Vibrating Reed Or String Type (e.g., Tuning Fork) Patents (Class 331/156)
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Patent number: 12143095Abstract: A method of manufacturing a resonance device includes preparing a resonance device and adjusting a frequency of the resonator. The resonance device includes a lower lid, an upper lid joined to the lower lid, and a resonator with vibration arms that vibrate in bending vibration in an interior space between the lower and upper lids. The adjusting of the frequency of the resonator includes vibrating the vibration arms in bending vibration and thereby causing respective ends of the arms to strike the lower lid at an impact speed of 3.5×103 ?m/sec or more. The ends of the vibration arms are made of silicon oxide, and the lower lid is made of silicon.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Fumiya Endou, Masakazu Fukumitsu
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Patent number: 12047055Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to quartz crystal devices and more particularly to quartz crystal devices configured to vibrate in torsional mode. In one aspect, a quartz crystal device configured for temperature sensing comprises a fork-shaped quartz crystal comprising a pair of elongate tines laterally extending from a base region in a horizontal lengthwise direction of the fork-shaped quartz crystal. Each of the tines has formed on one or both of opposing sides thereof a vertically protruding line structure laterally elongated in the horizontal lengthwise direction. The quartz crystal device further comprises a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the one or both of the opposing sides of each of the tines and configured such that, when an electrical bias is applied between the first and second electrodes, the fork-shaped quartz crystal vibrates in a torsional mode in which each of the tines twists about a respective axis extending in the horizontal lengthwise direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2023Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: Statek CorporationInventors: Yue Fang, Jian Feng Chen
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Patent number: 11340253Abstract: There is provided a resonant sensor comprising: a substrate; a proof mass suspended from the substrate to allow for relative movement between the proof mass and the substrate along at least one sensitive axis; at least one resonant element coupled to the proof mass; an electrode assembly adjacent to the at least one resonant element; drive and sense circuitry connected to the electrode assembly configured to drive the electrode assembly to cause the at least one resonant element to resonate, wherein a measure of acceleration of the proof mass can be determined from changes in the resonant behavior of the at least one resonant element; at least one substrate electrode on the substrate, adjacent to the proof mass; and electric circuitry connected to the substrate electrode configured to apply a voltage to the substrate electrode providing an electrostatic force on the proof mass. The substrate electrode may be used to provide a number of different functions.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Inventors: Xudong Zou, Ashwin Arunkuman Seshia
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Patent number: 11239407Abstract: A frequency adjustment method of a vibrator element includes preparing a vibrator element that has a vibrating arm, a first weight placed on one principal surface of the vibrating arm, and a second weight placed on the other principal surface of the vibrating arm, in which the first weight has a non-overlapping region which does not overlap the second weight in a plan view in a normal direction of the principal surface, preparing a substrate including a wiring portion, and fixing the vibrator element to the substrate by causing the other principal surface side of the vibrator element to face the substrate side, and irradiating the non-overlapping region of the first weight with an energy ray from one principal surface side, removing a portion of the non-overlapping region of the first weight, and adjusting a resonance frequency of the vibrating arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Inventors: Keiichi Yamaguchi, Seiichiro Ogura, Masahiro Oshio, Ryuta Nishizawa
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Patent number: 11218131Abstract: A single-chamber-type temperature-sensor-provided crystal unit includes: a single chamber; and a quartz-crystal vibrating piece and a temperature sensor, provided in the single chamber. The quartz-crystal vibrating piece has a square planar shape. The quartz-crystal vibrating piece is secured in the single chamber at two securing portions via conductive members. The two securing portions are in proximities of both ends of a first side of the quartz-crystal vibrating piece. The temperature sensor has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The temperature sensor is disposed such that a longitudinal surface of the temperature sensor is parallel to a line segment Y and the temperature sensor is close to a side of the two securing portions within the single chamber, when a line segment connecting the two securing portions is defined as the line segment Y.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: NIHON DEMPA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Takumi Ariji, Akihiro Sakanashi, Takashi Asamizu, Yoshihiro Takaki
