IP Library Granted Patent US 9,924,924
Granted Patent B2
US 9,924,924 · App. 14/813,906 · Granted Mar 27, 2018

Piezoelectric device, and ultrasonic device, as well as probe, and electronic apparatus

Inventor: Kenichi Kurokawa (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
A61B8/4483A61B8/4427B06B1/067B06B1/0629G01S7/52079H01L41/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,924,924
App. No.
14/813,906
Granted
Mar 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A piezoelectric device includes a base, a vibration film, and a piezoelectric element. The base of the piezoelectric device has at least one opening. The opening is closed by the vibration film. The piezoelectric element is located on the vibration film. The vibration film includes a first layer that is has lower water permeability than silicon oxide and a second layer that is in close contact with the first layer and that has a larger toughness value than the first layer.

Claims (45)

1. A piezoelectric device, comprising:

a base having at least one opening;

a vibration film that closes the opening; and

a piezoelectric element located on the vibration film,

the vibration film including a first layer and a second layer that is in close contact with the first layer,

the first layer having lower water permeability than silicon oxide, and

the second layer having a larger toughness value than the first layer.

2. The piezoelectric device according to claim 1 , wherein

the base has a plurality of openings including the opening, and the first layer is continuous between adjacent ones of the openings.

3. The piezoelectric device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vibration film further includes a third layer that is provided closer to the opening than the first layer and the second layer are and that has an etching rate different from an etching rate of the base.

4. The piezoelectric device according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer contains ZrO 2 .

5. The piezoelectric device according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer contains at least one of Al 2 O 3 , TaOx, and HfOx.

6. The piezoelectric device according to claim 3 , wherein the third layer contains SiO 2 .

7. The piezoelectric device according to claim 6 , wherein the second layer is formed of ZrO 2 , the first layer is formed of Al 2 O 3 , and the first layer is arranged such that the first layer is sandwiched between the second layer and the third layer.

8. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 1 .

9. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 2 .

10. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 3 .

11. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 4 .

12. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 5 .

13. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 6 .

14. An ultrasonic device, comprising:

the piezoelectric device according to claim 7 .

15. A probe, comprising:

the ultrasonic device according to claim 8 ; and

a housing that supports the ultrasonic device.

16. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

the ultrasonic device according to claim 8 ; and

a processor connected to the ultrasonic device and configured to process an output from the ultrasonic device.

17. An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, comprising:

the ultrasonic device according to claim 8 ; and

a display device configured to display an image generated based on an output from the ultrasonic device.

18. A piezoelectric device, comprising:

a base having an opening;

a protective film provided on the base;

a vibration film including a first layer and a second layer that are laminated on the protective film in an order of the first layer and the second layer; and

a piezoelectric element that is provided on the vibration film, the piezoelectric element being provided in a position at which the piezoelectric element overlaps the opening when viewed in a thickness direction of the base,

the first layer having lower water permeability than the protective film,

the second layer having a toughness value that is larger than a toughness value of the first layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2015
From: KUROKAWA, KENICHI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036356/0124 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2014-155714 · Jul 31, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160035963A1 · Feb 4, 2016