IP Library Granted Patent US 7,986,077
Granted Patent B2
US 7,986,077 · App. 10/588,794 · Granted Jul 26, 2011

Tuning fork type quartz piece and oscillator comprising such tuning fork type quartz piece

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,986,077
App. No.
10/588,794
Granted
Jul 26, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Grooves ( 2 a, 3 a ) are formed in the tines ( 2, 3 ) of an oscillator, side surface electrodes ( 2 e, 3 e ) are formed on the side surfaces of the tines, and groove electrodes ( 2 d, 3 d ) are formed in the grooves, respectively. The width of the tines ( 2, 3 ) is fixed through the whole length of the tines, while, in a part close to the lower end of the tine, the width of the grooves ( 2 a, 3 a ) is gradually reduced toward the lower end, whereby a trapezoid region (D) is formed between the side surface of the tine and the groove in this part, and a part of the region (D) is used as an arrangement region of an electrode ( 5 c ) which connects the groove electrode and the side surface electrode.

Claims (21)

1. A quartz piece which has a base and at least two tines extending from the base, wherein, for each tine,

a groove is formed on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the tine along the lengthwise direction of the tine, and

a gap from at least one side surface of the tine to the groove is gradually increased toward the base, with at least a part of the gap being gradually increased linearly.

2. The quartz piece according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the tine is fixed through the whole length of the tine, while the width of the groove is gradually reduced toward the base, with at least a part of the width being gradually reduced linearly.

3. The quartz piece according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the groove is fixed through the whole length of the groove, while the width of the tine is gradually increased toward the base, with at least a part of the width being gradually increased linearly.

4. An oscillator which has a base and at least two tines extending from the base, in which, for each tine,

a groove is formed on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the tine along the lengthwise direction of the tine, a groove electrode is formed in the groove, and a side surface electrode is formed on a side surface of the tine,

wherein the width of the tine is fixed through the whole length of the tine, while the width of the groove is gradually reduced toward the base, with at least a part of the width being gradually reduced linearly, so that an arrangement area of a connecting electrode is formed.

5. The oscillator according to claim 4 , wherein the tine and the groove formed in the tine are formed symmetric with respect to the center line of the tine.

6. The oscillator according to claim 4 , wherein the oscillator is formed with a tuning fork type crystal oscillating piece.

7. An oscillator which has a base and at least two tines extending from the base, in which, for each tine,

a groove is formed on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the tine along the lengthwise direction of the tine, a groove electrode is formed in the groove, and a side surface electrode is formed on a side surface of the tine,

wherein the width of the groove is fixed through the whole length of the groove, while the width of the tine is gradually increased toward the base, with at least a part of the width being gradually increased linearly.

8. The oscillator according to claim 7 , wherein the tine and the groove formed in the tine are formed symmetric with respect to the center line of the tine.

9. The oscillator according to claim 7 , wherein the oscillator is formed with a tuning fork type crystal oscillating piece.

10. An oscillator which has a base and at least two tines extended from the base, in which, for each tine,

a groove is formed on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the tine along the lengthwise direction of the tine, a groove electrode is formed in the groove, and a side surface electrode is formed on a side surface of the tine,

wherein the width of the tine is fixed through the whole length of the tine, while the width of the groove is gradually reduced toward the base, so that an arrangement area of a connecting electrode is formed,

the width of the groove is linearly reduced,

the tine and the groove are formed symmetric with respect to the center line of the tine, and

the oscillator is formed with a tuning fork type crystal oscillating piece.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041479/0804 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2007
From: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019881/0031 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2006
From: YAMAMOTO, IZUMI
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018173/0099 →