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Patent number: 10879448Abstract: A resonator includes a vibrator with a base, and multiple vibrating arms extending therefrom. Moreover, a frame surrounds a periphery of the vibrating part and a holding arm couples the vibrator to the frame. The holding arm includes a pair of first support arms that are connected to the base opposite the vibrating arms and a coupling portion that couples the support arms with one another and that is connected to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Wakana Hirota, Ville Kaajakari
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Patent number: 10784836Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration device that includes a piezoelectric vibrator having excitation electrodes formed thereon; a base having the piezoelectric vibrator on a first surface thereof; outer electrodes formed to continuously extend from the first surface of the base through a side face of the base to a second surface of the base opposite the first surface; and a lid having a recess opening that faces the first surface of the base, the lid being joined to the base to hermetically seal the piezoelectric vibrator in an internal space defined by the recess and the base. An edge portion of a corresponding one of the outer electrodes, formed by the first surface and the side face of the base, is at least partly covered by a covering member having insulating properties.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroaki Kaida, Keiichi Kami
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Patent number: 10538427Abstract: In some embodiments, a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) includes a proof mass, sense electrodes, sense circuitry, and a frequency matching circuitry. The proof mass is configured to move responsive to stimuli. The sense electrodes are configured to generate a signal responsive to the proof mass moving. The sense circuitry is coupled to the sense electrodes. The sense circuitry is configured to receive the generated signal and further configured to process the generated signal. The frequency matching circuitry is configured to apply a DC voltage to the sense electrodes. The DC voltage is configured to change a stiffness of a spring of the proof mass. According to some embodiments, the change in the stiffness of the spring matches a resonance frequency between a sense mode and a drive mode. According to some embodiments, the sense electrodes are a comb structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.Inventors: Alireza Shirvani, Sagar Kumar
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Patent number: 10541670Abstract: Provided are micromechanical resonators and resonator systems including the micromechanical resonators. The micromechanical resonators may each include a supporting beam including a fixed end fixed on a supporting member and a loose end configured to vibrate, and a lumped mass arranged on the loose end, wherein the loose end has a width greater than a width of the fixed end, and a width of the lumped mass is greater than that the width of the fixed end.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yongseop Yoon, Sungchan Kang, Cheheung Kim, Sangha Park, Choongho Rhee, Hyeokki Hong
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Patent number: 10280073Abstract: A nanoelectronic system comprised of n microelectromechanical or nanoelectromechanical devices arranged on a connection support to electrically connect the n devices, each device with an interaction area, at least one mechanical anchor and a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the relative arrangement of the first, second and third terminals, the anchor area and the interaction area being identical or similar for the n sensors, the first terminal of each device being intended to recover a signal emitted by each representative device of the interaction area state. At least part of the devices are arranged in such a way that the geometric location of the first terminal of one of the adjacent devices is identical to the geometric location of the first terminal of said other adjacent device, the first terminals being coincident.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESInventors: Willy Ludurczak, Sebastien Hentz
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Patent number: 10024879Abstract: A microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) device includes a driven mass and has a natural stiffness or damping. An actuator applies force to the mass, movement of which is measured by a sensing capacitor. A control circuit operates the actuator per displacement or velocity of the driven mass, so that a characteristic stiffness or damping of the mechanical subsystem is different from the respective natural value. A method of transforming a MEMS device design includes determining an aim performance value of the design and a baseline performance uncertainty of the design, selecting candidate sets of parameter values, determining a candidate, first, and second performance value for each, scoring the candidates, and repeating until one of the candidates satisfies a termination criterion, so the transformed design using that candidate set has the aim performance value and the respective first and second performance values closer to each other than the baseline performance uncertainty.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventor: Jason Clark
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Patent number: 9960734Abstract: A nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) oscillator can include an insulating substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a metal local gate electrode, and a micron-sized, atomically thin graphene resonator. The source electrode and drain electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The metal local gate electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The graphene resonator can be suspended over the metal local gate electrode and define a vacuum gap between the graphene resonator and the metal local gate electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkInventors: Changyao Chen, James Hone, Sunwoo Lee
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Patent number: 9961450Abstract: A piezoresistive microphone includes a substrate, an insulating layer, and a polysilicon layer. A first pattern is disposed within the polysilicon layer. The first pattern includes numerous first opening. A second pattern is disposed within the polysilicon layer. The second pattern includes numerous second openings. The first pattern surrounds the second pattern. Each first opening and each second opening are staggered. A first resistor is disposed in the polysilicon and between the first pattern and the second pattern. The first resistor is composed of numerous first heavily doped regions and numerous first lightly doped regions. The first heavily doped regions and the first lightly doped regions are disposed in series. The first heavily doped region and the first lightly doped region are disposed alternately. A cavity is disposed in the insulating layer and the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.Inventors: Chang-Sheng Hsu, Weng-Yi Chen, En-Chan Chen, Shih-Wei Li, Guo-Chih Wei
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Patent number: 9166554Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akinori Yamada
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Patent number: 9059393Abstract: A vibrator element includes: a base having a mounting surface; a vibrating arm which is extended from the base and has a first surface and a second surface that faces the first surface and is positioned on the mounting surface side, and which performs flexural vibration in a direction normal to the first and second surfaces; and a laminated structure which is provided on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the vibrating arm, and which includes at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, in which the vibrating arm is warped toward the mounting surface side.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Teruo Takizawa
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Publication number: 20150137900Abstract: A resonator element includes a base section, a pair of vibrating arms extending from the base section, and a holding arm extending from the base section between the pair of vibrating arms. The vibrating arms include arm sections extending from the base section and hammerheads provided at the distal end sections of the arm sections. When the mass of the vibrating arms is represented as M1 and the mass of the holding arm is represented as M2, a relation of M1>M2 is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20150137899Abstract: A resonator element includes a quartz crystal resonator blank provided with a base portion, vibrating arms extending from one end side of the base portion, a connecting portion which is disposed on the other end side of the base portion, and a coupling portion, located between the base portion and the connecting portion, which couples the base portion to the connecting portion. When a thickness of the quartz crystal resonator blank is set to T, a width of the base portion is set to W1, and a width of the coupling portion is set to W2, a relation of 110 ?m?T?210 ?m is satisfied, and a relation of 0.469?W2/W1?0.871 is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20150137901Abstract: A resonator element includes a base, a quartz crystal resonator blank which is integrally disposed with the base, and has a pair of vibrating arms which are disposed in parallel in an X axial direction, and extend from the base in a Y? axial direction, the vibrating arms include arms, hammerheads which are positioned on tip end sides of the arms, and are longer than the arms in the X axial direction, a relationship of 0.033×T [?m]<W4<0.330×T [?m] is satisfied when the thickness of the vibrating arm is set to T in thickness, and a distance between the hammer heads in the X axial direction is set to W4.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20150137902Abstract: Grooves are provided on two main surfaces of a vibration arm. When a thickness of the vibration arm is T, a width of the main surface between an outer edge of the vibration arm and the groove in a plan view along a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the main surface is W, a sum of depths of the grooves is ta, and ta/T is ?, a region that satisfies a relationship of 4.236×10×?2?8.473×10×?+4.414×10 [?m]?W [?m]??3.367×10×?2+7.112×10×??2.352×10 [?m], and 0.75??<1.00 is present on at least a part of the vibration arm in the extending direction. When a length of the vibration arm in the extending direction is L, and a length of the weight section in the extending direction is H, a relationship of 0.012<H/L<0.30 is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20150116050Abstract: A vibrating element has a drive mode, and first and second detection modes in which the vibrating element vibrates in a direction orthogonal to a vibration direction in the drive mode. In frequency-temperature characteristic curves representing a change in frequency due to a change in temperature in the respective modes with a horizontal axis representing an ambient temperature and a vertical axis representing a change in frequency, when a turnover temperature of the frequency-temperature characteristic curve in the drive mode is Ta [° C.], a turnover temperature of the frequency-temperature characteristic curve in the first detection mode is Tb [° C.], and a turnover temperature of the frequency-temperature characteristic curve in the second detection mode is Tc [° C.], Ta is lower than Tb and Tc, or Ta is higher than Tb and Tc.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Keiji NAKAGAWA, Ryuta NISHIZAWA
