Piezoelectric vibration piece and piezoelectric device

• US 7,999,637 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamada, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Summons; Barbara
• Application Number:
  US12/643,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 333/200, 310/366, 310/370
• US Class Current: 333/200
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/21 Crystal tuning forks
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/87 Electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/875 Further connection or lead arrangements, e.g. flexible wiring boards, terminal pins

Abstract

A piezoelectric vibration piece includes a base made of a piezoelectric material; a plurality of vibration arms which is integrally formed with the base and extends in parallel; elongate grooves which are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms; and excitation electrodes which include inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves and side electrodes disposed in side surfaces facing the inner electrodes, wherein widening portions in which the widths of the vibration arms are widened toward the base at a joint between the vibration arms of the base are formed, and the side electrodes are led to principal surfaces and side surfaces of the widening portions.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric vibration piece comprising:

a base made of a piezoelectric material;

a plurality of vibration arms that are integrally formed with the base;

elongate grooves that are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms in principal surfaces of the vibrating arms;

inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves;

side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the vibrating arms;

wherein widening portions are formed at a junction of the vibration arms and the base, a width of the widening portions being widened toward the base while a widening degree is changed at a change point; and

wherein at least one of the side electrodes is led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the plurality of vibration arms at the widening portion and covers the change point.

2. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,

wherein the widening portions include a plurality of straight lines that are connected to each other.

3. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 2,

wherein the plurality of vibration arms includes a first vibrating arm and a second vibrating arm;

wherein the widening portions include an inner widening portion located adjacent to a crotch portion between the first vibrating arm and the second vibrating arm; and

wherein at least one of the side electrodes is led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the plurality of the vibration arms at the inner widening portion and covers the change point.

4. A piezoelectric vibration piece according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of vibration arms includes a first vibrating arm and a second vibrating arm;

wherein the widening portions include an inner widening portion located adjacent to a crotch portion between the first vibrating arm and the second vibrating arm; and

wherein at least one of the side electrodes is led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the plurality of the vibration arms at the inner widening portion and covers the change point.

5. A piezoelectric device which receives a piezoelectric vibration piece in a package or a case, the piezoelectric vibration piece comprising:

a base made of a piezoelectric material;

a plurality of vibration arms that are integrally formed with the base and extend in parallel;

elongate grooves that are formed along longitudinal directions of the vibration arms in principal surfaces of the vibrating arms;

inner electrodes disposed in the elongate grooves;

side electrodes disposed on side surfaces of the vibrating arms;

wherein widening portions are formed at a junction of the vibration arms and the base, a width of the widening portions being widened toward the base while a widening degree is changed at a change point; and

wherein at least one of the side electrodes is led to the principal surface and the side surface of at least one of the plurality of vibration arms at the widening portion and covers the change point.