Piezoelectric Element Shape Patents (Class 310/367)
  • Patent number: 11209905
    Abstract: A panel includes a vibration plate having a generally rectangular shape; and a piezoelectric actuator that is provided on a main surface of the vibration plate and causes the vibration plate to vibrate, in which the vibration plate is configured such that a length x in mm of a long side of the vibration plate and logarithmic decrement y of the vibration plate satisfy Expression 1 below: y?32.6x?1 ??(Expression 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hamada, Yukihiro Matsui, Takashi Tomita
  • Patent number: 11108378
    Abstract: A method of forming a quartz crystal resonator is provided with the resonator including a body portion with first and second main surfaces facing each other and, in plan view having a pair of long sides extending in a first direction and a pair of short sides extending in a second intersecting direction. Moreover, first and second excitation electrodes are formed on the respective main surfaces; a frame surrounds the body portion at both ends and is separated from the both ends; and first and second coupling portions extend from the short sides and with widths of the short sides. At least one of the first and second coupling portions is formed with a thickness in a third direction is smaller than a thickness in the third direction of a region of the body portion where the first excitation electrode and the second excitation electrode face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Ikeda, Motonori Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11108377
    Abstract: A quartz crystal resonator is provided that includes a body portion with first and second main surfaces facing each other and, in plan view has a pair of long sides extending in a first direction and a pair of short sides extending in a second intersecting direction. Moreover, first and second excitation electrodes are disposed on the first and second main surfaces respectively; a frame surrounds the body portion at both ends and is separated from the both ends; and first and second coupling portions extend from the short sides in the first direction with widths of the short sides. At least one of the first and second coupling portions has a portion whose thickness in a third direction is smaller than a thickness in the third direction of a region of the body portion where the first excitation electrode and the second excitation electrode face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Ikeda, Motonori Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10985078
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a processing chamber is provided. A consumable is within the processing chamber. A scale is positioned to measure a mass of the consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 10744295
    Abstract: A blower comprises a housing, an inlet to receive air, an outlet to deliver a flow of air and a deformable member configured to pump a chamber. The deformable member may be configurable to a first configuration and a second configuration, for example by electrical energy that may be applied as current or voltage. The blower may comprise a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber may be compressed out of phase with each other, for example such that the flow rate of the generated air flow may not fluctuate as much. In other forms, the blower may comprise a plurality of chambers that vary in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Barton John Kenyon, Timothy Nicholas Shadie, Cem Tarakci
  • Patent number: 10680576
    Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film resonator includes: a substrate; a lower electrode located on the substrate; a piezoelectric film that has a step on an upper surface thereof and is located on the lower electrode, a film thickness of the piezoelectric film inside the step being greater than a film thickness of the piezoelectric film outside the step; an upper electrode located on the piezoelectric film so that a resonance region is formed, the lower electrode and the upper electrode facing each other across the piezoelectric film in the resonance region, the resonance region including the step in plan view; and an insertion film located in the piezoelectric film, between the piezoelectric film and the lower electrode, or between the piezoelectric film and the upper electrode in at least a part of an outer peripheral region within the resonance region, and not located in a central region of the resonance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yokoyama, Jiansong Liu
  • Patent number: 10629799
    Abstract: A crystal vibration element includes a plate shaped crystal blank including a pair of long sides and pair of short sides when viewed on a plane, and a pair of excitation electrodes superimposed on the two major surfaces of the crystal blank. When viewed on a plane, each of the pair of excitation electrodes includes a pair of short edges extending along a pair of short sides on inner sides of the pair of short sides, and a pair of long edges extending along a pair of long sides on inner sides of the pair of long sides. The pair of short edges are shaped as straight line parallel to the pair of short sides, while the pair of long edges are shaped outwardly bulging when viewed on a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yumura, Masahiko Goto
  • Patent number: 10601393
    Abstract: An AT-cut crystal resonator plate (2) includes a first main surface (2a) on which a first excitation electrode (211) is formed and a second main surface (2b) on which a second excitation electrode (212) is formed. The AT-cut crystal resonator plate (2) further includes: a substantially rectangular-shaped vibrating part (21) that is piezoelectrically vibrated when a voltage is applied to the first excitation electrode (211) and the second excitation electrode (212); a holding part (22) protruding from a corner part (21a) of the vibrating part (21) in a Z? axis direction of the AT-cut crystal; and an external frame part (23) configured to surround an external circumference of the vibrating part (21) and to hold the holding part (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DAISHINKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Kojo
