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US5187402A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Piezoelectric device and related converting devices

Assignee: Seikosha KK
•
Filing: 1990-09-10
•
Granted: 1993-02-16
•
Expires: 2010-09-10
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Abstract

Abstract A piezoelectric device includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed in opposing, spaced relation to the first electrode, a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between the first and second electrodes, a first alignment layer formed between the first electrode and the ferroelectric liquid crystal, and a second alignment layer formed between the second electrode and the ferroelectric liquid crystal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masanori Fujita
  • 👤 Shinichi Okamoto
  • 👤 Hirokazu Ono

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 05:11
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/10; H02N2/16; H02N2/163; H02N2/0005; H02N2/001; H02N2/0045; H02N2/103; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/30; H10N30/302; H10N30/80; H10N30/85; H10N30/857

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
In a piezoelectric sound generating module comprising a piezoelectric transducer and a source of electric signals corresponding to sound to be generated by said transducer, the improvement wherein said piezoelectric transducer comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposing relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; said source of electric signals being connected between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
In a piezoelectric sound generating module comprising a piezoelectric transducer and a source of electric signals corresponding to sound to be generated by said transducer, the improvement wherein said piezoelectric transducer comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposing relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; said source of electric signals being connected between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 105 words
A piezoelectric module comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposed relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; and electric signal generating means supplying electric signals between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof, said module further comprising resonating means coupled to said panel for resonating natural oscillations of said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 105 words
A piezoelectric module comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposed relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; and electric signal generating means supplying electric signals between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof, said module further comprising resonating means coupled to said panel for resonating natural oscillations of said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The piezoelectric module of claim 1 further comprising a second alignment layer between said second electrode and said ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The piezoelectric module of claim 3 wherein said first alignment layer and said second alignment layer have homogeneous alignments that are neither parallel nor anti-parallel with respect to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The piezoelectric module of claim 3 wherein said first alignment layer and said second alignment layer are comprised of different materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The piezoelectric module of claim 3 wherein said first alignment layer attracts spontaneous polarization of said ferroelectric liquid crystal, and said second alignment layer repulses spontaneous polarization of said ferroelectric liquid crystal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The piezoelectric module of claim 1 wherein said alignment layer has homogeneous alignment resulting from strong rubbing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 93 words
A piezoelectric module comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposing relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; and a source of electric signals having a frequency between 200 Hz and 20 kHz connected between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 93 words
A piezoelectric module comprising a ferroelectric liquid crystal panel which comprises a first electrode; a second electrode disposed in opposing relation to said first electrode; a ferroelectric liquid crystal interposed between said first and second electrodes; and a first alignment layer formed between said ferroelectric liquid crystal and said first electrode; and a source of electric signals having a frequency between 200 Hz and 20 kHz connected between said first and second electrodes; whereby said ferroelectric liquid crystal panel generates a sound responsive to said electric signals caused by a piezoelectric property thereof.

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) 1996-02-16 1996-08-17 1997-02-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-02-16 2000-08-17 2001-02-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-02-16 2004-08-17 2005-02-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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