"u" Or "tuning Fork" Shape Patents (Class 310/370)
  • Patent number: 8643254
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric vibrating reed; and a package, wherein the piezoelectric vibrating reed has a vibrating part and first and second supporting arms extending from a base end part, the package has a base, a lid, a cavity defined by the base and the lid, a convex part projecting from the base or the lid into the cavity, a length of the first supporting arm is shorter than a length of the second supporting arm, and the convex part is provided in a range ahead of a leading end of the first vibrating arm in an extension direction of the first supporting arm and at least partially overlapping with the second supporting arm in a length direction of the piezoelectric vibrating reed so as not to overlap with the piezoelectric vibrating reed in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuo Ishikawa, Akitoshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20140028158
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating strip, a piezoelectric vibrator, an oscillator, an electronic device, and a radio timepiece, in which the CI value can be reduced further while preventing a vibrating arm portion from vibrating in a second warp mode. The piezoelectric vibrating strip includes a plurality of parallel vibrating arm portions in a width direction, a base portion couples base ends of the vibrating arm portions, and a groove portion resides in at least one of a main face and a back face of the vibrating arm portion and extends from proximate the base end toward a free end of the vibrating arm portion. A break portion divides the groove portion and suppresses warp deformation of the vibrating arm portion in a second warp mode between a vibrating node portion of the vibrating arm portion proximate the base end and a vibrating node portion proximate the free end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Daishi ARIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20140021829
    Abstract: A tuning fork vibrator includes a package having an internal space having a rectangle column shape; a tuning fork vibration piece including a base, two vibration arms extending in parallel form the base and a first arm and a second arm extending obliquely from the base so as to interpose the two vibration arms, the tuning fork vibration piece having a length from the base to a tip in an extended direction of the two vibration arms which is longer than each side of the bottom surface of the internal space, wherein the tuning fork vibration piece is placed in the internal space with the extended direction set along a diagonal direction of the internal space, and a tip part of the first arm and a tip part of the second arm of the tuning fork vibration piece are fixed to the bottom surface of the internal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hajime Kubota, Masayuki Itoh, Masakazu Kishi
  • Patent number: 8633635
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical resonator includes a resonator body anchored to a substrate by at least a pair of tethers that suspend the resonator body opposite an underlying opening in the substrate. A first thermally-actuated tuning beam is provided, which is mechanically coupled to a first portion of the resonator body that is spaced apart from the pair of tethers. The first thermally-actuated tuning beam is configured to induce a mechanical stress in the resonator body by establishing a thermal expansion difference between the first thermally-actuated tuning beam and the resonator body in response to a passing of current through the first thermally-actuated tuning beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Wanling Pan
  • Patent number: 8633637
    Abstract: A resonator element includes: a base part; plural vibrating arms extended from the base part, each having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to each other and a first side surface and a second side surface connecting the first principal surface and the second principal surface and opposed to each other, the first side surface of at least one vibrating arm of the plural vibrating arms having a first step part provided from the first principal surface side and a second step part provided from the second principal surface side; a first electrode provided on the second side surface of the vibrating arm; a second electrode provided in a position opposed to the first electrode of the first step part; and a third electrode provided in a position opposed to the first electrode of the second step part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuta Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 8633638
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator element includes: a resonating arm extending in a first direction and cantilever-supported; a base portion cantilever-supporting the resonating arm; and an excitation electrode allowing the resonating arm to perform flexural vibration in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In the piezoelectric resonator element, the resonating arm includes an adjusting part adjusting rigidity with respect to a bend in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kikushima
  • Patent number: 8633788
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration piece includes a base made of a piezoelectric material; a plurality of vibration arms which is integrally formed with the base and extends in parallel; elongate grooves which are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms; and excitation electrodes which include inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves and side electrodes disposed in side surfaces facing the inner electrodes, wherein widening portions in which the widths of the vibration arms are widened toward the base at a joint between the vibration arms of the base are formed, and the side electrodes are led to principal surfaces and side surfaces of the widening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140015381