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Publication number: 20150116049Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator and a SAW oscillator and an electronic apparatus including the resonator are to be provided. A SAW resonator includes: an IDT exciting a SAW using a quartz crystal substrate of Euler angles (?1.5°???1.5°, 117°???142°, 42.79°?|?|?49.57°); one pair of reflection units arranged so as allow the IDT to be disposed therebetween; and grooves acquired by depressing the quartz crystal substrate located between electrode fingers. When a wavelength of the SAW is ?, and a depth of the grooves is G, “0.01??G” is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventor: Kunihito YAMANAKA
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Publication number: 20150102866Abstract: A MEMS vibrator includes: a substrate; a base portion which is disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of vibration portions which extend in directions different from each other from the base portion. The MEMS vibrator has a curved surface between the adjacent vibration portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventor: Ryuji KIHARA
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Publication number: 20150102865Abstract: A MEMS vibrator includes: a substrate; a base portion which is disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of vibration portions which extends in a direction that intersects with a normal line of the substrate from the base portion. In a planar view, when a length of the vibration portion in a direction in which the vibration portion extends from the base portion is L, and a length of the vibration portion in a direction that intersects with a direction in which the vibration portion extends from the base portion is W, a dimension ratio (L/W) of the vibration portion satisfies a relationship in which 0.2?(L/W)?7.0.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Kazuyuki NAGATA, Ryuji KIHARA
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Publication number: 20150097632Abstract: A MEMS vibrator includes: a base portion; a plurality of vibration reeds which extends from the base portion; a supporting portion which extends from a vibration node portion of the base portion; a fixing portion which is connected with the supporting portion; and a substrate in which the fixing portion is disposed on a main surface. The plurality of vibration reeds is separated from the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Patent number: 9000854Abstract: Oscillators including mechanical resonators are described, as are methods of operating the oscillators such that the mechanical resonator exhibits non-linear behavior. The non-linear behavior may include multiple stable states, for instance being bi-stable. The non-linear behavior may exhibit hysteresis. The mechanical resonator may be driven to operate in a desired portion of the non-linear operating regime.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Sand 9, Inc.Inventor: Pritiraj Mohanty
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Publication number: 20150084706Abstract: An oscillator according to the disclosure includes a crystal unit, an IC chip, an adhesive agent flow prevention film, and a lead frame. The lead frame is disposed in a peripheral area of the pair of crystal terminals and the IC chip in an approximately same surface as the one surface of the flat container of the crystal unit. The lead frame includes a wiring part that is connected to an IC terminal of the IC chip by a bonding wire and is buried in the resin mold, and a mounting terminal forming portion that extends from the wiring part and is folded along an outside of the resin mold in a back surface that is another surface side opposite to the one surface of the crystal unit so as to form a mounting terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventor: FUMIO ASAMURA
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Publication number: 20150042409Abstract: A continuously oscillating cantilevered beam having a velocity transducer that produces a preferably voltage signal as a function of the beam's velocity. An amplifier receives the signal and amplifies accordingly to produce an amplified signal that varies as a function of the beam's velocity. The amplified signal powers an electromagnet that is disposed in close proximity to a magnet on the beam. The resulting apparatus is a system that is driven cyclically by a force that is essentially generated in proportion to, and then amplified, the velocity of the beam itself. This ensures that the timing of applying the driving force is precisely synchronized with the movement of the beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventor: Earl J. Brown
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Publication number: 20150022274Abstract: A piezoelectric film producing process includes depositing a piezoelectric body in a mixed atmosphere of N2 gas and Ar gas by using a sputtering method, using an Al—Cu alloy as deposition material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Takashi YAMAZAKI, Osamu IWAMOTO
