Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.

Casio Computer Co., Ltd.

Yukihiro Matsui

Hiroshi Hamada

Fumihisa Ito

Shigeo Ishii

Takashi Tomita

Yutaka Doshida

Hiroyuki Shimizu

Tomohiro Harada

Yukihiro Konishi

Keiichi Kobayashi

Sumiaki Kishimoto

Atsushi Fujiwara

Hisayoshi Matsui

A multilayer piezoelectric element includes a ceramic body formed by a piezoelectric ceramic, and having first and second end face facing a longitudinal direction, first and second principal faces facing a thickness direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A pair of external electrodes cover the first and second end faces, extend from the first and second end faces onto the first principal face via ridge parts connecting the end faces with the principal faces, and project in the thickness direction on the first principal face. Multiple internal electrodes are stacked inside the ceramic body and are connected alternately to the pair of external electrodes along the thickness direction. A surface electrode is provided on at least one of the first and second principal faces, and connected to the external electrode different from the one to which the internal electrode adjacent in the thickness direction is connected.

Multilayer piezoelectric element, piezoelectric vibration apparatus, and electronic device

A laminated piezoelectric elementincludes: a laminated bodyin rectangle shape formed by alternately laminating a plurality of piezoelectric layersand one or more internal electrode(s); a connection electrodeconnected to one end portionof the internal electrode(s); and an electric field relaxation regionorformed discontinuously with regard to the internal electrode(s)in at least one of two corner portionsandof the other end portionopposite to the one end portionof the internal electrode(s)

Laminated piezoelectric element

Provided is a vibration panel including an inner member, a first outer member, a second outer member, a piezoelectric actuator, an actuator bonding layer, and a filler. The inner member includes first and second main surfaces. The first outer member includes third and fourth main surfaces, the third main surface including a first region and a second region. The second outer member includes fifth and sixth main surfaces, the fifth main surface including a third region and a fourth region. The piezoelectric actuator causes vibration. The actuator bonding layer is disposed between the piezoelectric actuator and the second region and bonds the piezoelectric actuator to the second region. The filler fills a space between the second region and the fourth region and covers the piezoelectric actuator.

Vibration panel and electronic apparatus

A vibration generating deviceincludes: a diaphragm; and a first piezoelectric actuatorand a second piezoelectric actuatorattached on an upper surfaceand a lower surfaceof the diaphragm, respectively, so as to sandwich the diaphragm 11 therebetween in a vicinity of an end surface of the diaphragm, wherein, in a top view of the upper surfaceof the diaphragm, the first piezoelectric actuatoris disposed at a position shifted with respect to the second piezoelectric actuator

Vibration generating device and electronic equipment

A vibration generating deviceincludes: a housingin a rectangular shape as viewed in a first direction, the housingcomprising: a first support portionextending along a first side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and; a second support portionextending along a second side opposite to the first side in the second direction; a panelsupported by the first support portion and the second support portion; and a piezoelectric elementattached to the panel in such a manner as to be shifted in the second direction toward the first side with respect to a central portion of the panel, wherein a width in the second direction of a portion of the panel supported by the first support portion is larger than a width in the second direction of a portion of the panel supported by the second support portion.

Vibration generating device

A piezoelectric actuatorincludes: a piezoelectric element; an external electrodecovering partially a first surfaceof the piezoelectric elementin a first direction; a wiring member; and a conductive joining memberjoining the wiring memberto the external electrode, wherein the conductive joining memberhas an air gapformed between the external electrodeand the wiring memberin a region overlapping with the wiring memberas viewed in the first direction, and wherein the conductive joining memberextends to an edgeof the external electrodeor extends to the first surfaceof the piezoelectric elementbeyond the edgeof the external electrode

Piezoelectric actuator, vibration generating device and electronic equipment

A multilayer piezoelectric element includes a ceramic base body, a pair of external electrodes, multiple internal electrodes, and surface electrodes. The pair of external electrodes cover a pair of end faces and extend from the pair of end faces along a pair of principal faces and a pair of side faces. The multiple internal electrodes are stacked inside the ceramic base body along the thickness direction, and are connected alternately to one or the other of the pair of external electrodes along the thickness direction. The surface electrodes extend from the pair of external electrodes along the pair of principal faces, and are each divided in the longitudinal direction at a position near, of the pair of external electrodes, the external electrode to which the internal electrode adjacent to the principal face is connected.

