With Significant Electrode Or Terminal Feature Patents (Class 361/278)
  • Patent number: 9355783
    Abstract: A variable capacitance device that operates properly at a point along a signal line through which a high-voltage RF signal passes while reducing a necessary DC voltage includes a substrate, a beam, and lower drive electrodes. The beam is connected to the substrate through a support portion. Lower drive electrodes and the beam generate a capacitance when a DC voltage is applied, and an electrostatic force due to this capacitance deforms the beam. The lower drive electrodes face the beam and are coupled to each other through the beam. An RF signal propagates between the lower drive electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichi Umeda, Teruhisa Shibahara, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9344061
    Abstract: A new type of variable coaxial, low frequency capacitor uses two cylindrical blocks, which are interdigitally insertable into each-other to create an adjustable capacitance. Each block is made using a conductive (aluminum, brass or copper) strip which is mounted vertically on a conductive basis and is wound in spiral form around a center axis. The blocks are guided coaxially into each-other and the relative orientation angle allows approaching the surfaces of the conductive strips from a maximum distance, which is half the width of the spiral gap, to full galvanic contact. The block penetration is motor controlled and a cascade of three or four such capacitors and associated lengths of coaxial cable is used to make wideband impedance tuners operating in the low MHz frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Patent number: 9305497
    Abstract: Display elements of a display array include at least one fixed layer and a movable layer. The movable layer is positioned with respect to the at least one fixed layer by placing a charge on the movable layer and applying a voltage to the at least one fixed layer. The at least one fixed layer may be two layers positioned on either side of the movable layer. The movable layer may be positioned in a desired position when driving an array of display elements by executing a reset stage, a charging stage, and a bias stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hyeong Seo, Alok Govil, Ming-Hau Tung, Russel A. Martin
  • Patent number: 9240282
    Abstract: A variable capacitor includes a plurality of variable capacitor elements connected in parallel with one another, the variable capacitor elements each including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode facing each other, a beam supporting the movable electrode displaceably, and a drive electrode supplied with a drive voltage to change spacing between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode. The variable capacitor further includes a drive control unit configured to sequentially apply an AC drive voltage to the drive electrodes of the variable capacitor elements with a predetermined phase difference for each element. The sum of capacitances of the variable capacitor elements is an output capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Murata
  • Patent number: 9221672
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a base member; a conductive film including a first end portion and a second end portion fixed to the base member, the conductive film being movable in a lateral direction of the base member between the first end portion and the second end portion; a first driving electrode, which is provided in the base member at a position opposed to a first main surface of the conductive film, and to which a first driving voltage is applied; a second driving electrode, which is provided in the base member at a position opposed to a second main surface of the conductive film, and to which a second driving voltage is applied; and a terminal provided in the base member at a position where the terminal enables to come into contact with the second main surface of the conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeaki Shimanouchi, Osamu Toyoda, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9094027
    Abstract: In an example, a driver for a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) device can include a first input configured to receive a first command signal including an oscillatory command signal, a second input configured to receive a second command signal including a bias command signal, and an amplifier configured to receive a high voltage supply, to provide, to the MEMS device, a closed-loop output signal responsive to both the first command signal and the second command signal in a first state, and to provide an open loop output signal configured to substantially span a voltage range of the high voltage supply in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Hai Tao, Ion Opris
  • Patent number: 9041491
    Abstract: To provide a capacitive device capable of accurately securing a capacitance value, a variable capacitive device capable of sufficiently securing a capacity variability rate, and a resonance circuit that uses the capacitive devices. A capacitive device includes a capacitive device body constituted of a dielectric layer and at least a pair of capacitive device electrodes that sandwich the dielectric layer and cause a desired electric field in the dielectric layer; and stress adjustment portions to adjust a stress caused in the dielectric layer of the capacitive device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noritaka Sato, Masayoshi Kanno, Masakazu Yajima
  • Patent number: 9019687