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Patent number: 8928208Abstract: A tuning fork-type piezoelectric resonator plate has a resonator blank comprising a pair of vibrating leg portions and a base portion from which the leg portions protrude. The pair of leg portions are arranged in parallel protrudingly from one end face of the base portion, and a pronged portion is formed between the pair of leg portions in an intermediate position in a width direction of the one end face of the base portion. The base portion has a pair of through holes along the one end face of the base portion, and on another end face side opposite to the one end face of the base portion, a joining region that joins to an external portion. The pair of through holes are specially positioned and have special wall surface configurations.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Daishinku CorporationInventor: Yoshinobu Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20140368288Abstract: A resonator element includes a base portion, a pair of vibrating arms that extend in a first direction from the base portion and are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a supporting arm that extends in the first direction from the base portion and is disposed between the pair of vibrating arms when seen in a plan view.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20140368287Abstract: A resonator element includes a base portion, a pair of vibrating arms that are integrally provided with the base portion and extend in a Y-axis direction from a distal end of the base portion, and a supporting arm that is integrally provided with the base portion, is positioned between the vibrating arms, and extends in the Y-axis direction from the distal end of the base portion. A first fixation portion is provided in one principal surface of the base portion, and a second fixation portion is provided in one principal surface of the supporting arm. The resonator element is fixed to an object through fixation members, by the first fixation portion and the second fixation portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Akinori YAMADA, Osamu IWAMOTO
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Patent number: 8907548Abstract: A resonator element includes: a base portion provided on a plane including a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; a vibrating arm extending from the base portion in the first axis direction; an excitation electrode provided on the vibrating arm so as to excite the vibrating arm; and a first mass portion provided on the vibrating arm so as to adjust the frequency of the vibrating arm, wherein the vibrating arm performs flexural vibration in a direction perpendicular to the plane and wherein the first mass portion is provided in a region exceeding ½ of the entire length in the first axis direction of the vibrating arm from the end of the vibrating arm close to the base portion and is formed from a material whose density D (in units of 103 kg/m3) is in the range of 2.20?D?8.92.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hiroki Kawai
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Patent number: 8866567Abstract: A quartz crystal unit has a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a thickness within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.18 mm, and at least one groove formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second tuning fork tines so that a length of the at least one groove is within a range of 20% to 78% of an overall length of the resonator and less than 1.29 mm. An electrode is disposed on at least one of a base portion and a surface of the at least one groove so that the electrode of the first tuning fork tine has an electrical polarity opposite to an electrical polarity of the electrode of the second tuning fork tine. The capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration of the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is greater than 1500. The quartz crystal tuning fork resonator is housed in a case having an open end, and a lid is connected to the case.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Piedek Technical LaboratoryInventor: Hirofumi Kawashima
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Patent number: 8854150Abstract: A resonator in which in addition to the normal anchor at a nodal point, a second anchor arrangement is provided and an associated connecting arm between the resonator body and the second anchor arrangement. The connecting arm connects to the resonator body at a non-nodal point so that it is not connected to a normal position where fixed connections are made. The connecting arm is used to suppress transverse modes of vibration.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: NXP, B.V.Inventors: Casper van der Avoort, Jozef Thomas Martinus van Beek
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Publication number: 20140292433Abstract: A resonator element includes a base portion and a pair of vibrating arms that are provided integrally with the base portion and extend in a Y-axis direction from a distal end of the base portion. When the lengths of the vibrating arms are set to L and the lengths of hammerheads are set to H, a relation of 0.183?H/L?0.597 is satisfied. When a resonance frequency of a basic vibration mode is set to ?0 and a resonance frequency of a vibration mode different from the basic vibration mode is set to ?1, a relation of (|?0??1|)/?0?0.124 is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventors: Akinori Yamada, Shuhei Yoshida
