Piezoelectric Element Shape Patents (Class 310/367)
  • Patent number: 5541467
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vibrating unit containing a vibrator for utilizing vibration of the vibrator. A vibration transfer part is coupled to a portion of the vibrator exhibiting the minimum displacement or a portion close thereto, and a resonant part is coupled to the vibration transfer part and formed to receive vibration propagated from the vibrator to the vibration transfer part to resonate. The vibrating unit utilizes a dynamic vibration absorbing phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kaida, Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5541469
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (21) utilizing a width expansion mode, which is formed by coupling support parts (26, 27) to nodal points of a piezoelectric resonance part (22) utilizing a width expansion mode including a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate (23) and electrodes (24, 25) formed on both surfaces thereof, and coupling dynamic dampers (28, 29) on other ends of the support parts (26, 27) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kaida
  • Patent number: 5520188
    Abstract: A transducer for use in a localization and therapeutic ultrasound system. The transducer of the present invention includes multiple elements that are driven separately. The elements operate together to focus a continuous wave ultrasound beam at a focal zone that is at a variable distance from the elements. The transducer includes a mechanism to adjust the focal distance so that the focal zone may be moved to multiple depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Focus Surgery Inc.
    Inventors: Carl W. Hennige, Stan DeMarta, Claudio I. Zanelli
  • Patent number: 5521456
    Abstract: The vibrating gyroscope includes, for example, a regular triangular prism-shaped vibrating body. The vibrating body is formed with a material which generally generates mechanical vibration such as elinver, ceramics. The piezoelectric elements are respectively formed to the three sidefaces of the vibrating body. An oscillation circuit is connected between the two piezoelectric elements and the other piezoelectric element. Further, two U-shape supporting members made of metal wire are fixed to the ridge-line portions of the vicinity of the nodal points of the vibrating body. The both ends of the two supporting members are fixed to the rectangular-shaped supporting body. The supporting body has a cutting portion piercing through it from its one surface to the other or a groove portion as a suppressing means for suppressing the interference of vibrations between the fixing points of the ends of one supporting member and those of the other supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Mori, Yukio Sakashita, Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5497043
    Abstract: A cross axis actuator (1.1) for reducing the transmission of vibration along elongate members (1.2) comprising a series of windings (1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10) wound helically at 30.degree. pitch around the member (1.2) along part of its length in clockwise and anti-clockwise fashion and are anchored at two or more points (1.3, 1.4) to the member (1.2), the windings (1.5, 1.6, 1.7. 1.8, 1.9, 1.10) being able to be subjected to strain which causes deformation of the member (1.2) between attachment points (1.3, 1.4). The member (1.2) can be either a steel pipe or a rod. The windings (1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10) can either be in the form of steel wires or be strips of material. The numbers of windings (1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10) wound around the member (1.2) in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction should be equal. Ideally, the windings (1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10) are attached to the member (2) on a continuous basis except for the ends which are left free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Ronnie C. Leung, Mark F. L. Harper
  • Patent number: 5478756
    Abstract: A chemical sensor includes a piezoelectric support (1) capable of supporting a shear horizontal wave provided on its surface with an electrode (2,3). The sensor is characterized in that the surface of the piezoelectric support (1) including the region bearing the electrode (2,3) is covered by a layer of dielectric material (9) of thickness 0.5 to 20 microns. The piezoelectric support (1) is preferably a single crystal. The dielectric layer (1) may be of, for example, silicon dioxide or a suitable polymer, and preferably has a thickness of between 0.5 and 5 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignees: Fisons plc, GEC Marfoni Limited
    Inventors: Electra Gizeli, Adrian C. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5476008
    Abstract: An improvement in rate-sensing tuning fork design includes a generally planar and H-shaped sensor frame of piezoelectric material. The frame includes a first pair of tines and a second pair of tines joined to an intermediate cross-piece. Connecting means is provided for connecting each of the second pair of tines to the other of said second pair at a location spaced from said intermediate cross-piece. The connecting means is preferably a connecting member formed of piezoelectric material, with the member being generally parallel to the intermediate cross-piece of the H-shaped frame and disposed between the second pair of tines. The connecting means prevents each of the tines of the second pair from vibrating directly toward or away from each other. A preferred method of use of the device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Pinson
  • Patent number: 5477101
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprises two pairs of opposite elongate segments (20) placed inside a deformable tube (14). Drive means (22) operable to expand in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the tube are disposed between the segments of each pair. The drive means occupy a substantial portion of the inside volume of the tube. A preferred arrangement includes drive means for a pair of segments longitudinally displaced from the drive means for the other pair. Drive means may be constituted by stacks of piezoelectric pellets (24) extending radially relative to the axis of the tube. A pressure compensation system is provided to keep the pressure inside the tube (14) substantially equal to the external pressure. Longitudinal flutes (14a) are formed inside the tube (14) between the segments (20) to facilitate tube deformation and amplify volume variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Abderrhamane Ounadjela
  • Patent number: 5453653
    Abstract: A micromotor for moving a body including at least one rectangular piezoelectric plate having long and short edges and first and second faces, electrodes attached to the first and second faces and a ceramic spacer attached to the center of a first one of the edges and operative to be pressed against the body. A resilient force is applied to the center of a second edge opposite the first edge, whereby the ceramic spacer is pressed against the body. At least some of the electrodes are electrified by either an AC or an asymmetric unipolar pulsed voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Nanomotion Ltd.