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to the use of current splitting and routing techniques to distribute current uniformly among the various layers of a device to achieve a high Q-factor. Such current splitting can allow the use of relatively narrow interconnects and feeds while maintaining a high Q. Specifically, for example a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device can comprise a metal layer comprising a first portion and a second portion that is electrically separated from the first portion. A first terminus can be independently connected to each of the first portion and the second portion of the metal layer, wherein the first portion defines a first path between the metal layer and the first terminus, and the second portion defines a second path between the metal layer and the first terminus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wispry, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur S. Morris, III, Saravana Natarajan, Dana DeReus
  • Patent number: 9019686
    Abstract: A variable capacitor device is disclosed in which the capacitive tuning ratio and quality factor are increased to very high levels, and in which the capacitance value of the device is tuned and held to a desired value with a high level of accuracy and precision using a laser micromachining tuning process on suitably designed and fabricated capacitor devices. The tuning of the variable capacitor devices can be performed open-loop or closed-loop, depending on the precision of the eventual capacitor value needed or desired. Furthermore, the tuning to a pre-determined value can be performed before the variable capacitor device is connected to a circuit, or alternatively, the tuning to a desired value can be performed after the variable capacitor device has been connected into a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Corporation for National Research Initiatives
    Inventors: Michael A. Huff, Mehmet Ozgur
  • Patent number: 9013857
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method include forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor including a first electrode and a second electrode and an insulator layer between the first and second electrodes, the MIM capacitor also including a reactive layer; and altering the reactive layer to change a capacitive value of the MIM capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8988849
    Abstract: A varactor includes a first PTC region, which comprises a ceramic material with a positive temperature coefficient with respect to the resistance. The varactor also includes a capacitor region that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first PTC region and the capacitor region are connected thermally conductively to one another. The capacitance of the capacitor region can be changed by applying a bias to the first PTC region, the capacitor region or to the first PTC region and the capacitor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventor: Andrea Testino
  • Patent number: 8973250
    Abstract: Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The method of forming a MEMS structure includes forming a wiring layer on a substrate comprising actuator electrodes and a contact electrode. The method further includes forming a MEMS beam above the wiring layer. The method further includes forming at least one spring attached to at least one end of the MEMS beam. The method further includes forming an array of mini-bumps between the wiring layer and the MEMS beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher V. Jahnes, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8953299
    Abstract: An embodiment of a tunable capacitor can include a plurality of capacitors connected in series where at least two capacitors of the plurality of capacitors share a common electrode where the at least two capacitors are in lateral proximity and a bias that is capable of being applied to the at least two capacitors whereby the at least two capacitors vibrate in opposite phase to each other when the bias and an RF signal is applied to the at least two capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: James Oakes, James Martin, Andrey Kozyrev, Alexandr Prudan
  • Patent number: 8947852
    Abstract: An improved electronic component is described. The electronic component has a capacitor with first planer internal electrodes in electrical contact with a first termination and second planer internal electrodes in electrical contact with a second termination. A dielectric is between the first planer electrodes and the second planer internal electrodes. The electronic component further comprises at least one of: an inductor comprising a conductive trace wherein said conductive trace is between the first termination and a third termination; and an overvoltage protection component comprising: a third internal electrode contained within the dielectric and wherein the third internal electrode is electrically connected to the first termination; a fourth internal electrode contained within the ceramic and electrically connected to a fourth termination; and a gap between the third internal electrode and the fourth internal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kemet Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lonnie G. Jones, John Bultitude, Mark R. Laps, James R. Magee, Jeffrey W. Bell
  • Publication number: 20150022938
