More Than Two Patents (Class 310/366)
  • Publication number: 20140159546
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric actuator including: positive electrode layers and negative electrode layers iteratively alternately vertically laminated; piezoelectric element layers interposed between the positive electrode layers and the negative electrode layers, respectively; a positive electrode (or anode) connection pillar provided in a position corresponding to less than 50% of maximum displacement in the event of driving and penetrating the electrode layers and the piezoelectric element layers to connect the positive electrode layers; and a negative electrode (or cathode) connection pillar provided in a position corresponding to less than 50% of maximum displacement in the event of driving and penetrating the electrode layers and the piezoelectric element layers to connect the negative electrode layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Kyung KIM, Joon CHOI, Yeon Ho SON
  • Patent number: 8749120
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for manufacturing flexible micro bumps operably coupled to an array of nano-piezoelectric sensors are generally disclosed. The micro bumps and coupled nano-piezoelectric device have use at least as tactile sensors. A wide variety of configurations of the micro bumps and the nano-piezoelectric device are anticipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Xi'an Jiaotong University
    Inventors: Weihua Liu, Hongzhong Liu, Xin Li
  • Patent number: 8749117
    Abstract: Provided is a vibrating body for a vibratory drive unit, including: a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric layer and an electrode layer; and a plate-shaped elastic member bonded to the piezoelectric element, wherein the vibrating body drives a body to be driven, which is in contact with the plate-shaped elastic member, by a vibration generated in the plate-shaped elastic member through an application of a drive voltage to the piezoelectric element, and the plate-shaped elastic member has a front surface and a back surface each provided with one or a plurality of the piezoelectric elements to generate at least two different vibration modes through the application of the drive voltage to the one or the plurality of the piezoelectric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8742651
    Abstract: Exemplary piezoelectric vibrating pieces have an excitation electrode and an extraction electrode having uniform thickness in the vibrating region to prevent unnecessary vibrations and degradation of vibration characteristics. An exemplary piezoelectric vibrating piece includes a vibrating portion having an excitation electrode of a first thickness (d1), an outer frame surrounding the vibrating portion with a gap therebetween, a joining portion connecting the vibrating portion and the outer frame, and an extraction electrode connected to the excitation electrode and extending on the vibrating portion, joining portion, and outer frame. The extraction electrode has the first thickness d1 throughout the vibrating portion and a second thickness (d2>d1) on the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8729778
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer that includes an elongating/contracting member and a driving member. The elongating/contracting member elongates and contracts in response to application of a voltage thereto. The elongating/contracting member has a side surface that is parallel to an elongation/contraction direction. The driving member is provided on the side surface of the elongating/contracting member. The driving member is displaced with elongation and contraction of the elongating/contracting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanaga Nishikawa, Takashi Hase, Toshio Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8729982
    Abstract: The elementary filter of the HBAR type includes two resonators (20, 22) of the HBAR type which are each formed by a transducer (8) and a substrate (12) which are coupled in a suitable manner by electroacoustic waves. The first resonator (20), the second resonator (22) and the coupling element (28) by way of evanescent waves include the same monobloc acoustic substrate (12) which is arranged facing and coupled to the piezoelectric transducer (8) by waves having the same longitudinal or transverse vibration mode through the same reference electrode (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Universite de Franche-Comte
    Inventors: Dorian Gachon, Sylvain Ballandras
  • Publication number: 20140132118
    Abstract: Multilayered piezoelectric transformers, transformer elements and methods of constructing piezoelectric transformers are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Ross W. Bird, William M. Bradley, Gareth J. Knowles
  • Publication number: 20140132119
    Abstract: A three-dimensional woven active fiber composite is disclosed. The composite includes a plurality of actuating fibers configured in a three-dimensional arrangement. The composite further includes a plurality of conductive wire electrodes that are woven through the plurality of actuating fibers. The electrodes may be configured into two dimensional electrode mats that are spaced apart along the length of the composite. Filler fibers may be used between adjacent electrode mats to help reinforce the composite. A sleeve member can also be used to help provide compressive containment for the actuating fibers and conductive wire electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph P.W. Whinnery, Dennis B. Chung
  • Publication number: 20140125199
