Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080203851 | PIEZOELECTRIC PACKAGE WITH POROUS CONDUCTIVE LAYERS - A piezoelectric package comprises a piezoelectric plate having a first planar surface and a second planar surface that are electrically isolated from each other. The piezoelectric package further comprises a first electrically conductive layer electrically coupled to the first planar surface, and a second electrically conductive layer electrically coupled to the second planar surface. The piezoelectric package further comprises a first electrically insulative material (e.g., a rigid fiber composite material) encapsulating the piezoelectric plate and at least portions of the first and second electrically conductive layers. | 08-28-2008 |
20080203852 | Circuit and Method For Analog-Driving a Capacitive Load, in Particular a Piezoelectric Actuator - A circuit for analogously controlling a capacitive charge, has a drive source used to provide an operating voltage or an operating flow used to charge the capacitive charge, a circuit arrangement used to charge and discharge the charge, and a storage capacity used to intermediately store the charge of the charge during the discharge of the charge and to emit intermediately stored charge to the charge during charging of the charge. In a method for analogously controlling a capacitive charge by applying a operational voltage or an operating flow of a drive source in order to charge the capacitive charge onto the charge and to discharge the charge, during a first discharge phase, the charge of the charge is intermediately stored in a storage capacity and during a first charging phase, which is used to charge the charge, the charge from the charge capacity is charged in the charge. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211346 | Device for Operating a Piezo Actuator - A first energy control unit has a pilot controller with an applied setpoint energy and outputs a pilot control signal, and a regulator outputting a regulator signal as a function of the setpoint energy and an actual energy of the piezo actuator. The energy control unit creates a control signal representative for a current threshold of a charge current, depending on the pilot control and regulator signals. Furthermore, there is a second energy control unit for another setpoint energy and another control signal. A power output stage sets a charge current for the piezo actuator as a function of the predetermined control signal and performs this for the predetermined time. A scheduling unit predetermines, for setting the setpoint energy, the control signal and the time to the power output stage, and for setting the another setpoint energy, the another control signal and the time to the another power output stage. | 09-04-2008 |
20080238248 | MULTI-LAYER PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATORS WITH CONDUCTIVE POLYMER ELECTRODES - A multi-layer piezoelectric actuator with conductive polymer electrodes is described. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a stack of alternating conductive electrode layers and piezoelectric layers. The conductive electrode layers are comprised of a polymeric electrically conductive material. A device for cooling by forced-air convection may comprise the piezoelectric actuator, a fan blade and an alternating current supply. The piezoelectric actuator coupled with the fan blade and the alternating current supply, which is provided for vibrating the fan blade. A method of cooling by forced-air convection comprises supplying an alternating current to the piezoelectric actuator, wherein the alternating current has a frequency and causes the fan blade to vibrate with the same frequency. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238249 | PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR AND PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM - A piezoelectric motor includes: a plurality of piezoelectric units, respectively in contact with a driven target, disposed separately from each other, and configured to drive the driven target; and a magnet configured to apply a preload force to each of the plurality of piezoelectric units by magnetically attracting the driven target in the absence of direct contact with the driven target. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238250 | DRIVING APPARATUS, LENS DRIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A driving apparatus comprises an actuator, the actuator comprising an electromechanical conversion element and a driving shaft attached to the electromechanical conversion element, wherein the driving apparatus expands and contracts the electromechanical conversion element by applying a driving signal to the electromechanical conversion element and reciprocally moves the driving shaft in accordance with expansion and contraction movement of the electromechanical conversion element so as to move a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, and wherein the driving signal is a pulse signal, and half of a time period corresponding to a reciprocal of a lowest resonance frequency in the actuator is set as a shorter output time among a high output time period and a low output time period of the drive signal. | 10-02-2008 |
20080238251 | DRIVING APPARATUS, LENS DRIVING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A driving apparatus comprises an actuator, the actuator comprising an electromechanical conversion element and a driving shaft attached to the electromechanical conversion element, wherein the driving apparatus expands and contracts the electromechanical conversion element by applying a driving signal to the electromechanical conversion element and reciprocally moves the driving shaft in accordance with expansion and contraction movement of the electromechanical conversion element so as to move a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, and wherein the driving signal is a pulse signal, and a time period corresponding to a half wavelength of a damping vibration displacement of a lowest resonance frequency in the actuator is set as a shorter output time among a high output time period and a low output time period of the driving signal. | 10-02-2008 |
20080252172 | ACOUSTIC STACK FOR ULTRASONIC TRANSUCERS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - An acoustic stack for ultrasonic transducers comprising a backing block, flexible printed circuit board, piezoelectric ceramic layer, and acoustic matching layer. The various components of the acoustic stack are bonded together using an adhesive material and high pressure in a lamination process. The piezoelectric ceramic layer is manufactured to provide electrical and acoustic isolation without the need for dicing through multiple layers of the acoustic stack. A flex circuit provides the necessary electrical connections to the electrically isolated electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic layer. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252173 | Drive unit - It is provided a drive unit | 10-16-2008 |
20080272672 | DRIVE UNIT - A drive unit includes a control unit for controlling an ultrasonic actuator. The control unit performs switching between a normal operation mode in which the piezoelectric element unit vibrates at a frequency close to a resonance frequency of longitudinal vibration in the lengthwise direction of the piezoelectric element unit and a resonance frequency of bending vibration to let the ultrasonic actuator output a driving force and a heating mode in which the piezoelectric element unit vibrates at a frequency close to a resonance frequency of longitudinal vibration in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric element unit to heat the piezoelectric element. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278032 | DRIVE UNIT - A vibratory actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a driver element provided on the piezoelectric element and a movable body supported by the driver element. A control unit supplies a first voltage and a second voltage at the same frequency to the piezoelectric element. By supplying the first voltage and the second voltage having a difference phase from a phase of the first voltage by 90°, the piezoelectric element is lead to composite vibration of stretching and bending, thereby causing the driver to make an elliptical motion by the vibration and move the movable body. The control unit switches, during a fine mode, a phase difference between the first voltage and the second voltage between 90° and 0°. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278033 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT, VIBRATORY ACTUATOR AND DRIVE UNIT - A piezoelectric element is formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrode layers. The internal electrode layers are positive and negative electrode layers. The positive electrode layers are first and second positive electrode layers. The negative electrode layers are first and second negative electrode layers. Each of the first positive and negative electrode layers includes four divided electrodes and a connecting electrode for connecting a pair of the four divided electrodes formed on diagonally opposite two areas along a first diagonal direction on a principle surface of the associated one of the piezoelectric layers. Each of the second positive and negative electrode layers includes four divided electrodes and a connecting electrode for connecting a pair of the four divided electrodes formed on diagonally opposite two areas along a second diagonal direction on a principle surface of the associated one of the piezoelectric layers. | 11-13-2008 |
20080284282 | VIBRATOR MODULE - A vibrator module includes a frame having an outer frame and an inner frame. A vibrator unit is formed inside the inner frame. The frame and the vibrator unit are formed of a piezoelectric ceramic or the like as one piece. On one side of the vibrator unit, an IC is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the IC. The periphery of the IC is filled with a resin material. On the other side of the vibrator unit, a top cover serving as a sealing material is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the top cover. | 11-20-2008 |
20080303380 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element structure ( | 12-11-2008 |
20090001851 | DRIVING APPARATUS, HOLDING APPARATUS, EXPOSURE APPARATUS, AND DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD - The present invention provides a driving apparatus which drives an object, comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements configured to drive a plurality of portions of the object, a plurality of voltage apply units configured to apply voltages to the plurality of piezoelectric elements, and a control unit configured to control the plurality of voltage apply units so that differences among the voltages applied to the plurality of piezoelectric elements do not exceed a predetermined value. | 01-01-2009 |
20090009031 | METHOD OF DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICES - The driving method includes a first drive step of applying a specified drive voltage to a piezoelectric film to drive a piezoelectric device during a first drive period, a standby step of suspending a drive of the piezoelectric device to keep the piezoelectric device on standby during a drive standby period and a second drive step of applying the specified drive voltage to the piezoelectric film to drive the piezoelectric device during a second drive period that follows the first drive period. During the drive standby period between the first drive period and the second drive period, a reverse electric field with respect to a drive electric field formed in the piezoelectric film by the specified drive voltage routinely applied during a drive of the piezoelectric device is applied to the piezoelectric film for a specified period of time. | 01-08-2009 |
20090015096 | Ultrasound system - An ultrasound system for providing megasonics and ultrasonics to a liquid at different frequencies and/or sweeping frequencies with associated generators, transducers, operations between resonance and anti-resonance, non-resistive output with phase shift, multiple/sweep/single frequency modes, individually controlled sections, gate drive power control, variable inductive compensation for temperature changes, parallel inductor matching, stacked ceramics and non-volatile memory storage of fault, error and failure history. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015097 | PIEZOELECTRIC MICRO-PUMP AND DRIVING CIRCUIT THEREOF - The present invention is a driving circuit applied to a piezoelectric activation element, which comprises: a driving period generation unit and a switch circuit unit. The driving period generation unit further comprises: a driving indication signal and a programmable micro-controller, in which the programmable micro-controller is to receive the driving indication signal, and to generate a programmable driving period signal in response to the driving indication signal; and, the switch circuit unit is connected to the driving period generation unit and the piezoelectric activation element, and to receive the driving period signal, and generate an alternate driving voltage in response to the driving period signal; in which, the half-wave leading edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of a parabolic curve waveform, and the half-wave trailing edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of approximately a vertical line waveform, and the alternate driving voltage is connected to the piezoelectric activation element. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015098 | ULTRASONIC ACTUATOR AND MAGNETIC RECORDING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Provided are ultrasonic actuators and magnetic recording apparatuses that are stably equipped with superior driving performance without making the apparatus complex or raising cost. By providing an approximately equilateral triangular shaped vibrating member provided with piezoelectric deformation members that expand and contract upon the application of a driving signal, and a moving member that is in pressure contact with the three vertices of the vibrating member to cause relative movement with respect to the vibrating member. The moving member is caused to move relative to the vibrating member due to elliptical vibrations in the same rotational direction in basically the three vertices of the vibrating member due to a deformation vibration of the piezoelectric deformation parts. | 01-15-2009 |
20090021110 | Method and apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator - Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for differentially driving a piezoelectric actuator ( | 01-22-2009 |