    Abstract: An oscillation piece includes a first oscillation arm and a second oscillation arm, a first base that connects ends of the first oscillation arm and the second oscillation arm on one side to each other and a second base that connects ends of the first oscillation arm and the second oscillation arm on the other side to each other, and weight films provided on each of the first oscillation arm and the second oscillation arm. The drive electrodes are disposed in positions where the amount of distortion produced in the first oscillation arm and the second oscillation arm is maximized, and the weight films are disposed in positions where the amount of distortion produced in the first oscillation arm and the second oscillation arm is minimized. The oscillation frequency of the oscillation piece can be precisely adjusted by removing part of the weight films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Masayuki Kikushima
  • Patent number: 8615857
    Abstract: Providing a glass assembly cutting method capable of improving yield by cutting a glass assembly into a predetermined size, providing a package manufacturing method, a package and a piezoelectric vibrator manufactured by the manufacturing method, and an oscillator, an electronic device, and a radio-controlled timepiece. Providing a wafer assembly cutting method of cutting a wafer assembly 60 along a scribe line M?, the method including: a scribing step of irradiating a laser beam having an absorption wavelength of the wafer assembly 60 along the contour line to form the scribe line M? on a lid board wafer 50; and a breaking step of applying a breaking stress along the scribe line M? using a cutting blade to cut the wafer assembly along the scribe line M?, wherein the scribing step involves forming the scribe line M? so that the ratio of a depth dimension D of the scribe line M? to a width dimension W thereof is 0.8 or larger and 6.0 or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Numata
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8614537
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms connected to the base portion, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms, a length of the base portion being less than 0.5 mm and an overall length of the quartz crystal resonator being less than 2.1 mm, at least one mounting arm protruding from the base portion and being formed between the first and second vibrational arms, the at least one mounting arm extending in a common direction with the first and second vibrational arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8610338
    Abstract: A tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece (20) is comprised of a base portion (23) comprising a piezoelectric material, a pair of vibrating arms (21) extends parallel from the base portion with a first thickness, a excitation electrode film (33, 34) formed on the vibrating arms, a pair of tuning portions (28) formed at the distal ends of the vibrating arms (21) with a second thickness which is less than the first thickness; and a metal film (18) formed on at least one surface of the tuning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Ichikawa, Hiroki Iwai, Yoshiaki Amano
  • 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: 8604677
    Abstract: The piezoelectric devices allow outside-in adjustment of their vibration frequency. An exemplary piezoelectric device includes a tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece mounted inside a package. The vibrating piece has a base fabricated of a piezoelectric material, a pair of vibrating arms extending parallel from the base in a predetermined direction, and a frequency-adjustment unit situated on the distal ends of the vibrating arms. The package includes first metal films on the inner main surface thereof where an external laser beam can be irradiated. The frequency-adjustment unit includes a transparent region extending in a predetermined direction, allowing the laser beam, passing through the lid of the package, to be incident on second metal films by passing through the transparent regions. The laser beam also can be incident on first metal films without also being incident on the second metal films, by passing through the lid but not through the transparent regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawase, Toshiaki Motegi
  • Patent number: 8598770
    Abstract: A resonator element capable of improving impact resistance is provided. A quartz crystal resonator element is a resonator element formed by etching a Z plate which is cut at predetermined angles with respect to the crystal axes of a quartz crystal. The quartz crystal resonator element includes a base, a pair of resonating arms extending from the base in the Y-axis direction, and a positive X-axis notch and a negative X-axis notch formed by notching the base in the X-axis direction. The positive X-axis notch is formed by notching the base from the negative side of the X axis towards the positive side so that the width of the positive X-axis notch increases as it approaches the outer circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yamada, Shuhei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8593039
    Abstract: A resonator element capable of improving impact resistance is provided. A quartz crystal resonator element is a resonator element formed by etching a Z plate which is cut at predetermined angles with respect to the crystal axes of a quartz crystal. The quartz crystal resonator element includes a base, a pair of resonating arms extending from the base in the Y-axis direction, and a positive X-axis notch and a negative X-axis notch formed by notching the base in the X-axis direction. The positive X-axis notch is formed by notching the base from the negative side of the X axis towards the positive side so that the width of the positive X-axis notch increases as it approaches the outer circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yamada, Shuhei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8593036
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a High Efficiency MEMS Micro-Vibrational Energy Harvester (?VEH) having a thick beam bimorph architecture. The disclosed architecture is capable of producing a voltage of sufficient magnitude such that the requirement to connect a plurality of harvesters in series to produce an adequate voltage magnitude is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: MCB Clean Room Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Mark Boysel
  • Patent number: 8587184
