Segmented Thick Section AT-Cut Quartz Vibration Element

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

AT-cut quartz crystal vibration elements experience unstable vibration characteristics due to external accelerations, primarily because the thick peripheral section increases the weight of the tip section, leading to significant frequency deviations.

Innovation Solution

A vibration element design featuring a substrate with a thin vibrating section and a thick section integrated around its perimeter, where the thick section is strategically positioned along the outer edges to reduce the mass of the tip side while maintaining rigidity, with specific dimensions for the thick sections to minimize size and maximize stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thick section is formed over the entire periphery of the vibrating section, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the weight of the tip section increases, causing larger frequency deviation under acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidweight of tip section

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thick section is segmented into three separate thick sections (first, second, and third thick sections) positioned at specific locations around the vibrating section, rather than forming a continuous peripheral thick section. This segmentation reduces the total weight of the thick section while maintaining structural support at critical points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thick sections are strategically positioned at specific locations (first, second, and third locations) around the vibrating section rather than uniformly distributed. This local quality approach provides structural support where most needed while minimizing weight in less critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the thick section is formed over the entire periphery, then the rigidity is improved, but the vibration characteristic stability under acceleration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverigidityVSAvoidvibration characteristic stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous peripheral thick section is divided into three discrete thick sections positioned at specific locations. This segmentation reduces the mass of the tip section while maintaining rigidity at critical support points, thereby improving vibration characteristic stability under acceleration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The three thick sections are positioned asymmetrically around the vibrating section rather than uniformly distributed. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the balance between rigidity and mass distribution, reducing the tip section weight while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If the mass of the tip section is reduced, then the vibration characteristic stability under acceleration is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration characteristic stabilityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The thick sections are positioned at specific critical locations around the vibrating section to provide localized structural support. This ensures that strength is maintained at key support points while the overall mass of the tip section is reduced by not having thick sections in all peripheral areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thick section is divided into three separate sections positioned at strategic locations, providing structural support where needed while minimizing overall mass. This segmented approach maintains strength at critical points without the penalty of a continuous peripheral thick section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces the mass of the tip section, stabilizes vibration characteristics under external forces, and maintains rigidity, thereby achieving a stable frequency response without excessive size increase.

Implementation Method 1

excitation electrodes that are respectively provided on front and rear surfaces of the vibration region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9337801B2Vibration element, vibrator, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 UOP LLC

AI summary

A vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a vibrating section and a thick section having a thickness larger than that of the vibrating section. The thick section includes a first thick section provided along a first outer edge of the vibrating section, a second thick section provided along a second outer edge thereof, and a third thick section provided along a third outer edge thereof. When a maximum size of the second thick section in the vibration direction is Lmax and a minimum size thereof is Lmin, an average size expressed by (Lmax+Lmin)/2 is 100 μm or smaller.