The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2001
Naoki Matsui, Sakai, JP;
Hiroji Katsuragi, Izumi, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element and a method of fabricating a tube-shaped piezoelectric conversion element are provided. The piezoelectric conversion element is formed either with two electroded piezoelectric sheet elements (two-layer type) rolled up in a tube-shaped member or with a single piezoelectric sheet element (single-layer type) electroded on two opposing surfaces and folded near its center and rolled up in a tube shaped member. A non-electrode surface portion without electrode material disposed thereon is provided on at least one electroded surface of at least one piezoelectric sheet element at an end of the piezoelectric sheet element in a direction intersecting a tube-axis direction. At lease one non-electrode surface portion may also be provided on a piezoelectric sheet element in a region encompassing the fold of single-layer type device. Short circuiting between electrode layers is thereby substantially avoided at ends of the piezoelectric sheet elements or in the fold region.