    Abstract: [Theme] To provide a chip capacitor capable of easily and rapidly accommodating a plurality of types of capacitance values using a common design and a method for manufacturing the chip capacitor. [Solution] A chip capacitor 1 includes a substrate 2, a first external electrode 3, a second external electrode 4, capacitor elements C1 to C19, and fuses F1 to F9 disposed on the substrate 2. The capacitor elements C1 to C19 respectively include a first electrode film 11, a first capacitance film 12 on the first electrode film 11, a second electrode film 13 disposed on the first capacitance film 12 and facing the first electrode film 11, a second capacitance film 17 on the second electrode film 13, and a third electrode film 16 disposed on the second capacitance film 17 and facing the second electrode film 13 and are connected between the first external electrode 3 and the second external electrode 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okada, Yasuhiro Fuwa
  • Publication number: 20150022281
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising reducing the losses due to electro-mechanical coupling and improving Q in a multilayered capacitor by placing a first capacitor layer adjacent at least one additional capacitor layer and sharing a common electrode in between the two such that the acoustic vibration of the first layer is coupled to an anti-phase acoustic vibration of the at least one additional layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: James Oakes, James Martin, Andery Kozyrev, Alexandr Prudan
  • Publication number: 20150016012
    Abstract: A capacitor provides a plurality of selectable capacitance values, by selective connection of six capacitor sections of a capacitive element each having a capacitance value. The capacitor sections are provided in a plurality of wound cylindrical capacitive elements. Two vertically stacked wound cylindrical capacitance elements may each provide three capacitor sections. There may be six separately wound cylindrical capacitive elements each providing a capacitor section. The capacitor sections have a common element terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Robert M. Stockman
  • Publication number: 20150009603
    Abstract: A variable vacuum capacitor includes two pairs of electrodes ganged together in series such that no moving parts are required to connect electrically to any static pans. Two sets, or gangs, of movable electrodes are connected mechanically and electrically together such that they move together and such that they require no electrical connection to any other part of the device. The ganged arrangement means that the device can be constructed with a smaller diameter, but without significantly increasing the overall length of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: COMET AG
    Inventors: Mike Abrecht, Roger Tanner, Mark Joachim Mildner, Philipp Jäggi, Walter Bigler
  • Publication number: 20140368965
    Abstract: [Subject] To provide a highly-reliable and small-size chip component, e.g., a chip resistor having an accurate resistance value. [Solution] The chip resistor (10) includes: a substrate (11); a plurality of resistor elements each having a resistive film portion (20) provided on the substrate (11) and an aluminum-containing interconnection film portion (21) provided in contact with the resistive film portion (20); electrodes (12, 13) provided on the substrate (11); and a plurality of fuses (F) each having an aluminum-containing interconnection film portion integral with the aluminum-containing interconnection film portion of the resistor element and disconnectably connecting the resistor element to the electrodes (12, 13). [Effect] The resistance of the chip resistor can be adjusted at a desired resistance value by selectively disconnecting desired ones of the fuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kondo, Hiroshi Tamagawa, Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8895882
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate and sensing units. Each sensing unit includes an electrode line, first electrode patterns, second electrode patterns and connecting lines. The electrode line extends along a second direction and has first openings arranged along the second direction and first breaches corresponding to the first openings. Each first breach connects the corresponding first opening and the exterior of the electrode line. The first electrode patterns are respectively disposed in the first openings. Each first electrode pattern has a second opening and a second breach connecting the second opening and the exterior of first electrode pattern. The second electrode patterns are respectively disposed in the second openings and respectively connected with the electrode line through the second breaches. The connecting lines are disposed on at least one side of the electrode line and connected with the corresponding first electrode pattern through the first breach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Pi-Lin Lo, Yen-Cheng Lin, Yi-Fan Hsueh, Te-Mu Chen
  • Publication number: 20140340814
    Abstract: In a MEMS device, the manner in which the membrane lands over the RF electrode can affect device performance. Bumps or stoppers placed over the RF electrode can be used to control the landing of the membrane and thus, the capacitance of the MEMS device. The shape and location of the bumps or stoppers can be tailored to ensure proper landing of the membrane, even when over-voltage is applied. Additionally, bumps or stoppers may be applied on the membrane itself to control the landing of the membrane on the roof or top electrode of the MEMS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CAVENDISH KINETICS, INC.
