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US 4,975,616 AGranted
Piezoelectric transducer array
AssigneeAtochem North America, Inc.
InventorKyung T. Park
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piezoelectric transducer array comprises a plurality of piezoelectric transducer means arranged in an array. A common electrode is provided among at least a plurality of the piezoelectric transducer means. A plurality of discrete signal electrodes is operatively associated with each transducer means. The number of signal electrodes for each transducer means is the same. The surface areas of the signal electrodes for each transducer means are adapted and arranged for generating a signal unique to each transducer means. Corresponding ones of the signal electrodes of each plurality of signal electrodes are connected together with a common conductor to form a single electrical terminal. The total number of resulting electrical terminals is the same as the number of signal electrodes for each transducer means.
Claims30
A piezoelectric transducer array, comprising:
- a. a plurality of piezoelectric transducer means arranged in a generally planar array;
- b. a common electrode among at least a plurality of the piezoelectric transducer means;
- c. a plurality of discrete signal electrodes operatively associated with each transducer means on a surface of the plane of the array, the number of signal electrodes for each transducer means being the same, the relative sides of the surface areas of the signal electrodes for each transducer means being adapted and arranged to generate a plurality of charge output signals with a unique combination of magnitudes for generating a signal unique to each transducer means;
- and
- d. corresponding signal electrodes of each plurality being connected together by a common conductor.
2 more elements
A piezoelectric transducer array, comprising:
- a. a sheet of piezoelectric material,
- b. individual transducer locations arranged in an array on the sheet,
- c. a common electrode on one surface of the sheet for at least a plurality of said transducer locations,
- d. a plurality of discrete electrodes on the opposite surface of the sheet at each transducer location, the number of electrodes at each transducer location being the same, the relative sizes of the surface areas of the electrodes at each transducer location being adapted and arranged to generate a plurality of charge output signals having a unique combination of magnitudes for generating a signal unique to each transducer location, and
- e. corresponding electrodes of each plurality being connected together by a common conductor to form at least two terminals.
2 more elements
A keyboard comprising:
- a. a sheet of piezoelectric polymer film,
- b. a plurality of individual key sites arranged in an array on the film,
- c. a common electrode on one surface of the film for all key sites,
- d. a plurality of discrete electrodes on the opposite surface of the film at each key site, the number of discrete electrodes at each key site being the same, the electrodes at each key site having a unique combination of sizes of surface areas to generate a plurality of charge signals having a unique combination of magnitudes for generating an electrical signal unique to each key site upon actuation of the key site, and
- e. corresponding electrodes of each plurality being connected together by a common conductor.
2 more elements
A piezoelectric transducer array, comprising:
- a. a sheet of piezoelectric polymer film,
- b. individual transducer locations arranged in an array on the film,
- c. a common electrode on one surface of the film for all transducer locations,
- d. a plurality of discrete electrodes on the opposite surface of the film at each transducer location, the number of electrodes at each transducer location being the same, the relative sizes of the surface areas of the electrodes at each transducer location being adapted and arranged to generate a plurality of charge output signals with a unique combination of magnitudes for generating a signal unique to each transducer location, and
- e. corresponding ones of the electrodes of each plurality being connected together by a common conductor to form a single terminal, the total number of resulting terminals being the same as the number of electrodes at each transducer location.
2 more elements
A piezoelectric transducer array, comprising:
- a. a first sheet of piezoelectric material having individual transducer locations arranged in an array on a first surface of the sheet and a common electrode for all transducer location on the opposite surface of the sheet,
- b. a second sheet of piezoelectric material having individual transducer locations arranged in an array on a first surface of the sheet and a common electrode for all transducer location on the opposite surface of the sheet, the individual transducer locations on the first and second sheets being in registry when the first sheet is superposed on the second sheet,
- c. an insulating layer between the first and second sheets,
- d. a plurality of discrete electrodes on the first surfaces of each sheet at each transducer location, the number of electrodes at each transducer location on each sheet being the same, the electrodes at each transducer location having a unique combination of sizes of surface areas to generate a plurality of charge output signals with a unique combination of magnitudes for generating a unique electrical signal representative of the location of a transducer location within the array upon actuation of the transducer, and
- e. the electrodes on each sheet being connected together by a common conductor.
2 more elements
A keyboard comprising:
- a. a sheet of pyroelectric material sensitive to thermal energy,
- b. a plurality of individual key sites arranged in an array on the sheet,
- c. a source of thermal energy disposed in proximity to the sheet,
- d. a plurality of actuators for selectively directing thermal energy from the source of thermal energy to a corresponding key site on the sheet,
- e. a common electrode on one surface of the sheet for all key sites,
- f. a plurality of discrete electrodes on the opposite surface of the sheet at the key site, the number of discrete electrodes at each key site being the same, the electrodes at each key site having a unique combination of sizes of surface areas for generating a plurality of unique combinations of charge magnitudes for generating an electrical signal unique to each key site upon exposure of the key site to thermal energy directed to a key site by one of the actuators, and
- g. corresponding electrodes of corresponding surface area of each plurality being connected together by a common conductor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.