Abstract: A thin film actuated mirror is disclosed having a substrate, a deformable structure mounted to the substrate, and a mirror surface interconnected to the deformable structure such that the mirror surface tilts in response to the deformation of the deformable material layer. The deformation occurs due to the effective strain gradient across the monomorph thickness which is accomplished by varying the electric field across the thickness or the strain parameter across the thickness. The deformable structure includes an active material layer fabricated from a semi-conductive ferroelectric ceramic material and two metal electrodes, each of the electrodes being mounted on opposing surfaces of the active material layer, wherein an electrical signal applied across the active material layer between the electrodes causes deformation of the active material layer.

Abstract: A thin film actuated mirror for an actuated mirror array includes a pedestal, a piezoelectric structure mounted to the pedestal, and a mirror surface interconnected to the piezoelectric structure such that the mirror surface tilts in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric material layer. The pedestal includes a first pedestal section and a second pedestal section, and the piezoelectric structure is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The piezoelectric structure includes a piezoelectric material layer having two opposing surfaces, and two metal electrodes, the electrodes being mounted on opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric structure first portion is mounted to the first pedestal section at a proximal end of the piezoelectric structure and the second portion is mounted to the second pedestal section at a distal end of the piezoelectric structure.

Abstract: An audio transducer is disclosed that has a piezoelectric driving element and a diaphragm configured as a flat, curvilinear plane. A lightweight, rigid bridge element connects the piezoelectric device to the diaphragm. Several bridge configurations are shown that emphasize or reduce various characteristics such as frequency response and vertical dispersion. Also, several diaphragm configurations are disclosed in which the diaphragms have as few as a single diaphragm sheet or as many as four sheets or more. In each case the diaphragm sheets are configured as flat, curvilinear planes. A resonance damper is provided comprising a resilient membrane having a plurality of resilient flaps. The damper is resiliently coupled to the piezoelectric device by arranging adjacent flaps to press against opposite sides of the piezoelectric device.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic actuator includes a first assembly, a second assembly disposed for relative movement with respect to the first assembly and at least a first flexure interconnecting the first assembly and the second assembly. The first assembly includes a core having a first magnetic pole of a first polarity in a second magnetic pole of a second polarity. The second assembly includes an electrical current conductive coil having a first coil portion and a second coil portion. The first magnetic pole is in a facing relationship to the first coil portion and the second magnetic pole is in a facing relationship to the second coil portion. The first coil portion and the second coil portion are arranged so that an electrical current in the coil develops added a flux current cross products at each of the first coil portion and the second coil portion. One of the first assembly and the second assembly includes a magnetic flux return path between the first coil portion and the second coil portion.

Abstract: An actuator for tilting the plane of an object includes a substrate and a pair of piezoelectric material members. Each of the piezoelectric members has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The bottom surface is mounted to the substrate, and the first side surfaces of each of the members are affixed to each other and electrically connected in common. One of the piezoelectric material members further has a polarization selected so that a voltage applied between the first side surface and the second side surface thereof causes the piezoelectric material member to either contract or expand between the top surface and said bottom surface, depending on the polarity of the voltage. The object is mounted to the top surface of each of the piezoelectric material members so that when a voltage is applied to one of the piezoelectric material members, the object either tilts toward or away from that member, depending on the polarity of the voltage.

Abstract: A thin film actuated mirror for an actuated mirror array includes a pedestal and at least piezoelectric structure cantilevered from the pedestal. The piezoelectric structure includes a layer of piezoelectric material having two opposing surfaces. Each of two metal electrodes are mounted on a respective one of the opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric material layer. An electrical signal is applied across the piezoelectric material, between the electrodes, causing deformation of the piezoelectric material. The thin film actuated mirror further includes a mirror surface interconnected to the piezoelectric material layer such that the mirror surface deforms in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric material layer.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuator is disclosed having an electromagnet, a core element, the core element having a normally biased initial spaced apart first position distal from the electromagnet when the electromagnet is off and a second stop position proximal from the electromagnet when the electromagnet is on, a first resilient member adapted to bias said core element in the normally biased first position, and a second resilient member adapted to bias the electromagnet away from the core. The first resilient member is more resilient than the second resilient member. Therefore, the core approaches the electromagnet when the electromagnet is on until the core reaches the fixed stop position, and the electromagnet subsequently approaches the core to the fixed stop position. The actuator may further include an adjustment member that engages the electromagnet so as to control the pressure of the electromagnet against the second resilient member, whereby the axial position of the electromagnet is controlled.