    Abstract: A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator includes a base, a first resonating arm, and a second resonating arm. The base has a generally planar fifth main surface and a generally planar sixth main surface opposite to each other, and has a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface opposite to each other. The first resonating arm is connecting to one side of the base. The second resonating arm is connecting to the same side of the base. A concave of continuous curved surface is formed one each on the fifth side surface and the sixth side surface of the base respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Wafer Mems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Cheng Yang, Win-Yng Wang, Hung-Peng Lee
  • Publication number: 20130285508
    Abstract: A vibrating element includes a base, drive vibrating arms, detection vibrating arms, and adjustment vibrating arms. The drive vibrating arms are driven to make bending vibration in a predetermined plane. The following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied: f3>f2??(1) 0.964×(1?0.321(1+L/t))?f2/f1?0.995??(2) where t represents the thickness of the base, L represents the length of the base in the direction in which the drive vibrating arms extend, f1 represents the frequency of natural vibration of the detection vibrating arms in a direction that intersects the predetermined plane, f2 represents the frequency of natural vibration of the drive vibrating arms in a direction that intersects the predetermined plane, and f3 represents the frequency of natural vibration of the adjustment vibrating arms in a direction that intersects the predetermined plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8569938
    Abstract: A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator includes a base, a first resonating arm, and a second resonating arm. The base has a generally planar fifth main surface and a generally planar sixth main surface opposite to each other, and has a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface opposite to each other. The first resonating arm is connecting to one side of the base. The second resonating arm is connecting to the same side of the base. A recess is formed on the fifth main surface, and the recess is sized and configured such that a first width near the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm is greater than a second width away from the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Wafer MEMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Cheng Yang, Win-Yng Wang, Hung-Peng Lee
  • Publication number: 20130270970
    Abstract: A crystal resonator element include a pair of resonating arms extending from a base, the resonating arms includes a groove, a slope portion is formed in a connection portion of the resonating arms to the base so that a distance between the groove and the outer edge of each of the resonating arms increases as it approaches the base from the resonating arms, and a non-electrode region which extends over a range of areas from a connection portion connected to a first side surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the groove and a connection portion connected to a second side surface facing the first side surface with a bottom portion disposed there between and in which excitation electrodes are not formed is provided in the groove in at least a part of the bottom portion positioned in the slope portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8558628
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes a pair of vibration arm portions that is placed in a row in a width direction; a base portion to which proximal end sides in the pair of vibration arm portions in an extending direction are connected; and weight metal films that are formed on outer surfaces of the vibration arm portions, wherein the weight metal films are formed in positions that avoid regions of tip portions in the vibration arm portions in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: SII Crystal Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8558435
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device has a piezoelectric vibration element mounted in a package wherein the piezoelectric vibration element comprises two stick-like vibration legs; a central leg provided between the two vibration legs; a coupling portion that couples one end of each of the two vibration legs and one end of the central leg; and a protrusion portion that is coupled to another end of the central leg, has a predetermined angle, neither 0 nor 180 degrees, to the length direction of the central leg, and extends into a direction not interfering with the driving legs. In making the piezoelectric device smaller and thinner, this configuration avoids interference between a support point on the central leg, provided for supporting the vibration element, and conductive electrodes, improves insulation between the conductive electrodes, and reduces the generation of short-circuits between the conductive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Murata, Kazuhiro Toriumi, Toshiya Kubo, Takashi Maruyama, Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Taichi Tsuchiya, Izumi Yamamoto, Akiko Katoh, Sadao Horiuchi, Hiroshi Miyauchi, Isao Arai, Akihiro Shioji, Tomoo Ikeda, Maki Takizawa, Keisuke Kigawa
  • Publication number: 20130264908
    Abstract: A vibration gyro-element includes a base portion, an excitation vibrating arm and a detection vibrating arm extending from the base portion, and a first adjustment vibrating arm and a second adjustment vibrating arm extending from the base portion and vibrating along with excitation vibration of the excitation vibrating arm, wherein an output signal of the first adjustment vibrating arm at least is out of phase with respect to an output signal of leakage vibration of the detection vibrating arm, and wherein an amplitude of the output signal of the first adjustment vibrating arm is larger than an amplitude of the output signal of the second adjustment vibrating arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi MATSUO
  • Patent number: 8552805