20090021111 | MICROMOTION MECHANISM AND MICROSCOPE APPARATUS HAVING MICROMOTION MECHANISM - A micromotion mechanism includes: a fixing base; a movable element supported by the fixing base and movable thereon; an ultrasonic actuator for relatively moving the movable element and the fixing base; and a control device for outputting a drive signal of the ultrasonic actuator. The drive signals of the ultrasonic actuator during the micromotion drive are two types of burst signals equal in frequency and different in phase, and amplitude of the start and end of each of the two burst signals changes, and the maximum amplitude of at least one of the two burst signals is lower than in the normal driving operation. | 01-22-2009 |
20090045696 | Piezoelectric element driving circuit and pump device - A piezoelectric element driving circuit includes: a transformer; a switch circuit; a reactance element connected in parallel with the piezoelectric element on one of the primary side and the secondary side of the transformer, the reactance element forming a resonant circuit that performs parallel resonance at the driving frequency with a capacitance component in an equivalent circuit of the piezoelectric element and an inductance component of the transformer; a pulse generating circuit for generating a driving pulse for the switch circuit; and a duty ratio controlling circuit for being supplied with the driving pulse, limiting a duty ratio of the driving pulse such that a value of the driving voltage falls within a range equal to or lower than the specification voltage value on the load side, and outputting the driving pulse whose duty ratio is limited to the switch circuit. | 02-19-2009 |
20090085432 | SELF-POLING PIEZOELECTRIC MEMS DEVICE - A self-poling piezoelectric based MEMS device is configured for piezoelectric actuation in response to application of a device operating voltage. The MEMS device comprises a beam, a first electrode disposed on the beam, a layer of piezoelectric material having a self-poling thickness disposed overlying a portion of the first electrode, and a second electrode overlying the layer of piezoelectric material. The layer of piezoelectric material is self-poled in response to application of the device operating voltage across the first and second electrodes. In addition, the self-poled piezoelectric material has a poling direction established according to a polarity orientation of the device operating voltage as applied across the first and second electrodes. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085433 | DRIVE APPARATUS FOR ULTRASONIC MOTOR - A drive apparatus for an ultrasonic motor is provided wherein a diphase alternating drive signal having a predetermined phase difference and a predetermined drive frequency is applied to an ultrasonic vibrator equipped with a driver to be in contact with a driven member, such that longitudinal vibration and bending vibration are simultaneously generated in the ultrasonic vibrator to generate elliptical vibration, and drive force is obtained from the elliptical vibration to drive the driven member by the ultrasonic vibrator. The drive apparatus for the ultrasonic motor includes drive unit for generating the alternating drive signal and applying the alternating drive signal to the vibrator to drive the driven member, and burst drive unit for performing burst drive by applying, to the vibrator, a burst signal to inhibit residual vibration in the driven member after the driving of the driven member by the drive unit has been stopped. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085434 | DRIVE WAVE GENERATION CIRCUIT - To generate a drive wave for driving a piezo-actuator. Drive data concerning the number of drive waves supplied through a serial bus is stored in a drive data storage unit. A comparing circuit detects whether or not the number of drive waves have been generated, the number being specified by the drive data, and the drive wave keeps being generated until such detection is made. | 04-02-2009 |
20090085435 | Liquid transport apparatus, liquid transport head, and piezoelectric actuator - A liquid transport apparatus includes: a channel unit; a piezoelectric actuator which applies a pressure to a liquid in a pressure chamber and which has a first and a second piezoelectric layers, a first, a second, and a third electrodes, the first piezoelectric layer covering the pressure chamber and polarized in a thickness direction, the second piezoelectric layer being joined to a surface of the first piezoelectric layer and polarized in a thickness direction, the first electrode being formed on a surface of the first piezoelectric layer, the second electrode being formed on a surface of the second piezoelectric layer, the third electrode being formed between the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer; a driving mechanism which drives the piezoelectric actuator and which has a potential applying mechanism applying potentials to the first, second, and third electrode respectively, and a controller controlling the potential applying mechanism. | 04-02-2009 |
20090091212 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING AN ULTRASOUND PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A device for driving ultrasound piezoelectric actuators, on the basis of a DC voltage. The device includes an impedance matching branch mounted in parallel with the actuators and including a capacitor in series with a selection switch, which is closed and opened, at the same time as the selection switch of the actuator to be excited, so that the voltage across the terminals of the matching capacitor and the voltage across the terminals of the selected actuator are almost zero before the start and after the end of the injection. A method of controlling the matching switch makes it possible to benefit from the capacitive charge during the pulse train causing the injection, while circumventing abrupt discharges at the start of the train. Such a device and method may find application to the engines of motor vehicles, as one example. | 04-09-2009 |
20090127973 | Sonic fine-hole forming apparatus - Disclosed is a sonic fine-hole forming apparatus for forming a fine-hole in a surface of a membrane or solid body in a liquid by means of sonic energy. The sonic fine-hole forming apparatus is adapted to generate a sonic oscillation driving signal comprises a voltage waveform which has positive and negative voltage portions being asymmetrical, and a sharp peak portion. The sonic fine-hole forming apparatus includes a sonic oscillation section having a surface provided with a covering layer or a protective material having an electrically insulating property and a sonic transparency. The coated layer or a protective material is formed to have a thickness of 10 μm or more. The sonic fine-hole forming apparatus of the present invention can form a fine-hole in a surface of a solid body without using a large-scale apparatus, while suppressing a destructive action around the fine-hole. | 05-21-2009 |
20090127974 | SMALL PIEZOELECTRIC OR ELECTROSTRICTIVE LINEAR MOTOR - A piezoelectric/electrostrictive linear motor is provided. A movable shaft is coupled to a unimorph or bimorph, which is made by attaching a piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate to an elastic body, so that a movable body provided with respect to the movable shaft is linearly moved along the movable shaft by the vibration or movement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate. | 05-21-2009 |
20090146528 | HYBRID CONTROL CIRCUIT - A device for controlling a capacitive charge, in particular a piezoelectric actuator ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090146529 | STARTING-PROCESS CONTROLLER FOR STARTING A PIEZOMOTOR - A starting-process controller for starting a piezomotor, having a voltage-controlled oscillator, a power output stage, and a resonant converter. The oscillator generates the control signals required for the power output stage and the resonance converter converts the stepped output voltage from the power output stage into a sinusoidal voltage at the output. The resonance converter drives the piezomotor with the voltage. The motor current that flows when the piezomotor is driven is measured and compared with the phase of the drive voltage in a phase comparator. The comparison output signal is a measure of the phase difference at the time between current and voltage. A phase-locked loop filter smoothes the phase-difference signal for controling the oscillator. The controller includes a start-assisting circuit element that fixes the output voltage from the phase-locked loop filter at start-up and thus applies a constant voltage to the input of the voltage-controlled oscillator. | 06-11-2009 |
20090152984 | Piezoelectric actuator control circuit, image stabilization control circuit, and imaging device - In a control circuit for servo control of a piezoelectric actuator, it is possible to efficiently move a movement object toward a target position in each servo control cycle. A pulse generation circuit ( | 06-18-2009 |
20090152985 | Image stabilization control circuit, imaging device, and piezoelectric actuator drive circuit - In a drive circuit for a piezoelectric actuator, it is possible to move a movement object to a target position rapidly and with good precision. Parameters for two types of drive pulses (PL | 06-18-2009 |
20090160291 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezoelectric actuator includes: a vibrator that includes a piezoelectric element, a first drive electrode and a second drive electrode, the piezoelectric element vibrated by a combination of at least two vibration modes including a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode, the first drive electrode applying a first drive signal that excites a vibration of the first vibration mode, the second drive electrode applying a second drive signal that excites a vibration of the second vibration mode; and a phase adjuster that adjusts a phase of at least one of the first and second drive signals. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167109 | PIEZOELECTRIC PUMP, COOLING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - Disclosed is a piezoelectric pump. The piezoelectric pump includes a pump body, a drive unit, a detection section, and a control unit. The pump body includes a hole for introducing a fluid from outside thereinto and jetting the fluid from inside, a wall portion disposed so as to face the hole, and a piezoelectric body provided on the wall portion to vibrate the wall portion. The drive unit drives the piezoelectric body. The detection section detects a signal corresponding to a discharge rate of the fluid from the hole. The control unit controls a drive voltage and a drive frequency of the drive unit on the basis of the signal. | 07-02-2009 |
20090184603 | DRIVE CIRCUIT - A drive circuit includes a plurality of output drive terminals and a plurality of push-pull circuit stages. Each of the push-pull circuit stages includes a pair of complementary transistors having a common terminal connected to a respective output drive terminal. The drive circuit further includes a plurality of first transistors connected in series with at least one of the pair of complementary transistors of the push-pull circuit stages, respectively, and a common second transistor. The common second transistor is connected with each of the plurality of first transistors to form a current mirror circuit. The drive circuit further includes a mirror current setting circuit for setting a mirror current flowing through the common transistor | 07-23-2009 |
20090189484 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AFFECTING PHYSICAL PARAMETER ASSOCIATED WITH A SHAFT - An apparatus for affecting at least one physical parameter associated with a shaft oriented about a longitudinal axis includes: a piezoelectric tubular member in a substantially osculatory coaxial relation with at least a portion of the shaft; and at least one electrical network coupled with the piezoelectric tubular member for switchingly completing an electrical path through the piezoelectric tubular member. | 07-30-2009 |
20090189485 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR PROVIDED WITH A DISPLACEMENT METER, PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT USED THEREFOR, AND POSITIONING DEVICE USING A PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - By resistor attached by a piezoelectric element, measurement with high accuracy is possible by strain of the piezoelectric element and there is not a trouble by a short, a piezoelectric actuator, the piezoelectric element and a positioning device therewith. The piezoelectric actuator includes; a piezoelectric element which is formed into an arbitrary shape, polarized in an arbitrary direction, and includes electrodes provided on at least two surfaces opposed in a thickness direction thereof; a driver power supply for applying a voltage between the electrodes to generate strain in the piezoelectric element; a driver power supply for applying a voltage to generate strain in the piezoelectric element; resistors provided on the electrodes through intermediation of insulators; and a displacement detection device connected with the resistors; The electrodes of the piezoelectric element on which the resistors are provided are set at a ground potential. | 07-30-2009 |
20090206698 | Vibration device, antidust device, camera, vibration device inspection method, method for manufacturing vibration device and vibration method - A vibration device comprising; a vibrator which generates bending vibration on a predetermined member, a controller which controls a driver to drive the vibrator, wherein; the vibrator comprises a plurality of driving electrodes electrically insulated respectively, the controller controls the driver to make phases of driving signals respectively output to the plurality of driving electrodes changeable relatively and adjust an order of the bending vibration. | 08-20-2009 |
20090206699 | Electronic device having piezoelectric pump - An electronic device having a piezoelectric pump. The electronic device includes: an audio input section; an audio recording section recording input sound from the audio input section; a piezoelectric pump cooling air by a piezoelectric element; a drive circuit driving the piezoelectric element; and a control circuit monitoring and controlling operation of the audio input section, the audio recording section, and the drive circuit, wherein when an operation mode being monitored is an audio recording mode, in which the input sound is used for recording by the audio recording section, the control circuit controls the drive circuit to decrease the amount of air flow exhausted outside from the piezoelectric pump, and when the operation mode being monitored is another mode without audio recording, the control circuit maintains the amount of the air flow. | 08-20-2009 |
20090224630 | ULTRASONIC ACTUATOR - An ultrasonic actuator includes: an actuator body ( | 09-10-2009 |
20090243431 | Piezoelectric element drive device, electronic apparatus, and method for controlling piezoelectric element drive frequency - A drive device for a piezoelectric element includes a transformer, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The transformer has a primary side and a secondary side. The drive circuit causes the secondary side to generate a drive signal whose frequency varies in accordance with a control signal input to the primary side and to supply the generated drive signal to the piezoelectric element. The control circuit changes a frequency of the control signal in a predetermined frequency range multiple times, detects an impedance change in the piezoelectric element each time the control-signal frequency is changed, determines a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric element on the basis of a transition of the impedance change, and controls the control-signal frequency so that the determined resonant frequency is obtained. | 10-01-2009 |
20090243432 | Movable Table Unit - A movable table unit provided here has a simple structure but can increase the precision of detecting the displacement of a movable table, and comprises a ring-shaped stationary base | 10-01-2009 |
20090267450 | Vibration Actuator - It is an subject of the present invention to provide a vibration actuator in which a plurality of rotors can be driven by a single vibration unit. | 10-29-2009 |
20090267451 | Positioning Motor and Apparatus - A piezoelectric motor has a stator module | 10-29-2009 |
20090309454 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezo actuator includes an adaptation element, which is configured to adapt the piezo actuator to a controller for inductive loads, particularly to a converter for actuating inductive loads. The adaptation element allows use of controllers or converters of numerical control systems, which normally are used for actuating servo motors. Therefore it is no longer necessary to provide specially designed hardware for the actuation of piezo actuators, but instead the above-mentioned controllers can be used. Furthermore, as a result of the adaptation element, the piezo actuators can be integrated in the bus of the numerical control system. This allows communication in real time via the NC bus. | 12-17-2009 |
20090309455 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A FUNCTIONAL STATE OF A PIEZOELECTRIC INJECTOR OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A check is made to determine whether the capacitance value measured at a specific point in time corresponds to a capacitance value of a calculated further capacitance profile or the measured capacitance value is within two tolerance ranges. | 12-17-2009 |
20100001618 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR DRIVE DEVICE - In a piezoelectric actuator control device for controlling operation of one or more piezoelectric actuators, when receiving a drive signal of a low level, a discharging switch is repeatedly turned on and off in order to discharge electric charge accumulated in the piezoelectric actuator. That is, the discharging switch is kept ON until a discharging current from a piezoelectric actuator reaches a peak threshold value Ip. When the discharging current reaches the peak threshold value Ip, the discharging switch is turned OFF and kept OFF until a discharging current from a piezoelectric actuator reaches a peak threshold value Ip. The device has a threshold value setting circuit for increasing the peak threshold value according to a discharging period of time. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007242 | PIEZOELECTRIC-DRIVE APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING PIEZOELECTRIC-DRIVE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A piezoelectric driving device including a laminated body having a base that is capable of being deformed by applying force, a first piezoelectric body that is formed on a first face of the base directly or via another layer, and a second piezoelectric body that is formed on a second face of the base substantially parallel to the first face directly or via another layer, a driving voltage generating section that generates a driving voltage according to a displacement amount of the laminated body, a compensating voltage generating section that generates a compensating voltage compensating for hysteresis caused by the displacement of the laminated body by the driving voltage, and a voltage applying section that applies each of the driving voltage and the compensating voltage to each of the first piezoelectric body and the second piezoelectric body. | 01-14-2010 |
20100013353 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR FOR AN ULTRASONIC MOTOR - The invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator, especially for an ultrasonic motor, comprising an acoustic oscillation resonator, wherein the acoustic oscillation resonator is substantially formed as a rectangular piezoelectric plate with two main surfaces, two side surfaces and two end faces and has a multilayer structure in its interior which represents a layer of excitation electrodes taking turns with the layers of the common electrodes and the layers of polarized ceramic provided therebetween, with the polarization vector extending perpendicularly with respect to the surface of the electrodes, wherein all excitation electrodes are divided into two groups not connected to each other, which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the symmetry surface of the aforementioned plate, wherein this symmetry surface extends perpendicularly with respect to the main and side surfaces of the plate, namely through the center thereof, with each group of the excitation electrodes forming together with the common electrodes and the piezoceramic therebetween a multilayer generator for an acoustic wave which is arranged asymmetrically with respect to the symmetry surface of the piezoelectric plate. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013354 | ADJUSTING DEVICE WITH HIGH POSITION RESOLUTION, EVEN IN THE NANO-OR SUBNANOMETER RANGE - The invention relates to an adjusting device with high position resolution, even in the nano- or subnanometer range and a regulating distance of a few micrometers up to several hundred millimeters, wherein PZT-solid state actuators in a closed-loop control circuit are used for the main control direction, the positions thereof being determined by high resolution sensors and the PZT-solid state actuators are in connection with a platform ( | 01-21-2010 |
20100026139 | DRIVER - A driver, including: a piezoelectric element extending and contracting upon application of an electrical voltage; a driving member having one end secured to the piezoelectric element; a frictionally coupling member, frictionally coupling the driving member; and a drive circuit, connected with a power supply to activate the piezoelectric element at a predetermined period, including: a charge switching element for connecting an electrode of the piezoelectric element with the power supply, a discharge switching element, and a protective resistor arranged in an electric path between the power supply and the piezoelectric element or between the piezoelectric element and a ground point, wherein a resistance value of the protective resistor is set larger than an ON resistance of the switching element but smaller than a value obtained by dividing one half of the drive period of the switching element by a capacitance of the piezoelectric element, in a predetermined period. | 02-04-2010 |
20100038994 | Switched mode power supply - A switched mode power supply is provided. The switched mode power supply includes a transformer, which includes at least one primary winding connected to a DC voltage via a switching element and a secondary winding connected to a load via a rectifier circuit including at least one diode, and at least one piezoelectric fan which generates an air flow at the transformer and/or at the switching element and/or at the diode. The air flow produced can be guided in a targeted manner onto the components to be cooled, with the air flow remaining low and therefore, no contamination by air particles arises. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045139 | DRIVING DEVICE AND OPTICAL APPARATUS - Disclosed is a driving device capable of stably operating a plurality of actuators. | 02-25-2010 |
20100052474 | METHOD OF DRIVING A DRIVING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF SMOOTHLY MOVING A MOVING MEMBER - A driving method is for a driving apparatus including an electro-mechanical transducer having first and second end surfaces opposite to each other in an expansion/contraction direction, a vibration friction portion mounted to the second end surface of the electro-mechanical transducer, a moving member frictionally coupled to the vibration friction portion, and a vibration transfer member disposed between the second end surface of said electro-mechanical transducer and an end surface of said vibration friction portion, whereby moving the moving member in the expansion/contraction direction of the electro-mechanical transducer. The driving method includes subjecting the electro-mechanical transducer to reciprocating displacement in a sawtooth waveform and transferring the reciprocating displacement of the electro-mechanical transducer to the vibration friction portion through the vibration transfer member, thereby linearly driving the moving member in a predetermined direction. | 03-04-2010 |
20100079032 | POLYMERIC ACTUATOR CONTROLLER, POLYMERIC ACTUATOR CONTROL METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A polymeric actuator controller includes: a polymeric actuator that has a first electrode and a second electrode for applying electric energy to a polymeric portion and that displaces in accordance with applied electric energy; a potential difference reading unit that reads a potential difference that occurs between terminals of the first electrode and second electrode of the polymeric actuator; and a polymeric actuator driver circuit that applies the electric energy to the first electrode and second electrode of the polymeric actuator to drive the polymeric actuator. The polymeric actuator driver circuit and the potential difference reading unit form a closed loop. The polymeric actuator driver circuit varies the electric energy so that the potential difference read by the potential difference reading unit is maintained at a target potential value. | 04-01-2010 |
20100102672 | System and Method of Driving Ultrasonic Transducers - A transducer is optimally driven at or near its resonant frequency by a driver system that adapts to variations and/or changes to the resonant frequency of the transducer due to variations in piezo materials, manufacturing, assembly, component tolerances, and/or operational conditions. The system may include an output controller, a phase track controller, a frequency generator, a drive, circuitry to determine a phase angle between the transducer voltage and transducer current, and circuitry to obtain transducer admittance from the transducer voltage and transducer current. | 04-29-2010 |
20100141089 | TRIGGER CIRCUIT AND TRIGGERING METHOD FOR A PIEZOELCTRIC ELEMENT - A trigger circuit for a piezoelectric element for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes: a voltage source which, at a first, second and third connection points, respectively, provides a low, medium and high electrical potential, the second connection point being developed for being coupled to a first electrode of the piezoelectric element; a charge switching element that connects a second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the third connection point of the voltage source; and a discharge switching element that connects the second electrode of the piezoelectric element to the first connection point of the voltage source. | 06-10-2010 |
20100148628 | PIEZO ACTUATOR WITH PROTECTIVE RESISTOR - Piezoactuator comprising a multiplicity of piezolayers, between each of which a layer electrode is arranged, the layer electrodes being alternately connected to a respective connection electrode. A protective resistor is provided between at least one connection electrode and the layer electrodes connected to said connection electrode. | 06-17-2010 |
20100194238 | SERIALLY OPERATING MULTI-ELEMENT PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR DRIVER - A piezoelectric actuator driving is presented that serially actuates individual piezoelectric elements of a multi-element piezoelectric actuator. One embodiment of the invention features a system comprising (1) a piezoelectric actuator having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; and (2) a current source configured to transmit a plurality of electrical currents to the piezoelectric actuator to actuate a corresponding plurality of the piezoelectric elements; (3) wherein the plurality of electrical currents are configured such that one piezoelectric element reaches a maximum actuation before another piezoelectric element begins actuating. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201222 | Ultrasound Transducer Manufactured by Using Micromachining Process, its Device, Endoscopic Ultrasound Diagnosis System Thereof, and Method for Controlling the Same - An ultrasound transducer manufactured by using a micromachining process comprises: a first electrode into which a control signal for transmitting ultrasound is input; a substrate on which the first electrode is formed; a second electrode that is a ground electrode facing the first electrode with a prescribed space between the first and second electrodes; a membrane on which the second electrode is formed and which vibrates and generates the ultrasound when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes; a piezoelectric film contacting the membrane; and a third electrode electrically continuous to the piezoelectric film. | 08-12-2010 |
20100231090 | GENERATOR FOR A PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER - The generator for a piezoelectric transducer, in particular for a piezoelectric motor for medical or dental applications, comprising two transformers ( | 09-16-2010 |
20100289381 | AUTOMATED DRIVE FREQUENCY CONTROL FOR RESONANT ACTUATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF - An actuator system includes an actuator device comprising at least one piezoelectric member, a driving system, and an actuator controller. The driving system drives the at least one piezoelectric member at a driving frequency. The actuator controller monitors at least one parameter of the actuator device and the direct driving system to determine an operational mechanical resonant frequency of the actuator device based on the at least one parameter. The actuator controller adjusts the driving frequency based at least in part on the determined operational mechanical resonant frequency. | 11-18-2010 |
