Abstract: A device that is configured to detect spectrally resolved emission from a material is disclosed. The device includes an optical cavity comprising a pair of substrates separated by a distance defined to restrict a photonic density of states (DOS) of the material to be detected, a detector oriented with respect to the optical cavity to receive emission from the optical cavity and a controller configured to control the distance. The pair of substrates includes facing reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprises a frame having a first frame side and a second frame side; a first actuator assembly and a second actuator assembly. The first actuator assembly comprises a first piezoelectric actuator and two rollers, each of the rollers is pressed between the first piezoelectric actuator and the first frame side. The second actuator assembly comprises a second piezoelectric actuator and two rollers, each of the rollers is pressed between the second piezoelectric actuator and the second frame side. The motor further comprises at least one pre-loaded spring provided between the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly, pushing the first actuator assembly and the second actuator assembly against the first frame side and the second frame side, respectively.

Abstract: A device that is configured to detect spectrally resolved emission from a material is disclosed. The device includes an optical cavity comprising a pair of substrates separated by a distance defined to restrict a photonic density of states (DOS) of the material to be detected, a detector oriented with respect to the optical cavity to receive emission from the optical cavity and a controller configured to control the distance. The pair of substrates includes facing reflective surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting motion to a moveable body comprising: a first bar having ends; two articulated arms, each comprising first and second arms connected at a joint having an axis about which the first and second arms rotate, wherein the first arms are of equal length, the second arms are of equal length and the second arm of each articulated arm is connected to a different end of the bar at a joint having an axis about which second arm and bar rotate; a mount connected to the first arm of each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which first arm rotates; a second bar coupled to each articulated arm at a joint having an axis about which the second bar rotates; and a piezoelectric motor coupled to the first bar controllable to apply a force selectively in either direction along the bar's length; wherein, the joints are configured so that all the axes are substantially parallel and the first arms are parallel and the second arms are parallel for all rotations about the axes.

Abstract: A method of moving a body (23) comprising: coupling a plurality of piezoelectric motors (31, 32) to the body by pressing a coupling region (48) of each of the motors to a surface of the body; controlling at least one of the motors to apply a force parallel (53) to the surface to move the body; and simultaneously controlling at least one of the motors so that its coupling region executes only vibrations that are substantially perpendicular (51) to the surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor for moving and positioning a load, the motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having a plurality of electrodes and a coupling surface which is pressed to a load; and a power supply selectively operable to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with time varying voltage to generate vibrations in the coupling surface that step the load to a desired position or to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with DC voltage to displace the coupling surface and move thereby the load to a desired position, which DC voltage the power supply maintains to maintain the load at the desired position.

Abstract: A method of moving a body (23) comprising: coupling a plurality of piezoelectric motors (31, 32) to the body by pressing a coupling region (48) of each of the motors to a surface of the body; controlling at least one of the motors to apply a force parallel (53) to the surface to move the body; and simultaneously controlling at least one of the motors so that its coupling region executes only vibrations that are substantially perpendicular (51) to the surface.

Abstract: A method for accelerating or decelerating a moveable body which body is moved by urging a piezoelectric micromotor to the body in a first direction so that a contact region of the piezoelectric motor is pressed to the body and exciting vibrations in the piezoelectric micromotor at the contact region in the first direction and in a second direction along a direction of motion of the body, said vibrations having a first amplitude in the first direction and a second amplitude in the second direction, the method comprising: a) for acceleration, gradually changing a ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from substantially zero to a desired non-zero value; or b) for deceleration, gradually changing the ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from a non-zero value to substantially zero.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having an axis of symmetry and a first vibration mode, which when excited generates oscillatory motion of mass points in the vibrator parallel to the axis of symmetry; and at least one friction nub having a center of mass displaced from the axis of symmetry, as a result of which displacement, when the vibration mode is excited, torque is generated on the vibrator that excites a second vibration mode of the vibrator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator comprising: a thin rectangular piezoelectric plate formed of a material having a Young's modulus having two short edge surfaces and two long edge surfaces and two large planar face surfaces which plate has transverse resonant vibration modes parallel to its short edges and longitudinal resonant vibration modes parallel to its long edges and is formed with at least one cavity; and at least one electrode on each of the planar surfaces that is electrifiable to excite at least one vibration mode of the plate, wherein the at least one cavity is not filled with a material having a Young's modulus substantially equal to the Young's modulus of the material from which the plate is formed, such that the presence of the at least one cavity shifts a resonant frequency of at least one vibration mode of the plate with respect to the resonant frequency that characterizes the at least one vibration mode in the absence of the at least one cavity.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator (50) having a surface comprising a localized non-planar shaped first surface region thereon which first surface region has a shape different from the shape of the surface on which it is located; and a friction nub (52) formed with a second surface region that is substantially a negative relief of the first surface region, which first and second regions are bonded together. Preferably the friction nub (52) is detachably mounted to the vibrator (50) via a boss (54) waving a protuberance (56) of conical shape. Alternatively the friction nub (52) has a protuberance (76) which is form-fitted to a recess (72) in the vibrator (50) or boss (70), respectively. First and second surface regions can also be threading surfaces.

