is also provided an ultrasound medical apparatus including the ultrasound transducer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi ITO
  • Publication number: 20140265734
    Abstract: A ferroelectric device comprising a substrate; a textured layer; a first electrode comprising a thin layer of metallic material having a crystal lattice structure divided into granular regions; a seed layer; the seed layer being epitaxially deposited so as to form a column-like structure on top of the granular regions of the first electrode; at least one ferroelectric material layer exhibiting spontaneous polarization epitaxially deposited on the seed layer; the ferroelectric material layer, the seed layer, and first electrode each having granular regions in which column-like structures produce a high degree of polarization normal to the growth plane and a method of making.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Army Research Laboratory ATTN: RDRL-LOC-I
    Inventors: Glen R. Fox, Ronald G. Polcawich, Daniel M. Potrepka, Luz M. Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20140252921
    Abstract: Methods, compositions, and apparatus for generating electricity are provided. Electricity is generated through the mechanisms nuclear magnetic spin and remnant polarization electric generation. The apparatus may include a material with high nuclear magnetic spin or high remnant polarization coupled with a poled ferroelectric material. The apparatus may also include a pair of electrical contacts disposed on opposite sides of the poled ferroelectric material and the high nuclear magnetic spin or high remnant polarization material. Further, a magnetic field may be applied to the high nuclear magnetic spin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Robert H. Burgener, II, Gary M. Renlund
  • Patent number: 8829764
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resonator of the harmonic bulk acoustic resonator HBAR type, comprising a piezoelectric transducer (6) clamped between two electrodes (4, 8) with a strong electroacoustic coupling, cut according to a first cutting angle ?1, and an acoustic substrate (10) with a working frequency acoustic quality coefficient at least equal to 5·1012, cut according to a second cutting angle ?2 with at least one shearing vibration mode. The transducer and the substrate are arranged in such a way that the polarization direction of the shearing mode of the transducer and the polarization direction of the shearing of the substrate are aligned, and the second cutting angle ?2 is such that the temperature coefficient of the frequency of the first order CTFB1 corresponding to the shearing mode and to the second cutting angle ?2 is zero with inversion of the sign thereof on either side of, or equal to, a bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Universite de Franche Comte, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)
    Inventors: Sylvain Ballandras, Dorian Gachon
  • Patent number: 8810106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resonator of the high bulk acoustic resonator HBAR type, for operating at a pre-determined working frequency, comprising: a piezoelectric transducer (6), an acoustic substrate (10), a counter-electrode (8) formed by a metal layer adhering to a first face of the transducer (6) and a face of the acoustic substrate (10), and an electrode (4) arranged on a second face of the transducer (6) facing away from the first face of the transducer (6) and the substrate (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Universite de Franche Comte
    Inventors: Sylvain Ballandras, Dorian Gachon
  • Publication number: 20140210314
    Abstract: A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) vibrating structure includes a carrier substrate, a first anchor, a second anchor, a single crystal piezoelectric body, and a conducting layer. The first anchor and the second anchor are provided on the surface of the carrier substrate. The single-crystal piezoelectric body is suspended between the first anchor and the second anchor, and includes a uniform crystalline orientation defined by a set of Euler angles. The single-crystal piezoelectric body includes a first surface parallel to and facing the surface of the carrier substrate on which the first anchor and the second anchor are formed and a second surface opposite the first surface. The conducting layer is inter-digitally dispersed, and is formed on the second surface of the single-crystal piezoelectric body. The first surface of the single-crystal piezoelectric body is left exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kushal Bhattacharjee, Sergei Zhgoon