Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member

A liquid container comprising:

• a housing containing therein liquid;
• a liquid supply opening formed in said housing;
• and
• a liquid detection device attached on said housing, comprising:
• a piezoelectric layer having a main portion, said main portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface;
• a vibrating plate on which said piezoelectric layer is mounted, said vibrating plate including a vibrating region having a first surface and a second surface, a part of said second surface contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container;
• a first electrode contacting said first surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer and connecting to an external apparatus, said first electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards an outside of said vibrating region;
• and
• a second electrode having a first surface and a second surface and connecting to the external apparatus, said first surface contacting said second surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer, said second electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards the outside of said vibrating region, said second electrode extending substantially on the same plane as said first electrode extends on.

A module for detecting a liquid consumption status of a liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising:

• a liquid detection device attached on said housing, comprising:
• a piezoelectric layer having a main portion, said main portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface;
• a vibrating plate on which said piezoelectric layer is mounted, said vibrating plate including a vibrating region having a first surface and a second surface, a part of said second surface contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container when the module is mounted on the liquid container;
• a first electrode contacting said first surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer and connecting to an external apparatus, said first electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards an outside of said vibrating region;
• and
• a second electrode having a first surface and a second surface and connecting to the external apparatus, said first surface contacting said second surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer, said second electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards the outside of said vibrating region, said second electrode extending substantially on the same plane as said first electrode extends on.

A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device comprising:

• a piezoelectric layer having a main portion, said main portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface;
• a vibrating plate on which said piezoelectric layer is mounted, said vibrating plate including a vibration region having a first surface and a second surface, a part of said second surface contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container;
• a first electrode contacting said first surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer and connecting to an external apparatus, said first electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards an outside of said vibrating region;
• and
• a second electrode having a first surface and a second surface and connecting to the external apparatus, said first surface contacting said second surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer, said second electrode extending from said vibrating region of said vibrating plate towards the outside of said vibrating region, said second electrode extending substantially on the same plane as said first electrode extends on.

A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device comprising:

• a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof;
• a piezoelectric element;
• a vibrating plate which mounts thereon said piezoelectric element, said vibrating plate including a vibrating region, a part of said vibrating region contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container;
• an upper electrode disposed on an upper surface of said piezoelectric element and said vibrating plate, said upper electrode comprising an upper terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof;
• and
• a lower electrode disposed on a lower surface of said piezoelectric element and said vibrating plate, said lower electrode comprising a lower terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof.

A module for detecting a liquid consumption status of a liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising:

• a liquid detection device attached on said housing, comprising;
• a piezoelectric layer having a main portion, said main portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface;
• a vibrating plate which mounts thereon said piezoelectric element, said vibrating plate including a vibrating region having an upper surface and a lower surface, a part of said lower surface contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container when the module is mounted on the liquid container;
• a first electrode contacting said first surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer and connecting to an external apparatus, said first electrode comprising a first terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof;
• and
• a second electrode having a first surface and a second surface and connecting to the external apparatus, said first surface contacting said second surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer, said second electrode comprising a second terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof;
• and
• a mounting structure formed integrally with said liquid detection device for mounting said liquid detection device onto the liquid container.

A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device comprising:

• a piezoelectric layer having a main portion, said main portion comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface;
• a vibrating plate which mounts thereon said piezoelectric element, said vibrating plate including a vibrating region having an upper surface and a lower surface, a part of said lower surface contacting the liquid contained in the liquid container;
• a first electrode contacting said first surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer and connecting to an external apparatus, said first electrode comprising a first terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof;
• and
• a second electrode having a first surface and a second surface and connecting to the external apparatus, said first surface contacting said second surface of said main portion of said piezoelectric layer, said second electrode comprising a second terminal forming member formed on said vibrating plate at a position outside said vibrating region thereof.