Patent · US Expired

Piezoelectric and electrostrictive actuators

US5175465A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
22References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 18, 1991
Grant dateDec 29, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 18, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N30/073
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An actuator for tilting the plane of an object is constructed from a stack of piezoelectric or electrostrictive members. First alternate interstices between the members are filled with a first conductive material, except that a first gap remains between the material and one side of the stack. Similarly, second alternate interstices between the members are filled with a second conductive material, except that a second gap remains between the material and an opposite side of the stack. The first gap and the second gap have unequal depth into the stack. The first material in the first interstices is coupled in common and the second material in the second interstices is coupled in common. A voltage applied between the first material and the second material will thereby cause the stack to bend, thereby tilting the plane of the op of the stack.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.