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Publication number: 20140292432Abstract: A resonator includes: a resonator element including a base portion, and a pair of vibrating arms which are integrally provided with the base portion, extend in a first direction from the base portion, and are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a base which supports the resonator element; and a fixing portion which fixes the resonator element with respect to the base, and the resonator element is configured so as to satisfy conditions shown by the following formula (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20140292431Abstract: A resonator element includes a quartz crystal substrate having a base, a pair of vibration arms extending from the base, and a support arm located between the vibration arms and extending from the base in the direction in which the vibration arms extend. Each of the vibration arms has an arm portion and a hammer head provided at the front end of the arm portion. The arm portion has a pair of principal surfaces and a groove that has a bottom and opens through each of the principal surfaces. In the invention, the width of each of bank-shaped portions of each of the principal surfaces that are disposed side by side on opposite sides of the groove along the width direction of the vibration arm perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof is set at 6 ?m or smaller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Patent number: 8847694Abstract: A quartz crystal vibrator element having the weight section is provided with the intermediate weight section formed to have an arm width W1 larger (thicker) than the arm width W of the vibrating arm section and smaller (thinner) than the arm width W2 of the tip weight section, thereby making the intermediate weight section follow the vibration (the amplitude) of the vibrating arm section. Further, the tip weight section formed to have an arm width W2 larger (thicker) than the arm width W1 of the intermediate weight section is provided, thereby making the tip weight section follow the vibration (the amplitude) of the vibrating arm section and the intermediate weight section. Therefore, the vibration characteristics of the vibrating arm section can be stabilized.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Hideo Tanaya
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Patent number: 8847708Abstract: A MEMS vibrator according to the invention includes: a first electrode fixed to a surface of a substrate; and a second electrode having a beam portion including a second face facing a first face of the first electrode, and a supporting portion supporting the beam portion and fixed to the surface of the substrate. The beam portion has a first portion whose length in a normal direction of the first face of the beam portion monotonically decreases toward a tip of the beam portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Ryuji Kihara
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Patent number: 8836440Abstract: Doubly-clamped nanowire electromechanical resonators that can be used to generate parametric oscillations and feedback self-sustained oscillations. The nanowire electromechanical resonators can be made using conventional NEMS and CMOS fabrication methods. In very thin nanowire structures (sub-micron-meter in width), additive piezoresistance patterning and fabrication can be highly difficult and thus need to be avoided. This invention shows that, in piezoresistive nanowires with homogeneous material composition and symmetric structures, no conventional and additive piezoresistance loops are needed. Using AC and DC drive signals, and bias signals of controlled frequency and amplitude, output signals having a variety of frequencies can be obtained. Various examples of such resonators and their theory of operation are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Philip X.-L. Feng, Luis Guillermo Villanueva, Michael L. Roukes
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Publication number: 20140253253Abstract: A resonator element includes a piezoelectric substrate that includes a vibration portion, and a thick portion which is integrally formed with an outer edge excluding a partial outer edge in an outer edge of the vibration portion and which is thicker than the vibration portion, and a pair of excitation electrodes that are respectively provided on a first main surface and a second main surface of a vibration region which are in front and rear relationships. In addition, the piezoelectric substrate includes first and second beam portions that are provided along a fourth side of the vibration portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventors: Masayuki KIKUSHIMA, Masako TANAKA, Naohisa OBATA, Yukihiro UNNO
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Publication number: 20140253254Abstract: A resonator element includes: at least one resonating arm extending, wherein the resonating arm has a mechanical resonance frequency which is higher than a thermal relaxation frequency thereof, the resonating arm has a groove portion, the groove portion includes a bottom portion, a first side surface that extends along the longitudinal direction of the resonating arm and comes into contact with the opened principal surface and the bottom portion, and a second side surface that faces the first side surface with the bottom portion disposed therebetween and comes into contact with the opened principal surface and the bottom portion, and the groove portion has a non-electrode region which extends from a part of the first side surface close to the bottom portion to a part of the second side surface close to the bottom portion and in which no electrode is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Akinori YAMADA