    Inventors: Robertus Petrus Van Kampen, Anartz Unamuno, Richard L. Knipe, Vikram Joshi, Roberto Gaddi, Toshiyuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 8891222
    Abstract: A capacitive transducer (1) comprises a polymer film (2) having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrically conductive layer (3) arranged on the first surface of the polymer film (2), and a second electrically conductive layer (3) arranged on the second surface of the polymer film (2). The polymer film (2) is at least partly made from a material having a molecular weight which is at least 21,000 g/mol. The inventors have surprisingly found that silicone polymer materials with high molecular weights, such as liquid silicone rubbers (LSR) or high temperature vulcanizing (HTV) elastomers, have high electrical breakdown strengths, even though technical data sheets from manufacturers state almost identical electrical breakdown strengths similar to that of RTV-2 elastomers. Using such materials in capacitive transducers allows high electrical fields to be applied to transducers without risking electrical breakdown, thereby increasing performance of transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Mohamed Yahia Benslimane
  • Publication number: 20140247534
    Abstract: There is provide an electrostatic capacitance element including a dielectric layer, a capacitance element body configured to include at least a pair of internal electrodes formed with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and an external terminal configured to be formed on a side surface of the capacitance element body and electrically connected to the internal electrode. Further, stress occurring due to a difference in a linear expansion coefficient between the dielectric layer and the internal electrode is concentrated on a center of a capacitor configured with the dielectric layer and the pair of internal electrodes between which the dielectric layer is interposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noritaka Sato, Masayoshi Kanno
  • Patent number: 8804300
    Abstract: A pump having: a cavity formed inside an insulating substrate, the upper part of the substrate being situated near the cavity having an edge; a conductive layer covering the inside of the cavity up to the edge and optionally covering the edge itself; a flexible membrane made of a conductive material placed above the cavity and resting against the edge; a dielectric layer covering the conductive layer or the membrane whereby insulating the portions of the conductive layer and of the membrane that are near one another; at least one aeration line formed in the insulating substrate that opens into the cavity via an opening in the conductive layer, and; terminals for applying a voltage between the conductive layer and the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Guillaume Bouche
  • Publication number: 20140218839
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a variable capacitor for RF and microwave applications. The variable capacitor includes a bond pad that has a plurality of cells electrically coupled thereto. Each of the plurality of cells has a plurality of MEMS devices therein. The MEMS devices share a common RF electrode, one or more ground electrodes and one or more control electrodes. The RF electrode, ground electrodes and control electrodes are all arranged parallel to each other within the cells. The RF electrode is electrically connected to the one or more bond pads using a different level of electrical routing metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: CAVENDISH KINETICS INC.
    Inventors: Roberto Gaddi, Robertus Petrus Van Kampen, Richard L. Knipe, Anartz Unamuno
  • Patent number: 8755166
    Abstract: A vacuum capacitor includes a fixed electrode, a movable electrode, a movable electrode shaft, a magnetic flux receiving unit, a magnetic flux generating unit and a capacitance control unit. The fixed electrode is formed from a plurality of electrode members in a vacuum casing. The movable electrode is formed from a plurality of electrode members arranged in gaps formed between the electrode members of the fixed electrode in the vacuum casing. The movable electrode shaft supports the movable electrode. Capacitance appearing between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode is varied by rotation of the movable electrode shaft. The magnetic flux receiving unit rotates the movable electrode shaft in the vacuum casing. The magnetic flux generating unit is located outside the vacuum casing and rotates the magnetic flux receiving unit by magnetic attraction. The capacitance control unit rotates the magnetic flux generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Takahashi, Toshimasa Fukai, Toshinori Tatsumi, Yuichi Nishikiori, Kaoru Kitakizaki, Toru Tanimizu
  • Patent number: 8749947
    Abstract: The present invention can easily adjust capacitance of a vacuum capacitor while maintaining a vacuum state in a vacuum chamber of the vacuum capacitor. A fixed electrode 4 is formed by arranging a plurality of flat electrode members 5 in layers at a certain distance in an axial direction of a vacuum chamber 1b. A movable electrode 7 is formed by arranging a plurality of flat electrode members 8 in layers at a certain distance in the axial direction of the vacuum chamber 1b and fixing the electrode members 8 to a movable electrode shaft 9. By rotation of the movable electrode shaft 9, each electrode member 8 is inserted into and extracted from a gap between the electrode members 5 of the fixed electrode 4 in noncontact with the electrode members 5 of the fixed electrode 4. A magnetic flux receiving portion 106b is fixed to a seal member 102 side of a disk member 106a that is provided at the movable electrode shaft 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Takahashi, Toshimasa Fukai, Toshinori Tatsumi, Yuichi Nishikiori, Kaoru Kitakizaki
  • Patent number: 8749946