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator includes a tuning fork type piezoelectric vibrating reed including a pair of vibration arm portions; a package that accommodates the piezoelectric vibrating reed; and a getter material that is formed along the longitudinal direction of the vibration arm portion in an inner portion of the package, wherein a cross-sectional area of a middle portion of the getter material adjacent to a center portion of the longitudinal direction of the vibration arm portion is greater than that of an end portion of the getter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8552624
    Abstract: A vibrating reed includes: a base; at least one vibrating arm extending from the base; at least one support arm extending from the base, and at least a part of which extends in parallel to the vibrating arm; and at least one receiving section formed of a part of the support arm, the part extending to have a shape of a projection so that a distance from the vibrating arm is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yamada, Shuhei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8552625
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical transducer provides a very low frequency wide band response by using a quad configuration of piezoelectric cantilevers, providing additive output between the resonant frequencies of the cantilevers and achieves this at great depths under free flooded or oil filled conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Image Acoustics, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Butler, Alexander L. Butler
  • Patent number: 8542070
    Abstract: There are provided a piezoelectric vibrator capable of suppressing vibration leakage while securing mounting strength of a piezoelectric vibrating reed and an oscillator, an electronic apparatus, and a radio-controlled timepiece each using the piezoelectric vibrator. The piezoelectric vibrator includes: a package that accommodates a piezoelectric vibrating reed; and a bump that mounts the base portion of the piezoelectric vibrating reed on a package. The bump includes a plurality of main bumps which is arranged in a line in the width direction of the base portion so as to be bonded to the base portion; and an auxiliary bump which is bonded to the base portion in an area between the main bumps disposed at both ends in the width direction of the base portion and an area between the main bumps and base ends of the vibrating arms in the longitudinal direction of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8541929
    Abstract: Piezoelectric devices and method for making them are disclosed. An exemplary piezoelectric device has a package base defining a cavity on a first surface thereof. An opposing second surface of the package base has at least one through-hole, a mounting electrode on which a piezoelectric vibrating piece is attached, and a respective sealing electrode sealing each through-hole. At least one external electrode is on the second surface, and a lid is bonded to the package base to enclose the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The mounting electrode, sealing electrodes, and external electrodes are formed integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kozo Ono, Takehiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130241364
    Abstract: A flexural vibration element according to a first aspect of the invention includes: a vibration element body composed of a plurality of vibrating arms provided in parallel, a connecting part connecting the vibrating arms, and one central supporting arms extending between the vibrating arms from the connecting pert in parallel with the vibrating arms at equal distance from the arms and a frame body disposed outside the vibration element body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8525606
    Abstract: A vibrator element includes: a base portion; and three vibrating arms that extend from the base portion in the Y axis direction. The vibrating arms are arranged in the X axis direction, include excitation electrodes on a principal face, and vibrate in the Z axis direction. When an arm width of the vibrating arm, which is located at the center of the arrangement, in the X axis direction is W1, each arm width of the other vibrating arms in the X axis direction is W, an electrode width of the excitation electrode of the vibrating arm, which is located at the center of the arrangement, in the X axis direction is A1, and each electrode width of the excitation electrodes of the other vibrating arms in the X axis direction is A, 1.35<W1/W<1.90 and 1.35<A1/A<1.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8514029
    Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator includes a base substrate and a lid substrate which are bonded to each other with a cavity formed therebetween; an external electrode that is formed on a lower surface of the base substrate; an internal electrode that is formed on an upper surface of the base substrate so as to be accommodated in the cavity; a through electrode which is formed so as to pass through the base substrate and electrically connect the external electrode with the internal electrode; a piezoelectric vibrating reed which is accommodated in the cavity in a state of being electrically connected to the internal electrode; and a getter material that is formed in the cavity, the getter material being formed of chromium or a metallic material consisting of chromium as a main ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20130208573
    Abstract: Provided are a piezoelectric vibrating piece, a piezoelectric vibrator, an oscillator, an electronic device, and a radio-controlled timepiece which can effectively suppress the vibration leakage while maintaining sufficient rigidity of the piezoelectric vibrating piece without making the piezoelectric vibrating piece large-sized. A chamfered portion is formed on corner portions of a connecting portion 21 on a narrow width portion side on both sides in the widthwise direction (Y direction). Due to such chamfered portions, a cross-sectional area (width size) of the connecting portion is gradually reduced toward the narrow width portion from a distal end side (vibrating arm portion side). The chamfered portion may be formed such that an angle ? with respect to side surfaces on both sides of the connecting portion becomes 60° (?=60°).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Seiko Instruments Inc.