Abstract: A novel voice coil actuator is disclosed having a magnetic flux conductive material core, an axially focused, radially oriented magnet structure, and an electrical current conductive coil. The core has a first surface and a continuous channel disposed in the first surface. The channel has a first wall and a second opposing wall, the first wall defining a recess. The magnet structure is disposed in the recess of the first wall and spaced from the second wall so that a gap remains between the magnet structure and the second wall. The magnet structure includes a first radially polarized magnet having an axially extending surface defining an upper edge and a lower edge, a second axially polarized magnet having a second magnet radially extending surface extending radially inward from the first magnet upper edge, and a third axially polarized magnet having a third magnet radially extending surface extending radially inward from the first magnet lower edge.

Abstract: A voice coil actuator includes a magnetic flux conductive material core, a magnet and an electrical current conductive coil. The core has a first surface and a continuous channel disposed in said first surface. The channel has a pair of opposing walls. The magnet is disposed in intimate contact with a first one of said walls and spaced from a second one of said walls so that a gap remains between the magnet and the second one of the walls. The magnet has a first face of a first magnetic polarity facing the first one of the walls and a second face of a second, opposite magnetic polarity facing the gap. The magnet is further spaced from a bottom of the channel so that magnetic flux is substantially normal from the second face across said gap to the second one of the walls.

Abstract: A thin film actuated mirror for an actuated mirror array includes a pedestal and at least piezoelectric structure cantilevered from the pedestal. The piezoelectric structure includes a layer of piezoelectric material having two opposing surfaces. Each of two metal electrodes are mounted on a respective one of the opposing surfaces of the piezoelectric material layer. An electrical signal is applied across the piezoelectric material, between the electrodes, causing deformation of the piezoelectric material. The thin film actuated mirror further includes a mirror surface interconnected to the piezoelectric material layer such that the mirror surface deforms in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric material layer.

Abstract: A voice coil actuator includes a magnetic flux conductive material core, a magnet and an electrical current conductive coil. The core has a first surface and a continuous channel disposed in the first surface. The channel has a pair of opposing walls. The magnet is disposed in intimate contact with a first one of the walls and spaced from a second one of the walls so that a gap remains between the magnet and the second one of the walls. The magnet has a first face of a first magnetic polarity facing the first one of the walls and a second face of a second, opposite magnetic polarity facing the gap. The magnet is further spaced from a bottom of the channel so that magnetic flux is substantially normal from the second face across the gap to the second one of the walls.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic actuator includes a first assembly, a second assembly disposed for relative movement with respect to the first assembly and at least a first flexure interconnecting the first assembly and the second assembly. The first assembly includes a core having a first magnetic pole of a first polarity in a second magnetic pole of a second polarity. The second assembly includes an electrical current conductive coil having a first coil portion and a second coil portion. The first magnetic pole is in a facing relationship to the first coil portion and the second magnetic pole is in a facing relationship to the second coil portion. The first coil portion and the second coil portion are arranged so that an electrical current in the coil develops additive flux current cross products at each of the first coil portion and the second coil portion. One of the first assembly and the second assembly includes a magnetic flux return path between the first coil portion and the second coil portion.

Abstract: An active and passive loudspeaker voice coil excursion and amplitude gain control device is disclosed. The excursion and amplitude gain control device is utilized in connection with a voice coil actuator having a case, a coil and a coil carrier having an extreme downward position contacting the case. The excursion and amplitude gain control device includes a restraining member mounted to the coil carrier, wherein the restraining member is positioned on the carrier such that during downward movement of the coil carrier, the restraining member contacts the case before the coil carrier reaches the extreme downward position. A proximity sensor is mounted to the coil carrier, wherein the proximity sensor produces a proximity signal varying proportional to the distance of the sensor from the extreme downward position.