    Abstract: A vacuum capacitor includes a fixed electrode, a movable electrode, a movable electrode shaft, a magnetic flux receiving unit, a magnetic flux generating unit and a capacitance control unit. A plurality of electrode members in a vacuum casing form the fixed electrode. The fixed electrode is divided into a plurality of fixed electrodes, and each fixed electrode is lead outside the vacuum casing and electrically connected to each other in series. A plurality of electrode members arranged in gaps between the electrode members of the fixed electrode form the movable electrode. Rotating the movable electrode shaft, which supports the movable electrode, varies capacitance between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode. The magnetic flux receiving unit rotates the movable electrode shaft. The magnetic flux generating unit, located outside the vacuum casing, rotates the magnetic flux receiving unit by magnetic attraction. The capacitance control unit rotates the magnetic flux generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiichi Takahashi, Toshimasa Fukai, Toshinori Tatsumi, Yuichi Nishikiori, Kaoru Kitakizaki, Toru Tanimizu
  • Publication number: 20140125431
    Abstract: A MEMS device includes a substrate, one or more anchors formed on a first surface of the substrate, and a piezoelectric layer suspended over the first surface of the substrate by the one or more anchors. Notably, the piezoelectric layer is a bimorph including a first bimorph layer and a second bimorph layer. A first electrode may be provided on a first surface of the piezoelectric layer facing the first surface of the substrate, such that the first electrode is in contact with the first bimorph layer of the piezoelectric layer. A second electrode may be provided on a second surface of the piezoelectric layer opposite the substrate, such that the second electrode is in contact with the second bimorph layer of the piezoelectric layer. The second electrode may include a first conducting section and a second conducting section, which are inter-digitally dispersed on the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kushal Bhattacharjee
  • Patent number: 8693163
    Abstract: A device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. A capacitor is formed in the substrate and includes a first capacitor plate; a first insulation layer encircling the first capacitor plate; and a second capacitor plate encircling the first insulation layer. Each of the first capacitor plate, the first insulation layer, and the second capacitor plate extends from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: An-Jhih Su, Chi-Chun Hsieh, Tzu-Yu Wang, Wei-Cheng Wu, Hsien-Pin Hu, Shang-Yun Hou, Wen-Chih Chiou, Shin-Puu Jeng
  • Publication number: 20140078640
    Abstract: In a thin film device including a thin film electrode which has a main electrode layer formed of tungsten, a thin film electrode having a low resistivity is realized. There is provided a thin film device including a thin film electrode that has an underlayer and a main electrode layer formed on the underlayer. The underlayer is formed of a titanium-tungsten alloy having a crystalline structure with a wavy-like surface morphology, and the main electrode layer is formed of tungsten having a crystalline structure with a wavy-like surface morphology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiichi UMEDA
  • Patent number: 8675343
    Abstract: There are provided a conductive paste for an external electrode, a multilayered ceramic electronic component using the same, and a fabrication method thereof. The conductive paste for external electrode includes: a conductive metal; and a conductive amorphous metal including a (Cu, Ni)-bZr-c(Al, Sn) that satisfies conditions of a+b+c=100, 20?a?60, 20?b?60, and 2?c?25. A degradation of connectivity between external electrodes and internal electrodes and defective plating due to a glass detachment may be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Jun Park, Sung Bum Sohn, Hyun Hee Gu, Chang Hoon Kim, Sang Hoon Kwon
  • Patent number: 8665579
    Abstract: There is proved a variable capacitor that includes a substrate, a signal line disposed on a surface of the substrate for feeding a signal, a ground electrode disposed on the surface, and a movable electrode opposed the signal line and the ground electrode, the movable electrode operable to move toward and away from the signal line and the ground electrode. The movable electrode can be displaced by an electrostatic attraction between the movable electrode and the signal line and between the movable electrode and the signal line. An amount of displacement of the movable electrode varies according to an amount of the voltage which generates the electrostatic attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeaki Shimanouchi, Masahiko Imai, Xiaoyu Mi, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8659868
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a variable capacitor and its driving method, the variable capacitor including, a movable first electrode; and a second electrode formed with an insulating film, fixed in place, and its insulating film contacting the first electrode that is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Kim, Dong Chan Park, Ju Young Song, Sang Hun Lee, Sung Bae Cho, Hyun Ho Yang, Jun Bo Yoon, Dong Hun Choi, Chang Hun Han
  • Patent number: 8638541
    Abstract: An input device includes a movable electrode and a capacitance detection electrode provided on the upper and lower sides of the resin film substrate, respectively. The movable electrode includes a moving section, and an immobile section. The moving section includes a protrusion. The end of the protrusion comes in contact with the upper side of the resin film substrate in an initial state, or is bonded to the upper side of the resin film substrate. The protrusion has a curved shape so that the side surface of the protrusion is depressed relative to a straight line that connects the end and the base of the protrusion having an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, or at least one step is formed on the side surface of the protrusion, and the width of the protrusion increases stepwise from the end to the base of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Oga, Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Mizushima