20100301701 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER AND DRIVING SYSTEM USING SUCH VOLTAGE CONVERTER - A voltage converter is provided for receiving a low input DC voltage and driving a piezoelectric actuator of a fluid transportation device. The voltage converter includes plural capacitors, a resistor and a boost chip. The boost chip is connected with the plural capacitors and the resistor, has a switch element and a polar switching circuit, and receives the low input DC voltage. The low input DC voltage is increased and multiplied to a high DC voltage by a switching operation of the switch element. The high DC voltage is converted into an output AC voltage by the polar switching circuit so as to drive the piezoelectric actuator. An operating frequency of the boost chip is controlled by the plural capacitors and the resistor. | 12-02-2010 |
20100320868 | PIEZOELECTRIC-FERROELECTRIC ACTUATOR DEVICE - An actuator device is disclosed. The actuator device comprises a stack of piezoelectric-ferroelectric active layers separated by surface electrodes. At least a few of the surface electrodes are independently addressable such that at least two active layers are biasable by different voltages. In an embodiment of the invention, at least a few of the voltages induce a nonlinear ferroelectric effect. | 12-23-2010 |
20110018390 | Methods for controlling velocity of at least partially resonant actuators systems and systems thereof - A method, computer readable medium, and system for controlling velocity of at least partially resonant actuator system includes obtaining at an actuator controller computing system a selected operating velocity within an operational velocity range for at least one of one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices. A width of one or more pulses of a driving signal for the at least one of one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices is adjusted with the actuator controller computing system based on the selected operating velocity. The driving signal with the adjusted width of the one or more pulses is provided with the actuator controller computing system to obtain the selected operating velocity at the at least one of the one or more at least partially resonant actuator devices. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018391 | DOMESTIC APPLICANCE COMPRISING A PIEZOELECTRIC PUMP PROVIDED WITH A SIMPLIFIED POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT - The invention relates to a circuit ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110050035 | ULTRASONIC MOTOR - The invention relates to an ultrasonic motor having a multilayer actuator in the form of a multilayer plate, having one or more friction elements or friction layers on its side surfaces and having an electrical exciter apparatus for the actuator. According to the invention, the multilayer plate has two intersecting, mirror-imaged asymmetrical generators for ultrasonic vibrations, to be precise in the form of layers of exciter electrodes and general electrodes which are alternately arranged with layers of piezoelectric ceramic, wherein a two-dimensional asymmetrical acoustic standing wave is generated in the multilayer actuator. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050036 | Bias Circuit for Electric Field Transducers - A circuit includes an AC voltage driver configured to output an AC voltage having a given shape and given one or more frequency components. An electric field type transducer is provided including a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal. A capacitor is connected between the AC voltage driver and the positive voltage terminal of the transducer. A diode is connected across the two terminals of the electric field type transducer. The diode operates on the signal applied by the AC voltage driver so that a substantially only positive AC voltage is applied to the positive voltage terminal of the transducer. In addition, the applied positive AC voltage applied to the positive voltage terminal of the transducer has an applied shape and applied one or more frequency components that are substantially the same as the given shape and the given one or more frequency components. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050037 | Method for Operating a Piezoelectric Element - A method for operating a piezoelectric element is disclosed. A first voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element and produces a first deflection of the piezoelectric element with a travel. An electrical discharge of the piezoelectric element after the application of the first voltage results in a first contraction of the piezoelectric element by a first compression. After the first contraction, a second voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, whose polarity is opposite that of the first voltage and causes a further contraction of the piezoelectric element by a second compression. Repeated application of the first voltage after the electrical discharge of the applied second voltage results in a deflection of the piezoelectric element with the same travel. | 03-03-2011 |
20110101823 | ACTUATOR - The invention provides an actuator for an electric motor and an electric motor including said actuator. The actuator includes one or more body formed from a dielectric elastomer, each body having at least one active region that is directly or indirectly coupled to a drive means. The active regions are arranged such that, in use, actuation thereof causes driven means to move with components in at least first and second directions, preferably within a plane of the body. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101824 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - There are provided a transducer that irradiates an ultrasonic wave, a transmitter that drives the transducer, and a plurality of power sources that supply a plurality of positive voltages and negative voltages to the transmitter. The transmitter includes a plurality of switches (SW | 05-05-2011 |
20110121686 | DRIVING CIRCUIT FOR VIBRATION-TYPE ACTUATOR - A driving circuit is configured to drive a vibration-type actuator including a vibration member and a moving member. The vibration member includes an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and may generate a vibration wave in response to an alternating voltage applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. The moving member is in contact with the vibration member and may move in response to the vibration wave relative to the vibration member. The driving circuit includes a capacitor and an inductor connected in series with the capacitor to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. Parameters of the driving circuit may be set such that when a series resonance frequency of the inductor and the capacitor is denoted by fs and a resonance frequency of the vibration member is denoted by fm, a condition 0.73·fm05-26-2011 | |
20110127880 | REACTIVE NETWORKS TO REDUCE ACOUSTIC NOISE AND ENSURE MAXIMUM EFFICIENCIES IN DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENTS IN HAPTIC APPLICATIONS - A device and method are provided to drive piezoelectric elements in haptic applications. In one embodiment, a pattern generator provides user programmable PWM waveforms to a driver. The load of the driver is an inductor in series with the piezoelectric element. The filtration of the inductor in series with the capacitance of the piezoelectric element suppresses the high-frequency components of the PWM pulse train, and recovers a value commensurate with the duty cycle of the PWM pulse train. The resulting waveform across the piezoelectric element is converted to physical motion, thereby creating a haptic effect on a user interface. Advantageously, there is reduced power loss, reduced switching induced noise, and a more haptic rich environment. | 06-02-2011 |
20110148251 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING PIEZOELECTRIC SWITCHES - Systems and methods for operating piezoelectric switches are disclosed. A piezoelectric switching system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a bias voltage source. The first actuator has a first body electrode, a first gate electrode, and a first contact region. The second actuator has a second body electrode, a second gate electrode, and a second contact region. The first and second contact regions are separated by a gap. The bias voltage source applies a bias voltage to the body electrodes. The bias voltage is lower in magnitude than an actuation voltage for the switch. The gate electrodes receive a switching voltage. The switching voltage causes at least one of the first and second actuators to bend, thereby closing the gap such that the second contact region electrically contacts the first contact region. The difference between the switching voltage and the bias voltage exceeds the actuation voltage of the switch. | 06-23-2011 |
20110163631 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR A PIEZO-CERAMIC BENDING TRANSDUCER DESIGNED AS A TRIMORPH - An electronic control device for a piezo-ceramic bending transducer designed as a trimorph ( | 07-07-2011 |
20110193449 | OSCILLATOR DEVICE - An oscillator device comprises a resonator mass which is connected by a spring arrangement to a substrate and a feedback element for controlling oscillation of the resonator mass, which comprises a piezoresistive element connected between the resonator mass and the substrate. The invention provides an oscillator device in which the two parts (resonator and circuit to close the oscillation loop) are combined inside one single oscillator device, which can be a MEMS device. | 08-11-2011 |
20110198968 | ARRAY-TYPE ULTRASONIC VIBRATOR - An array-type ultrasonic vibrator according to the present invention has an acoustic matching layer that has a plate-like body made of a material having a lower acoustic impedance than a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Signal wiring is formed on the plate-like body of the acoustic matching layer. Accordingly, for this array-type ultrasonic vibrator, the signal wiring can be easily formed without using additional components. | 08-18-2011 |
20110227449 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR - An ultrasonic sensor includes a support body having an opening, a support film closing the opening, a piezoelectric body disposed on the support film in an inner region of the opening in a plan view, a first resin material forming a first space closed off from an outside space between the first resin material and the support film in at least a region in which the opening is formed in the plan view and the first resin material having an contacting portion facing the opening and being configured to contact with a test object, a second resin material forming a second space closed off from the outside space and communicating with the first space, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting medium filling the first and second spaces. A flexible portion having lower rigidity than the support film in the film thickness direction is provided in a portion of the second resin material. | 09-22-2011 |
20110260579 | TUBULAR LINEAR PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR - Tubular linear piezoelectric motor ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110273057 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A RESONANT ULTRASOUND PIEZOELECTRIC INJECTOR - A device for controlling a resonant ultrasound piezoelectric stage, including: a first stage of increasing a DC voltage to an intermediate DC voltage, a second modulation stage including an inductor connected to the intermediate DC voltage and a first switching transistor for selectively controlling a phase of charging the inductor and a phase of transferring the energy stored in the inductor in response to a first stream of command pulses, to generate an excitation voltage of the piezoelectric stage. The second stage includes a second switching transistor connected in series between the drain of the first transistor and a terminal of the inductor, suitable for limiting energy stored in the inductor during the charging phase in response to a second stream of command pulses, so as to reduce an amplitude of the excitation voltage. | 11-10-2011 |
20110285244 | ULTRASOUND WAVE GENERATING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, there is provided in an ultrasound wave generating apparatus a low output impedance transistor based driver circuit that has the ability to apply a drive signal at a frequency corresponding to an ultrasound transducer's resonant frequency. The low output impedance of the driver circuit allows for a substantial portion of the energy to be delivered to the ultrasound transducer and converted to ultrasound energy. The power transfer efficiency of the presented circuit allows ultrasound drivers to be powered by portable battery packs, while still delivering high ultrasound acoustic power. The ultrasound driver can provide energy in sufficient amounts making it suitable for a range of ultrasound driving applications including but not limited to therapeutic low and high power clinical systems, high intensity focused ultrasound HIFU, acoustical welding, industrial inspection, and other various forms of low-to-high power acoustic devices. Other embodiments of ultrasound transducer drivers and of other components of portable ultrasound generator apparatus in various embodiments are set forth herein. | 11-24-2011 |
20120013220 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR DRIVE UNIT - Disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator drive unit that includes a piezoelectric actuator drive amplifier and a piezoelectric actuator drive unit power supply. Combinations of high and low signal levels of a first control signal, which controls the supply voltage and amplifier bias voltage of the piezoelectric actuator drive amplifier, and a second control signal, which controls the driving force of the piezoelectric actuator drive amplifier, are associated with a haptic feedback function, a receiver function for generating an audio output, and a speaker function for generating music or the like. Thus, the piezoelectric actuator drive unit, which vibrates a piezoelectric actuator, is adapted to the haptic feedback function, the receiver function, and the speaker function, and can optimize its power and drive amplifier characteristics. | 01-19-2012 |
20120025668 | Piezoelectric thin film element - A piezoelectric thin film element includes a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode on a substrate. The piezoelectric layer includes, as a main phase, a perovskite-type oxide. The bottom electrode has a surface roughness of not more than 0.86 nm in arithmetic mean roughness Ra or not more than 1.1 nm in root mean square roughness Rms. The bottom electrode has a (111) preferential orientation in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. | 02-02-2012 |