A panel includes a vibration plate having a generally rectangular shape; and a piezoelectric actuator that is provided on a main surface of the vibration plate and causes the vibration plate to vibrate, in which the vibration plate is configured such that a length x in mm of a long side of the vibration plate and logarithmic decrement y of the vibration plate satisfy Expression 1 below:&#x2264;32.6&#x2003;&#x2003;(Expression 1).

Panel and electronic apparatus

In an embodiments, an electronic devicehas a panelof roughly rectangular shape, a housingthat holds the panel, and a piezoelectric elementinstalled on the rear face side of the panel, wherein the panelis bonded to the housingwith its edges supported on the housing, and it also has at least one sidenot bonded to the housing(non-bonded side). The electronic device is capable of causing an entire panel to vibrate in a stable manner.

Electronic device

In an embodiment, an electronic devicehas a panel, a housingthat holds the panel, and a piezoelectric elementinstalled on the rear side of the panel, wherein the piezoelectric elementis installed at a position that allows for the vibration amplitude of the panelto become the highest on the side closer to the center of the panelin the longitudinal direction from the installed position of the piezoelectric element. The electronic device is capable of causing an entire panel to vibrate in a stable manner.

In an embodiment, an electroacoustic converter has an enclosure, piezoelectric sounding body, electromagnetic sounding body, passage, and wiring members. The piezoelectric sounding body includes a first vibration plate supported directly or indirectly on the enclosure, and a piezoelectric element placed at least on one side of the first vibration plate. The piezoelectric sounding body divides the interior of the enclosure into a first space and a second space. The electromagnetic sounding body has a second vibration plate and is placed in the first space. The passage is provided at the piezoelectric sounding body or around the piezoelectric sounding body, to connect the first space and second space. The wiring members are electrically connected to the piezoelectric element and led out toward the electromagnetic sounding body, from the piezoelectric element, through the first space or second space.

Electroacoustic converter

In an embodiment, an electroacoustic converter (earphone) has an enclosure, piezoelectric sounding body, electromagnetic sounding body, and passage. The piezoelectric sounding bodyincludes a vibration platehaving a periphery supported directly or indirectly on the enclosure, and a piezoelectric elementplaced at least on one side of the vibration plate. The piezoelectric sounding bodydivides the interior of the enclosureinto a first space Sand a second space S. The electromagnetic sounding bodyis placed in the first space S. A passageis provided in or around the piezoelectric sounding body, to connect the first space Sand second space S. The electroacoustic converter is capable of obtaining desired frequency characteristics easily.

Electroacoustic converter and electronic device

In an embodiment, an electroacoustic converter (earphone) has an enclosure, piezoelectric sounding body, electromagnetic sounding body, and passage. The piezoelectric sounding bodyincludes a first vibration platehaving a periphery supported directly or indirectly on the enclosure, and a piezoelectric elementplaced at least on one side of the vibration plate. The piezoelectric sounding bodyhas a second vibration plate and divides the interior of the enclosureinto a first space Sand a second space S. The electromagnetic sounding bodyis placed in the first space S. The passageis provided in or around the piezoelectric sounding bodyto connect the first space Sand second space S. The electroacoustic converter is capable of obtaining desired frequency characteristics easily.

A display apparatus includes a flat display panel, and a housing which surrounds the display panel. The housing includes a backboard portion facing the display panel and a sound emitting portion. A vibrating plate is arranged in a region corresponding to the sound emitting portion between the display panel and the backboard portion of the housing. A first spacer is attached to a rim portion of one surface of the vibrating plate, the first spacer being interposed between the vibrating plate and one of the backboard portion of the housing and the display panel. A second spacer is attached to a rim portion of the other surface of the vibrating plate, the second spacer being interposed between vibrating plate and the other of the backboard portion of the housing and the display panel. The first and second spacers are made of materials having different degree of hardness.

Growing community of inventors

Takasaki, Japan

Yukihiro Matsui