| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 310318000 | Input circuit for electrical output from piezoelectric element | 39 |
| 20080211347 | Circuit System With Supply Voltage For Driving An Electromechanical Switch - A circuit for controlling operation of a load. In one example, a MEMS switch is positioned in the circuit to place the load in one of a conducting state or a nonconducting state. A piezoelectric transformer provides a relatively high voltage output signal or a relatively low voltage output signal to control movement of the switch between a closed position, placing the load in the conducting state, and an open position. The high voltage output signal includes a frequency component in the resonant frequency range of the transformer. Control circuitry provides an input voltage signal to the piezoelectric transformer to provide the high voltage output signal or the low voltage output signal at the output terminals of the piezoelectric transformer. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080309194 | PIEZOELECTRIC POLYMER COMPOSITE ARTICLE AND SYSTEM - The subject invention provides composite articles ( | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080315720 | Ultrasonic Mechanical Emulsifier - A tubular piezoelectric transducer comprising a tube of piezoelectric material and having a plurality of external electrodes for inducing in a first end of the tube at least one movement of a plurality of possible movements; at least two spokes attached to and extending radially inwardly of the tube for movement with the first end; a hub at an inner end of the at least two spokes and being located on the longitudinal axis of the tube, the hub being attached to the at least two spokes for movement therewith; the hub being for receiving therein a probe for movement of the probe with the hub. A phaco-probe incorporating the transducer is also disclosed. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090045697 | PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSFORMER TYPE HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A piezoelectric transformer high-voltage power source apparatus, in which a driving voltage determined by a value of a driving frequency is applied to a piezoelectric transformer, and thereby an output voltage output by the piezoelectric transformer is provided to a load, includes: an output voltage detection unit to compare an output voltage with a reference voltage for controlling the output voltage, in order to maintain the output voltage at a predetermined value, and based on the comparison result, detecting the change of the output voltage as a digital value; and a driving control unit to perform driving control of the piezoelectric transformer according to the detected digital value. The high-voltage power source apparatus performs stable frequency control without falling into an abnormal oscillation or uncontrollable state, and a high-voltage can be output within a short rise time. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090085436 | Electrical Component that Includes a Ceramic Substrate and Piezoelectric Transformer - An electrical component includes a ceramic substrate and a piezoelectric transformer, which is connected electrically and mechanically to the ceramic substrate. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090273256 | TRANSCEIVER CIRCUIT FOR FILM BULK ACOUSTIC RESONATOR (FBAR) TRANSDUCERS - A piezoelectric transducer device includes a receive signal path, a transistor and a piezoelectric transducer connected to a first terminal of the transistor. The device also includes a switch connected to a second terminal of the transistor, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively connect the second terminal of the transistor to a transmit signal or to a bias voltage; an output connected to a third terminal of the transistor, and adapted to receive a signal from the transducer when the switch is connected to the bias voltage, wherein the switch is not in the receive signal. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100060104 | PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSISTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - A piezoelectric transistor including a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate. The substrate may include a cavity and the cavity may be etched downward. A piezoelectric transistor may include piezoelectric material formed over the semiconductor substrate in a cantilever form, and may be elastically strained up and/or down. A piezoelectric transistor may include metal material electrically connected to the piezoelectric material by the piezoelectric effect, and metal wiring may supply voltage to piezoelectric material. Methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100066204 | PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSFORMER DRIVING CIRCUIT - A piezoelectric transformer driving circuit is provided which reduces switching losses in a full bridge circuit which drives a piezoelectric transformer. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100102673 | Kinetic harvesting frequency optimizer - Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a kinetic energy scavenger mechanism and a frequency tuning system. The kinetic energy scavenger mechanism is configured to harvest energy from a movement of a portable device. The kinetic energy scavenger mechanism includes at least one piezo member. The frequency tuning system is connected to the kinetic energy scavenger system. The frequency tuning system is configured to tune a harvesting frequency of the at least one piezo member based on, at least partially, a characterization of the movement of the portable device. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100164324 | SELF-SENSING DIELECTRIC ACTUATOR SYSTEM - A self-sensing dielectric actuator system. The system has a deformable dielectric material between two electrodes. A relatively low frequency actuating signal is applied to the electrodes and thereby causes the dielectric material to deform, moving at least one electrode. A relatively high frequency sensing signal applied across the electrodes indicates how far the electrode has moved. The system may be calibrated by using a laser or other sensor to mechanically measure the amount of movement. An object may be displaced a desired distance by coupling the object to the electrode and using the sensing signal to measure how far the object has moved. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100219719 | STRAIN ENGINEERING IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES BY USING A PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIAL - An efficient strain-inducing mechanism may be provided on the basis of a piezoelectric material so that performance of different transistor types may be enhanced by applying a single concept. For example, a piezoelectric material may be provided below the active region of different transistor types and may be appropriately connected to a voltage source so as to obtain a desired type of strain. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100301702 | HIGH GAIN MINIATURE POWER SUPPLY FOR PLASMA GENERATION - A high gain pulse generator includes a piezoelectric transformer (PT) that is driven by an input power stage to drive the PT at a desired PT resonant frequency such that at least one PT characteristic substantially matches at least one non-linear load characteristic such as, without limitation, a plasma load characteristic to deliver a desired pulse to the non-linear load. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100301703 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110062822 | TEST SUBSTRATE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING CONTACT FORCE - A test substrate for measuring contact force and a method for measuring contact force are provided in the technology. The substrate may comprises: a base substrate, and a piezoelectric element provided on a surface of the base substrate. One end of the piezoelectric portion is a detecting voltage input terminal and the other end thereof is a detecting voltage output terminal. According to the technology, the substrate and method for measuring contact force can be used to measure the contact force applied to the substrate by the cleaning apparatus or conveying apparatus, and thus the contact force can be properly controlled and the adverse influence on the substrate from the conveying apparatus or cleaning apparatus can be decreased or eliminated. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110074244 | Ultrasonic probe - An ultrasonic probe has transmitting ultrasonic transducers and receiving ultrasonic transducers. The transmitting ultrasonic transducer is composed of a multilayer piezoelectric element, and the receiving ultrasonic transducer is composed of a single-layer piezoelectric element. The transmitting and receiving ultrasonic transducers are alternately arranged in an azimuth direction to form a piezoelectric element line. The single transmitting ultrasonic transducer and the single receiving ultrasonic transducer that adjoin to each other compose a single channel to transmit ultrasonic waves and receive echoes. The transmitting ultrasonic transducer is connected to a transmission circuit board on which a pulser is implemented, and the receiving ultrasonic transducer is connected to a reception circuit board on which an amplifier is implemented. The receiving ultrasonic transducer is directly connected to the amplifier without passing through a capacitance transmission line. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110115335 | Device for Changing the Operational State of an Apparatus - The invention relates to a device for changing the operational state of an apparatus, in particular from a stand-by or power down mode into an active state, which, in order to reduce power consumption during a stand-by mode and, furthermore, in order to reduce accidental powering up of the apparatus, comprises at least one means for transforming a mechanical excitation, in particular applied to the surface of the apparatus, into an electric signal and a power providing means for supplying at least a part of, in particular all, the electric power necessary to enable a change of the operational state of the apparatus wherein the electric power is obtained out of the electric signal. The invention, furthermore, relates to any apparatus comprising this device for changing operational state and a corresponding method. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110187227 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110198969 | FLEXURAL VIBRATING REED, FLEXURAL VIBRATOR, AND PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE - Deterioration of the Q value caused by the thermoelastic effect is suppressed. Since a first depth of a first groove and a second depth of a second groove are smaller than a distance between a surface including a third surface and a surface including a fourth surface, the first and second grooves do not penetrate between the surface including the third surface and the surface including the fourth surface. In addition, the sum of the first depth of the first groove and the second depth of the second groove is greater than the distance between the third and fourth surfaces, a heat transfer path between a first expandable portion (the first surface) and a second expandable portion (the second surface) cannot be formed as a straight line. As such, the heat transfer path between the first expandable portion (the first surface) and a second expandable portion (the second surface) is made to detour to the first and second grooves and and thus be lengthened. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110215674 | Piezoelectric Actuator of a Multilayer Design and Method for Fastening an Outer Electrode in a Piezoelectric Actuator - A piezoelectric actuator of a multilayer design includes outer electrodes that are fastened by means of a bonding layer applied by thermal spraying. For example, the outer electrodes are formed as a woven wire fabric. Furthermore, a method for fastening an outer electrode in a piezoelectric actuator is specified. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110227450 | RESONATOR BODY, RESONATOR DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A resonator body includes a base portion, resonating arms that are extended from the base portion, piezoelectric body elements that are arranged on the resonating arms, first electrode layers that are arranged on the resonating arms, piezoelectric body layers that are arranged on the first electrode layers and second electrode layers that are arranged on the piezoelectric body layers, and a plurality of fine holes that penetrates at least any one layer of these layers in a thickness direction is formed. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110227451 | RESONATOR BODY, RESONATOR DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A resonator body of a resonator device includes a base portion, two resonating arms that are extended from the base portion in a Y axis direction and arranged in parallel to an X axis direction that is orthogonal to the Y axis direction, and excitation electrodes that are arranged on each of the resonating arms in a pair and excite the resonating arms by applying an electric current, wherein a plurality of holes that partially penetrates at least one side of a pair of excitation electrodes in a thickness direction is formed so that the vibration characteristic of the resonating arm is adjusted. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110316386 | MICRORESONATOR, RESONATOR SENSOR WITH SUCH MICRORESONATOR, AND SENSOR ARRAY COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO SUCH MICRORESONATORS - A microresonator for use as a resonator in a detector is disclosed. In one aspect, the microresonator has a first predetermined resonance mode. The microresonator has an integrated electronic transducer for measuring deformation of the microresonator in the first predetermined resonance mode of the microresonator. The transducer is located at a local deformation of the predetermined resonance mode to measure the deformation of the microresonator at such location. The first predetermined resonance mode may be one of higher order resonance modes. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120056510 | INTEGRATION OF PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS WITH SUBSTRATES - Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120267982 | NON-CONTACT MECHANICAL ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE AND METHOD UTILIZING FREQUENCY RECTIFICATION - An energy harvesting apparatus includes an inverse frequency rectifier structured to receive mechanical energy at a first frequency, and a solid state electromechanical transducer coupled to the inverse frequency rectifier to receive a force provided by the inverse frequency rectifier. The force, when provided by the inverse frequency rectifier, causes the solid state transducer to be subjected to a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency to thereby generate electrical power. The coupling of the solid state electromechanical transducer to the inverse frequency rectifier is a non-contact coupling. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120319529 | PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR DEVICE AND PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR DEVICE DRIVE METHOD - A piezoelectric sensor device includes a piezoelectric element, a signal processing unit, a polarization processing unit and a connection switching unit. The piezoelectric element has a piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric body. The signal processing unit is configured to execute at least one of signal input from the piezoelectric element, and signal output to the piezoelectric element. The polarization processing unit is configured to execute polarization processing in which polarization voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element. The connection switching unit is configured to switch between a first connection state with which the electrodes and the signal processing unit are connected, and a second connection state with which the electrodes and the polarization processing unit are connected. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130033151 | PIEZOELECTRIC THIN-FILM RESONATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A piezoelectric thin-film resonator includes: a lower electrode provided on a substrate; a piezoelectric film that is provided on the lower electrode and includes at least two layers; an upper electrode that is provided on the piezoelectric film and has a region sandwiching the piezoelectric film with the lower electrode and facing the lower electrode; and an insulating film that is provided in a region in which the lower electrode and the upper electrode face each other and between each of the at least two layers, wherein an upper face of the insulating film is flatter than a lower face of the insulating film. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130082568 | Apparatus And Method For Reducing Energy Consumption In Monitoring Means Of a Plurality Of Piezoelectric Components - An apparatus for reducing energy consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components comprises a plurality of piezoelectric components as well as monitoring means for monitoring the status of the piezoelectric components. The monitoring means have two states namely active and inactive. The piezoelectric components are connected in parallel to each other. A current detecting circuit comprises a switch and a resistor that is connected in parallel to the switch. A controller having two states that are active and inactive. The controller is configured to open the switch in response to the controller being in the inactive state and to close the switch in response to the controller being in the active state. The closing of the switch triggers a state change in the monitoring means from their inactive state to their active state. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130134832 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ADJUSTMENT METHOD THEREOF - An electronic device and an adjustment method thereof are provided. Generate an adjustment voltage according to a preset capacitance and a capacitance detected by a capacitive sensor coupled to both sides of a piezoelectric element, and generate a driving voltage to drive the piezoelectric element according to the adjustment voltage, so as to avoid depolarization of the piezoelectric element affecting the vibration strength of the vibration device. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130154440 | IN-PLANE ACTUATED RESONANT DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE DEVICE - An in-plane actuated resonant device, and method of manufacturing the device. The device includes a support; a suspended beam, moving parallel to the plane of the surface of the support and anchored to the support through at least one of its ends; and a mechanism actuating the beam to enable its displacement parallel to the support. The actuation mechanism includes at least one suspended element, anchored to the support and to one lateral face of the beam. The element moves when a control voltage is applied to the element and thus causes displacement of the beam. The device may be manufactured using surface technology and is applicable particularly for resonant mass sensors. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20140001921 | RESONATOR ELEMENT, PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140361662 | Apparatus And Method For Energy Harvesting - An apparatus for energy conversion, comprising a piezoelectric component comprising a first part configured to convert vibrational energy into electrical energy; and an output for sending a first portion of the generated electrical energy to an electronic device, and a feedback loop for feeding a second portion of the generated electrical energy to a second part of the piezoelectric component, wherein the second part of the piezoelectric component is coupled to the first part of the piezoelectric component and is configured to convert electrical energy into vibrational energy thereby causing the first part of the piezoelectric component to vibrate. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150048718 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A CAPACITIVE ACTUATOR - A capacitive actuator is connected to an output of an apparatus which is formed with a capacitor connected between an input and a reference potential, with a full bridge with four power switching elements connected in parallel with the capacitor. To charge the capacitive actuator, a control circuit first turns on the first and third power switching elements. Current then flows from the first capacitor via a coil connected between the bridge paths and energy is stored in the coil. When a maximum current value is reached, the first and third power switching elements are switched off and magnetic energy stored in the coil decays due to current flow via the diodes of the second and fourth power switching elements. This charges the capacitive actuator. The capacitive actuator is charged to a predefined voltage by possible repeated switching of the first and third power switching elements. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150115772 | RESONATOR ELEMENT, RESONATOR, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND MOVING OBJECT - A resonator element includes a vibrating portion that vibrates in a thickness shear vibration and includes a first main surface and a second main surface which are in a front and back relationship to each other, a first excitation electrode that is provided on the first main surface, and a second excitation electrode that is provided on the second main surface, and an energy trapping coefficient M satisfies a relationship of 33.6≦M≦65.1. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20160027987 | Circuit Assembly and Method for Controlling a Piezoelectric Transformer - A circuit assembly is used for controlling a piezoelectric transformer having an input capacitance in a first circuit branch. The circuit assembly also includes a second circuit branch for compensating for the input capacitance, preferably by means of a capacitive element, and a differential amplifier having two inputs. The first input is coupled to the first circuit branch and the second input is coupled to the second circuit branch. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160079513 | DOPED PIEZOELECTRIC RESONATOR - Mechanical resonators including doped piezoelectric active layers are described. The piezoelectric active layer(s) of the mechanical resonator may be doped with a dopant type and concentration suitable to increase the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the active layer. The increase in electromechanical coupling coefficient may all for improved performance and smaller size mechanical resonators than feasible without using the doping. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160136948 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING CAPACITANCE-TYPE ACTUATOR - According to one embodiment, an apparatus for driving a capacitance-type actuator includes a first voltage source, a second voltage source, and a driver. The first voltage source outputs a first voltage to charge the capacitance-type actuator. The second voltage source outputs a second voltage to charge the actuator. The driver switches between first and second charges and first and second discharges. The first charge supplies the first voltage to the actuator. The second charge supplies the sum of the first voltage and the second voltage to the actuator. The first discharge emits a charge accumulated in the actuator and guides the charge to the second voltage source. The second discharge emits the charge accumulated in the actuator without guiding the charge to the second voltage source. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160155928 | Device with deformable shell including an internal piezoelectric circuit | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160156284 | POWER GENERATING DEVICE | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160197609 | MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR DEVICE | 07-07-2016 |