20120032557 | VIBRATION GENERATING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD THEREFOR, FOREIGN SUBSTANCE REMOVING DEVICE, AND OPTICAL DEVICE - Provided is a vibration generating device in which more improvement of drive efficiency can be realized than conventional ones. The vibration generating device includes: a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric material interposed between electrodes; a vibration member; a power source for applying an alternating voltage to the piezoelectric element; and a control section for controlling a frequency of the alternating voltage applied by the power source, in which the control section controls the frequency of the alternating voltage applied to the piezoelectric element so that the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element is successively changed from low frequency side to high frequency side in a frequency range including a change range of a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric element. | 02-09-2012 |
20120038245 | Smart Material Actuator Adapted for Resonant Operation - A smart material actuator having a fixed supporting member, mechanical web, actuating arm, and piezoelectric or smart material stack is disclosed, together with a sensor adapted to indicate the degree of motion of the actuating arms and controller adapted to allow safe operation of the actuator in resonant conditions. Methods of maintaining resonant operation, avoiding resonant operation, and adjusting resonant frequencies are also disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
20120056508 | Method for manufacturing a piezoelectric film wafer, piezolelectric film element, and piezoelectric film device - A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric film wafer includes an etching step for carrying out a dry etching on a piezoelectric film formed on a substrate by using a gas containing Ar, and a step of changing a rate of the dry etching by detecting a change in an emission peak intensity of Na in emitted ion plasma the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric film is made of an alkali niobate-based perovskite structure expressed in a composition formula (K | 03-08-2012 |
20120056509 | MECHANO-SENSITIVE ACTUATOR ARRAY - An array of actuators is provided which is adapted for sequential actuation by way of mechano-sensitivity propagating actuation through the array, triggering each actuator upon deformation thereof caused by an adjacent actuator or a load in the form of a fluid or a solid object. Actuation is thus coordinated with minimal computational overhead. Also provided is an actuator suitable for use in such an array, a method of controlling an actuator, and a method of controlling an array of mechano-sensitive actuators. | 03-08-2012 |
20120074811 | ACOUSTIC WAVE DEVICES - In one aspect of the invention, an acoustic wave device includes a substrate, and at least one acoustic wave resonator having a bottom electrode adjacent to the substrate, a top electrode, a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the bottom and top electrodes, a passivation layer formed on the top electrode, and a mass load layer sandwiched between the substrate and the bottom electrode, or between the bottom electrode and the piezoelectric layer. | 03-29-2012 |
20120119617 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR AND AUDIO COMPONENTS - One object of the present invention is to an achieve increase of amplitude of vibrations and/or flattening of frequency dependence of the amplitude of a piezoelectric actuator. Piezoelectric actuator ( | 05-17-2012 |
20120161578 | METHOD OF DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE - Provided is a method of driving a piezoelectric device including a piezoelectric material having at least two phase transition temperatures and is polarized in one of thickness directions, and electrodes disposed on both end surfaces of the piezoelectric material in a direction orthogonal to the polarized direction, the method including: applying an alternating electric field to the piezoelectric device by an electric field applying unit; and applying a bias electric field in accordance with a variation of a coercive electric field due to temperature variation so that an absolute value of an electric field in a direction opposite to the polarized direction in the alternating electric field applied by the electric field applying unit becomes smaller than the coercive electric field and so that a polarization of the piezoelectric material is not reversed by the electric field in the direction opposite to the polarized direction. | 06-28-2012 |
20120176002 | ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - An acoustic transducer includes a first driving unit group including at least one electrode and a second driving unit group including at least one electrode. The first driving unit group is driven at a first phase, and the second driving unit group is driven at a second phase that is different from the first phase. | 07-12-2012 |
20120200196 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS POWER CIRCUIT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An ultrasonic image display apparatus power circuit is provided. The power circuit includes a high-voltage fixed power supply portion configured to boost a voltage of a low-voltage power supply and generate positive and negative voltages, a bias voltage output portion connected to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion and configured to output a bias voltage to a switch configured to switch an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave, a transmission power supply portion connected to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion, the transmission power supply portion configured to supply transmission power for the ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to regenerate the transmission power as regeneration power to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion, and a regenerative electric power storage portion provided between the high-voltage fixed power supply portion and the transmission power supply portion and configured to store regeneration power. | 08-09-2012 |
20120212099 | DEVICE FOR DRIVING A PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - The disclosed invention provides a device for driving a piezoelectric element, making it possible to make an output voltage follow a control voltage during a discharging action. A charging circuit charges a piezo element through a first node. A discharging circuit discharges electric charge charged in the piezo element through the first node. A control circuit makes switching to cause the discharging circuit to perform a discharging action or cause the charging circuit to perform a charging action, based on a comparison between the magnitude of a voltage being applied to the piezo element and the magnitude of a control voltage. | 08-23-2012 |
20120212100 | PIEZOELECTRIC VIBRATION DEVICE HAVING STRUCTURE INCLUDING SELF-AMPLIFICATION FUNCTION OF VIBRATION AND ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING SAME AS VIBRATING MEANS - A piezoelectric vibrator is disclosed. A piezoelectric vibration member vibrates according to the change of polarity of applied voltage while the edge portions or a central portion shows maximum displacement with the central portion or the edge portions as an acting point of vibration, respectively. Being combined integrally with the portion of maximum displacement of the piezoelectric vibration member by a fastening member, a weight vibrates together with the vibration of the piezoelectric vibration member and amplifies the vibration. A vibration support member has one end fixed to the object to transfer vibration to and the other end combined to a specific portion of the piezoelectric vibration member, supporting the piezoelectric vibration member so as to vibrate up and down with the specific portion as an acting point of vibration. | 08-23-2012 |
20120228994 | ACTUATOR - An exemplary actuator in the form of a plate is disclosed, which includes, at least two generators for exciting an acoustic standing wave in the actuator. The actuator can have at least two main surfaces and a plane of symmetry S running perpendicularly to the main surfaces, with respect to which the generators are arranged symmetrically. A first lateral surface area can have a length L that substantially corresponds to the wavelength of the acoustic standing wave excited in the actuator. A second lateral surface area of the actuator can have a length (B) that is greater than the wavelength of the acoustic standing wave excited in the actuator, and that is not equal to a multiple of half the wavelength of the excited acoustic standing wave. | 09-13-2012 |
20120242191 | DRIVER FOR OPTICAL DEFLECTOR USING TWO MODIFIED SYNCRONOUS SAW-TOOTH DRIVE VOLTAGES AND METHOD FOR SETTING THE SAME - In an optical deflector including a mirror, a movable frame supporting the mirror, a support body surrounding the movable frame, and a first group of piezoelectric actuators and a second group of piezoelectric actuators alternating with the first group of piezoelectric actuators, a driver combines first and second original saw-tooth waves having the same waveform into first saw-tooth waves, and applies a first drive voltage having the first saw-tooth waves to the first group of piezoelectric actuators. The driver applies a second drive voltage having second saw-tooth waves opposite in phase with the first saw-tooth waves to the second group of piezoelectric actuators. | 09-27-2012 |
20120293041 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR DRIVER CIRCUIT - In a piezoelectric actuator driver circuit, a resistor provided to detect current is inserted in a current path for a piezoelectric actuator. A signal of a decreased voltage of the resistor is subjected to positive feedback to an amplifier circuit via a band-pass filter. An output signal of the amplifier circuit is subjected to negative feedback to the amplifier circuit via a band-elimination filter. The band-pass filter allows a signal of a fundamental resonant frequency of a piezoelectric device, which includes the piezoelectric actuator, to pass therethrough, and the band-elimination filter blocks the signal of the fundamental resonant frequency. Thus, a loop gain at a higher-order resonant frequency with respect to the fundamental resonant frequency becomes very low and a higher-order resonant mode can be effectively suppressed. | 11-22-2012 |
20120299441 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC CIRCUITS ON A GIVEN SURFACE - A compound ( | 11-29-2012 |
20120299442 | DRIVE DEVICE - Disclosed is a drive device | 11-29-2012 |
20120313485 | Impedance Matched Transmission Circuit with Analog-to-Digital Converter - An impedance matching transmission circuit for a transducer has a transmission medium connected to the transducer. A transmitting circuit is connected to the transmission medium with the transmitting circuit terminating in a reference circuit element. The transmitting circuit comprises an analog to digital converter having an analog input connected to the reference circuit element, and having a digital output. A digital to analog converter receives the digital output and generates an analog output signal in response thereto. A driver circuit is connected to the transmission medium and receives the analog output signal and supplies a driver signal to the transmission medium. | 12-13-2012 |
20130043765 | POLARITY SWITCHING CIRCUIT - A polarity switching circuit includes: a first current-limiting resistor and a second current-limiting resistor connected to a DC high voltage; a first transistor switch, a second transistor switch, a fourth transistor switch, and a fifth transistor switch respectively controlled by a first PWM signal and a second PWM signal; a third transistor and a sixth transistor switch whose control terminals are respectively connected to the first transistor switch and the fourth transistor switch; a first filter connected to the second transistor switch and the third transistor switch and a contact of a piezoelectric actuator; and a second filter connected to the fifth transistor switch and the sixth transistor switch and another contact of the piezoelectric actuator. When the first and the second PWM signal are switching between a high level and a low level, output AC voltages with smoothed AC waveforms are supplied to the contacts of the piezoelectric actuator. | 02-21-2013 |
20130082565 | POWER GENERATION UNIT, BATTERY, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, TRANSPORTATION DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING POWER GENERATION UNIT - A power generation unit includes a deforming member adapted to deform while switching a deformation direction, a piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member, a displacement detection section adapted to detect that the deforming member is displaced beyond a predetermined level, an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric device, a switch disposed between the piezoelectric device and the inductor, and a control section adapted to set the piezoelectric device and the inductor to an electrically conductive state via the switch if the displacement detection section detects that the deforming member is displaced beyond the predetermined level. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082566 | POWER GENERATION UNIT, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, TRANSPORTATION DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING POWER GENERATION UNIT - A power generation unit includes a deforming member (a beam) adapted to deform while switching a deformation direction, a first piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member (the beam), a second piezoelectric device provided to the deforming member (the beam), an inductor electrically connected to the first piezoelectric device, a switch disposed between the first piezoelectric device and the inductor, and a control section adapted to detect a voltage generated in the second piezoelectric device, and if the voltage detected has a level one of equal to and higher than a predetermined level, electrically connect the first piezoelectric device and the inductor to each other using the switch. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082567 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic device is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves and includes a substrate, a diaphragm, a piezoelectric member and a control unit. The substrate has an opening. The diaphragm covers the opening of the substrate. The piezoelectric member is coupled to the diaphragm, and includes a first piezoelectric part and a second piezoelectric part. The control unit controls a voltage applied to the first piezoelectric part to be a vibration voltage and controls a voltage applied to the second piezoelectric part to be a constant voltage when the ultrasonic device transmits the ultrasonic waves. | 04-04-2013 |