    Inventor: Jona Zumeris
  • Patent number: 5451827
    Abstract: An ultraso motor with a stator uniformly made of a material that is capable of converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, by the performance of a specified process. The stator includes a first part having corresponding electrodes for applying a signal to the first part, and a second part, uniformly configured to the first part, having areas adjacent to the first part where the material does not exist. A support member supports the stator at the areas which are devoid of the material. A movable clement contacts the second part of the stator and is driven by a progressive oscillatory wave that is generated in the second part by a frequency voltage applied to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tadao Takagi
  • Patent number: 5449965
    Abstract: An oscillator has a pair of upper and lower casing members in the form of plates, and a vibration plate pinched between the upper and lower casing members. A tongue-like vibrating portion is formed by forming a slit in the vibration plate inside an outer peripheral portion of the vibration plate pinched between the upper and lower casing members. Electrodes are formed on obverse and reverse surfaces of the vibrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Tsuru
  • Patent number: 5444325
    Abstract: A surface-mountable crystal resonator (100) is provided in the following manner. A first predetermined electrode pattern (105) and a second predetermined electrode pattern (201) are formed on a first major surface (104) and a second major surface (200), respectively, of a piezoelectric crystal substrate (101). Additionally, a first predetermined attachment electrode pattern (106), electrically coupled to the second predetermined attachment electrode pattern, and a second predetermined attachment electrode pattern (202), electrically coupled to the first predetermined attachment electrode pattern, are formed on a first attachment area (102) and a second attachment area (103), respectively. The first and second attachment areas include extensions (107) that, when mounted, allow a conductive adhesive (301), placed on a mounting substrate (300), to flow and establish electrical connections with the first and second predetermined attachment electrode patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Haas, Ken A. Haas, Kimber J. Vought
  • Patent number: 5442251
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vibrating unit comprising vibration cancel means which is coupled to a vibration source through a vibration transfer part. The vibration cancel means receives vibration from the vibration source and resonates in a bending mode, to cancel vibration as propagated by a dynamic vibration absorbing phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Murata Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kaida, Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5438739
    Abstract: A sidewall actuated channel array for a high density ink jet printhead includes a top wall, bottom wall and a plurality of liquid confining channels formed between columns of polarized piezoelectric material. The array is formed from a plurality of sheets of polarized piezoelectric material which are joined together. Several embodiments are provided for distributing the joints between sheets of piezoelectric material to reduce the magnitude of the electric field needed to polarize the piezoelectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel B. Granzow
  • Patent number: 5422532
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an energy trap type piezo-resonator (11) utilizing a thickness shear vibration mode, which is prepared by forming electrodes (13, 14) on both major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate (12) and providing dynamic damper parts (17, 18) being held between grooves (15a, 15b; 16a, 16b) for preventing leakage of vibration from a vibrating part opposing the electrodes (13, 14) to each other to end portions of the piezoelectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Inoue, Hiroaki Kaida
  • Patent number: 5415175
    Abstract: There is provided a transducer array with a plurality of piezoelectric elements having a minimum and maximum thickness. In one embodiment, the maximum thickness is less than or equal to 140 percent of the minimum thickness. In an alternate embodiment, the maximum thickness is greater than 140 percent of the minimum thickness and the transducer array is capable of simulating the excitation of a wider aperture two-dimensional transducer array. One or more matching layers may be used to further increase bandwidth performance. In addition, a two crystal transducer element as well as a composite transducer structure may be formed using the principles of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Acuson Corporation
    Inventors: Amin M. Hanafy, Samuel H. Maslak, Jay S. Plugge
  • Patent number: 5400001
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric resonator having a piezoelectric bar formed in a substantial rectangular parallelopiped and electrodes formed on a pair of confronting surfaces of the piezoelectric bar for resonating in the length expander mode, the piezoelectric bar has at least a bevel portion extending the longitudinal direction. In a ladder filter having series and parallel piezoelectric resonators, the series piezoelectric resonator has the bevel portion to shift a frequency of a spurious response to that of the parallel piezoelectric resonator to suppress the spurious response. It is disclosed that a second piezoelectric resonator has a piezoelectric bar formed in a rectangular parallelopiped has a length L, a width W, and a thickness T wherein L>W>T; and electrodes formed on a pair of confronting surfaces defined by L and T. Another ladder filter includes the second piezoelectric resonator as the series resonator to decrease a capacitance between the electrodes to increase an amount of attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuteru Asakawa, Toshio Ishizaki, Yukihiko Ise, Hiroshi Fukushima, Yukio Kashiwagi, Tomoki Uwano
