Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator having a frame portion includes a drive shaft for frictional engagement with an engageable barrel arm of a lens unit. First and second piezoelectric elements are supported on the frame portion, and provided with first and second ends of respectively the drive shaft. A drive pulse generator supplies the piezoelectric elements with a drive signal to expand or contract the piezoelectric elements, and moves the engageable barrel arm in an axial direction by an alternately repeating sequence of shifting the drive shaft at low and high speeds in the axial direction. In the shifting at the high speed, the piezoelectric elements shift the drive shaft in a backward direction quickly, to move the drive shaft in the backward direction relative to the engageable barrel arm being stationary with inertial force.

Abstract: A drive unit for the movement of an active element with respect to a passive element, wherein the active element includes a resonator and at least one excitation device for exciting oscillations of the resonator. The resonator includes contact regions for exerting forces onto the passive element. The active element may be driven with respect to the passive element by way of oscillating movements. The resonator includes at least two arms, preferably a pair of arms. The at least two arms of an arm pair, proceeding from a connection region of the resonator, are formed on the same side of the resonator. In each case the contact regions are formed at the outer ends of the arms, wherein the contact regions may be moved to and away from one another by way of oscillating movements of the arm pair. Thereby, a relative movement of the passive element with respect to the active element may be effected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piezoelectric vibrators such as a resonator used as a timing element, discriminator, filter or the like, and fabricating methods thereof. The piezoelectric vibrators of the present invention may be fabricated by forming a piezoelectric body of piezoelectric sheets, of which the thickness is controlled, and simultaneously sintering the sheets along with cover layers, on which grooves are formed. Also, the piezoelectric vibrator of the present invention is fabricated by laminating the piezoelectric sheets, of which the thickness is controlled, providing internal electrodes between the sheets, and forming external electrodes insulated from the internal electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a target environmental variable (TEV) that employs a film-bulk acoustic resonator with motion plate. The film-bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) includes an acoustic reflector formed in an FBAR wafer and a surface. A first electrode is formed on the surface of the acoustic reflector and has a surface. A piezoelectric layer is formed on the surface of the first electrode and has a surface. A second electrode is formed on the surface of the piezoelectric layer. A motion plate is suspended in space at a predetermined distance relative to the surface of the second electrode and is capacitively coupled to the FBAR.

Abstract: An actuator unit suitable for actuating a fuel injection valve of an injection system for internal combustion engines is comprised of a piezoelectric actuator and a hollow body embodied in the form of a spring. Embodying the hollow body according to the present invention can extend the service life of the actuator unit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin film device includes an amorphous metal film disposed on a substrate and a piezoelectric film disposed on the amorphous metal. One of crystal axis of the piezoelectric film is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the amorphous metal.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element of a tuning fork resonator comprises a base portion and a plurality of leg portions. Drive electrodes are formed on top and bottom major surfaces and both side surfaces of each leg portion. The drive electrodes have polarities different between on the top and bottom major surfaces and the both side surfaces. The drive electrodes on the side surfaces are connected to each other. Further, metal film for frequency adjustment is formed on a tip portion of each leg portion of the piezoelectric element. The frequency adjustment is performed by removing the metal film formed on at least one surface of side surfaces and a tip surface of the tip portion by beam irradiation.

Abstract: An actuator includes an apex section which can make a contact with a paper, a thin plate which has two inclined sections each extending from the apex section, a piezoelectric layer which is arranged on each of the inclined sections, and an individual electrode which is provided to each of the piezoelectric layers. The piezoelectric layer between the individual electrode and the inclined section is deformed by being applied with a voltage selectively to the two individual electrodes by a driving circuit. By deforming the piezoelectric layer, the apex section can be displaced and thus the paper can be transported. A movable apparatus which is supported on the floor by the apex section is also provided. A micro device in which an element is provided to the apex section is also provided.

Abstract: A SAW device comprises a single crystal piezo-electric strate (made, for example, of LiTaO3 or LiNbO3), and an interdigital transducer (IDT) formed of a material mainly containing Al and disposed on the piezo-electric substrate. The piezo-electric strate contains an additive (for example, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ti), and an orientation rotated by an angle in a range of 42° to 48° (more preferably 46°±0.3°) from a Y-axis toward a Z-axis about an X-axis. The IDT presents a normalized thickness h/? (h: thickness of electrode, and ?: spacing between digits of the IDT) of 7% to 11%. A more appropriate substrate cut angle can be shown for the SAW device which employs a piezo-electric substrate containing an additive, to improve the electric characteristics thereof.

Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric oscillator which can be reduced in size by reducing the planar size. With regard to a layered lead frame comprising two lead frames and, connection leads for connection with a piezoelectric resonator are formed on the upper lead frame and the connection leads are erected upwards so as to form connection terminals, and mounting leads for mounting to a mounting board are formed on the lower lead frame and the mounting leads are erected downwards so as to form mounting terminals, and an IC forming an oscillating circuit is mounted on the layered lead frame, the piezoelectric resonator formed by sealing a piezoelectric resonator element within a package is mounted on the layered lead frame, and the layered lead frame and the piezoelectric resonator are sealed within a resin package such that the principal surface of the mounting terminals are exposed outwards, thereby forming a completed article.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high-powered (e.g., >500 W) ultrasonic generator for use especially for delivering high-power ultrasonic energy to a varying load including compressible fluids. The generator includes a variable frequency triangular waveform generator coupled with pulse width modulators. The output from the pulse width modulator is coupled with the gates of an Isolated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), which amplifies the signal and delivers it to a coil that is used to drive a magnetostrictive transducer. In one embodiment, high voltage of 0-600 VDC is delivered across the collector and emitter of the IGBT after the signal is delivered. The output of the IGBT is a square waveform with a voltage of +/?600V. This voltage is sent to a coil wound around the ultrasonic transducer. The voltage creates a magnetic field on the transducer and the magnetorestrictive properties of the transducer cause the transducer to vibrate as a result of the magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric ceramic material having the general composition ABO3 with at least a proportion of the PZT ceramic having a composition of the invention with Cu cations. The proportion of Zr and Ti cations is selected based upon the content of Cu cations, such that the ceramic material is tailored to the morphotropic phase boundary. The invention further discloses a method for producing a ceramic material of this type.

Abstract: A vibrating gyrosensor includes a support substrate on which a wiring pattern having a plurality of lands is formed, and vibrating elements mounted on a surface of the support substrate, wherein at least two vibrating elements are mounted on the support substrate, for detecting vibrations in different axial directions.

Abstract: A cooling device of an electronic component. The cooling device comprises a carrier having one or more openings, a piezoelectric member moveably disposed in one of the openings, a plurality of conductive wires disposed within the carrier and extending into the openings, wherein one or more conductive wires being coupled to the piezoelectric member, and an interconnecting member connecting the conductive wires to a power source, wherein when power is supplied, the piezoelectric member vibrates to circulate air and dissipate heat.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave generating device includes a substrate, a heat insulation layer on the substrate, a membrane heating portion on the heat insulation layer, and a membrane oscillator on the heating portion. The heating portion is electrically driven with a predetermined period, and produces heat for thermally displacing a surface of the oscillator. The oscillator receives a temperature variation with the predetermined period from the heating portion, and oscillates so as to generate ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A hybrid electromechanical actuator has two different types of electromechanical elements, one that expands in a transverse direction when electric power is applied thereto and one that contracts in a transverse direction when electric power is applied thereto. The two electromechanical elements are (i) disposed in relation to one another such that the transverse directions thereof are parallel to one another, and (ii) mechanically coupled to one another at least at two opposing edges thereof. Electric power is applied simultaneously to the elements.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric element is provided with a multilayer body, a first external electrode on a side face of the multilayer body, and a second external electrode outside the first external electrode. The multilayer body consists of an alternate stack of a plurality of piezoelectric members and a plurality of internal electrodes. The first external electrode is electrically connected to predetermined internal electrodes. The second external electrode extends in a wave pattern along a stack direction of the multilayer body and is of flat plate shape. The first external electrode and the second external electrode are electrically and physically connected through a plurality of connections.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a top-layer, a bottom-layer and at least one intermediate-layer ceramic sheets stacked to each other for sintering. An alloy layer of silver and palladium is interposed between every two ceramic sheets, and a sliver layer is coated on each exposed surface of the top-layer and the bottom-layer ceramic sheets, so as to form a positive and a negative electrode circuit therein. The piezoelectric ceramic composition with the silver layer is attached to at least one surface of a metal plate to make a piezoelectric element which is used to make a piezoelectric actuator, loudspeaker or buzzer.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to achieving micromachined piezoelectrically-actuated diaphragms. The piezoelectric diaphragm includes a central, inactive electrode free region and an annular shaped interdigitated electrode adjacent to the outer periphery of the central region. The diaphragm also may have an inactive annular, electrode free region and an active central, interdigitated electrode region. The diaphragms may be used in, such as, miniature pumps. The pumps may include a plurality of chambers to generate peristaltic pumping of fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be converted into rotation of a power shaft included in a motor. Repeated deflection of the polymer may then produce continuous rotation of the power shaft.