Ring-shaped piezoelectric transformer having an inner and outer electrode

US6597084B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · CN

Inventors

• Jin-Hua Hu · Sha Tin, CN
• Hing Leung Li · Singapore, SG
• Helan Lai-Wah Chan · Sha Tin, CN
• Chung Loong Choy · Kowloon, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 5, 2001
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Jan 5, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/40

Abstract

Piezoelectric transformers have a number of favorable characteristics over traditional electromagnetic tranformers. However, the construction of piezoelectric transformers tends to be complicated, which may result in increasing manufacturing cost. Furthermore, such complex constructions may raise difficulties in the miniaturization of such devices. A ring-shaped piezoelectric transformer is developed in this invention for low voltage applications. One surface of the transformer is covered by two disc or ring-shaped electrodes separated by a ring-shaped separating segment, and the regions covered by the disc or ring-shaped electrodes served as the input and output parts of the transformer. This transformer may be fabricated relatively easily due to its simple structure. Furthermore, its size and thickness may be reduced relatively easily without increasing the difficulty of the fabricating process. The transformer may be used separately or in parallel.