Abstract: In a method for influencing, in particular damping or suppressing, mechanical vibrations occurring during operation in a turbomachine blade (10), the mechanical vibratory energy of the turbomachine blade (10) is first converted into electrical energy and the electrical energy generated is then converted into heat loss. Effective damping which can be used especially simply and in a versatile way is achieved in that the piezoelectric effect is used in order to convert mechanical vibratory energy into electrical energy.

Abstract: A multi-axis actuating apparatus for a nano-positioning apparatus includes a movable element attached to a sample platform, a plurality of driving elements, and a plurality of actuators. The driving elements frictionally engage the movable element and are configured to selectively move the movable element along a first direction. The plurality of actuators move the plurality of driving elements when driving signals are applied to the plurality of actuators. Different driving signals may be applied to the plurality of actuators to cause different movement of the driving elements such that the movable element has different displacements in different directions along the plurality of driving elements. The movable element is titled due to the different displacements.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a boundary acoustic wave device is capable of certainly providing the boundary acoustic wave device with desired target frequency characteristics. The manufacturing method for the boundary acoustic wave device includes a process for preparing a laminated body that includes a first medium, a second medium laminated on the first medium, and an IDT electrode that is disposed at an interface between the first and second media, and a process for implanting ions from an outer portion of the second medium and adjusting a frequency.

Abstract: A method for measuring frequency response is provided that includes supplying ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic device configured to impart energy to tissue, providing a drive signal and a noise signal, combining the drive signal and the noise signal to create a combined signal, amplifying the combined signal and providing the amplified signal to the ultrasonic device, receiving an output signal from the ultrasonic device and the noise signal, calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal and the noise signal, adjusting the drive signal generator based on the calculated transfer function estimate, and determining a phase difference by time aligning the noise signal in the output signal with the noise signal provided.

Abstract: There are provided a piezoelectric resonator and an electrode structure thereof. The piezoelectric resonator includes: a piezoelectric body oscillated according to an electrical signal; and first and second electrodes each including first and second electrode layers stacked on respective both surfaces of the piezoelectric body, wherein the first electrode layer includes one or more selected from the group consisting of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), and an alloy including any one thereof, the ratio of the thickness of the first electrode layer to the thickness of the first or second electrode is 3% to 30%; and the second electrode layer includes copper (Cu) or an alloy including copper (Cu), and the ratio of the thickness of the second electrode layer to the thickness of the first or second electrode is 70% to 97%.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to an achieve increase of amplitude of vibrations and/or flattening of frequency dependence of the amplitude of a piezoelectric actuator. Piezoelectric actuator (100) has first piezoelectric vibrator (102), second piezoelectric vibrator (104), and vibrating membrane (106). First piezoelectric vibrator (102) includes first pedestal (116) and first piezoelectric element (112) connected to the first pedestal. Second piezoelectric vibrator (104) includes second pedestal (118) and second piezoelectric element (114) connected to the second pedestal. Vibrating membrane (106) has opening (108). First piezoelectric vibrator (102) is connected to one surface of vibrating membrane (106) straddling opening (108) of the vibrating membrane. Second piezoelectric vibrator (102) is connected to another surface of vibrating membrane (106) straddling opening (108) of the vibrating membrane.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator for driving a lens unit along an optical axis is disclosed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a fixed member, a movable member movably received in the fixed member, a magnet fixed on the fixed member, a metal sheet fixed on the movable member, a piezoelectric member and a circuit board. The movable member includes a contacting portion. The metal sheet is aligned with the magnetic along a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The metal sheet is made from a material that can be attracted by the magnet and lighter than the magnet. The piezoelectric member is fixed on the fixed member and contacts on the contacting portion of the movable member for driving the movable member to move along the optical axis. The circuit board provides voltages to the piezoelectric member.

Abstract: In an elastic wave device that significantly reduces and prevents deterioration of a frequency characteristic without roughening an undersurface of a piezoelectric substrate, a structure is bonded to a surface of a piezoelectric substrate other than a main surface of the piezoelectric substrate on which IDTs are located. The structure is provided so that a path difference is defined between a first component and a second component of a bulk wave that is excited by the IDT and propagates in the piezoelectric substrate toward the bonding surface. The first component of the bulk wave is reflected from the bonding surface. The second component of the bulk wave enters the structure from the bonding surface, propagates in the structure, enters the piezoelectric substrate from the bonding surface, and propagates in the same direction as that of the first component reflected from the bonding surface in the piezoelectric substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical energy in downhole tool is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, such apparatus includes a tubular configured to flow a fluid within the tubular and an energy conversion device at a selected location inside the tubular, wherein the energy conversion device comprises an active material configured to convert received pressure pulses in the fluid into electrical energy.