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element that can decrease the output voltage for detection relative to the input voltage for driving without requiring a step-down circuit between a detection phase electrode and a phase comparator and an oscillatory wave motor including the piezoelectric element are provided. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric material having a first surface and a second surface, a common electrode disposed on the first surface, and a drive phase electrode and a detection phase electrode disposed on the second surface. An absolute value d(1) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (1) sandwiched between the drive phase electrode and the common electrode and an absolute value d(2) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (2) sandwiched between the detection phase electrode and the common electrode satisfy d(2)<d(1). An oscillatory wave motor includes this piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuo Furuta, Hiroshi Saito, Makoto Kubota, Kenichi Akashi
  • Patent number: 8710761
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (20) for a piezo transformer (22) comprising a driver circuit (23), to which the piezo transformer (22) can be connected, and a current sensor (21) for the determining an incoming power signal (IM), which is subject to an incoming current (IE) flowing through the piezo transformer (22). The invention further relates to the circuit arrangement (20) of a control unit (24) for providing a control signal (ST), which is subject the incoming power signal (IM); and an oscillator (25) having an oscillator output (43) for emitting an oscillator signal (SO) to a driver signal input (44) of the driver circuit (23) subject to the control signal (ST).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Manfred Pauritsch, Peter Trattler
  • Patent number: 8704430
    Abstract: A piezoceramic multilayer actuator has a first sub-stack (12, 14, 16) with a plurality of piezoceramic layers (22) and at least one internal electrode (24, 26), the piezoceramic layers (22) and the at least one internal electrode (24, 26) being laminated in an alternating manner, a second sub-stack (12, 14, 16) has a plurality of piezoceramic layers (22) and at least one internal electrode (24, 26), the piezoceramic layers (22) and the at least one internal electrode (24, 26) being laminated in an alternating manner, and a connection layer (40) arranged between the first sub-stack (12, 14, 16) and the second sub-stack (12, 14, 16), wherein the connection layer (40) is set up by a multitude of single connection points or connection lines (44) or other connection regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH, Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Bernhard Döllgast, Masahiro Inagaki, Harald Johannes Kastl, Atsushi Ochi, Takami Sakamoto, Carsten Schuh
  • Patent number: 8704423
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a dielectric elastomer composite material comprising a plurality of elastomer-coated electrodes arranged in an assembly. Embodiments of the invention provide improved force output over prior DEs by producing thinner spacing between electrode surfaces. This is accomplished by coating electrodes directly with uncured elastomer in liquid form and then assembling a finished component (which may be termed an actuator) from coated electrode components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Brian K. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20140090470
    Abstract: A vibrator in a vibrating gyroscope includes a circular annular portion, a rectangular annular portion, and joining portions. The rectangular annular portion is disposed adjacent to an outer side of the circular annular portion. The joining portions join the circular annular portion and the rectangular annular portion. The rectangular annular portion includes linear beam portions. The joining portions join the circular annular portion and the center portions of the beam portions to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi FUJIMOTO, Toshimaro YONEDA, Takuo HADA, Hideya HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140085694
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers, a plurality of electrodes between which each of the piezoelectric layers is placed so that the electrodes and the piezoelectric layers alternate with each other, and a substrate on which the plurality of piezoelectric layers and the plurality of electrodes are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisanori AGA, Ayu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8681586
    Abstract: Devices for sensing gradients are constructed from material whose properties change in response to gradients. One embodiment of the device is a transducer (200) for sensing gradients that includes the material (210) and two or more electrodes (240, 270) coupled to the material. In one embodiment, gradients in a surrounding medium (110) modify the energy gap of the material in the transducer (130) producing a diffusion current density (150). The material is configured to connect to a current or voltage measurement device (520, 530, 540) where a measurement is used to determine the gradient in the medium (160). The devices can be used to measure pressure, temperature, and/or other properties. The transducer can be built on the same substrate as complementary circuitry. A transducer made of Indium. Antimonide is used in marine seismology to measure pressure gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Hallock, Mark A. Meier
  • Patent number: 8677604