20130140949 | DRIVE DEVICE, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT TRANSPORTING APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT INSPECTING APPARATUS, ROBOT HAND, AND ROBOT - A drive device includes a movable member, plural piezoelectric motors that cause the movable member to move in a predetermined direction, a drive circuit that drives the plural piezoelectric motors, and plural relays that electrically connect or disconnect at least one of the plural piezoelectric motors to or from the drive circuit. | 06-06-2013 |
20130200751 | CHARGE CORRECTION FOR PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A system comprises a voltage source, a piezoelectric material arranged in a first current path between the voltage source and a first reference voltage, a capacitor arranged in a second current path between the voltage source and a second reference voltage, and a correction circuit configured to adjust the first reference voltage to increase or decrease the current in the first current path according to the current in the second current path. | 08-08-2013 |
20130221801 | PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A piezoelectric device includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a piezoelectric resonator element, a part of the piezoelectric resonator element being disposed so as to overlap with a part of the IC chip when viewed in plan. The IC chip includes: an inner pad disposed on an active face and in an area where is overlapped, with the piezoelectric resonator when viewed in plan; an insulating layer formed on the active face; a relocation pad disposed on the insulating layer and in an area other than a part where is overlapped with the piezoelectric resonator element, the relocation pad being coupled to an end part of a first wire; and a second wire electrically coupling the inner pad and the relocation pad, the second wire having a relocation wire and a connector that penetrates the insulating layer, the relocation wire being disposed between the insulating layer and the active face. | 08-29-2013 |
20130229088 | HAPTIC MODULE USING PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - Disclosed is a haptic module using a piezoelectric element. The haptic module comprises a base, a vibration member which is mounted on the upper portion of the base so as to be vertically movable, a piezoelectric element which couples to the vibration member, a power portion for applying power to the piezoelectric element, and a panel member which is mounted to the upper portion of the vibration member. According to the present invention, vertical movement of the vibration member effectively sends force to the panel member by means of the piezoelectric element to facilitate the vertical movement and enhance driving force, and thereby enhances the feeling of vibration or clicking of the panel member | 09-05-2013 |
20130241348 | POSITIONING DEVICE - A positioning device includes a positioning element that is situated movably in a first direction and a second direction, the first and the second directions being opposed to one another, and a first piezoelectric actuator and a second piezoelectric actuator, the first piezoelectric actuator moving the positioning element in the first direction and the second piezoelectric actuator moving the positioning element in the second direction. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241349 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR CAPACITANCE TYPE ACTUATOR AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR INK JET HEAD - An actuator is sequentially charged with output voltage “E/2” of a voltage source and output voltage “E” of a voltage source. After the charging, “Q/2” of electric charge “Q” stored in the actuator is discharged on a path returning to the voltage source. Subsequent to the discharging, the remaining all electric charge “Q/2” stored in the actuator is discharged on a closed circuit. | 09-19-2013 |
20130257222 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezoelectric actuator includes a prismatic piezoelectric element body having side surfaces, and external surface electrodes provided on at least three of the side surfaces of the piezoelectric element body. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257223 | CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR VIBRATION TYPE ACTUATOR - A controlling device for a vibration type actuator including: an AC voltage generating unit in which at least one of parameters, namely a frequency, an amplitude, and a phase of an AC voltage for use in applying an excitation force to a vibrating member is settable; a measuring unit which measures some physical quantities caused by a vibration of the vibrating member; a variation imparting unit which imparts a predetermined variation to at least one of the parameters of the AC voltage; a frequency-response characteristic measuring unit which finds a frequency-response characteristic of at least one predetermined frequency between a first signal according to the variation and a second signal according to the measured physical quantity; and a frequency controlling unit which controls the frequency of the AC voltage according to the frequency-response characteristic. | 10-03-2013 |
20130264909 | SYSTEM FOR DRIVING A PIEZOELECTRIC LOAD AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A driver system comprises a direct current (DC) voltage source and a first bi-directional DC-to-DC converter having a primary side coupled to the DC voltage source and a secondary side and configured to convert a first voltage on the primary side to a second voltage on the secondary. The driver system also comprises a second bi-directional DC-to-DC converter having a primary side coupled to the DC voltage source and a secondary side coupled to the secondary side of the first bi-directional DC-to-DC converter and configured to convert the first voltage on the primary side to a third voltage on the secondary. The first and second bi-directional DC-to-DC converters are capable of boosting the first voltage, and the second control signal is a complement of the first control signal. A voltage difference between the second and third voltages comprises an output voltage that comprises an amplification of the first control signal. | 10-10-2013 |
20130278110 | PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR, DRIVE CIRCUIT, AND DRIVE METHOD - A piezoelectric motor includes a rotating body, a piezoelectric actuator including a protruding section having contact with the rotating body, and adapted to rotate the rotating body due to a motion of the protruding section when driving a piezoelectric element, and a drive circuit adapted to drive the piezoelectric element, and the drive circuit includes a drive signal generation section adapted to output a drive signal with a predetermined frequency, and an LC filter adapted to block a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency, and applies the drive signal to the piezoelectric element via the LC filter. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278111 | PIEZOELECTRIC MICROMACHINED ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER WITH PATTERNED ELECTRODES - A piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) uses multiple electrodes, e.g., in a radial pattern for a disc, to improve performance. The multiple electrodes may be differentially driven to operate the PMUT in d | 10-24-2013 |
20130285505 | ACTUATOR APPARATUS, TEST APPARATUS, AND TEST METHOD - Provided is an actuator apparatus including: an actuator that is provided with a driving voltage at one end and a reference potential at the other end to enable driving; a first setting section that is connected to the one end of the actuator and sets an operating speed of the actuator; a second setting section that is provided between the one end of the actuator and the reference potential, and sets the driving voltage of the actuator. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285506 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE - To reduce attenuation of vibration in provision of a tactile sensation when both of a piezoelectric element for providing a tactile sensation and a piezoelectric element for transmitting sound are provided to a panel, an electronic device | 10-31-2013 |
20130300254 | PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A piezoelectric device includes: a substrate; a lower electrode provided on a substrate; a piezoelectric film provided by being laminated on the lower electrode, the piezoelectric film being formed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) containing 6 at % or more in atomic composition percentage of at least one type of metal element selected from V group and VI group; an oxide electrode layer provided by being laminated on the piezoelectric film; a first metal electrode layer containing an oxidation-resistant precious metal provided by being laminated on the oxide electrode layer; a second metal electrode layer provided by being laminated on the first metal electrode layer; and a wire connected to the second metal electrode layer. | 11-14-2013 |
20130334928 | LARGE-DEFLECTION MICROACTUATORS - Actuators using piezoelectric drives, S-drives, or S-flexures are disclosed. The actuators can include S-drives connected in series to deflect substantially in a common deflection direction. The actuators can also include pairs of piezoelectric elements connected together for rotation in the plane of the pairs. An arm assembly and a forearm assembly can each have a plurality of S-flexures for deflection along substantially orthogonal axes. | 12-19-2013 |
20140001920 | ACTUATOR, ACTUATOR SYSTEM AND ACTUATION OF AN ACTUATOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140035437 | DRIVING APPARATUS - A driving apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140042871 | PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING CIRCUIT AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF - A piezoelectric driving circuit generates a first PWM output according to a result of comparison between a ramp signal and a reference sinewave and generates a second PWM according to a result of comparison between the ramp signal and an inverse reference sinewave of the reference sinewave. The switching operation of the first and third switches of the piezoelectric driving circuit are controlled according to the first PWM output and the switching operation of the second and fourth switches of the piezoelectric driving circuit are controlled according to the second PWM output during a first cycle of the reference sinewave and the inverse reference sinewave. The switching operation of the first and third switches are controlled according to the second PWM output and the switching operation of the second and fourth switches are controlled according to the first PWM output during the next second cycle. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042872 | POLARITY SWITCHING CIRCUIT - A polar switch circuit is disclosed. The polar switch circuit comprises the first to the forth transistor switches and the first to the second filter circuits. The first and forth transistor switches are controlled by a first pulse-width modulating signal. The second and third transistor switches are controlled by a second pulse-width modulating signal. The second and the fourth transistor switches are connected with a DC high voltage, and connected with the first and third transistor switches, respectively. The first filter circuit is connected with the first transistor switch, the second transistor switch and a contact of a piezoelectric actuator. The second filter circuit is connected with the third transistor switch, the forth transistor switch and another contact of the piezoelectric actuator. When the first and second pulse-width modulating signals switch high/low level in interlaced, an output AC voltage can be smooth and deliver to the contacts of the piezoelectric actuator. | 02-13-2014 |
20140055003 | Ultrasound Transmitter - A circuit for driving ultrasound transducers uses a sample-and-hold circuit to sample multiple sample periods of a transducer driving waveform, and uses the samples to modify drive parameters. Use of multiple sample periods enables independent measurement and adjustment of different portions of the transducer driving waveform to ensure mirror symmetry. | 02-27-2014 |
20140084751 | DRIVING APPARATUS - A driving apparatus capable of suppressing operation noise, the apparatus comprising a piezoelectric element expanding and contracting in accordance with a driving signal; a supporting shaft connected to said piezoelectric element; a movable body frictionally engaged with said supporting shaft and capable of moving along said supporting shaft; and a driving portion applying said driving signal including a first driving signal which moves said movable body towards a first direction to said piezoelectric element, wherein said driving portion can repeatedly apply said first driving signal against said piezoelectric element by taking a first time in between, and said first driving signal comprises a main driving waveform group which moves said movable body to said first direction, and a sub driving waveform group which is placed after said main driving waveform group by having the a second rest time shorter than said first time in between. | 03-27-2014 |
20140132112 | METHOD FOR ACTUATING A MULTI-ACTUATOR DRIVE DEVICE - A method is disclosed for controlling a linear or rotary multi-actuator drive device having a stationary and a movable part. Relative movement between the stationary and the movable parts is generated via actuators having limited strokes, which are in substantially continuous frictional contact with the movable part either directly or via a force-transmitting mechanism, wherein control signals having a timing offset are used therefor, which force alternation between the slip phase and the stick phase for each actuator. Speed variations and vibrations of the device are reduced or prevented by utilizing the elasticity in the drive components, by building up, between the points of friction of the actuators by means of control waveforms adapted to the respective situation for the various actuators, suitable mechanical tensions which prevent undesired variation in the force exerted by the actuators on the movable part, above all when an actuator transitions from the stick phase to the slip phase, or when one or more actuators reverse direction. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132113 | ELECTRIC CIRCUIT WITH POWER AMPLIFIER FOR PIEZOELETRIC ACTUATORS - An electric circuit with one power amplifier (V | 05-15-2014 |