  • Patent number: 8627566
    Abstract: A ceramic header configured to form a portion of an electronic device package includes a mounting portion configured to provide a mounting surface for an electronic device. In addition, the ceramic header includes one or more conductive input-output connectors operable to provide electrical connections from a first surface of the ceramic header to a second surface of the ceramic header. The ceramic header also includes one or more thermally polished surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Moody K. Forgey, Mark A. Kressley
  • Patent number: 8619409
    Abstract: An electrochemical device, e.g., an electric double layer capacitor, is applicable to high-temperature reflow soldering wherein a lead-free solder is used, and is provided with an electric storage element, a package having the electric storage element sealed therein, and a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, each of which is led out from the electric storage element and is provided with a part sealed in the package with the electric storage element and other part led out to the outside the package. On a part of the positive electrode terminal and on a part of the negative electrode terminal, increased thermal resistance sections for suppressing heat transfer to the electric storage element via the terminals from other parts of the positive electrode terminal and other parts of the negative electrode terminal are arranged, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushi Yawata, Naoto Hagiwara, Katsuei Ishida
  • Publication number: 20130329335
    Abstract: A capacitor is provided, which allows a user to readily change or adjust its capacitance value. The capacitor includes a dielectric film, which includes first and second conductor layers disposed on opposite surfaces thereof, and which is wound into a rod shape. First and second electrodes are led out from the first and second conductor layers, respectively. At least one of the first and second conductor layers includes an area-changeable conductor pattern, which is disposed (e.g., exposed) on an outer circumference side of the capacitor wound into the rod shape to receive physical treatment (e.g., cutting, connecting) from outside to thereby change the size of a conductor area of the at least one of the first and second conductor layers. Thus, the physical treatment changes the conductor area of the conductor layers, to thereby selectively set or adjust the capacitance value of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Obata
  • Publication number: 20130328735
    Abstract: A variable capacitance capacitor element according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a supporting substrate; a first electrode layer provided on the supporting substrate; a second electrode layer provided opposite to the first electrode layer; and a dielectric layer positioned between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. In accordance with an aspect, a main component of the dielectric layer is represented by a composition formula Ba1-xSrxTiO3 (0.5?x?0.8), and the first thin film dielectric layer has a thickness of 200 nm or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiki Ishii, Tomokazu Ikenaga, Kentaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8549917
    Abstract: An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with a driving mass, anchored to a substrate via elastic anchorage elements and designed to be actuated in a plane with a driving movement; and a first sensing mass and a second sensing mass, suspended within, and coupled to, the driving mass via respective elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in said driving movement and to perform a respective detection movement in response to an angular velocity. In particular, the first and the second sensing masses are connected together via elastic coupling elements, configured to couple their modes of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Gabriele Cazzaniga, Luca Coronato, Giacomo Calcaterra
  • Publication number: 20130241665
    Abstract: Disclosed is an impedance matching device. Variable devices of the impedance matching device installed in a mobile terminal, such as a portable terminal, are configured to have a MEMS structure. The MEMS structure and other components are integrated as one package, so the manufacturing cost is reduced and the manufacturing efficiency is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Wook Kim
  • Publication number: 20130201599
    Abstract: A variable capacitance device that achieves a desired capacitance even when factors causing varied capacitances are generated is configured such that a capacitance detection pulse signal is applied from a capacitance detection signal generation unit to a driving capacitor and a reference capacitor of a MEMS mechanical unit. The device voltage of the driving capacitor based on the capacitance detection signal and a driving voltage is applied to the inverting input terminal of a comparator. The device voltage of the reference capacitor based on the capacitance detection signal and the driving voltage is applied to the non-inverting input terminal of the comparator. The comparator generates a comparison output signal including “Hi” and “Low” values from the difference between these device voltages, and applies the output signal to a driving voltage generation unit. The driving voltage generation unit increases or decreases the driving voltage based on the comparison output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira KUMADA, Teruhisa SHIBAHARA, Kenji TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20130194713
