IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,044,953
Granted Patent B2
US 12,044,953 · App. 16/999,105 · Granted Jul 23, 2024

Vibration unit and optical detection device

Inventors: Katsumi Fujimoto (Nagaokakyo, JP); Kenji Nishiyama (Nagaokakyo, JP); Yasuhiro Kuratani (Nagaokakyo, JP)
Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
G03B17/56G02B27/646G03B2205/0061G03B2205/0069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,044,953
App. No.
16/999,105
Granted
Jul 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vibration unit includes a light transmitting member including at least a portion of a detection region of an imaging element, and a vibration element including a vibrating body coupled to the light transmitting member. The light transmitting member includes a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region. The light transmitting member includes a hydrophilic film in the peripheral region thereof.

Claims (41)

1. A vibration unit comprising:

a light transmitting member disposed to include at least a portion of a detection region of an optical detection element; and

a vibration element including a vibrating body coupled to the light transmitting member; wherein

the light transmitting member includes a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region;

the light transmitting member includes a hydrophilic film in the peripheral region thereof; and

the vibrating body includes a flange that sticks out of another portion of the vibrating body in plan view, and an outer edge of the flange is outside an outer edge of the another portion of the vibrating body.

2. The vibration unit according to claim 1 , wherein, in the peripheral region of the light transmitting member, the hydrophilic film is in a region including the detection region.

3. The vibration unit according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting member includes a water-repellent film in the central region thereof.

4. The vibration unit according to claim 3 , wherein the water-repellent film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration antinode.

5. The vibration unit according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration element includes a piezoelectric vibrator disposed on the vibrating body.

6. The vibration unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration node.

7. The vibration unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller electrically connected to the vibration element to control vibration of a combined unit including the light transmitting member and the vibrating body.

8. The vibration unit according to claim 7 , wherein

the controller is configured to vibrate the combined unit such that a plurality of vibration antinodes are located in the light transmitting member; and

the hydrophilic film is at a boundary between adjacent ones of the vibration antinodes.

9. An optical detection device comprising:

the vibration unit according to claim 1 ; and

an optical detection element disposed such that a detection region is included in the light transmitting member.

10. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the optical detection element includes an imaging element, and the detection region is a field of view.

11. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , wherein, in the peripheral region of the light transmitting member, the hydrophilic film is in a region including the detection region.

12. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the light transmitting member includes a water-repellent film in the central region thereof.

13. The optical detection device according to claim 12 , wherein the water-repellent film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration antinode.

14. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the vibration element includes a piezoelectric vibrator on the vibrating body.

15. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the hydrophilic film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration node.

16. The optical detection device according to claim 9 , further comprising a controller electrically connected to the vibration element to control vibration of a combined unit including the light transmitting member and the vibrating body.

17. The optical detection device according to claim 16 , wherein

the controller is configured to vibrate the combined unit such that a plurality of vibration antinodes are located in the light transmitting member; and

the hydrophilic film is at a boundary between adjacent ones of the vibration antinodes.

18. A vibration unit comprising:

a light transmitting member disposed to include at least a portion of a detection region of an optical detection element; and

a vibration element including a vibrating body coupled to the light transmitting member; wherein

the light transmitting member includes a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region;

the light transmitting member includes a hydrophilic film in the peripheral region thereof; and

the hydrophilic film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration node.

19. A vibration unit comprising:

a light transmitting member disposed to include at least a portion of a detection region of an optical detection element; and

a vibration element including a vibrating body coupled to the light transmitting member; wherein

the light transmitting member includes a central region and a peripheral region located around the central region;

the light transmitting member includes a hydrophilic film in the peripheral region thereof;

the light transmitting member includes a water-repellent film in the central region thereof; and

the water-repellent film is at a portion of the light transmitting member located at a vibration antinode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: FUJIMOTO, KATSUMI; NISHIYAMA, KENJI; KURATANI, YASUHIRO
To: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053558/0316 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-123354 · Jun 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2019002547 · Jan 25, 2019
Related Publication 20200379320A1 · Dec 3, 2020