20140152147 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INERTIAL DRIVE - A method for controlling an inertial drive on the basis of pulse trains is disclosed. The pulse trains include pulses having sections of different gradients and having variable amplitude and/or frequency. A pulse interval occurs between the individual pulses, wherein the selected pulse duration is so short that is substantially less than the cycle duration of the natural oscillation of the system to be driven. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159545 | PIEZOELECTRIC LINEAR ACTUATOR - Provided is a piezoelectric linear actuator. The piezoelectric linear actuator includes a slider having first and second surfaces facing each other, first and second plates spaced by predetermined distances from the first and second surfaces of the slider, respectively, a plurality of shear piezo stacks having one end fixed to the corresponding first or second plates, the plurality of shear piezo stacks being disposed toward the slider, and a friction member disposed on the shear piezo stacks to support the slider by a friction force with the slider. The slider includes a piezo plate expanding or contracting with respect to the shear piezo stacks according to a voltage applied thereto and a sliding member on each of both opposite surfaces of the piezo plate contacting the friction member. | 06-12-2014 |
20140184020 | ULTRASONIC VIBRATION APPARATUS - Substantially uniform rigidity is ensured in all radial directions while achieving a size reduction. An ultrasonic surgical apparatus is provided, including a polygonal columnar elastic body that is formed of an elastic body and that has a substantially regular polygonal cross-section; plate-like piezoelectric elements that are secured to mutually opposing side surfaces of the polygonal columnar elastic body and that are polarized in a plate-thickness direction; a rod-like contactor that is secured to an end of the polygonal columnar elastic body and that has a smaller diameter than the polygonal-columnar elastic body; and a drive-pulse generating circuit that causes the rod-like contactor to ultrasonically vibrate by generating a vertical vibration which expands/contracts the polygonal columnar elastic body in the longitudinal direction by applying an AC voltage to the piezoelectric elements in the plate-thickness direction. | 07-03-2014 |
20140203683 | SPORTS IMPLEMENT, AMUSEMENT TOOL, AND TRAINING TOOL - The present invention provides a sports implement whose characteristics a user can adjust freely and minutely. According to the present invention, it is realized that a light-weight high functional circuit is installed in various sports implements by constituting various functional circuits with a TFT formed on a film, without using a printed board. A high functional circuit using a TFT formed over a flexible plastic film is light-weight and strong in bending and impacts. It is possible to provide a sports implement that is favorable in operationality and friendly to many users in a wide range regardless of the muscle strength or physical constitution and the like of a user, since the user can adjust characteristics of a sports implement. | 07-24-2014 |
20140232241 | PIEZOELECTRIC ARRAY EMPLOYING INTEGRATED MEMS SWITCHES - Switchable micromachined transducer arrays are described where a MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) switch, or relay, is monolithically integrated with a transducer element. In embodiments, the MEMS switch is implemented in the same substrate as the transducer array to implement one or more logic, addressing, or transducer control function. In embodiments, each transducer element of an array is a piezoelectric element coupled to at least one MEMS switch to provide element-level addressing within the array. In certain embodiments the same piezoelectric material employed in the transducer is utilized in the MEMS switch. | 08-21-2014 |
20140246952 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR CAPACITANCE TYPE ACTUATOR AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR INK JET HEAD - An actuator is sequentially charged with output voltage “E/2” of a voltage source and output voltage “E” of a voltage source. After the charging, “Q/2” of electric charge “Q” stored in the actuator is discharged on a path returning to the voltage source. Subsequent to the discharging, the remaining all electric charge “Q/2” stored in the actuator is discharged on a closed circuit. | 09-04-2014 |
20140265727 | Ultrasonic Transducer - An ultrasonic transducer having a membrane and a container having a base and at least one wall element. The one or more wall elements can be situated over at least part of the base to form a cavity that can have an at least partially open end. The open end can be sealed with the membrane and the interior of the container can be maintained at a lower atmospheric pressure than the ambient pressure. Within the container, a piezoelectric flexure can be fixed at one end to a location at a wall element. The other end of the flexure can be in mechanical communication with the membrane, either directly or through a stiffener that is itself in communication with the membrane. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285064 | VIBRATION GENERATING APPARATUS - There is provided a vibration generating apparatus including a vibration transferring member transferring vibrations to outside the vibration generating apparatus, an elastic member having one or more end portions fixed to the vibration transferring member, a mass body vibrating in response to vibrations of the elastic member, and a piezoelectric element installed on one surface of the elastic member so as to be disposed to face the mass body. A lower surface of the mass body has step parts in order to prevent contact between the mass body and the piezoelectric element. The lower surface of the mass body in which the step parts are formed and the piezoelectric element are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285065 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT DRIVE CIRCUIT - A piezoelectric element drive circuit includes an H bridge circuit, an LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an inverter circuit. First and second drive signals output from the H bridge circuit and having opposite phases are applied to a piezoelectric element. A voltage between opposite ends of a resistor connected to a first output terminal of the H bridge circuit is input to the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit. A differential signal output from the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit has a lower slew rate because harmonic components are suppressed by the function of a low pass filter. Accordingly, respective slew rates of first and second control signals input to first and second input terminals of the H bridge circuit are also reduced. Hence the first and second control signals are each provided as a signal having a step-like waveform and including harmonic components that have been suppressed. | 09-25-2014 |
20140292144 | PIEZO VIBRATION MODULE - Disclosed herein is a piezo vibration module, including: a piezo element having a pattern of an internal electrode printed therein and having an external electrode connected to the internal electrode disposed on an outer surface thereof; a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) having each terminal and applying power to the external electrodes of the piezo element; and a conductive adhesive interposed between the piezo element and the FPCB to electrically connect the piezo element to the flexible printed circuit board. | 10-02-2014 |
20140346924 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT INCLUDING THE SAME - A piezoelectric element includes an element layer, an electrode layer including one or more positive electrode layers and one or more negative electrode layers repeatedly stacked to alternate with each other on the element layers in a vertical direction, a primary positive electrode connection member connecting the positive electrode layers, a primary negative electrode connection member connecting the negative electrode layers, at least one secondary positive electrode connection member, at least one secondary negative electrode connection member, and a primary electrode connected to the primary positive electrode connection member and the primary negative electrode connection member and configured of a pair of electrodes, and at least one secondary electrode spaced apart from the primary electrode and configured of a pair of electrodes. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354111 | ULTRASONIC WAVE CONVERTER, ELECTRIC PULSE GENERATING DEVICE, AND ULTRASONIC WAVE GENERATING DEVICE COMPRISING SAME - An ultrasonic wave generating device includes: an ultrasonic transducer; and a variable pulse generating device which generates and outputs an electric pulse. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezoelectric element which receives electric pulse from the electric pulse generating device and vibrates, and a memory which stores characteristic information of the ultrasonic transducer. The electric pulse generating device includes a variable pulse generator which generates and outputs an electric pulse having at least one of a variable frequency, a variable voltage and a variable current, an information receiver which receives characteristic information of the ultrasonic transducer from the memory, and a controller controlling the variable pulse generator based on the characteristic information of the ultrasonic transducer received by the information receiver such that the variable pulse generator generates and outputs an electric pulse which has at least one of a variable frequency, a variable voltage and a variable current. | 12-04-2014 |
20150015113 | POLYMER ACTUATOR DEVICE AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING POLYMER ACTUATOR DEVICE - A polymer actuator device includes a device part including an electrolyte layer, first and second electrode layers disposed on either surface of the electrolyte layer in a thickness direction, and a reference electrode layer disposed between the first and second electrode layers and in contact with the electrolyte layer. The device part bends in response to a voltage applied between the first and second electrode layers. | 01-15-2015 |
20150028721 | VIBRATION DEVICE AND PORTABLE TERMINAL EMPLOYING THE SAME - A low-profile vibration device capable of generation of great vibration and a portable terminal employing the vibration device. The vibration device includes: a support body; a vibration member supported so that its periphery is connected to the support body, the vibration member having a first portion which is connected to the support body, and a second portion which is located inside the first portion and is not connected to the support body; and a vibration element whose one surface in a first direction is connected to one main surface of the second portion in the vibration member, bending vibration of the vibration element in the first direction whose amplitudes vary along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being caused by electrical signal input. | 01-29-2015 |
20150054382 | PIEZOELECTRIC VIBRATION COMPONENT AND PORTABLE TERMINAL - A piezoelectric vibration component and a portable terminal each include a piezoelectric vibration element | 02-26-2015 |
20150102706 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT AND VIBRATOR INCLUDING THE SAME - There is provided a piezoelectric element including: a piezoelectric body including positive electrode layers and negative electrode layers alternately stacked on element layers; a polymer layer stacked on at least one surface of the piezoelectric body; a first external electrode stacked so as to contact the polymer layer; and a second external electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the first external electrode and stacked so as to contact the polymer layer. | 04-16-2015 |
20150130324 | APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MECHANICAL OSCILLATIONS AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE RESONANCE FREQUENCY OF SUCH APPARATUS - A device for generating mechanical oscillations is provided. The device has a first mass, a second mass, and a piezoelectric excitation system mechanically coupling the first mass and the second mass to one another, with the piezoelectric excitation system having a stiffness. The piezoelectric excitation system is designed such that its stiffness is settable. | 05-14-2015 |
20150137662 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR, AND SYSTEM FOR DRIVING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR USING THE SAME - An apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator may include: a digital-to-analog conversion unit receiving digital waveform information and outputting an analog signal corresponding thereto; an amplification unit amplifying the analog signal to generate an analog voltage; and a power supply unit supplying power for the amplification. The power supply unit adjusts a level of the power using the digital waveform information. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145374 | TRANSDUCER AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME - A transducer is provided, which includes a substrate, wherein a cavity is defined at least partially through the substrate, at least one stopper structure arranged within the cavity, a support layer arranged over the at least one stopper structure and the cavity to seal the cavity, and a piezoelectric functional arrangement arranged on the support layer. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a method for forming a transducer is also provided. | 05-28-2015 |
20150326148 | PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR, DRIVE CIRCUIT, AND DRIVE METHOD - A piezoelectric motor includes a rotating body, a piezoelectric actuator including a protruding section having contact with the rotating body, and adapted to rotate the rotating body due to a motion of the protruding section when driving a piezoelectric element, and a drive circuit adapted to drive the piezoelectric element, and the drive circuit includes a drive signal generation section adapted to output a drive signal with a predetermined frequency, and an LC filter adapted to block a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency, and applies the drive signal to the piezoelectric element via the LC filter. | 11-12-2015 |
20150332565 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING VIBRATIONS - A device and method for generating vibrations in a portable terminal are disclosed. The device for generating vibrations comprises: a haptic actuator which is driven by a driving signal so as to generate vibrations; and a control unit for applying the driving signal to the haptic actuator, causing the haptic actuator to have a high impedance and controlling a start time of the driving signal of non-periodic pulses to be applied to the haptic actuator, on the basis of a counter-electromotive force signal generated by the haptic actuator. | 11-19-2015 |