  • Patent number: 10589130
    Abstract: A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: James B. Hissong, Mark T. Stewart, David E. Francischelli, James R. Keogh, Hotaik Lee, Nadine B. Smith, James R. Skarda
  • Patent number: 10516382
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric vibration member including: a vibration substrate including a vibrating portion and a surrounding portion which is thinner than the vibrating portion; and vibrating electrodes disposed on one surface and the other surface of the vibrating portion in a thickness direction, wherein the vibrating portion includes protrusion portions protruding in relation to one surface and the other surface of the surrounding portion in the thickness direction, and at least one side surface of the protrusion portion has two or more crystal planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Pil Lee, Seung Mo Lim
  • Patent number: 10333051
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric element in which dielectric breakdown or breakage is less prone to occur even in long term use at a high voltage; and an acoustic generator, an acoustic generation device, and an electronic apparatus employing the same. A piezoelectric element includes: a stacked body in which a plurality of internal electrodes and piezoelectric layers are laminated, the stacked body having a rectangular shape in a plan view thereof; and a plurality of connecting electrodes connected to one ends of the plurality of internal electrodes, respectively, corner portions of the other ends of the plurality of internal electrodes being chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Suenaga
  • Patent number: 10330810
    Abstract: A hydrophone free from internal leads and further including a stabilizing jacket is described. The hydrophone uses the metallic end caps of the stabilizing jacket to complete the circuit thereby eliminating the need for internal leads. Further, the stabilizing jacket results in a hydrophone configuration that can withstand harsher conditions while nonetheless providing excellent detection capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Chung Chang, Yee Siang Teh, Ife Ogbunuju
  • Patent number: 10333489
    Abstract: A crystal unit includes an AT-cut crystal element and a container. The AT-cut crystal element has an approximately rectangular planar shape. The AT-cut crystal element includes a first inclined portion, second inclined portions, and a first secured portion. The first inclined portion is inclined such that the crystal element decreases in thickness from a proximity of the first side to the first side. The second inclined portions are disposed on respective both ends of the first side, the second inclined portions being formed integrally with the first inclined portion. The second inclined portions are inclined gentler than the first inclined portion. The first secured portion and a second secured portion are formed integrally with the second inclined portion. The first secured portion and the second secured portion each project out from the first side to outside the crystal element to be used for securing with the securing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Shimao, Yoshiharu Sato, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 10305021
    Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric material including stereocomplex crystals of poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), wherein poly(D-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactic acid) are crystallized into a stereocomplex, thus exhibiting superior heat resistance and piezoelectric properties. This piezoelectric material, which is obtained using poly(lactic acid), can be produced at very low cost compared to when using PVDF, and is configured to include stereocomplex crystals of PDLA and PLLA and can thus manifest high thermal stability and piezoelectric properties, compared to when using conventional PLLA alone. Such a piezoelectric material can be efficiently utilized in a variety of fields in which low production cost, high processing temperature in the manufacturing process, or high-temperature stability of piezoelectric material products is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: University-Industry Cooperation Group of Kyung Hee University
    Inventors: Kap Jin Kim, Eun Hye Song
  • Patent number: 10263597
    Abstract: A crystal unit includes an AT-cut crystal element, excitation electrodes, extraction electrodes. The AT-cut crystal element has an approximately rectangular planar shape. The excitation electrodes are disposed on front and back of principal surfaces of the AT-cut crystal element. The extraction electrodes are extended from the excitation electrodes to a side of one side of the AT-cut crystal element via a side surface of the AT-cut crystal element. Assuming that an extraction angle of the extraction electrode from the principal surface to the side surface is defined as an angle ? with respect to an X-axis of a crystallographic axis of a crystal, the angle ? is equal to or greater than 59 degrees and equal to or less than 87 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Sato, Kenji Shimao, Hirokazu Iwata
  • Patent number: 10250225
    Abstract: An AT-cut crystal element includes a crystal element having two side surfaces (namely, a Z?-surface) intersecting with a Z-axis of a crystallographic axis thereof. At least one of the two side surfaces is constituted of three of first to third surfaces. The first to the third surfaces meeting following conditions: the first to the third surfaces intersect with one another in this order and formed by rotating a principal surface of the crystal element by predetermined angles; and expressing the angle of the first surface as ?1, a length of the first surface as D, a thickness of a part of the crystal element having the principal surface as t, and M=D/t, and a conversion percentage as fn (M, (?1)), the ?1 and the M are set such that the conversion percentage fn (M, (?1)) becomes a predetermined value Th or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Sato, Yoshiro Teshima, Hirokazu Iwata, Kazuhiro Hirota