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Publication number: 20140251010Abstract: In a quartz crystal unit, the unit comprising a quartz crystal resonator having an overall length less than 2.1 mm, and a base portion, and first and second vibrational arms, at least one groove being formed in 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 greater than or equal to a distance in the width direction of the at least one groove measured from an outer edge of the at least one groove to an outer edge of the corresponding one of the first and second vibrational arms and less than 0.07 mm, at least one metal film for adjusting an oscillation frequency of the quartz crystal resonator being disposed on at least one of the opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: PIEDEK TECHNICAL LABORATORYInventor: Hirofumi KAWASHIMA
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Publication number: 20140254328Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes: a pair of vibrating arm sections which are disposed at a distance away from each other in a width direction of a base section; the base section to which each base end of the pair of vibrating arm sections is connected; and a support arm section that is connected to the base section between the pair of vibrating arm sections and extends from the base section to the same side as the pair of vibrating arm sections, in which convex sections are formed continuous with side surfaces of roots of the vibrating arm sections and side surfaces of the base section.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: SII Crystal Technology Inc.Inventor: Masanori TAMURA
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Patent number: 8810327Abstract: A vibrating member includes a base portion, a plurality of vibrating arms which extend from one end portion of the base portion, are provided in parallel in a first direction, and extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a linking portion which is provided between the base end portions of two adjacent vibrating arms and extends from the other end portion of the base portion, and a support portion which is connected to the base portion through the linking portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akinori Yamada
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Patent number: 8803626Abstract: A piezoelectric vibration reed includes a pair of vibrating arm portions arranged in parallel to each other and a base portion. The base portion is integrally coupled to proximal ends of the pair of the vibrating arm portions in a longitudinal direction that the vibrating arm portions extend. The base portion includes a connecting portion, a mount portion, and a narrow portion between the connecting portion and the mount portion. The base portion further includes a pair of notched portions notched respectively inwardly from both sides of the base portion in the width direction and ribs projecting outwardly in the width direction of the base portion and arranged in the interiors of the notched portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.Inventor: Daishi Arimatsu
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Publication number: 20140202245Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Katsuo ISHIKAWA, Akitoshi HARA
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Publication number: 20140203883Abstract: A resonator includes a ring-shaped or disk-shaped resonator main body, a supporting joist, and a securing portion. The supporting joist extends from the resonator main body to support the resonator main body. The securing portion is formed at a distal end of the supporting joist and the securing portion is secured to a base material. The securing portion includes a first rod-shaped portion and a second rod-shaped portion. The first rod-shaped portion is formed in a first direction. The second rod-shaped portion is formed in a second direction different from the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: TAKAHIRO OHTSUKA, MAKIKO NAKAMURA, NORITOSHI KIMURA
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Publication number: 20140182361Abstract: A sensor for detecting analytes, a method of making the sensor, and a method of using the sensor. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises at least one array comprising a plurality of resonators. The resonators can be arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and can be connected in a combined series-parallel configuration. The resonators can be adapted to vibrate independently at about the same resonance frequency and about the same phase. The sensor can also comprise an actuator and a signal detector electrically coupled to the array. The sensor can also further comprise an analyte delivery system and can be functionalized for detection of at least one analyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Igor Bargatin, John Sequoyah Aldridge, Edward Myers, Michael L. Roukes
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Patent number: 8760234Abstract: A MEMS vibrator includes: a substrate; a first electrode disposed above the substrate; and a second electrode disposed in a state where at least one portion of the second electrode has a space between the first electrode and the second electrode, and having a beam portion capable of vibrating, in the thickness direction of the substrate, with electrostatic force and a supporting portion supporting one edge of the beam portion and disposed above the substrate, wherein a supporting side face of the supporting portion supporting the one edge has a bending portion which bends in plan view from the thickness direction of the substrate, and the one edge is supported by the supporting side face including the bending portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Shogo Inaba