  • Patent number: 8497620
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator element includes: a resonating arm extending in a first direction and cantilever-supported; a base portion cantilever-supporting the resonating arm; and an excitation electrode allowing the resonating arm to perform flexural vibration in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In the piezoelectric resonator element, the resonating arm includes an adjusting part adjusting rigidity with respect to a bend in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kikushima
  • Patent number: 8487516
    Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided to trigger inter-carrier scanning in a mobile device based at least in part on location thereof. Femto access point (AP) that can serve the mobile device can determine location through cell or sector identifier that is extracted via scan(s) of macro wireless environment of the femto AP. Femto AP can rank extracted sector identifier(s) and establish home macro sector (HMS) identifier(s), and also can generate scanning requirements for idle-mode scan(s) by a mobile device that operates in a HMS and is authorized to access wireless coverage through the femto AP. Scanning requirement(s) can force periodic inter-carrier measurements of a HMS wireless environment, and establish HMS-specific radio link quality threshold(s). Wireless network can receive at least one of HMS identifier(s) and scanning requirement(s) and deliver same to mobile device(s) authorized to exploit wireless coverage through femto AP associated with the HMS ID(s) and the scanning requirement(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Richard Brisebois, Giuseppe De Rosa
  • Publication number: 20130176831
    Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms, each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms having a length, and a first main surface and a second main surface opposite the first main surface, at least one groove being formed in a central linear portion of at least one of the first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms and formed continuously in the central linear portion along the length of the corresponding one of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork arms, an overall length of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator being less than 2.1 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
  • Publication number: 20130175903
    Abstract: The piezoelectric resonator (21) includes a first and a second planar tuning fork shaped part arranged in a common plane. It is intended to be mounted on a support via a linking part (29), the linking part being arranged to connect the tips of the inner vibrating arms (25a, 25b) of the first and second tuning fork shaped parts so as to link the first and second tuning fork shaped parts together, The electrodes carried by the first and second tuning fork shaped parts are interconnected through the linking part so as to make the outer vibrating arms of the first and second tuning fork shaped part oscillate with opposite phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Micro Crystal AG
    Inventors: Felix STAUB, Silvio DALLA PIAZZA
  • Publication number: 20130176832
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit comprising: a quartz crystal resonator having an overall length less than 2.1 mm and a base portion including a length L1 less than 0.5 mm, and first and second vibrational arms connected to the base portion, at least one groove being formed in a central linear portion of at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms so that a width of the at least one groove is less than a spaced-apart distance between the first and second vibrational arms, the at least one groove being formed continuously in the central linear portion along the length of the corresponding one of the first and second vibrational arms, the quartz crystal resonator being housed in a case, a lid being connected to the case to cover an open end of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
  • Publication number: 20130169117
    Abstract: A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator includes a base, a first resonating arm, and a second resonating arm. The base has a generally planar fifth main surface and a generally planar sixth main surface opposite to each other, and has a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface opposite to each other. The first resonating arm is connecting to one side of the base. The second resonating arm is connecting to the same side of the base. A concave of continuous curved surface is formed one each on the fifth side surface and the sixth side surface of the base respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: WAFER MEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: WAFER MEMS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130169116
    Abstract: A quartz crystal unit comprising a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a quartz crystal tuning fork base, and first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, at least one groove being formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, each of a length of the at least one groove and an overall length of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator being determined so that a series resistance R1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is less than a series resistance R2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof, the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator being housed in a case, a lid being connected to the case to cover an open end of the case, a metal or a glass being disposed in a through-hole of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: Piedek Technical Laboratory
  • Patent number: 8476810
    Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposed to the first substrate; a third substrate disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a part of the third substrate forming a piezoelectric oscillating piece, and another part of the third substrate forming a frame which surrounds the piezoelectric oscillating piece; a first metal film which joins the first substrate and the frame; a second metal film which joins the second substrate and the frame; and a resin portion provided at least at any one of positions between the first substrate and the first metal film, between the frame and the first metal film, between the second substrate and the second metal film, and between the frame and the second metal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Hashi
  • Patent number: 8476811