  • Patent number: 5396144
    Abstract: A rotation rate sensor which uses a double ended tuning fork having a mounting base with only a single exclusive mounting surface. The mounting base is surrounded and centrally disposed within the body of the tuning fork. The mounting base is joined to the body by a suspension system which is also disposed within the body of the tuning fork. The tuning fork is mounted in the housing only at the single exclusive mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: New S.D., Inc.
    Inventors: Piyush K. Gupta, Craig E. Jenson
  • Patent number: 5319153
    Abstract: A musical instrument transducer module encloses a piezoelectric transducer, preferably comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride co-polymer sheet, and has an elongated electrically conductive member and a conductive shield. The shield forms a U-shaped channel and the elongated member extends from the shield. The conductive member can be moved by rotation into the shield. The conductive member covers one side of the piezoelectric transducer, and another conductor covers at least part of the other side of the transducer. An electrical lead has contacts to both conductors on either side of the transducer. The transducer can include one or more sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: Lawrence Fishman
  • Patent number: 5311096
    Abstract: A width-extensional mode quartz crystal resonator formed by etching from a quartz crystal plate which is cut along a plane defined in the O-xyz coordinate system of the quartz crystal lattice by rotating the original Z plane around the x axis by a rotation angle in the range of 23.degree.-28.degree.. The quartz crystal resonator has a thickness-to-width ratio R.sub.zx in the range of 0.45-0.65. A pair of exciting electrodes are disposed on the resonator along opposed side faces perpendicular to the widthwise direction. The width-extensional mode quartz crystal resonator may be etched from a quartz crystal plate to provide a small sized resonator. A width-extensional mode vibrational portion is supported at its lengthwise sides by a pair of first bridge portions extending from a first frame portion. A pair of second bridge portions extend from a second frame portion and support the first frame at central portions of its lengthwise sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 5307034
    Abstract: Since split electrodes are disposed along the x-axis of an AT cut quartz crystal plate on its ultrathin vibratory portion formed integrally with a thick frame-like marginal portion surrounding it, desired acoustic coupling can be obtained although the split electrodes are disposed closely to such an extent as not to cause shorting between them. It is therefore possible to obtain, with a satisfactory yield, filter elements which have center frequencies in the range greater than about ten megahertz and sufficiently wide passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Toyo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Morita, Osamu Ishii, Takebumi Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 5302880
    Abstract: A piezoelectric tuning fork resonator having a piezoelectric substrate provided with a stepped portion on its end and a tuning fork arm portion formed in the stepped portion. A dummy substrate is arranged adjacent to a side of the piezoelectric substrate and a pair of sealing substrates are pasted onto upper and lower portions of the piezoelectric substrate and the dummy substrate to form a chip type piezoelectric tuning fork resonator. In another embodiment piezoelectric substrate includes a resin sealing portion having a hollow portion defined around the tuning fork arm portion so as to form a resin-coated piezoelectric tuning fork resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kaida
  • Patent number: 5289075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezoelectric resonator having adherent or non-adherent electrodes, the piezoelectric crystal comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion forming a ring that surrounds the central portion and that is connected thereto by an intermediate portion in which a slot is formed, the peripheral portion being connected to the central portion by a single connection bridge constituted by a non-slotted portion of said intermediate portion that extends over a small fraction of the periphery of said intermediate portion. The central portion constitutes the active vibrating portion of the crystal and the peripheral portion is held in the box by fastening means disposed in such a manner as to be thermally as remote as possible from the single connection bridge. The secured portion and the bridge constitute means for suspending the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Ecole Nationale Superieure de Mecanique et Des Microtechniques
    Inventors: Raymond J. Besson, Serge Galliou, Marc Mourey
  • Patent number: 5285127
    Abstract: Mechanical resonator and method in which electrodes or other driving and sensing elements are energized with an AC voltage to produce oscillations in a tine. The electrodes or other driving and sensing elements have at least two parameters which are adjusted to selectively enhance oscillations in one mode, e.g. the fundamental mode, and/or to selectively suppress oscillations in one or more other modes, e.g. an overtone mode. The parameters which can be adjusted include the endpoints of electrodes, the width of a gap between adjacent ends of electrodes, and corresponding features of other driving and sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: New SD, Inc.
