Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer includes a single crystal relaxor ferroelectric element poled along a [0 11] direction and selected from the group consisting of PZN-PT, PMN-PZT, PZN-PT and PMN-PT. The element has two opposed surfaces substantially perpendicular to the [0 11] direction with an input electrode and an output electrode positioned on one surface. The output electrode is isolated from electrical communication with the input electrode. A ground electrode is positioned on the second, opposed surface. Input electrical energy results in piezoelectric change in the element that is mechanically coupled through the element to generate piezoelectric output energy.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor having 2-dimensional positioning movement includes a stator. The stator includes a piezoelectric ceramic bar and an electrode disposed on the bar. Each bar includes two wings that are separated by a predetermined angle to form a predetermined shape. A power source is used to apply a voltage to the stator to excite a bending mode vibration in the each of the wings, and the combined motion of the two wings produces an elliptical motion at a tip of the wing. A load is operatively connected to the stator, such that a portion of the load in contact with the stator is driven to move linearly through a frictional force between the load and the stator, due to the elliptical motion at the tip of the wing.

Abstract: A non-mechanical gimbal system is presented. The gimbal system includes a gimbal housing, including hemispherical and annular caps, rotatable sphere, and at least two curvilinear actuators. The hemispherical cap is attached to the annular cap in a removable fashion so as to surround the rotatable sphere. The curvilinear actuators are disposed between the rotatable sphere and gimbal housing. Curvilinear actuators rotate the rotatable sphere, via shear induced motion, with respect to the interior surface of the gimbal housing. The present invention has immediate applicability within security devices, games, toys, weapons (including guidance systems and aiming), and communication systems.

Abstract: A non-mechanical gimbal system is presented. The gimbal system includes a gimbal housing, including hemispherical and annular caps, rotatable sphere, and at least two curvilinear actuators. The hemispherical cap is attached to the annular cap in a removable fashion so as to surround the rotatable sphere. The curvilinear actuators are disposed between the rotatable sphere and gimbal housing. Curvilinear actuators rotate the rotatable sphere, via shear induced motion, with respect to the interior surface of the gimbal housing. The present invention has immediate applicability within security devices, games, toys, weapons (including guidance systems and aiming), and communication systems.

Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic piezoelectric motor is provided and a method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to drive the motor. The motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric ceramic disc polarized in the radial direction and bounded by a top electrode and a segmented bottom electrode. The motor also includes a power source for applying two pairs of alternating voltages to the bottom electrode segments to excite a shear-shear mode vibration in the stator, resulting in a shear-shear mode flexure traveling wave in the stator. The motor further includes a rotor operatively connected to the stator, and the stator is driven to rotate through a frictional force between the rotor and the stator due to the traveling wave deformation of the stator. A linear ultrasonic piezoelectric motor and method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to linearly drive the motor is provided. The motor includes a stator having a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate that is polarized in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ultrasonic motor having 2-dimensional positioning movement includes a stator. The stator includes a piezoelectric ceramic bar and an electrode disposed on the bar. Each bar includes two wings that are separated by a predetermined angle to form a predetermined shape. A power source is used to apply a voltage to the stator to excite a bending mode vibration in the each of the wings, and the combined motion of the two wings produces an elliptical motion at a tip of the wing. A load is operatively connected to the stator, such that a portion of the load in contact with the stator is driven to move linearly through a frictional force between the load and the stator, due to the elliptical motion at the tip of the wing.

Abstract: A piezoelectric micro-disruptor capable of disrupting a blockage both mechanically and vibrationally is presented. The micro-disruptor includes a rotor, a stator disposed about and contacting the rotor, a cutting element, and a flexible guide wire. In one embodiment, the stator is composed of a flexible cylinder with at least two piezoelectric elements attached thereto. Piezoelectric elements are electroded, wired to power leads within the flexible guide wire, and poled to function as an actuator. Expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric elements causes the flexible cylinder to wobble, thus driving the rotor and cutting element in a rotary fashion. In another embodiment, the stator is a piezoelectric cylinder with at least two electrodes attached separately thereto so as to contact and rotate a rotor assembly. Piezoelectric elements and cylinder are electrically driven so as to vibrate the stator, rotor, and cutting element.

Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic piezoelectric motor is provided and a method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to drive the motor. The motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric ceramic disc polarized in the radial direction and bounded by a top electrode and a segmented bottom electrode. The motor also includes a power source for applying two pairs of alternating voltages to the bottom electrode segments to excite a shear-shear mode vibration in the stator, resulting in a shear-shear mode flexure traveling wave in the stator. The motor further includes a rotor operatively connected to the stator, and the stator is driven to rotate through a frictional force between the rotor and the stator due to the traveling wave deformation of the stator. A linear ultrasonic piezoelectric motor and method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to linearly drive the motor is provided. The motor includes a stator having a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate that is polarized in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic piezoelectric motor is provided and a method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to drive the motor. The motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric ceramic disc polarized in the radial direction and bounded by a top electrode and a segmented bottom electrode. The motor also includes a power source for applying two pairs of alternating voltages to the bottom electrode segments to excite a shear-shear mode vibration in the stator, resulting in a shear-shear mode flexure traveling wave in the stator. The motor further includes a rotor operatively connected to the stator, and the stator is driven to rotate through a frictional force between the rotor and the stator due to the traveling wave deformation of the stator. A linear ultrasonic piezoelectric motor and method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to linearly drive the motor is provided. The motor includes a stator having a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate that is polarized in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A rotary ultrasonic piezoelectric motor is provided and a method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to drive the motor. The motor includes a stator having a piezoelectric ceramic disc polarized in the radial direction and bounded by a top electrode and a segmented bottom electrode. The motor also includes a power source for applying two pairs of alternating voltages to the bottom electrode segments to excite a shear-shear mode vibration in the stator, resulting in a shear-shear mode flexure traveling wave in the stator. The motor further includes a rotor operatively connected to the stator, and the stator is driven to rotate through a frictional force between the rotor and the stator due to the traveling wave deformation of the stator. A linear ultrasonic piezoelectric motor and method of exciting a flexure traveling wave to linearly drive the motor is provided. The motor includes a stator having a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic plate that is polarized in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to piezoelectric rare earth doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds including (zPb(ZrwTi(1−w))O3—(1−z)Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3+REx) where z is ≦0.95, 0.40<w<0.60, and where RE is a rare earth cation dopant, and 0<x<5.0%. The doped compounds have both improved Qm and (k). The RE dopants employed advantageously generate both “hardening” and “softening” effects in doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds. The RE doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds have advantageously high vibrational velocity compared to pure Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds and commercialized hard PZT. The disclosed invention also relates to piezoelectric devices which include the doped piezoelectric ceramic compounds.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to piezoelectric rare earth doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds including (zPb(ZrwTi(1−w))O3−(1−z)Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3+REx) where z is ≦0.95, 0.40<w<0.60, and where RE is a rare earth cation dopant, and 0<x<5.0%. The doped compounds have both improved Qm and (k). The RE dopants employed advantageously generate both “hardening” and “softening” effects in doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds. The RE doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds have advantageously high vibrational velocity compared to pure Pb(Zr,Ti)O3—Pb(Mn,Sb)O3 compounds and commercialized hard PZT. The disclosed invention also relates to piezoelectric devices which include the doped piezoelectric ceramic compounds.

Abstract: An improved motor employs a stator which includes a piezoelectric wafer that is poled across its thickness dimension so that a signal applied thereacross results in either an inward or outward movement of the periphery of the wafer. A pair of end caps are placed on opposed surfaces of the wafer and are adhered thereto at their respective peripheries. Each end cap includes a centrally located driving segment, a series of peripheral segments adhered to periphery of the wafer and a plurality of arms connecting the peripheral segments to the driving segment. A rotor includes a driven portion which mates with the driving segment and is driven thereby. Application of a signal across the thickness of the piezoelectric wafer results in rotary motion being imparted to the driving segment via flexure of the arms (as a result of movement of the peripheral segments of the end caps). Further embodiments provide both rotary and linear motions.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer using a piezoelectric annulus, divided into sections, includes at least one input and one output electrode configuration. The input electrodes are formed by covering top and bottom surfaces of the divided section of piezoelectric annulus. The low impedance portions, which are input regions, are poled parallel to the thickness direction and the high impedance portions, which are output regions, are poled tangentially. The transformer is operable at several radial mode resonance frequencies of piezoelectric ring. Two stepped up ac output voltages, in phase or 180 degree out of phase, can be obtained at several resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric annulus. The transformer is also operable as a step-down transformer by inverting the input and output ports.