Abstract: A method for accelerating or decelerating a moveable body which body is moved by urging a piezoelectric micromotor to the body in a first direction so that a contact region of the piezoelectric motor is pressed to the body and exciting vibrations in the piezoelectric micromotor at the contact region in the first direction and in a second direction along a direction of motion of the body, said vibrations having a first amplitude in the first direction and a second amplitude in the second direction, the method comprising: a) for acceleration, gradually changing a ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from substantially zero to a desired non-zero value; or b) for deceleration, gradually changing the ratio between the second amplitude relative to the first amplitude from a non-zero value to substantially zero.

Abstract: A piezoelectric micromotor for moving a moveable element comprising: a vibrator in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped formed from a plurality of thin layers of piezoelectric material having first and second identical relatively large rectangular face surfaces defined by long and short edge surfaces wherein the layers are aligned one on top of the other and have their face surfaces bonded together; electrodes on surfaces of the layers; a contact region located on one or more edge surfaces of the layers, urged against the body; and at least one electrical power supply that electrifies electrodes to excite vibrations in the vibrator and thereby in the contact region that impart motion to the body.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor for moving and positioning a load, the motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having a plurality of electrodes and a coupling surface which is pressed to a load; and a power supply selectively operable to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with time varying voltage to generate vibrations in the coupling surface that step the load to a desired position or to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with DC voltage to displace the coupling surface and move thereby the load to a desired position, which DC voltage the power supply maintains to maintain the load at the desired position.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor for moving and positioning a load, the motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having a plurality of electrodes and a coupling surface which is pressed to a load; and a power supply selectively operable to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with time varying voltage to generate vibrations in the coupling surface that step the load to a desired position or to electrify at least one vibrator electrode with DC voltage to displace the coupling surface and move thereby the load to a desired position, which DC voltage the power supply maintains to maintain the load at the desired position.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator having an axis of symmetry and a first vibration mode, which when excited generates oscillatory motion of mass points in the vibrator parallel to the axis of symmetry; and at least one friction nub having a center of mass displaced from the axis of symmetry, as a result of which displacement, when the vibration mode is excited, torque is generated on the vibrator that excites a second vibration mode of the vibrator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor comprising: a layer of piezoelectric material having narrow edge surfaces and first and second large face surfaces, formed with at least three arms, each extending radially outward from a common central region and terminating in an end; and at least one electrode on the first face surface and at least one electrode on the second face surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator comprising: a thin rectangular piezoelectric plate formed of a material having a Young's modulus having two short edge surfaces and two long edge surfaces and two large planar face surfaces which plate has transverse resonant vibration modes parallel to its short edges and longitudinal resonant vibration modes parallel to its long edges and is formed with at least one cavity; and at least one electrode on each of the planar surfaces that is electrifiable to excite at least one vibration mode of the plate, wherein the at least one cavity is not filled with a material having a Young's modulus substantially equal to the Young's modulus of the material from which the plate is formed, such that the presence of the at least one cavity shifts a resonant frequency of at least one vibration mode of the plate with respect to the resonant frequency that characterizes the at least one vibration mode in the absence of the at least one cavity.

Abstract: A piezoelectric vibrator comprising: a thin rectangular piezoelectric plate formed of a material having a Young's modulus having to short edges surfaces and two long edge surfaces and two long planar face surfaces which plate has transverse resonant vibration modes parallel to its short edges and longitudinal resonant vibration parallel to its long edges and is formed with at least one cavity; and least one electrode on each of the planar surfaces that is electrifiabie to excite at least one vibration mode of the plate, wherein the at least one cavity is not filled with a material having a Young's modulus substantially equal to the Young's modulus of the material from which the place is formed, such that the presence of the at least one cavity shifts a resonant frequency of at least one vibration mode of the plate with respect to the resonant frequency that characterizes the at least one vibration mode in the absence of the at least one cavity.

Abstract: A micromotor comprising: a piezoelectric element including a common electrode and a plurality of other electrodes formed thereon and including at least a first a and a second electrode group, each group including at least one electrode, wherein the piezoelectric element causes motion in a first direction when a voltage is applied between the first electrode group and the common electrode, and wherein the piezoelectric element causes motion in a second direction when a voltage is applied between the second electrode group and the common electrode; a voltage source that electrifies the common electrode; and at least two switches separately connected between the first and second electrode groups and a low voltage, said switches being activatable to connect one of said first and second electrode groups to the low voltage to cause selective motion in the first or second directions.