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device includes the steps of forming an electrode on a first medium layer, forming a second medium layer so as to cover the electrode on the first medium layer, and forming a sound absorbing layer on an external surface of the second medium layer. The sound absorbing layer has an acoustic velocity of transverse waves that is lower than an acoustic velocity of transverse waves of the second medium layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kando
  • Patent number: 8664837
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric vibrating piece, a base plate, which has a connecting electrode on one principal surface and a mounting terminal on another principal surface, in a rectangular shape, and a lid plate. The another principal surface of the base plate includes a pair of sides that face one another. At least the pair of sides has a level difference portion depressed toward the one principal surface side and a castellation passing through from the another principal surface to the one principal surface. A wiring electrode extracted from the mounting terminal to the one principal surface of the base plate is at a part of the level difference portion and the castellation. The wiring electrode and the mounting terminal include a metal film formed by sputtering or vacuum evaporation and an electroless plating film formed on the metal film by electroless plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Mizusawa
  • Publication number: 20140055009
    Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic is constituted by a polycrystal whose main phase is an alkali-containing niobate perovskite structure, where both elemental nickel and elemental manganese are present at the grain boundary of the polycrystal. The piezoelectric ceramic is such that drop in piezoelectric characteristics due to application of high electric field is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi HATANO, Sumiaki KISHIMOTO, Yutaka DOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140055932
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator, a piezoelectric vibration apparatus and a portable terminal are disclosed. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a flexible substrate and a bonding layer. The piezoelectric element includes a laminate in which inner electrodes and piezoelectric layers are alternatively stacked; and surface electrodes on a first main surface of the laminate, each electrically connected to some of the inner electrodes, respectively. The flexible substrate includes a wiring conductor that is electrically connected to the surface electrodes. The bonding layer is located between a part of flexible substrate and the first main surface. At least a region, where the flexible substrate is bonded, of the first main surface has a flatness worse than a flatness of an second main surface which is opposed to the first main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8659214
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric actuator including a lower electrode layer, a first PZT piezoelectric layer having a first relative permittivity is formed on the lower electrode layer, and a second PZT piezoelectric layer having a second relative permittivity smaller than said first relative permittivity is formed on the first PZT piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140035436
    Abstract: The invention concerns a component (B) operating with acoustic waves, in which the reflection and excitation are largely decoupled. For this purpose, a component comprises a dielectric (DL) which is arranged between an electrode finger (EF) and a piezoelectric substrate (PSU) and at least partially overlaps the electrode finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Werner Ruile, Edgar Schmidhammer, Ulrike Rösler, Stefan Berek
  • Publication number: 20140028156
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes first internal electrodes and second electrodes, as well as piezoelectric ceramic layers that are made of ceramics and arranged between the first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes. Manganese is present relatively more abundantly in the areas of the piezoelectric ceramic layers adjacent to the first internal electrodes and second internal electrodes, compared to at the centers of the piezoelectric ceramic layers. Insulation performance of the piezoelectric element is kept from dropping over the course of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SHIMIZU, Keiichi HATANO, Yutaka DOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140028157
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including: a base; a panel; a support for supporting the panel with respect to the base; and a vibrator for causing the panel to vibrate at a given frequency. The support includes a first region located at a part corresponding to a node of vibration of the panel, and a second region located at a part other than the node of the vibration of the panel. The support has a rigidity that is smaller in the first region than in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke ADACHI, Ryo OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20140020659
    Abstract: There are provided a multi-layer piezoelectric element that is driven stably for a long period of time without developing cracks in a junction between a metallized layer and a lead member or a stacked body, and an injection device and a fuel injection system provided with the same. A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes are laminated; a metallized layer disposed on a side surface of the stacked body, the metalized layer being electrically connected to the internal electrodes; and an external electrode member disposed on the metallized layer, with an electrically-conductive adhesive layer interposed therebetween, wherein the electrically-conductive adhesive layer has a plurality of voids configured not to open on a surface thereof which surface is in contact with the metallized layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20140021830