    Inventors: Bert D. Egley, Piyush K. Gupta, G. Richard Newell
  • Patent number: 5283496
    Abstract: A thickness, shear crystal resonator and a method of manufacturing therefor in which a natural crystal surface is appeared on at least a part of surfaces of crystal plate thereof to the extent that the part is made substantially transparent, the impedance of the crystal resonator is made small thereby and a large Q factor can be obtained. And, there is found no dip in the temperature characteristics of the impedance and the vibrating frequency of the crystal resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Dempa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoaki Hayashi, Isao Mutai
  • Patent number: 5276672
    Abstract: A micro-displacement type information detection probe device capable of following all of the undulation on the .mu.m order, and the periodical surface unevenness on the nm order, of the recording medium or the substrate in performing recording and/or reproduction, by use of, for example, tunnel current, is provided. By forming a cantilever of the first stage by extending the insulation layer laminated on the substrate, providing a lalyer structure having a piezoelectric material sandwiched between the electrode members on the cantilever of the first stage, forming further a cantilever of the second stage on the extension from the tip end of the first cantilever having said layer structure and also forming an information detection probe at the free end of the cantilever of said second stage, and utilizing the reverse piezoelectric effect formed by application of a voltage between the electrodes of said layer structure, the cantilever of the above first stage is displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Miyazaki, Hiroyasu Nose, Ryo Kuroda, Toshimitsu Kawase, Katsuhiko Shinjo
  • Patent number: 5274297
    Abstract: A thin quartz plate having opposite major surfaces, each of the opposite major surfaces having a geometrical shape symmetrical or antisymmetrical with respect to an axis of reference; and X, Y and Z crystallographic directions corresponding to electrical, mechanical and optical axes, respectively, of the quartz plate, wherein the axis of reference forms an angle .psi. with said X axis, and the major surfaces form an angle .theta. with a plane defined by said X and Y axes, the angles .theta. and .psi. being chosen such that the first order frequency-temperature coefficient (.alpha.) of the quartz resonator is substantially 0, and the second order frequency-temperature coefficient (.beta.) of said quartz resonator is substantially 0. The shape of the resonator may be rectangular, square, polygonal, circular or elliptical. The resonator is fixed on a supporting base by means of at least one pair of connecting arms located on the extension of a nodal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
    Inventors: Jean W. Hermann, Claude Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 5235240
    Abstract: In an ultrathin piezoelectric resonator including an ultrathin vibratory portion and thick frame-like marginal portion formed integrally therewith for supporting it around, an electrode and an electrode lead pattern extending therefrom are provided on one surface of the vibratory portion and an electrode is provided on the other surface of the vibratory portion in an area except at least an area corresponding to the electrode lead pattern, thereby preventing that a capacitor is formed between the electrode and the electrode pattern deposited on the opposite surfaces of the vibratory portion and increases the parallel capacitance of the resonator. The electrode lead pattern is formed narrow to reduce an ohmic loss and suppress a spurious resonance. A through hole is made in the frame-like marginal portion and extends therethrough in its thickwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Toyo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Morita, Osamu Ishii, Takehumi Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 5221873
    Abstract: A pressure transducer comprises a quartz crystal having an orientation within a range of angles between about -25.degree. and about -45.degree. relative to the Z axis of X, Y and Z crystallographic axes. Such a pressure transducer provides a useful pressure response at pressures and temperatures above those of the operating ranges of pressure transducers using AT-cut or BT-cut quartz crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Halliburton Services
    Inventors: Charles D. Totty, John R. Dennis
  • Patent number: 5218260
    Abstract: A longitudinal quartz crystal resonator has at least two vibrating arms arranged in parallel to each other to undergo a longitudinal vibration. The vibrating arms are connected together at both ends thereof by connecting sections. A pair of bridge sections extend from central parts of respective ones of the outermost vibrating arms and are connected to flexional sections. The bridge sections are supported through surrounding frame sections by a bottom mount section. The flexional sections are connected to the frame sections so as to form surrounding openings. By such construction, an equivalent inductance and a series resistance are reduced in the longitudinal quartz crystal resonator so as to eliminate vibrating energy loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 5212353