Abstract: Provided are an electrode having high conductivity and high durability to driving deformation, and an actuator including the electrode, the actuator having a large amount of displacement. The actuator includes a pair of electrodes arranged oppositely and an intermediate layer arranged between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer containing an electrolyte, and the actuator being deformed by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes, in which at least one of the pair of electrodes includes a porous structure containing a first conductive material and having conductivity, a second conductive material, and an electrolyte, pores of the porous structure being filled with the second conductive material and the electrolyte.

Abstract: A resonant motor unit that has a resonant motor, a control unit, a measurement unit, and an evaluation unit is described. The control unit drives the resonant motor at a driving frequency, short-circuits the resonant motor during at least a first short-circuiting phase in successive driving cycles and concludes the first short-circuiting phases by switching off the current flow through the resonant motor at least at a predetermined first time instant within the driving cycles. The measurement unit successively measures at least a first voltage signal provided by the resonant motor at the predetermined first time instant, and the evaluation unit for determines whether the first voltage signal has changed between successive measurements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonic, flow measuring device comprising an electromechanical transducer element and an ultrasound window, wherein an adapting, or matching, layer liquid at operating conditions of the ultrasonic transducer is arranged between the electromechanical transducer element and the ultrasound window, wherein the ultrasonic transducer has holding means, which exert a releasable force toward the ultrasound window on the electromechanical transducer element, in order to hold the electromechanical transducer element in a predetermined position relative to the ultrasound window.

Abstract: A piezoelectric component includes a stack of piezoelectric layers arranged one on top of the other and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween. The stack includes at least one first piezoelectric layer having a first electrical coercive force and directly adjacent thereto at least one second piezoelectric layer having a second electrical coercive force different from the first coercive force.

Abstract: A nano/micro electro-mechanical relay, comprising an at least one normally open (NO) nano/micro relay switch and an at least one normally closed (NC) nano/micro relay switch. Both the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch can be switched between their respective normal relay switch positions and their respective actuated relay switch positions. An at least one nano/micro actuator including an at least one piezoelectric stack layer being attached to an at least one elastic layer, wherein the at least one piezoelectric stack layer contracts to deflect the at least one elastic layer, and thereby actuate the at least one nano/micro contact bar to simultaneously switch the NC nano/micro relay switch and the NO nano/micro relay switch between their respective normal relay switch position and their respective actuated relay switch positions.

Abstract: Quartz-crystal devices are disclosed, of which the CI value is reduced by adjusting the shortest distance between an edge of electrically conductive adhesive and an edge of the excitation electrode. The device has a quartz-crystal plate having long-edges and short-edges. Excitation electrodes are on first and second surfaces of the plate. Conductive pads are electrically connected to respective excitation electrodes and extend to the short-edge of the quartz-crystal plate. A package having a pair of external mounting terminals and respective connecting electrodes are situated on opposing sides of the mounting terminals for making electrical connections to the mounting terminals. An electrically conductive adhesive bonds the connecting terminals and respective conductive pads together, and the quartz-crystal plate onto the package. The shortest distance between an edge of the adhesive and an edge of the excitation electrode is 10%-15% the length of the quartz-crystal plate in the long-edge direction.

Abstract: Provided is an annular vibration wave actuator capable of distributing a contact surface pressure at a contacting portion over the entire contacting face and capable of reducing sliding in the direction orthogonal to the driving direction, thus improving durability.

Abstract: An array-type ultrasonic vibrator according to the present invention has an acoustic matching layer that has a plate-like body made of a material having a lower acoustic impedance than a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Signal wiring is formed on the plate-like body of the acoustic matching layer. Accordingly, for this array-type ultrasonic vibrator, the signal wiring can be easily formed without using additional components.

Abstract: An actuator and a method for using the same are provided. The actuator includes a flexible element and a photoelectric layer. The flexible element includes an elastic layer or a piezoelectric layer. The photoelectric layer is disposed on a side of the flexible element. An electrical characteristic of the photoelectric layer is determined according to an irradiation condition of the photoelectric layer.

Abstract: A bimaterial microelectromechanical system (MEMS) solar power generator device converts radiant energy received from the sun, or other light source, into heat, which is then used to produce electricity through the piezoelectric effect. As the efficiency of piezoelectric materials can often reach up to 90%, the efficiency is greater than that of conventional solar cells.

Abstract: A vibration wave driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a vibrator having at least a vibration body formed with a projecting portion having spring characteristics and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, the vibration wave driving apparatus using motion of the projecting portion to drive a driven body in contact with the projecting portion, wherein the vibration body includes a base portion and the projecting portion, the projecting portion includes two wall portions formed in parallel to a direction orthogonal to a drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and two wall portions formed in parallel to the drive direction of the driven body extending in an out-of-plane direction with respect to the base portion and a contact portion including a contact surface with the driven body formed by connecting the wall portions.