High-efficiency piezoelectric transducer element for imaging
This patent describes a layered piezoelectric material that combines a polycrystalline ceramic (lead zinc niobate-lead zirconate titanate, or PZN-PZT) with a single-crystal core oriented in a specific crystalline direction. The design exploits the superior electrical-to-mechanical conversion efficiency of single-crystal materials while using the more manufacturable polycrystalline matrix to hold everything together. The result is a piezoelectric element that can generate or respond to mechanical forces—like sound waves or vibrations—with higher performance than conventional ceramics alone. This kind of material is a foundational building block for ultrasound transducers, precision actuators, and sensors.
What you could build
A high-sensitivity ultrasound transducer element for medical imaging probes or industrial NDT (non-destructive testing) equipment, sold as a component to device OEMs who need better resolution or lower power draw than standard PZT ceramics deliver.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense and aerospace contractors in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads corridor—particularly those working on sonar, non-destructive testing, or precision actuation systems—would have direct interest in higher-performance piezoelectric components.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Jin S. Heo, Kyunghoon Cho, Shashank Priya, Yongke Yan
- Granted
- February 2, 2021
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10910551
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.