  • Patent number: 10151828
    Abstract: A sensor system is provided which includes an electroacoustic transducer, which is designed as a thickness oscillator and accordingly includes a front element having a bottom area and an end face, at least one disk-shaped piezoelectric element having a first surface and a second surface, and a rear element having a first end face and a second end face, the end face of the front element being coupled to a diaphragm which is suitable for emitting and receiving sound waves. The bottom area of the front element is joined to the first surface of the piezoelectric element integrally and/or in a force-fit manner, and the second end face of the rear element is joined to the second surface of the piezoelectric element integrally and/or in a force-fit manner. The distance between the first end face and the second end face of the rear element, plus half of the thickness of the piezoelectric element, corresponds to half of the wavelength of a resonance oscillation of the sensor system in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: David Bartylla, Attila Kovacs
  • Patent number: 10105504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas supply system (10) for a patient interface (30) for supplying a flow of pressurized gas to a subject (50), an according patient interface (30) with such a gas supply system (10) and a therapy device with such a gas supply system. The gas supply systems according to the present invention comprise a pump device (55) that has at least one membrane (58) for pumping actuation. This membrane (58) is actuated via an electro-active polymer material (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark Metysek, Cornelis Petrus Hendriks, Roland Alexander Van De Molengraaf, Matthew John Lawrenson, Julian Charles Nolan, Melanie Jane Windridge
  • Patent number: 10103648
    Abstract: An energy harvester is provided. The energy harvester includes a first friction member, and a second friction member arranged to face the first friction member and generating electrical energy by causing friction with the first friction member. At least one of the first friction member and the second friction member includes a pyroelectric material converting frictional heat generated due to friction of the first and second friction members into electrical energy. While the energy harvester generates electrical energy by triboelectrification, the energy harvester may convert frictional heat into electrical energy by using a pyroelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-jun Park, Yun-kwon Park
  • Patent number: 9837982
    Abstract: A vibrating element includes a piezoelectric substrate having an excitation section adapted to excite a thickness-shear vibration, and provided with a step section in each of side surfaces on both ends, and a peripheral section having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the excitation section, and the peripheral section has at least one projection section disposed on both principal surfaces in an area where a vibratory displacement when the excitation section excites a vibration is sufficiently attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Il, Matsutaro Naito
  • Patent number: 9758365
    Abstract: Bulk acoustic wave filters and/or bulk acoustic resonators integrated with CMOS devices, methods of manufacture and design structure are provided. The method includes forming a single crystalline beam from a silicon layer on an insulator. The method further includes providing a coating of insulator material over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes forming a via through the insulator material exposing a wafer underlying the insulator. The insulator material remains over the single crystalline beam. The method further includes providing a sacrificial material in the via and over the insulator material. The method further includes providing a lid on the sacrificial material. The method further includes venting, through the lid, the sacrificial material and a portion of the wafer under the single crystalline beam to form an upper cavity above the single crystalline beam and a lower cavity in the wafer, below the single crystalline beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: David L. Harame, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 9581446
    Abstract: A vibrating element includes: drive vibrating arm supported to the base portion and extending in a direction of the second axis; and detection vibrating arm supported to the base portion at a position different from the drive vibrating arm and extending in the direction of the second axis. When the vibrating element is subjected to rotation about the second axis while the drive vibrating arm being reciprocally driven in a direction of the first axis, an amount of displacement of the detection vibrating arm in a direction of the third axis at a position distant from the base portion by a distance y1 along the direction of the second axis is greater than an amount of displacement of the drive vibrating arm in the direction of the third axis at a position distant from the base portion by the distance y1 along the direction of the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9562828
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that has a rigid dressing raft 200. The rigid dressing raft 200 provides a part of a fluid and/or electrical system to the vehicle. The rigid dressing raft comprises elongate fibers 232, which may provide strength to the raft. The fibers 232 are electrically conductive, and a voltage source may be applied to at least one of the fibers. The fiber 232 may form a part of an electrical measurement circuit 400, such as a wheatstone bridge, which may be used to determine the electrical resistance of the fiber 232. The electrical resistance of the fiber 232 may then be used to determine the temperature and/or stress/strain of the raft 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Paul Broughton
