Patent US1931223A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4424465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Piezoelectric vibration transducer
Assignee: Toray Industries Inc
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Filing: 1982-10-15
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Granted: 1984-01-03
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Expires: 2002-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A piezoelectric vibration transducer is disclosed which includes a polymeric piezoelectric film as the active element. The film is a selectively or fully polarized, uniaxially oriented material selected from the group of polyvinylidene fluoride, blended material such as polyvinylidene fluoride and PZT powder, polyvinyl fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, copolymers or vinylidene fluoride such as vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene or trifluoroethylene. The film is bonded to electrode strips formed by printed circuit methods and then overcoated with a front electrode layer. The sandwich formed by the electrode layers and intermediate polymeric piezoelectric film can be reversed so that the front electrode layer is discontinuous while the back electrode layer is continuous, or both electrode layers can be formed to be discontinuous. Special configurations for the discontinuous pattern of electrode layers can be employed such as that specified by Fresnel's theory.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroji Ohigashi
- 👤 Toshiharu Nakanishi
- 👤 Miyo Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:53
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer comprising a series of vibration elements comprising a polymeric piezoelectric film sandwiched by electrode plates, a front surface of the series of vibrational elements being cylindrically concave about a common axis, the polymeric piezoelectric film being continuous through the series of vibrational elements, each of the series of vibrational elements forming an arc substantially perpendicular to the common axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer comprising a series of vibration elements comprising a polymeric piezoelectric film sandwiched by electrode plates, a front surface of the series of vibrational elements being cylindrically concave about a common axis, the polymeric piezoelectric film being continuous through the series of vibrational elements, each of the series of vibrational elements forming an arc substantially perpendicular to the common axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 1 in which said vibration elements are arranged in substantially parallel order.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 1 in which said polymeric piezoelectric film comprises a continuous sheet passing across said series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 3 in which one of said electrode plates comprises a continuous sheet passing across said series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 3 in which said polymeric piezoelectric film contains at least partially non-piezoelectric portions which correspond to gaps between said vibration elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 1 in which said series of vibrational elements is attached to a supporting body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 1 in which one of said electrode plates serves concurrently as a rear reflector plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the surfaces of said series of vibrational elements is covered with a protecting layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer as claimed in claim 6 in which said lead wires are formed by through-hole plating passing through said supporting body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A scanning and focusing piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer comprising a support having a cylindrically concave surface, a vibration element contiguously conformed to the concave surface of the support, and a protecting layer covering the vibration element, the vibration element comprising a plurality of electrode strips arranged substantially parallel to each other, a continuous electrode plate arranged substantially parallel to the plurality of electrode strips, and a continuous film situated contiguously between the electrode plate and the electrode strips, the film composed of polymeric piezoelectric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
A scanning and focusing piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration transducer comprising a support having a cylindrically concave surface, a vibration element contiguously conformed to the concave surface of the support, and a protecting layer covering the vibration element, the vibration element comprising a plurality of electrode strips arranged substantially parallel to each other, a continuous electrode plate arranged substantially parallel to the plurality of electrode strips, and a continuous film situated contiguously between the electrode plate and the electrode strips, the film composed of polymeric piezoelectric material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein the plurality of electrode strips of the vibrational element are fixed directly to the concave surface of the support.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transducer of claim 11 wherein the film of polymeric piezoelectric material of the vibration element is polarized in regions coincident with the plurality of electrode strips and at least partially non-polarized elsewhere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein the continuous electrode plate of the vibrational element is fixed directly to the concave surface of the support.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transducer of claim 13 further comprising a lead connected to the continuous electrode plate, the lead extending through a central portion of the support.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein gaps between adjacent electrode strips of the vibration element are filled with an insulating material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein the plurality of electrode strips of the vibration element are arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder defining the concave surface of the support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein the support further comprises a pair of side walls extending downward from the concave surface and parallel to the axis defining the concave surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
The transducer of claim 17 further comprising two groups of pick-up leads, each group being situated on a respective one of the pair of side walls of the support, one of the groups of pick-up leads being connected to a first spaced series of the electrode strips of the vibrational element, the other of the group of pick-up leads being connected to the remaining electrode strips of the vibrational element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transducer of claim 18 wherein each group of pick-up leads extends partially onto a rear surface of the support.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transducer of claim 10 wherein the protecting layer covering the vibrational element further comprises suitable packing material to make the front surface of the transducer flat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-02 | 1987-07-04 | 1988-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-02 | 1991-07-04 | 1992-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-02 | 1995-07-04 | 1996-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |