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:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 19, 2002
Hiroshi Fukukita, Tokyo, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
Herein disclosed is a sound converting apparatus for performing conversion between electric signals and ultrasonic waves, comprising: a plurality of oscillation bodies for emitting ultrasonic waves converted from the electric signals along a wave propagating direction Dp; and a plurality of electrically conductive bodies each for electrically connecting the oscillation bodies; a plurality of signal lines for inputting electric signals to be applied to respective oscillation bodies; a pair of external electrodes respectively held in contact with the outer surfaces of respective piezoelectric layers and electrically connected with the electrically conductive bodies; and a dividing electrode sandwiched by and held in contact with the inner surfaces of the piezoelectric layers and electrically connected with the signal line, whereby the piezoelectric layers respectively generate electric polarizations, directions of which are opposing to each other and extending substantially parallel to an azimuthal direction Da perpendicular to the wave propagating direction Dp, and emit ultrasonic waves converted from the electric signals along the wave propagating direction Dp when electrical fields are applied between the external electrodes and the dividing electrode in response to the electric signals, the ratio of the width W to the thickness T is within a range of from 0.1 to 0.8.