  • Patent number: 9452447
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound imaging system including an acoustic layer with a plurality of transducer elements and a dematching layer coupled to the acoustic layer. The dematching layer has an acoustic impedance greater than the acoustic layer and the dematching layer has a thickness that varies in order to alter a bandwidth of the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jianzhong Zhao, Alan Tai, Frederic Lanteri, Flavien Daloz, Scott Easterbrook
  • Patent number: 9401469
    Abstract: A thin-film piezoelectric material element includes a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric material film, and an upper electrode film, the lower electrode film, the piezoelectric material film and the upper electrode film are laminated sequentially. An upper surface of the piezoelectric material film is a concavity and convexity surface having a convex part and a concave part, the convex part is a curved surface convexly projected, and the concave part is a curved surface concavely hollowed, the upper electrode film is formed on the concavity and convexity surface. The thin-film piezoelectric material element has a stress balancing film formed with a material having an internal stress capable of cancelling an element stress, the stress balancing film is formed on the upper electrode film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Xiong, Takao Noguchi, Daisuke Iitsuka
  • Patent number: 9390876
    Abstract: A laminate-type actuator including a laminate wherein an electrostrictive material layer is wound and laminated in a form of a tube together with first and second electrodes sandwiching the electrostrictive material layer therebetween is provided with high volume efficiency and high reliability. The tubular laminate includes a pair of flat portions facing each other and a pair of curved portions interconnecting the pair of flat portions circumferentially and specifying spaces inside the curved portions. In a cross-section perpendicular to an axis of the laminate, an outer width formed by the pair of flat portions is smaller than an outer width of each of the curved portions, and a distance between the pair of flat portions is smaller than an inner width of each of the curved portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shozo Otera
  • Patent number: 9385298
    Abstract: An electromechanical conversion element includes a lower electrode formed directly or indirectly on a substrate or a base film; an electromechanical conversion film formed on the lower electrode and including a piezoelectric body having a perovskite crystal structure preferentially oriented with a {n00} plane where n is a positive integer; and an upper electrode formed on the electromechanical conversion film. A diffraction peak at a position 2? at which a diffraction intensity has a maximum value and which corresponds to a (X00) plane or a (00X) plane, X being 1 or 2, obtained by ?-2? measurement in X-ray diffraction measurement, shows a trapezoidal peak shape and has two or more bending points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizukami, Takahiko Kuroda, Masahiro Ishimori
  • Patent number: 9278525
    Abstract: A liquid ejecting head is equipped with a pressure chamber which is filled with ink, a nozzle which is linked to the pressure chamber, a vibration plate which includes an active section where a piezoelectric element is formed where the pressure inside the pressure chamber is varied, and a throttle flow path where at least a portion of which opposes the vibration plate while ink flows in the Y direction along the vibration plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Miyagishi, Shunya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9188957
    Abstract: A single electronic module includes a autoregulating circuit that regulates an oscillation frequency of an oscillating mechanical system, such as a balance having a balance spring. A piezoelectric element is mounted on the oscillating balance spring and connected to the autoregulating circuit to generate an alternating voltage. The autoregulating circuit rectifies the alternating voltage and regulates the alternating voltage frequency. The rectified voltage is stored in a capacitor to power the autoregulating circuit. The autoregulating circuit includes an oscillator connected to a mirco-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator that supplies a reference signal, and compares the frequency of the alternating voltage to the reference signal frequency. The autoregulating circuit supplies frequency adaptation signal to the piezoelectric element according to the result of the comparison, in order to regulate the oscillation frequency of the balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 9184726
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating strip includes a pair of vibrating arm portions in parallel with a central axis therebetween, and a base portion integrally cantilevering base end portions of the pair of vibrating arm portions in a length direction. Each of the pair of vibrating arm portions has a first groove portion and a second groove portion in a main face, the first groove portion being placed closer to a leading end portion in the length direction of the vibrating arm portions and having a groove width along a width direction orthogonal to the length direction and a thickness direction of the vibrating arm portion. The second groove portion is closer to the base end portion than the first groove portion and has a groove width along the width direction. The groove width ratio of the second groove portion to the first groove portion is between 0.4 and 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SII CRYSTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9166242