    Abstract: A rotary capacitor which changes electrostatic capacity by changing a mutually opposite area of a pair of electrodes which opposes each other, includes a rotary shaft which can rotate around a central axis, wherein the pair of electrodes includes a first electrode plate which protrudes from a circumferential surface of the rotary shaft, and a second electrode plate which may be separated in a direction along the central axis with respect to the first electrode plate and may be disposed so as to oppose the first electrode plate, and a notch which penetrates in a plate thickness direction may be formed on an edge portion of the first electrode plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130194649
    Abstract: A cantilever type of electrostatic vertical combdrive actuators may generate larger actuator displacement (typically over 70 um) with a relatively small and simple structure. The actuation voltage is lower while the actuation movement is robust without any typical sideway finger snapping phenomena due to a cantilever type of structure. Because of its small form factor, it can form a high fill factor array in applications such as lower power consumption display devices, sensitive electromagnetic radiation detector/detector arrays, etc. The MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) electrostatic rotational actuators may have wide applications such as in optical shutter, optical chopper, optical switches, optical attenuators, optical tunable filter, RF shunt switch, RF ohmic contact switch, RF MEMS variable capacitors, MEMS display and sensitive electromagnetic radiation detector etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Tiansheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8498094
    Abstract: A novel semiconductor variable capacitor is presented. The semiconductor structure is simple and is based on a semiconductor variable MOS capacitor structure suitable for integrated circuits, which has at least three terminals, one of which is used to modulate the equivalent capacitor area of the MOS structure by increasing or decreasing its DC voltage with respect to another terminal of the device, in order to change the capacitance over a wide ranges of values. Furthermore, the present invention decouples the AC signal and the DC control voltage avoiding distortion and increasing the performance of the device, such as its control characteristic. The present invention is simple and only slightly dependent on the variations due to the fabrication process. It exhibits a high value of capacitance density and, if opportunely implemented, shows a linear dependence of the capacitance value with respect to the voltage of its control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: ETA Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Fabio Alessio Marino, Paolo Menegoli
  • Publication number: 20130135785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a MEMS variable capacitor, the capacitor including a first electrode, a second electrode that is floated on an upper surface of the first electrode, and a third electrode capable of variably-adjusting a capacitance value by adjusting a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicants: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Wook Kim, Dong Chan Park, Ju Young Song, Sang Hun Lee, Sung Bae Cho, Hyun Ho Yang, Jun Bo Yoon, Dong Hun Choi, Chang Hun Han
  • Patent number: 8434211
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a measuring apparatus for capacitive determining and/or monitoring of at least the fill level of a medium. The measuring apparatus has a probe unit and an electronics unit. During a measurement, the electronics unit supplies the probe unit with an exciter signal and receives from the probe unit a received signal, from which the electronics unit ascertains a capacitance value. The probe unit is coated with an insulation layer, the coated probe unit is connected with the electronics unit and inserted into a container containing a calibration medium, the coated probe unit is covered completely by the calibration medium and an associated received signal is gained, and, with the associated received signal, at least one adjustable component of the electronics unit is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Dreyer, Armin Wernet
  • Patent number: 8429809
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mirror device is presented. The method includes forming a mirror from a first substrate and forming a hinge/support structure from a second substrate. The hinge/support structure is formed with a recessed region and a torsional hinge region. The mirror is attached to the hinge/support structure at the recessed region. Further, a driver system is employed to cause the mirror to pivot about the torsional hinge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: John W. Orcutt
  • Patent number: 8400752
    Abstract: An embodiment of a tunable capacitor can include a plurality of capacitors connected in series where at least two capacitors of the plurality of capacitors share a common electrode where the at least two capacitors are in lateral proximity and a bias that is capable of being applied to the at least two capacitors whereby the at least two capacitors vibrate in opposite phase to each other when the bias and an RF signal is applied to the at least two capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion RF, Inc.
    Inventors: James Oakes, James Martin
  • Patent number: 8385045
    Abstract: A variable capacitor and a control method thereof capable of responding to applications of electronic apparatuses including various electronic devices and communication mobile devices. The variable capacitor includes a pair of electrodes formed so as to sandwich a ferroelectric material layer, in which polarization processing higher than a coercive field in hysteresis characteristics of polarization has been performed to the ferroelectric material layer, and the capacitance can be varied in accordance with a control voltage applied to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Habu, Masayoshi Kanno, Toshiaki Yokota, Makoto Watanabe