    Abstract: A plurality of piezoelectric device corresponding parts including a green main body part and a green top surface electrode formed on a top surface of the green main body part are placed on a tabular substrate at intervals. Next, a tabular elastic body is pressed from above to the plurality of piezoelectric device corresponding parts, so as to form an inclined part declined toward an outer side in an edge of a top surface of each piezoelectric device corresponding part, and to form a circular arc part at an intersection between the inclined part and a side surface of the piezoelectric device corresponding part. Next, a green side surface electrode is formed on the side surface of each piezoelectric device corresponding part so that the green side surface electrode is connected to the green top surface electrode. Next, this molded body is sintered so that a piezoelectric device is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatomo OGATA, Haruhiko ITO
  • Patent number: 8633636
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a laminated ceramic electronic component, when a plating film to define an external terminal electrode is formed by plating exposed ends of a plurality of internal electrodes at a WT surface of a component main body, ingress of a plating solution may be caused from a gap between an end edge of the plating film and the component main body to decrease the reliability of a laminated electronic component obtained. An internal dummy electrode is provided around a region where the exposed ends of the plurality of internal electrodes are distributed in the WT surface of the component main body. The internal dummy electrode includes two LW-direction sections extending parallel or substantially parallel to each other in a direction along the LW surface, and two LT-direction sections extending parallel or substantially parallel to each other in a direction along the LT surface. The plating film is formed at least over the exposed end of the internal dummy electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Iwanaga, Makoto Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20140015380
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration element includes: a piezoelectric substrate; excitation electrodes that are arranged so as to face each other on both principal faces of the piezoelectric substrate; drawn-out electrodes; and pads. The piezoelectric substrate includes an excitation portion that is located at the center and a peripheral portion that is thin-walled to be thinner than the thickness of the excitation portion and is disposed on a peripheral edge thereof. The pads have support areas that fix the piezoelectric substrate to a support member at positions of the piezoelectric substrate corresponding to corner portions. The excitation electrodes are formed over the excitation portion and a vibration area that is at least a part of the peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro II, Matsutaro NAITO
  • Publication number: 20140015379
    Abstract: The piezoelectric multilayer component includes a piezo stack having an alternating sequence of piezoelectric ceramic layers and inner electrodes, and a passivation on an outer side. The passivation is produced from a piezoelectric ceramic material which is different from the material of the ceramic layers. In the production method, the passivation is polarized together with the ceramic layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: EPCOS AG
    Inventor: Martin Galler
  • Publication number: 20140001920
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (1) having stacked piezoelements (16), first and second inner electrodes (5, 3) disposed alternatingly between the piezoelements (16), a first outer electrode (4) which is electrically conductively connected to the first inner electrode (5), a second outer electrode (2) which is electrically conductively connected to the second inner electrode (3), characterized in that the actuator (1) comprises a plurality of actuator segments (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) and that the second outer electrode (2) comprises separate electrode segments (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) each of which are electrically conductively connected to the second inner electrodes (3) in one of the actuator segments (81, 82, 83, 84, 85).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Christoph Auer, Reinhard Gabl
  • Publication number: 20130340523
    Abstract: A tuning bar piezoelectric vibrator includes first and second leg portions defined by a tuning bar piezoelectric vibrator, layers of first and second inner driver electrodes arranged as inner driver electrodes between first and second piezoelectric layers that are polarized in opposite directions of a thickness direction, a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode arranged to face the first and the second inner driver electrodes with the piezoelectric layers in between, respectively, and first and second vibrator portions in which the inner driver electrodes are used as driver electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Haruyoshi KURAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20130342083