    Abstract: An energy harvester comprising: a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode; and a pump comprising a flexible diaphragm that is configured to be flexed by an ambient, renewable energy source such that with each flexing of the diaphragm nutrient-rich media is pumped past the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Wayne Po-Wen Liu, David Bartholomew Chadwick, Jeffrey Asher Kagan
  • Patent number: 9117590
    Abstract: A laminated ceramic electronic component has electrode layers stacked with ceramic layers, where the thickness of each electrode layer is controlled to 0.5 ?m or less and the average size of crystal grains constituting the electrode layer is controlled to 0.1 ?m or less. The occurrence of structural defects in the laminated ceramic electronic component can be suppressed and high continuity of the electrode layers stacked with the ceramic layers is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Konishi, Yusuke Kowase, Kazumichi Hiroi, Kotaro Mizuno, Ayumu Sato
  • Patent number: 9093634
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Il, Matsutaro Naito
  • Patent number: 9083263
    Abstract: Apparatus to provide a time reference are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a resonator. A first cap is coupled to a first side of the resonator to define a first cavity, and a second cap is coupled to a second side of the resonator to define a second cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity provide a first vacuum in which the resonator is to resonate. The resonator, the first cap and the second cap have substantially identical thermal expansion coefficients. The example apparatus also includes a vacuum chamber surrounding the resonator, the first cap and the second cap. The vacuum chamber is to provide a second vacuum in which the resonator, the first cap and the second cap are disposed. A frequency of resonance of the resonator in the first vacuum is to provide a time reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Sato, Hideyuki Kamei
  • Patent number: 9048418
    Abstract: A sensor element includes a base part, a detection vibrating arm extended from the base part, and detection parts that are provided on the detection vibrating arm and detect flexural vibration of the detection vibrating arm, the detection parts each have a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer provided at an opposite side to the detection vibrating arm with respect to the first electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and the detection parts have parts provided over boundary parts between the detection vibrating arm and the base part and the parts bend or curve to extend in a direction including a direction component orthogonal to an extension direction of the detection vibrating arm along side surfaces of the detection vibrating arm and the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotaka Asari
  • Publication number: 20150130559
    Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film resonator includes: a piezoelectric film provided on a substrate; a lower electrode and an upper electrode sandwiching at least a part of the piezoelectric film and facing with each other; and an inserted film that is inserted in the piezoelectric film, is provided in an outer circumference region of a resonance region and is not provided in a center region of the resonance region, wherein: an angle between an edge face of the lower electrode and a lower face of the lower electrode in the resonance region is an acute angle; and a width of the inserted film in the resonance region on a side for extracting the upper electrode from the resonance region is larger than another width of the inserted film in the resonance region on a side for extracting the lower electrode from the resonance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi YOKOYAMA, Tokihiro NISHIHARA, Takeshi SAKASHITA
  • Patent number: 9013242
    Abstract: A resonator element includes a substrate including a first principal surface and a second principal surface respectively forming an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the substrate, and vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on the first principal surface, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the second principal surface, and being larger than the first excitation electrode in a plan view, the first excitation electrode is disposed so as to fit into an outer edge of the second excitation electrode in the plan view, and the energy trap confficient M fulfills 15.5?M?36.7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ishii
  • Patent number: 9013093
    Abstract: A vibrating reed includes a vibrating body (a base portion, a vibrating arm, and a detection arm) and a support portion that supports the vibrating body via a plate-like coupling portion. In both principal surfaces of the coupling portion, grooves (a first groove and a second groove) are disposed. The first groove arranged in one of the principal surfaces of the coupling portion and the second groove arranged in the other principal surface are arranged at positions different from each other in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Yamaguchi, Seiji Osawa, Seiichiro Ogura, Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9013243
    Abstract: A resonator element includes a substrate vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on one principal surface of the substrate, and has a shape obtained by cutting out four corners of a quadrangle, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate, and a ratio (S2/S1) between the area S1 of the quadrangle and the area S2 of the first excitation electrode fulfills 87.7%?(S2/S1)<95.0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ishii, Takao Morita
  • Publication number: 20150054386
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonating element includes a piezoelectric substrate that includes a rectangular vibrating section and a thick section integrally formed with the vibrating section, excitation electrodes, and lead electrodes. The thick section includes a first thick section and a second thick section of which one end is formed continuous to the first thick section. The first thick section includes a first inclined section of which the thickness changes and a first thick section main body of a quadrangle column shape, and at least one slit is provided in the first thick section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Osamu ISHII
