IP Library Granted Patent US 8,540,169
Granted Patent B2
US 8,540,169 · App. 13/190,561 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Atomizing member and atomizer including the same

Inventors: Tsuguji Kambayashi (Nagaokakyo, JP); Katsumi Fujimoto (Nagaokakyo, JP); Hiroaki Kaida (Nagaokakyo, JP); Daisuke Nakamura (Nagaokakyo, JP)
Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,540,169
App. No.
13/190,561
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B2
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 (35)

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.

2. The atomizing member according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric body and the vibrating membrane are integral with each other.

3. The atomizing member according to claim 1 , wherein the flange is integral with the piezoelectric body.

4. 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.

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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The atomizing member according to claim 7 , wherein the through-hole formed member is metal.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. The atomizer according to claim 13 , wherein the piezoelectric body is arranged below the vibrating membrane in a vertical direction thereof.

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.

16. 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.

17. The atomizer according to claim 16 , wherein the piezoelectric body is arranged below the vibrating membrane in a vertical direction thereof.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TITLE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026678 FRAME 0798. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 14, 2011
From: KAMBAYASHI, TSUGUJI; FUJIMOTO, KATSUMI; KAIDA, HIROAKI; NAKAMURA, DAISUKE
To: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027380/0553 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2011
From: KAMBAYASHI, TSUGUJI; FUJIMOTO, KATSUMI; KAIDA, HIROAKI; NAKAMURA, DAISUKE
To: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026678/0798 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-027229 · Feb 9, 2009 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTJP2009005978 · Nov 10, 2009
Continuation PCTJP2010051386 · Feb 2, 2010
Related Publication 20110284656A1 · Nov 24, 2011