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator (1), comprising: piezoelectric elements (16) arranged in a stack; first and second inner electrodes (5, 3), which are alternately arranged between the piezoelectric elements (16); a first outer electrode (4), which is connected to the first inner electrodes (5) in an electrically conductive manner; a second outer electrode (2) , which is connected to the second inner electrodes (3) in an electrically conductive manner, characterized in that the actuator (1) comprises a plurality of actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) and in that the second outer electrode (2) comprises separate electrode segments (21, 22, 23), which are each connected in an electrically conductive manner to the second inner electrodes (3) in one of the actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) or in a group of the actuator sections (81, 82, 83, 84, 85).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: EPCOS AG
    Inventor: Johann Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130342081
    Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic element, a first inner electrode, a second inner electrode, an outer electrode, and a first auxiliary electrode. The first auxiliary electrode extends to a first surface of the ceramic element. The first inner electrode extends along a first direction on the first surface. The first auxiliary electrode extends outward from the region where the first inner electrode is disposed in the first direction on the first surface. The outer electrode covers the first inner electrode and the first auxiliary electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Yoichi KURODA, Masaaki TANIGUCHI, Yoshio KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130342082
    Abstract: An element body having a first and second internal electrodes exposure surface comprising a piezoelectric active area, wherein a first internal electrode faces a second internal electrode sandwiching piezoelectric body layer in-between along laminating direction, and a piezoelectric inactive area, wherein the piezoelectric body layer contacts only first or second internal electrode at one face along laminating direction, or the first internal electrodes or the second internal electrodes respectively face each other sandwiching piezoelectric body layer in-between along laminating direction, an insulating layer which covers the piezoelectric active area of the first and second internal electrodes exposure surface, and a resistance layer which is isolated from the piezoelectric active area by the insulating layer, placed at the first and second internal electrodes exposure surface connecting at least a part of the first and that of the second internal electrode in the piezoelectric inactive area and has lower el
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Syuuzi ITOH, Satoshi Ozawa, Atsushi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20130334933
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element, which is capable of being driven with a relatively low voltage and obtaining a large displacement amount at a central portion thereof and is not degraded in characteristics over time and is easily mountable on or in a piezoelectric device, includes a piezoelectric body including a plurality of laminated piezoelectric layers, ground electrodes, central electrodes, and peripheral electrodes. A surface of the piezoelectric body includes first to fifth terminals. The extraction of the ground terminals, the central electrodes, and the peripheral electrodes to the first to fifth terminals is configured to connect one terminal of an alternating-current power supply to the third terminal and connect the other terminal of the alternating-current power supply to the first terminal and the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki UKAI, Shungo KANAI, Hiroyuki Yashi
  • Publication number: 20130335486
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator has a satisfactory electrical connection of a common electrode and a surface electrode without increasing the size of the piezoelectric actuator, as well as a liquid discharge head and a recording device. The piezoelectric actuator includes: a ceramic substrate which is long in one direction and includes a vibrating plate, a common electrode disposed on the vibrating plate and a piezoelectric ceramic layer disposed on the common electrode and having a plurality of first through holes connected to the common electrode; a plurality of individual electrodes disposed in a region of the piezoelectric ceramic layer opposed to the common electrode; and a plurality of first surface electrodes respectively disposed inside a plurality of the first through holes in the piezoelectric ceramic layer and on a circumference of a plurality of the first through holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kobayashi, Takahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8610337
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device employs solder on a roughened surface to improve bonding of electrical contacts with the device package. The device package includes a base, a crystal frame and a lid. The base includes connecting electrodes on a side of the base adjacent the crystal frame. The base has a through hole and a through hole electrode formed in the through hole in electrical contact with the connecting electrodes. The through hole is sealed with a sealing material and a first external electrode layer, which is electrically connected to the through hole electrode, is formed on an outside surface of the base opposite the piezoelectric plate. A second external electrode layer is formed to cover the first external electrode layer and the sealing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8604667
