Piezoelectric actuator

US6043587A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventor

• Peter Jaenker · Garching bei München, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 2, 1998
• Grant date: Mar 28, 2000
• Expiry date: Oct 2, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/875

Abstract

A piezoelectric actuator or sensor includes a solid state body made of a monolithic piezoelectric material, a plurality of actuating electrodes formed as closed-loop electrodes entirely around the perimeter of the solid state body, and a support plate with two contact electrodes respectively having interdigitally intermeshing contact fingers arranged thereon. The intermeshing or alternating contact fingers of the two contact electrodes respectively contact alternating ones of the actuating electrodes, preferably through an adhesive layer having conducting particles dispersed therein. The energized actuating electrodes effectively form virtual piezoelectric layers in the solid state body.