US4628223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite ceramic/polymer piezoelectric material
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1984-10-18
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Granted: 1986-12-09
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Expires: 2004-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A high-sensitivity ultrasonic probe comprising a plate of a composite material having the regions of a piezoelectric ceramic polarized uniformly in the direction of thickness and the regions of polymer, both regions existing dispersed alternately in the direction parallel to the plate surface, electrodes formed on both sides of the composite material, and a connecting layer formed on at least one side of the composite material and composed of a material harder than said polymer.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Takeuchi
- 👤 Chitose Nakaya
- 👤 Shinichiro Umemura
- 👤 Kageyoshi Katakura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H11/00; G01H11/06; G01H11/08; H; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/80; H10N30/85; H10N30/852; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising a plate of a composite piezoelectric material having a region of piezoelectric ceramic polarized uniformly in a thicknesswise direction and a region of polymer, both said regions existing along the thicknesswise direction and being dispersed alternately in a direction parallel to a major plate surface, electrodes formed on each major plate surface of said plate of the composite piezoelectric material, and an acoustic connecting layer formed on at least one major plate surface of said plate of the composite piezoelectric material composed of a material harder than said polymer and having a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.4×10 10 to 1.3×10 10 N/m 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising a plate of a composite piezoelectric material having a region of piezoelectric ceramic polarized uniformly in a thicknesswise direction and a region of polymer, both said regions existing along the thicknesswise direction and being dispersed alternately in a direction parallel to a major plate surface, electrodes formed on each major plate surface of said plate of the composite piezoelectric material, and an acoustic connecting layer formed on at least one major plate surface of said plate of the composite piezoelectric material composed of a material harder than said polymer and having a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.4×10 10 to 1.3×10 10 N/m 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric ceramic is a lead zirconate titanate type ceramic, said polymer is silicone rubber or polyurethane, and said connecting layer is comprised of an epoxy resin having a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.5×10 10 to 1.0×10 10 N/m 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ultrasonic claim according to claim 2, wherein said electrodes are comprised of metals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-08 | 1990-06-09 | 1990-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-08 | 1994-06-09 | 1994-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-08 | 1998-06-09 | 1998-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |