# US 12,766,554 B2 · Multi-layered transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,766,554 B2 - Document ID: US12766554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/316,596 - Filed: 2023-05-12 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-12 - Assignees: Level 42 Ai - Applicants: Nelson L. Jumbe; Andreas Schuh; Peter Rexelius; Michael Morimoto; Wiljan Smaal; Georges Hadziioannou; Guillaume Payrot - Inventors: Nelson L. Jumbe; Andreas Schuh; Peter Rexelius; Michael Morimoto; Wiljan Smaal; Georges Hadziioannou; Guillaume Payrot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12766554B2 ## CPC - B06B 1/0622: {on one surface} - H10N 30/045: by polarising - H10N 30/06: Forming electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals - H10N 30/077: by liquid phase deposition - H10N 30/088: by cutting or dicing - H10N 30/101: {with electrical and mechanical input and output, e.g. having combined actuator and sensor parts} - H10N 30/802: {Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits} - H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions - H10N 30/878: {the principal material being non-metallic, e.g. oxide or carbon based} - H10N 30/883: {Additional insulation means preventing electrical, physical or chemical damage, e.g. protective coatings} - H10N 39/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive element covered by groups H10N30/00 – H10N35/00 - A61B 8/4209: {by using holders, e.g. positioning frames} - B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract There is disclosed a transducer and a method for generating the transducer. The transducer is formed on a substrate layer. The transducer includes a first electrode layer, a first piezoelectric layer on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer on the first piezoelectric layer. The first electrode layer is connected to a first electrical connector and the second electrode layer is connected to a second electrical connector. The transducer can be configured to act as an acoustic sensor or an electric potential sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transducer comprising a substrate layer, a first electrode layer on the substrate layer, a first piezoelectric layer on the first electrode layer, a second electrode layer on the first piezoelectric layer, a first electrical connector connected to the first electrode layer and a second electrical connector connected to the second electrode layer, one or both of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector being connectable to an electronics circuit or to a ground. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer functions as an electric potential sensor when the first piezoelectric layer is not polarized and functions as an acoustic sensor when the first piezoelectric layer is polarized. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transducer of claim 2, wherein the first piezoelectric layer is not polarized and wherein one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector is connected to an electronics circuit, and the other of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector is floating, connected to ground, or connected to a shield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The transducer of claim 2, wherein the first piezoelectric layer is polarized and wherein one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector is connected to an electronics circuit, and the other of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector is floating, connected to ground, or connected to a shield. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer is flexible. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The transducer of claim 5, wherein the substrate layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, further comprising an electronics circuit connected to one or both of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, and wherein the electronics circuit includes a voltage amplifier, charge amplifier or current amplifier. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The transducer of claim 7, further comprising a processor connected to the electronics circuit for receiving signals detected by the transducer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer has a circumference which is quadrilateral or circular and a surface area of about 70 to about 1500 mm2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer was formed by printing, sequentially, the first electrode layer on the substrate layer, the first piezoelectric layer on the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer on the first piezoelectric layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, further comprising a second piezoelectric layer on top of the second electrode layer and a third electrode layer on top of the second piezoelectric layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The transducer of claim 11, wherein one of the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer is polarized and the other of the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer is not polarized. ### Claim 13 A method of making a transducer, the method comprising: obtaining a substrate layer having a substrate composition; forming a first electrode layer, having an electrode composition, on the substrate layer; forming a first piezoelectric layer, having a piezoelectric composition, on the first electrode layer; forming a second electrode layer, having an electrode composition, on the first piezoelectric layer; and forming one or both of a first electrical connector connected with the first electrode layer and a second electrical connector connected with the second electrode layer, wherein one or both of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are printed after the first electrode layer and before the first piezoelectric layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming the first electrode layer comprises printing the electrode composition followed by annealing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming the first piezoelectric layer comprises printing the piezoelectric composition followed by annealing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein forming the second electrode layer comprises printing the electrode composition followed by annealing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising forming a plurality of the transducers wherein the plurality of transducers have a common substrate layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least two transducers of the plurality of transducers have a first electrode layer or a second electrode layer that share a ground connection. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising forming a plurality of the transducers on a sheet.