    Abstract: A focused acoustic transducer for use with a borehole televiewer wherein the transducer is provided with a concaved surface designed to focus the acoustic energy and reduce the energy present in the side lobes of the near field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Frederick H. K. Rambow, Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 5196758
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator containing two rectangular parallelepipedal slices including N and M base structures, respectively, wherein N and M are integers. The two rectangular parallelepipedal slices each include at least one base structure shaped as a thin crystal slice of piezoelectric material in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. A non-resonant arm connects the two rectangular parallelepipedal slices in juxtaposition in a single plane. An embedding zone is connected to the arm through a connection zone so as to fix the resonator outside a center thereof. Electrodes are disposed on opposite surfaces of the two rectangular parallelepipedal slices and are polarized to excite preferentially the Nth harmonic of a fundamental contour vibration mode in each base structure, and to produce respective extension modes in the two rectangular parallelepipedal slices in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the non-resonant arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A.
    Inventor: Jean Hermann
  • Patent number: 5192925
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator which comprises a piezoelectric resonance element in which electrodes are formed on a pair of side surfaces, which are opposed to each other, of a piezoelectric substrate. The electrodes are opposed to each other while being separated by the piezoelectric substrate in the center of the piezoelectric substrate to form a vibrating portion of an energy-trapped type utilizing a thickness shear vibration mode in the center of the piezoelectric substrate. Spacers are respectively fixed to the side surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate with gaps being provided between the spacers and the above-mentioned vibrating portion, and a pair of cover sheets are respectively affixed to both major surfaces of a structure comprising the spacers and the piezoelectric resonance element so as to form gaps on top of and beneath the vibrating portion in the piezoelectric resonance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kaida
  • Patent number: 5182485
    Abstract: An array comprising at least one row of ultrasonic elements when energized generates a pressure pattern having side lobes when viewed in the lateral direction. Those side lobes give rise to undesirable grating lobes. The side lobes in both transverse and lateral direction can be suppressed by having identical and identically arranged ultrasonic elements (14) the width of which, viewed in the lateral direction, is greater than the pitch of the consecutive ultrasonic elements in the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: B.V. Optische Industrie "De Oude Delft"
    Inventor: Marcel R. de la Fonteijne
  • Patent number: 5153478
    Abstract: A resonator has a parallelepipedal bar of a piezoelectric material designed to vibrate in an extension mode, and suspension means of said bar which form a single, integral part with the latter and which are only connected to one of its lateral faces. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the number of parasitic vibration modes which could couple to the main mode as well as coupling between these modes, and hence variations as a function of the temperature in the characteristics of the resonator, notably in its quality factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Walter Zingg, Bruno Studer
  • Patent number: 5144184
    Abstract: A micromechanical device having a frequency trimmable, resonant structure, including a semiconductor substrate forming a support frame. First and second flexures flexibly couple and support a structure within the support frame, to permit rotation with a resonant frequency about a first axis which passes through the flexures. First and second elongated openings located proximate the first and second flexures form first and second tension relief beams adjacent the flexures, for providing stress relief of the tensile forces between the resonant structure and the flexures, and for establishing and trimming the resonant frequency of the resonant structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Greiff
  • Patent number: 5135312
    Abstract: A vibrating crystal transducer for measuring temperature including a bonding area from which three or more tines extend. The tines have a torsional mode resonant frequency that is a function of temperature. Electrodes on the transducer excite the tines into vibration so that the torsional moments of the adjacent edges of the adjacent tines are reverse symmetric. When the tines are vibrated, the reverse symmetrical vibrational moments of the individual tines cancel so that there is no torsional moment, or twisting, within the area between the points where the tines intersect, which is the area defined by the bonding area. Since the bonding area does not serve as a sink for torsional energy, torsional energy is not lost through the bonding area so that the transducer has a relatively high quality factor and torsional vibration of the transducer cannot cause the transducer to eventually work loose of a mounting pad to which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Data Control, Inc.
    Inventor: Graeme A. Blake
  • Patent number: 5117832
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer for use in an ultrasound visualization and therapy system or the like. The ultrasound transducer is characterized as a single crystal transducer having a radiating surface which conforms generally in shape to a segment of a surface of a solid of revolution of a conic section, the radiating surface having first and second edges which are generally parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Diasonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Narendra T. Sanghvi, John N. Zink
  • Patent number: 5117148
    Abstract: The vibrator includes a columnar vibrating body consisting of a piezoelectric material. The vibrating body is formed into a polygonal or cylindrical column and, when necessary, a through hole is formed axially thereof. Furthermore, the vibrating body is polarized. On side faces of the vibrating body, at least three external electrodes are formed. Also, when the through hole is to be formed, an internal electrode is formed on its inner circumferential surface. By applying the driving signal to these electrodes, the vibrating body bends and vibrates. And, when the rotational angular velocity is applied to the vibrating body about its axis, a coriolis force is produced responsive thereto. By this coriolis force, the vibrating direction of the vibrating body changes, and a voltage is produced between the two external electrodes. By measuring the voltage, the rotational angular velocity applied to the vibrator can be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakamura, Katsumi Fujimoto, Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5115810
    Abstract: A plurality of rectangular piezo-electric ultrasonic sector transducers are aligned to form an array, and each transducer has first and second electrodes on its radiating surface. The first electrode is located on a center line of the sector transducer's length, and has a first length in the longitudinal direction and a first width along the center line. Two of the second electrodes are arranged outside the first electrode, symmetrical to the center line. The two second electrodes have a second length in the longitudinal direction longer than the first length, and have a second width which is almost the same as the first width, along a line near the center line. Thus, diamond-shaped electrodes excellent for providing a beam narrow in the longitudinal direction can be employed as the first electrode, and the combination of the first and second electrodes can be connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Watanabe, Yasushi Hara, Atsuo Iida, Takaki Shimura, Kiyoto Matsui, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kenji Kawabe
  • Patent number: 5107164
    Abstract: A length-extentional quartz resonator has a pair of linearly arranged longitudinal oscillating portions supported to undergo dominant length-extentional oscillation having an oscillating frequency in the range from 1.04 MHz to 1.06 MHz. A rectangular frame member is arranged to support and surround the oscillating portions and has the outer overall length of 4000 .mu.m.+-.200 .mu.m. The frame member has a pair of longitudinal frame portions connected to the oscillating portions through transverse support portions to undergo flexual oscillation, and having width set in the range from 110 .mu.m to 260 .mu.m effective to suppress coupling between the dominant length-extentional oscillation and the flexual oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Kimura
  • Patent number: 5070486
    Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer according to the invention comprises a stacking of annular plates (13) made of piezoelectric ceramics alternating with annular electrodes (14) and pressed by an axial prestressing stem (15). The contact faces between each plate and the adjacent ones are made of two flat parts (16a, 16b) whose surface is smaller than the maximum cross section, due to the chamfers (19a, 19b, 20a, 20b) which truncate the edges of each plate. One application is the construction of low frequency sonar transmitters. Referenced elements refer to FIG. 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Et Francais
    Inventor: Didier Boucher
  • Patent number: 5059853
    Abstract: A longitudinal quartz crystal resonator which creates an extremely small amount of vibrational leakage. Quartz is a highly stable material physically and chemically. A so-called quartz crystal resonator formed of quartz therefore has a low series resistance and a high Q-value. Such excellent characteristics are, however, obtained on the condition that the quartz crystal resonator is designed so as to produce a less leakage of vibration. Energy of a vibrational portion is trapped within itself by contriving and improving a configuration of a supporting portion of the longitudinal quartz crystal resonator which is incorporated with the vibrational portion and the supporting portion by an etching method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Electric Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 5045746
    Abstract: An ultrasound array has a number of oscillator elements arranged side-by-side, each oscillator element having a trapezoidal cross-section. The oscillator elements are separated from each other by incisions having non-parallel walls, which are co-planar with surfaces of the piezoelectric material comprising the oscillator element. The incisions terminate in a damping member, to which all of the oscillator elements are attached. The incisions are produced with an excimer laser whose laser beam is focused onto a prepared layered material, with the incisions proceeding along a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfram Wersing, Karl Lubitz, Reinhard Lerch, Hans Kaarmann, Martina Vogt
