# US 8,540,169 B2 · Atomizing member and atomizer including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,169 B2 - Document ID: US8540169B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/190,561 - Filed: 2011-07-26 - Published: 2011-11-24 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-09 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Tsuguji Kambayashi; Katsumi Fujimoto; Hiroaki Kaida; Daisuke Nakamura - Inventors: Tsuguji Kambayashi; Katsumi Fujimoto; Hiroaki Kaida; Daisuke Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540169B2 ## CPC - B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto} - A01M 1/205: {using vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic or piezoelectric atomizers} - A61L 9/14: using sprayed or atomised substances {including air-liquid contact processes} - A61L 2209/132: Piezo or ultrasonic elements for dispensing - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An atomizing member that includes a piezoelectric vibrator and a vibrating membrane. The piezoelectric vibrator includes a cylindrical piezoelectric body, a first electrode disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body, and a second electrode disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric vibrator performs cylindrical breathing vibration. The vibrating membrane is disposed on an opening at a first side in an axial direction of the piezoelectric body so as to cover the opening. The vibrating membrane has a through hole in its central portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An atomizing member comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator that includes a cylindrical piezoelectric body, a first electrode disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body, and a second electrode disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body and configured to perform cylindrical breathing vibration; and a vibrating membrane disposed on an opening of the piezoelectric body at a first side in an axial direction thereof so as to cover the opening, the vibrating membrane having a through hole in a central portion thereof, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator includes a flange connected to a section of the piezoelectric body at the first side in the axial direction thereof, the flange extending outwardly in a diametrical direction from the section at the first side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The atomizing member according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric body and the vibrating membrane are integral with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The atomizing member according to claim 1, wherein the flange is integral with the piezoelectric body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The atomizing member according to claim 1, wherein the flange includes a connection portion that is connected to the piezoelectric body and has vibration propagation characteristics different from those of other sections of the flange. ### Claim 5 The atomizing member according to 1, wherein the flange includes a connection portion that is connected to the piezoelectric body and has a groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The atomizing member according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator further includes a first electrode pad connected to the first electrode and a second electrode pad connected to the second electrode, and the first and second electrode pads are disposed on a surface of the flange at a second side in the axial direction of the piezoelectric body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The atomizing member according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the through hole of the vibrating membrane comprises a through-hole formed member that is a different element from other sections of the vibrating membrane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The atomizing member according to claim 7, wherein the through-hole formed member is metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The atomizing member according to claim 7, wherein the through-hole formed member and the other sections of the vibrating membrane each comprise the same material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An atomizer comprising: the atomizing member according to claim 1; an atomizer main body on which the piezoelectric vibrator is mounted, the atomizer main body including a storage for storing liquid; and a liquid feeder that supplies the liquid stored in the storage to the section of the vibrating membrane where the through hole is disposed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The atomizer according to claim 10, wherein the liquid feeder is configured to supply the liquid from a second side in the axial direction of the piezoelectric body to the vibrating membrane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The atomizer according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator includes a flange connected to a section of the piezoelectric body at the first side in the axial direction thereof, the flange extending outwardly in a diametrical direction from the section at the first side, the flange including a peripheral portion in the diametrical direction supported by the atomizer main body, the flange also including at least two bridges formed by a plurality of through holes extending in a circumferential direction thereof, the at least two bridges connecting the peripheral portion and the vibrating membrane, and a length of each of the at least two bridges is within a range of 30% to 50%, 70% to 90%, or 115% to 120% of a radius of the vibrating membrane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The atomizer according to claim 12, wherein a cut portion reaching a central portion in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric body is disposed at each of both sides of a first section of the vibrating membrane in the circumferential direction, the section being connected to each of the bridges, and a second section positioned between the cut portions in the circumferential direction of the bridge is not connected to the piezoelectric body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The atomizer according to claim 13, wherein the piezoelectric body is arranged below the vibrating membrane in a vertical direction thereof. ### Claim 15 An atomizer comprising: an atomizing member including: a piezoelectric vibrator that includes a cylindrical piezoelectric body, a first electrode disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body, and a second electrode disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the piezoelectric body and configured to perform cylindrical breathing vibration, and a vibrating membrane disposed on an opening of the piezoelectric body at a first side in an axial direction thereof so as to cover the opening, the vibrating membrane having a through hole in a central portion thereof; an atomizer main body on which the piezoelectric vibrator is mounted, the atomizer main body including a storage for storing liquid; and a liquid feeder that supplies the liquid stored in the storage to the section of the vibrating membrane where the through hole is disposed, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator includes a flange connected to a section of the piezoelectric body at the first side in the axial direction thereof, the flange extending outwardly in a diametrical direction from the section at the first side, the flange including a peripheral portion in the diametrical direction supported by the atomizer main body, wherein the flange also including at least two bridges formed by a plurality of through holes extending in a circumferential direction thereof, the at least two bridges connecting the peripheral portion and the vibrating membrane, and wherein a length of each of the at least two bridges is within a range of 30% to 50%, 70% to 90%, or 115% to 120% of a radius of the vibrating membrane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The atomizer according to claim 15, wherein a cut portion reaching a central portion in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric body is disposed at each of both sides of a first section of the vibrating membrane in the circumferential direction, the section being connected to each of the bridges, and a second section positioned between the cut portions in the circumferential direction of the bridge is not connected to the piezoelectric body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The atomizer according to claim 16, wherein the piezoelectric body is arranged below the vibrating membrane in a vertical direction thereof.