    Abstract: To provide the piezoelectric device and the manufacturing method thereof, in which the quartz-crystal side surface electrodes and the base side surface electrodes are ensured to be electrically connected without disconnection. The piezoelectric device (100) comprises: a piezoelectric vibrating piece (21), an outer frame (22), a piezoelectric frame (20) for forming a first castellation (204), a package base (12) which is bonded by to the outer frame by adhesive (13) and which the second castellation is formed, and a package lid (11). The piezoelectric frame comprises: an excitation electrodes, a second extraction electrodes and a first side surface electrodes formed on the first castellation. The package base comprises: a second side surface electrode formed on the second castellation, and an external electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Mizusawa, Takehiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130162110
    Abstract: There is provided a piezoelectric vibrator including: a base portion; a pair of arm portions extending from the base portion in parallel to each other; first recess portions formed in a length direction in upper surfaces of the pair of arm portions; and second recess portions formed in the length direction in lower surfaces of the pair of arm portions, wherein in a cross section of the pair of arm portions in a length-thickness direction, the first recess portions and the second recess portions may be disposed to be offset and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined interval in a width direction of the pair of arm portions. A piezoelectric vibrator having low resistance and high quality coefficient can be implemented, and thus, a stable frequency can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130154444
    Abstract: A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator includes a base, a first resonating arm, and a second resonating arm. The base has a generally planar fifth main surface and a generally planar sixth main surface opposite to each other, and has a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface opposite to each other. The first resonating arm is connecting to one side of the base. The second resonating arm is connecting to the same side of the base. A recess is formed on the fifth main surface, and the recess is sized and configured such that a first width near the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm is greater than a second width away from the first resonating arm and the second resonating arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: WAFER MEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: WAFER MEMS CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8460561
    Abstract: The present invention provides a crystal oscillator piece in which the cross section of its vibrating tine, while not symmetrical in shape, has a principal axis that is oriented parallel to an X axis to suppress the generation of leakage vibration, and a method for manufacturing such a crystal oscillator piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiko Katoh
  • Patent number: 8456065
    Abstract: Surface-mounted piezoelectric devices are disclosed, of which an exemplary device includes a tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece having a base portion and a pair of vibrating arms extending from the base portion. The device includes a package defined by a wall. The package includes a cavity accommodating the tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece and at least one columnar body situated between the vibrating arms in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Amano, Takefumi Saito
  • Publication number: 20130125650
    Abstract: In a unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, each of the first and second vibrational arms having a length and opposite main surfaces each including a central linear portion, at least one groove being formed in the central linear portion of at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms so that the at least one groove is formed continuously in the central linear portion along the length of the corresponding one of the first and second vibrational arms, a length of the base portion being less than 0.5 mm and an overall length of the quartz crystal resonator being within a range of 1.02 mm to 1.95 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
    Inventor: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORY
  • Patent number: 8446079
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a piezoelectric resonator. The resonator can have a base defining at least a first base portion and a second base portion and two or more vibrating arms projecting from the first base portion, the first vibrating arm being substantially parallel to the second vibrating arm. The resonator can define a generally planar first main surface and a generally planar second main surface defined by the base and the first and second vibrating arms wherein the first main surface is generally parallel to the second main surface. At least one groove can be formed in at least one of the first and second main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrating arms. The resonator can further have at least one vibration isolation arm projecting from the base, the vibration isolation arm being approximately perpendicular to the two or more vibrating arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Statek Corporation
    Inventors: Yue Fang, Shih Chuang
  • Patent number: 8436515
    Abstract: Provide a highly efficient manufacturing method of a piezoelectric vibrator and to provide a piezoelectric vibrator manufactured by this manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: RE44423
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit, a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is formed by etching a quartz crystal wafer to form a quartz crystal tuning fork base, quartz crystal tuning fork tines connected to the quartz crystal tuning fork base, and a groove having stepped portions in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A first electrode is disposed on at least one of the stepped portions of each of the grooves and a second electrode is disposed on each of side surfaces of each of the quartz crystal tuning fork tines. A frequency of oscillation of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is adjusted at least twice and in different steps. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is then mounted in a case and an open end of the case is covered with a lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Piedek Technical Laboratory
    Inventor: Hirofumi Kawashima