Abstract: A photo-driven optical deflecting apparatus in which a light beam is deflected by using only light beam(s), comprising (a) a dielectric substrate having "photovoltaic effect"; (b) one or more first couples of electrodes formed in or on at least a portion of the surface(s) of said substrate so as to polarize the portion(s) positioned between said couple(s) of the electrodes formed thereby; (c) one or more photo-driving or photo-receiving elements provided at least in the polarized portion(s) of the surface of said dielectric substrate, having a polarization direction oriented in one direction, and having photovoltaic effect so as to generate a voltage between said electrodes; (d) a dielectric and transparent prism having "electrooptic effect" through which a light beam to be deflected is passed and deflected, provided on the surface of said substrate, having a second couple of electrodes provided on a couple of the surfaces of the prism, which surfaces are parallel to the optic axis; and a polarizer provided o

Abstract: There is provided a new electro-optical effect composition having the general formula:(1-x)Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 --xPbTiO.sub.3wherein 0.5.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.40.

Abstract: A photo-driven switching apparatus in which a light beam is switched or modulated by using only light beam(s), comprising (a) a dielectric substrate having "photovoltaic effect"; (b) one or more couples of electrodes formed in or on at least portions of the surface(s) of the substrate so as to polarize the portion(s) positioned between the couple(s) of the electrodes thereby, (c) one or more photo-driving or photo-receiving elements provided at least in the polarized portion(s) of the surface of the dielectric substrate, having a polarization direction arranged at one certain direction, and having photovoltaic effect so as to generate photovoltage; (d) a dielectric rotation element comprising a light beam switching passage or modulator having a couple of polarizers, the polarization direction of each of which is perpendicularly crossed or parallel to each other, positioned on the surface of incoming of a light beam to be modulated, and at the surface of outgoing of the light beam, and a couple of electrodes f

Abstract: In a vibration preventing apparatus, there are provided a supporting plate on which an object to be supported is mounted; and a member fixed on the supporting plate, for supporting the supporting plate. In this apparatus, a piezoelectric effect element, to which electrodes a resistor is connected, is attached to a surface of the supporting plate. This piezoelectric effect element is a bimorph.

Abstract: An actuator of the present invention is composed of a monomorph-type piezoelectric ceramic. The monomorph-type piezoelectric ceramic is a BaTiO.sub.3 -based ceramic, a PZT based ceramic having Nb, Sb, La, Mn, Nd and Bi, BaTiO.sub.3 --SrTiO.sub.3 -based ceramic containing SrTiO.sub.3 by 20 to 35 mole %, K(Nb, Ta)O.sub.3 -based ceramic, or a ceramic represented by a general formula: [Pb, (A.sub.1/2 B.sub.1/2)](Zr.sub.1-n, Cn)O.sub.3 where A is a monovalent element such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs or the like, B is a trivalent element such as Bi, La, Y, Sb, Ga or the like, A and B being both replaceable solid-meltable elements for Pb, C is an element such as Ti, Sn or the like that is a replaceable solid-meltable element for Zr, and n is from 0 to 0.8.

Abstract: A linear motor is arranged to have two legs each of which have a different resonance frequency, when one of the legs is induced to resonate by applying a vibration having a frequency which corresponds to the resonance frequency of one of the legs, to the chassis of the motor, the motor proceeds in a first direction, while when a vibration having a second frequency which corresponds to the resonance frequency of the other leg is applied, the motor is propelled linearly in the other direction.