  • Patent number: 5012151
    Abstract: A resonator assembly comprises a rigid support and a rigid crystal which are rigidly connected along linear segments which have one or more matched thermal characteristics. In a particular embodiment, a thermally matched resonator assembly comprises a Z-cut quartz crystal support, a quartz crystal resonator having an active region and including a crystalline structure oriented relative to X-, Y- and Z-crystallographic axes, which X- and Y-crystallographic axes define an X-Y crystallographic plane; and a rigid connector structure for rigidly connecting the resonator to the support along a segment of a line of a plane parallel to or including the X-Y crystallographic plane, which segment extends across a surface of the resonator and is spaced from the center of the active region of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Errol P. EerNisse, Roger W. Ward
  • Patent number: 5006824
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved electromechanical resonator for use in multiresonator mechanical bandpass filters. The resonator is constructed using two resonator rods attached to a ceramic transducer which is substantially centrally located. The thus-formed electromechanical resonator resonates at the desired frequency in the third torsional mode, which is characterized by three motional nodes. Support pins are attached at the two outer nodes to provide physical support, and are also used for signal and ground connections, while the ceramic is positioned on or near the center node, which maximizes the achievable electromechanical coupling. Multiresonator mechanical bandpass filters which use such third-mode electromechanical resonators in conjunction with second-mode interior resonators have improved spurious rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron R. Paff
  • Patent number: 5001383
    Abstract: A small longitudinal quartz crystal resonator has an intermediate oscillating frequency from 500 KHz to 4.2 MHz, a reduced energy loss of vibration, a small equivalent series resistance and zero temperature coefficient. The resonator has a longitudinal vibrational portion of rod-like shape connected at its central portion to a pair of supporting portions through each bridge portion. Each supporting portion is shaped to avoid suppression of oscillation of the vibrational portion. The vibrational and supporting portions are formed integrally by etching method. Driving electrodes are formed on etched faces of the vibrational portion perpendicular to X-axis. The resonator is composed of a quartz crystal plate cut out by cut angle of -2.degree. to +4.degree. around X-axis with respect to a Z-plate. The vibrational portion may have tapered end portions to increase the oscillating frequency in high frequency range up to 4.2 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Seiko Electronic Components Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 4988419
    Abstract: A method or process for treating materials for making materials electrically conductive that are not naturally electrically conductive or for increasing and enhancing the electrical conductivity of materials that are naturally electrically conductive. The invention is carried out in processing apparatus or equipment. The apparatus includes a vessel containing a solution that is electrically conductive. The solution or bath contains salts including acid surfactant, acid and silver nitrate crystals. The apparatus includes electrical equipment which includes electrodes exposed to the solution in the vessel so that an alternating electrical current is caused to traverse the solution and the material being processed. Additionally, the apparatus includes an array of ultrasonic generators provided to cause ultrasonic sound vibrations to traverse through the solution and the material being processed simultaneously with the flow of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Industrial Management Co.
    Inventor: Jack Rooklyn
  • Patent number: 4941243
    Abstract: In a method for use in assembling an annular shear accelerometer (10), a nested combination of an expandable force ring (14), a crystal (16), and a mass element (18) is formed, and the force ring (14) is wedge to exert radially tensile force thereon. The force ring (14) and mass element (18) thereby cooperate to exert radially compressive force on the crystal (16), thus effecting friction locks between the radially adjacent pairs of elements which make up the nested combination (14, 16, 18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Lester G. Cleveland
  • Patent number: RE35011
    Abstract: An ultrasound array has a number of oscillator elements arranged side-by-side, each oscillator element having a trapezoidal cross-section. The oscillator elements are separated from each other by incisions having non-parallel walls, which are co-planar with surfaces of the piezoelectric material comprising the oscillator element. The incisions terminate in a damping member, to which all of the oscillator elements are attached. The incisions are produced with an excimer laser whose laser beam is focused onto a prepared layered material, with the incisions proceeding along a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfrasm Wersing, Karl Lubitz, Reinhard Lerch, Hans Kaarmann, Martina Vogt