  • Patent number: 8963402
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator element includes a vibrating portion that excites thickness-shear vibration, and a peripheral portion that is disposed on the periphery of the vibrating portion and has a thickness thinner than the vibrating portion, the vibrating portion and the peripheral portion being formed in a piezoelectric substrate. A buffering portion and a mount portion are sequentially connected to the peripheral portion. The buffering portion includes a slit formed between the mount portion and the peripheral portion. The mount portion has notches which are formed at both end portions in a direction orthogonal to an arrangement direction of the mount portion, the buffering portion, and the peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Kusano
  • Patent number: 8957569
    Abstract: A GT-cut crystal resonator that can be provided with a support portion having a small and simple configuration without adverse effect on vibration characteristics includes: a crystal plate formed in an elliptical shape with a major axis and a minor axis respectively corresponding to vibration directions of two longitudinal vibration modes orthogonal to each other in a GT-cut; and a support portion that supports the crystal plate, the support portion being connected to a position on an outer periphery of the crystal plate where a minimum vibration displacement is obtained when the two longitudinal vibration modes are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8922100
    Abstract: A woven active fiber composite is disclosed. The woven active fiber composite includes actuating fibers interwoven with conductive wire electrodes. A method of making the woven active fiber composite is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph Patrick Wendell Whinnery
  • 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: 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: 8912711
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a thermal stress resistant resonator is disclosed. The thermal stress resistant resonator may include or comprise a piezoelectric member having one or more non-linear piezoelectric support members extending there from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Chang, Tsung-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8913027
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic feedback at multiple resonance frequencies are disclosed. For example, one disclosed apparatus includes a resonator with a base and a plurality of projections, a first projection of the plurality of projections having a first resonance frequency and a second projection of the plurality of projections having a second resonance frequency, and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the resonator and operable to output a haptic feedback effect at the first resonance frequency and at the second resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ali Modarres, Pedro Gregorio, Danny Grant
  • Patent number: 8907545
    Abstract: A mesa-structure crystal element includes a circumferential portion having a thin thickness, a first convex portion formed on a plane in a center side from the circumferential portion and having a first height from the circumferential portion in a first principal face and a first planar shape, and a second convex portion formed in a center side from the circumferential portion and having a second height from the circumferential portion in a second principal face opposite to the first principal face and a second planar shape, wherein at least one of an area and a planar shape is different between the first planar shape of the first convex portion and the second planar shape of the second convex portion, or the first height of the first convex portion is different from the second height of the second convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Mizusawa, Takehiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140354116
    Abstract: This invention pertains to piezoelectric actuators made of single crystal active elements which not only exhibit uniform and superior displacement in the axial direction but also of lower cost to produce than full single crystal ring or tube actuators. Said multi-stake actuator is made up of multiple longitudinal (d33) or transverse (d3i or d32) mode piezoelectric single crystal active elements, bonded together by epoxy with the aid of shaped edge- and top and bottom washer-stiffeners which are configured to suit various application needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: MICROFINE MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Yuexue Xia, Huilin Nelly Goh, Dian-Hua Lin
  • Patent number: 8898874
    Abstract: To fabricate a plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces while firmly preventing a defect, a crack, or a breakage from being brought about at a wafer in the midst of fabrication, there is provided a method of fabricating a piezoelectric vibrating piece which is a method of fabricating a plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces from a wafer S, the method including a film forming step of respectively forming metal films M on both faces of the wafer, a patterning step of removing a region of the metal film on an inner side of an outer peripheral end of the wafer by a constant distance H, thereafter, patterning the metal film M to outer shapes of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces, an outer shape forming step of forming outer shapes of the plurality of piezoelectric vibrating pieces at the wafer a size of which is reduced by an amount of the constant distance by selectively removing the wafer by wet etching by constituting a mask by the patterned metal film, and a removing step of removing the m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Tomiyama, Takashi Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Sugama