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motor exhibits stable performances by suppressing irregularities of magnitudes of two standing waves excited by a piezoelectric element. A plurality of divided electrodes are mounted on one surface of the piezoelectric element and are equidistantly arranged in the circumferential and radial directions and have equal polarized areas. Alternate ones of the divided electrodes are short-circuited in the radial direction by inner electrodes arranged on the inner peripheral side of the divided electrodes, and the other alternate ones of the divided electrodes are short-circuited in the radial direction by outer electrodes arranged on the outer peripheral side of the divided electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iino, Yukio Akiyama, Satoshi Sakai, Takuo Oosaki, Masakazu Hirabayashi, Masatomo Moriko
  • Patent number: 8601872
    Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope according to this invention includes a ring-shaped vibrating body 11 having a uniform plane, a leg portion 15 flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body and having a fixed end, a fixed potential electrode 16, and a plurality of electrodes 13a, 13b, . . . , 13h formed on the plane with a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in a thickness direction thereof. In this case, in a representative example shown in FIG. 1, when one of driving electrodes 13a for exciting a primary vibration of the ring-shaped vibrating body 11 in a vibration mode of cos N? is set as a reference driving electrode, the plurality of remaining electrodes 13b, . . . , 13h are disposed at specific positions. Such disposition allows this vibrating gyroscope to detect a uniaxial to triaxial angular velocity by adopting a secondary vibration detector inclusive of an out-of-plane vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: SUMITOMO PRECISION PRODUCTS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Hiroshi Nishida, Osamu Torayashiki, Mitsuhiko Takemura, Tsuyoshi Fujimura, Ryuta Araki, Takafumi Moriguchi, Nobutaka Teshima, Yasuyuki Hirata
  • Patent number: 8604668
    Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a support body having a displacing part capable of undergoing displacement, a lower electrode layer having a lower main electrode body and a lower electrode wire part with the lower main electrode body being formed on the support body and provided within the displacing part in a plan view and the lower electrode wire part being connected to the lower main electrode body and provided across an interior and an exterior of the displacing part, a first piezoelectric layer provided on the lower main electrode body, an upper electrode layer provided across the interior and exterior of the displacing part with at least a part of the upper electrode layer being layered on the first piezoelectric layer and insulated from the lower electrode layer, and a second piezoelectric layer provided on the support body to cover at least a part of the lower electrode wire part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20130320815
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric ceramic which has an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure in which constituent elements are Li, Na, K, Nb, and O, a Li3NbO4 crystal phase is intentionally deposited on a piezoelectric ceramic having an alkali-containing niobate-based perovskite structure, whereby sintering becomes possible at about 1000° C. rather than at the normally required sintering temperature of 1050° C. or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Hatano, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Yutaka Doshida
  • Patent number: 8593037
    Abstract: A quartz resonator flow cell has a piezoelectric quartz wafer with an electrode, pads, and interconnects disposed on a first side thereof. The piezoelectric quartz wafer has a second electrode disposed on a second side thereof, the second electrode opposing the first electrode. A substrate is provided having fluid ports therein and the piezoelectric quartz wafer is mounted to the substrate such that the second side thereof faces the substrate with a cavity being formed between the substrate and the wafer. The fluid ports in the substrate are aligned with the electrode on the second side of the piezoelectric quartz wafer which is in contact with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Kubena, Tsung-Yuan Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130307376
    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 by means of which a torsional vibration mode is enabled. 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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Man-Sun Yun
  • Publication number: 20130305824
    Abstract: A vibrating element includes a vibrating arm for detection. An electrode is provided on the vibrating arm for detection. A wiring line is connected to the electrode. The wiring line is arranged on a piezoelectric body of a base portion. At least a part of the wiring line is an electrode for adjustment. The electrode for adjustment generates an electrical signal with an opposite phase to an output signal of leak vibration of the vibrating arm for detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8584330
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator is provided. The method includes: forming a diffusion-preventive layer having an electrical conductivity on a partial surface thereof on a surface of a vibration plate formed of a metallic material; forming a piezoelectric layer on the surfaces of the diffusion-preventive layer and the vibration plate; forming an electrode in an area of the piezoelectric layer which overlaps the partial surface of the diffusion-preventive layer having the electrical conductivity; forming an extraction electrode in an area of the piezoelectric layer which does not overlap the diffusion-preventive layer; and heating the piezoelectric layer and the vibration plate after the piezoelectric layer is formed so as to diffuse metallic atoms of the metallic material of which the vibration plate is formed to the piezoelectric layer, thereby making the extraction electrode be in conduction with the partial surface of the diffusion-preventive layer having the electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Kura