20150336132 | INTEGRATED ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER - An ultrasonic transmitter includes a piezoelectric integrated thin film transistor (PITFT). The transistor includes a top gate electrode, a bottom gate electrode, and a piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer generates vibrations in response to a voltage applied across the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode. The transistor includes micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) mechanically coupled to the PITFT. The MEMS includes a resonator that transmits ultrasonic pressure waves based on the vibrations. | 11-26-2015 |
20150340586 | SURGICAL GENERATOR FOR ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES - A method for controlling a waveform shape of a motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of a surgical device. The method may comprise generating a transducer drive signal by selectively recalling, using a direct digital synthesis (DDS) algorithm, drive signal waveform samples stored in a look-up table (LUT), generating samples of current and voltage of the transducer drive signal when the transducer drive signal is communicated to the surgical device, determining samples of the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and a frequency of the transducer drive signal, comparing each sample of the motional branch current to a respective target sample of a target waveform to determine an error amplitude, and modifying the drive signal waveform samples stored in the LUT such that an amplitude error between subsequent samples of the motional branch current and respective target samples is reduced. | 11-26-2015 |
20150349235 | WAVEFORM GENERATING APPARATUS, SIGNAL GENERATING CIRCUIT, PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - A piezoelectric driving apparatus may include a waveform synthesizing unit outputting a digital value, a digital-to-analog converting unit converting the digital value to an analog signal, and an output unit adding a direct current (DC) voltage to the analog signal to generate an asymmetrical driving signal. | 12-03-2015 |
20150364668 | VIBRATOR EQUIPPED WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - Disclosed is a vibrator equipped with a piezoelectric element, and more particularly, to a vibrator equipped with a piezoelectric element, in which vibration is generated by using bending deformation of the piezoelectric element. The vibrator equipped with a piezoelectric element, including a vibrating member which is formed into a flat type and of which both ends are coupled to an object; a piezoelectric element which is coupled to an upper or lower surface of the vibrating member; and a power supply part which supplies power to the piezoelectric element, wherein the vibrating member includes an operating part including a first operating surface which is disposed horizontally and a second operating surface which is bent down and extended from both ends of the first operating surface; and a fixing part which is extended from the both ends of the operating so as to be coupled to the object. According to the present invention, while the vibration member in which the vibration is substantially generated has a long length in order to generate the more enhanced vibration, the space occupied by the electronic unit is reduced, and also while the vibration power is increased, the power consumption is small, and thus it advantageous to reduce a size of the electronic unit. | 12-17-2015 |
20150372218 | PIEZO HAPTIC DRIVER AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a piezo haptic driver capable of preventing a malfunction and being more effectively operated and a method for driving the same. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a piezo haptic driver includes: an analog signal processor driving a piezo element; a controller transferring a control signal controlling the piezo element to the analog signal processor; an interface controller determining a driving of the analog signal processor in response to at least one of an under voltage lock out (UVLO) signal and a thermal shutdown (TSD) signal. | 12-24-2015 |
20160008850 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR | 01-14-2016 |
20160020379 | CIRCUIT DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND MOVING OBJECT - In order to reduce crosstalk between analog and digital signals, a circuit device includes a vibrator element, a semiconductor device, and a package. In the semiconductor device, an analog pad is provided along a first side facing in a first direction when the semiconductor device is seen in plan view. In addition, a digital pad is provided along aside facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, that is, a second side facing the first side. In the package, an analog terminal which is connected to the analog pad is provided on a first side of the package facing in the first direction. In addition, a digital terminal which is connected to the digital pad is provided on a second side of the package facing in the second direction. | 01-21-2016 |
20160027989 | ROBUST PIEZOELECTRIC FLUID MOVING DEVICES AND METHODS - A method of making a piezoelectric fluid moving device, (e.g., a fan or synthetic jet actuator) includes forming at least a first electrode on a base substrate and disposing a spacer frame about the first electrode. A piezoelectric substrate is placed within the frame and over the first electrode. A cover substrate is located on the spacer frame. The cover substrate and spacer frame are laminated to each other and to the base substrate encapsulating the piezoelectric substrate between the cover substrate and the base substrate for a long life device. | 01-28-2016 |
20160035964 | POWER GENERATOR WITH AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT MADE FROM INERTIAL MASS AND CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREOF - A force generator for introducing vibrational forces into a structure for vibration control of the structure includes an inertial mass, at least one actuator for generating a vibratory movement of the inertial mass relative to the structure, and a drive circuit constructed from components for driving the at least one actuator. At least part of the inertial mass is formed by one component of the drive circuit. | 02-04-2016 |
20160049886 | PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING DEVICE, ROBOT, AND DRIVING METHOD OF THE SAME - A piezoelectric driving device includes a vibrating plate, a first piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the first surface of the vibrating plate; a second piezoelectric vibrating body which is disposed on the second surface of the vibrating plate; and a protrusion which is provided on the vibrating plate and comes into contact with a body to be driven, wherein the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body have asymmetry that the first piezoelectric vibrating body and the second piezoelectric vibrating body are asymmetrical to each other with respect to the vibrating plate. | 02-18-2016 |
20160056252 | PIEZORESISTIVE RESONATOR WITH MULTI-GATE TRANSISTOR - An embodiment includes a first nonplanar transistor including a first fin that includes first source and drain nodes, and a first channel between the first source and drain nodes; a second nonplanar transistor including a second fin that includes second source and drain nodes, and a second channel between the second source and drain nodes; a nonplanar gate on the first fin between the first source and drain nodes and on the second fin between the second source and drain nodes; and first insulation included between the gate and the first fin and second insulation between the gate and the second fin; wherein the gate mechanically resonates at a first frequency when at least one of the gate and the first fin is actuated with alternating current (AC) to produce periodic forces on the gate. Other embodiments are described herein. | 02-25-2016 |
20160064639 | PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING APPARATUS AND PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVING METHOD - A piezoelectric driving apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a waveform synthesizer outputting a digital value; a digital-to-analog converter outputting an analog value corresponding to the digital value; and an output unit applying an offset voltage to the analog value to generate and output an asymmetrical driving signal. | 03-03-2016 |
20160082475 | VIBRATION GENERATING DEVICE - There is provided a vibration generating device including: a housing having an internal space; a vibrating member provided in the internal space to vibrate; a piezoelectric element coupled to one surface of the vibrating member; and a board which is provided to enclose a portion of outer surfaces of the housing, on which at least one driving element is mounted in order to supply a voltage to the piezoelectric element, and of which one side is disposed in the internal space to be connected to the piezoelectric element. | 03-24-2016 |
20160087190 | Vibrating Element, Angular Velocity Sensor, Electronic Apparatus, and Moving Object - A vibrating element includes a vibration portion including a first main surface, a second main surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and extending in a first direction. The vibration portion includes a first groove formed in the first main surface and a second groove formed in the second main surface, and in a plan view seen from a direction perpendicular to the first main surface, the first groove and the second groove are provided to shift in opposite directions from each other, in a second direction. | 03-24-2016 |
20160101435 | Ultrasonic Driver - An ultrasonic transducer that can include a driver side and a bias voltage side. A higher voltage source can be electrically connected to the bias voltage side through a first resistor. A lower voltage source can be electrically connected to the driver side of through a second resistor. A field effect transistor or other suitable switch can be included, having a source, a gate and a drain. The source can be electrically connected to ground and the gate can be electrically connected to a control signal source. The drain can be electrically connected to the lower voltage source through a second resistor and be electrically connected to the driver side of the ultrasonic transducer. The gate can be electrically connected to a signal source through a third resistor. | 04-14-2016 |
20160104593 | PIEZOELECTRIC MULTIPLEXER - A piezoelectric multiplexer includes an actuator and multiple piezo-morph beams. The actuator includes an actuator conducting head and an actuator stem, and each piezo-morph beam includes a conducting beam contact head and a beam stem manufactured out of piezo-morph material. A control voltage is selectively applied to electrical contacts coupled to the beam stems to create a piezoelectric effect that bends the selected piezo-morph beam and creates an electrical connection between its contact head and the conducting head of the actuator. A control circuit with a controller signals which piezo-morph beam to connect to the actuator. This multi-piezo-morph-beam piezoelectric multiplexer can be affixed to the electrical terminals of different electrical components (e.g., a transistor) to create an electrical cell that can be manufactured on a semiconductor chip or in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. | 04-14-2016 |
20160107193 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS AND OTHER COMPONENTS - The disclosed technology features methods for the manufacture of electrical components such as ultrasound transducers. In particular, the disclosed technology provides methods of creating an ultrasonic transducer by connecting one or more multi-layer printed circuits to an array of ultrasound transducer elements. In one embodiment, the printed circuits have traces in a single layer that are spaced by a distance that is greater than a pitch of the transducer elements to which the multi-layer printed circuit is to be connected. However the traces from all the layers in the multi-layer printed circuit are interleaved to have a pitch that is equal to the pitch of the transducer elements. The disclosed technology also features ultrasound transducers produced by the methods described herein. | 04-21-2016 |
20160118914 | VIBRATION WAVE DRIVE DEVICE, STATOR FOR A VIBRATION WAVE MOTOR, VIBRATION WAVE MOTOR, DRIVING CONTROL SYSTEM, OPTICAL APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF A VIBRATION WAVE DRIVING DEVICE - A vibration wave drive device ( | 04-28-2016 |
20160129475 | Ultrasound Transmitter - A circuit for driving ultrasound transducers uses a sample-and-hold circuit to sample multiple sample periods of a transducer driving waveform, and uses the samples to modify drive parameters. Use of multiple sample periods enables independent measurement and adjustment of different portions of the transducer driving waveform to ensure mirror symmetry. | 05-12-2016 |
20160149115 | VIBRATOR EQUIPPED WITH PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - A vibrator equipped with a piezoelectric element comprises: a case of which an upper or lower surface is coupled to an object to be vibrated; a vibrating part which is disposed in the case; a piezoelectric element which is coupled to the vibrating part so as to be deformed, thereby vibrating the vibrating part up and down; and a power supply part which supplies power to the piezoelectric element. The case comprises a base; and a support part which is protruded from both sides of the base and also coupled to both sides of the vibrating plate so as to elastically support the vibrating plate upward and downward, and a deformation quantity of the vibrating plate which is deformed to be bent by external impact is reduced while the support part is deformed together. | 05-26-2016 |
20160173006 | PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY HARVESTING ARRAY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME | 06-16-2016 |
20160190428 | MULTILAYER ACTUATOR AND DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME - Provided is a multilayer actuator and a display device comprising the same with improved driving displacement that includes, for example, a plurality of electroactive layers, wherein the electroactive layers comprise a ferroelectric polymer, and polarization directions of all electroactive layers are substantially the same. | 06-30-2016 |
20160204334 | VIBRATION ELEMENT MANUFACTURING METHOD, VIBRATION ELEMENT, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND MOVING OBJECT | 07-14-2016 |
20190143370 | Mitigating Current At Startup Of Ultrasonics | 05-16-2019 |