Method for manufacturing multi-layered high-deformation piezoelectric actuators and sensors
US6030480A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 1998 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/17
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for manufacturing prestressed piezoelectric actuators which maximizes output, and increases the precision and efficiency with which the multi-layer actuators are made. Individual layers of the piezoelectric actuators are automatically stacked and registered with respect to each other within press members prior to bonding the layers to each other with a thermoplastic adhesive. Compressive force is applied while heat is conductively transferred from a heating element to the actuator in order to raise the temperature of each of the layers above the melting point of the thermoplastic. The temperature of the heating element is then decreased until the temperature of the actuator layers drops to below the melting point of the thermoplastic adhesive, thereby bonding the layers. Compressive force is then released, and the actuators are removed, further cooled and polarized. The temperature of the actuator may be sensed, and the pressure and the heat applied to the actuator varied in accordance with the sensed temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.