  • Publication number: 20130294202
    Abstract: Piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) arrays and techniques for frequency shaping in pMUT arrays are described, for example to achieve both high frequency and low frequency operation in a same device. The ability to operate at both high and low frequencies may be tuned during use of the device to adaptively adjust for optimal resolution at a particular penetration depth of interest. In embodiments, various sizes of piezoelectric membranes are fabricated for tuning resonance frequency across the membranes. The variously sized piezoelectric membranes are lumped together by two or more separate electrode rails, enabling independent addressing between the two or more subgroups of sized transducer elements. Signal processing of the drive and/or response signals generated and/or received from each of the two or more electrode rails may achieve a variety of operative modes for the device, such as a near field mode, a far field mode, and an ultra wide bandwidth mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Arman HAJATI
  • Patent number: 8575820
    Abstract: A stacked bulk acoustic resonator includes a first piezoelectric layer stacked on a first electrode, a second electrode stacked on the first piezoelectric layer; a second piezoelectric layer stacked on the second electrode, and a third electrode stacked on the second piezoelectric layer. The stacked bulk acoustic resonator further includes an inner raised region formed in an inner portion on a surface of at least one of the first, second and third electrodes, and an outer raised region formed along an outer perimeter on the surface of the at least one of the first, second or third electrodes. The outer raised region surrounds the inner raised region and defines a gap between the inner raised region and the outer raised region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexandre Augusto Shirakawa, Paul Bradley, Dariusz Burak, Stefan Bader, Chris Feng
  • Publication number: 20130283910
    Abstract: A vibrating reed includes a base part. A drive vibrating arm, a detection vibrating arm, and an adjustment vibrating arm extend from the base part. A first adjustment electrode and a second adjustment electrode are connected to the adjustment vibrating arm. The first adjustment electrode generates an electrical signal in first phase. The second adjustment electrode generates an electrical signal in second phase opposite to the first phase. The electrical signals of the adjustment electrodes are superimposed on the detection signal of the detection vibrating arm, and thereby, vibration leakage components are cancelled out. The adjustment vibrating arm is partially sandwiched between a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece, and the adjustment vibrating arm is partially sandwiched between a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuta NISHIZAWA, Keiji NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8569927
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator unit includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode and a second electrode which are arranged to be sandwiching the piezoelectric layer, and which form an active portion of the piezoelectric layer by sandwiching the piezoelectric layer, a capacitor which is connected in series to the active portion, and a voltage applying mechanism which applies a first voltage to the capacitor, and a second voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a piezoelectric deformation in the active portion of the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Morita
  • Patent number: 8569937
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a piezoelectric resonator configured for parametric amplification is disclosed. The piezoelectric resonator may include or comprise a piezoelectric member, and first and second resonator electrodes associated with the piezoelectric member and positioned to enable a first electric field to be generated in a first direction. The piezoelectric resonator may also include or comprise a parametric drive electrode associated with the piezoelectric member and positioned to enable a second electric field to be generated in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Randall L. Kubena, Yook-Kong Yong
  • Patent number: 8567922
    Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator unit includes: a wiring board; a piezoelectric actuator which is provided with a piezoelectric layer, a plurality of individual electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer, a common electrode which faces the plurality of individual electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric layer between the common electrode and individual electrodes, and which is divided into a plurality of split electrodes, a plurality of individual contact points which are in conduction with the individual electrodes, and which are to be connected to the wiring board, and a plurality of reinforcing contact points which are connected to the wiring board to reinforce a connection with the wiring board; and a conduction mechanism which brings the plurality of split electrodes into conduction. Each of the split electrodes is in conduction with at least one of the reinforcing contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Yamashita