Abstract: Dielectric compositions that include compound of the formula [(M?)1?x(A?)x][(M?)1?y?z,(B?)y(C?)z]O3??(VO)? and protonated dielectric compositions that include a protonated dielectric compound within the formula [(M?)1?x(A?)x](M?)1?y?z(B?)y(C?)z]O3??+h(Vo)?(H•)2h are disclosed. Composite materials that employ one or more of these dielectric compounds together with an electrolyte also are disclosed. Composite material that employs one or more of these dielectric compounds together with an electrochemally active material also are disclosed.

Abstract: Dielectric compositions that include compound of the formula [(M?)1?x(A?)x][(M?)1?y?z,(B?)y(C?)z]O3??(VO)? and protonated dielectric compositions that include a protonated dielectric compound within the formula [(M?)1?x(A?)x](M?)1?y?z(B?)y(C?)z]O3??+h(Vo)?(H*)2h are disclosed. Composite materials that employ one or more of these dielectric compounds together with an electrolyte also are disclosed. Composite material that employs one or more of these dielectric compounds together with an electrochemally active material also are disclosed.

Abstract: A flextensional transducer assembly having a single flextensional cell with a transducer housed with a platten. The transducer expands and contracts in a transverse direction to cause inverse movement in the platten in the axial direction. The platten may include either an elbow at the intersection of walls or corrugated pattern along the top and bottom walls. The platten is manufactured from one piece using Electrical Discharge Machining. A load is applied to the platten to then slot in the transducer into the platten before releasing the load to mechanically capture the transducer.

Abstract: A torsional actuator includes a plurality of segments, each segment having a substantially rectangular shape. Each segment is comprised of an electroactive material that is poled along an elongated dimension of the rectangular shape. The segments are arranged side-by-side, with adjacent segments poled in opposing directions along their long dimensions. Conductors are positioned between adjacent sides of the side-by-side segments, with all of the juxtaposed segments being bound together in an integral structure. A power supply is connected to the conductors and applies oppositely poled electric fields across adjacent segments to cause like shear deformations of each of the segments and a resultant angular rotation of a non-fixed end thereof.

Abstract: A ferroelectric motor comprises a single layer of ferroelectric material electrically excited by an array of electrical contacts and an electrical excitation source for supplying phased electrical signals to the contacts thereby creating a travelling wave of mechanical deformation in the ferroelectric layer and actuating an actuator. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the actuator may be linear or rotary. The motor may be fabricated on a single integrated circuit die, in which case the layer of ferroelectric material may be a thin film of PZT. In other embodiments a motor may comprise two dies which are sandwiched together by wafer to wafer bonding. Portions of a die may be removed to permit a linear actuator to project beyond the die.

Abstract: A single crystal bender actuator for selectively positioning a movable precision optical or acoustical component is described which comprises a single crystal of barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium lead titanate, potassium niobate tantalate, lead titanate-lead magnesium niobate or other material in which a special domain structure can be induced to produce a very high strain bimorph configuration, the single crystal operatively interconnecting support structure and the movable component, and means for selectively applying an electric field of controllable field strength to the crystal.

Abstract: An infrared imaging system is described which includes a pyro-optic sensor for receiving a thermal image on one of its sides, the sensor exhibiting a substantial change in refractive index in responses to changes in its temperature. A light beam is projected onto a second side of the sensor, the beam being selectively, locally reflected by the sensor in accordance with local changes in its refractive index. A receiver detects the reflected beam and responds to the reflectance changes to derive a visible image of the thermal image.The pyro-optic sensor comprises a sandwich structure which includes a film of energy absorbant material upon which the thermal image is received; a thin film of thermal-optic material; and a supporting layer which includes an optically transparent foam positioned next to the pyro-optic material on the side at which is directed an interrogating light beam.

Abstract: A hydrophone device is provided with a piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composite of 0-3 connectivity in which the piezoelectric filler comprises a solid solution of PBTiO.sub.3 -BiFeO.sub.3 wherein the solid solution contains 50-80 wt. % of the BiFeO.sub.3. The piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composite has large hydrostatic piezoelectric charge and voltage coefficients which are desirable in hydrophone devices.

Abstract: A barrier layer ceramic capacitor and a method of making the same, using barium plumbate or modified barium plumbate as the base material. The fabricating process is a one step process requiring a maximum sintering temperature of 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: Pyroelectric crystals having relatively high figures of merit (p/K) of the order of 1.8 or more are provided. They are preferably prepared by doping alanine substituted triglycine sulfate crystals with phosphorous and/or arsenic.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic powder comprises a solid solution of PbTiO.sub.3 and BiFeO.sub.3 wherein a portion of the iron content is replaced with manganese. A piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composite of 0-3 connectivity is disclosed using as the piezoelectric filler the manganese-doped solid solution.

Abstract: A miniature apparatus for compressing gases is disclosed in which an elastomer disposed between two opposing electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic blocks, or between a single electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic block and a rigid surface, is caused to extrude into or recede from a channel defined adjacent to the elastomer in response to application or removal of an electric field from the blocks. Individual cells of blocks and elastomer are connected to effect a gas compression by peristaltic activation of the individual cells. The apparatus is self-valving in that the first and last cells operate as inlet and outlet valves, respectively. Preferred electrostrictive and piezoelectric ceramic materials are disclosed, and an alternative, non-peristaltic embodiment of the apparatus is described.

Abstract: A broad bandwidth electro-mechanical transducer is shaped into a wedge of varying thickness, with a plurality of PZT elements or sheets embedded in an inactive polymer. The transducer is driven at frequencies corresponding to resonance of the thickness dimensions. The piezoelectric elements with different thicknesses are decoupled mechanically from one another using an inactive polymer of low Q so as to prevent interference.

Abstract: Composites of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and inactive polymers with 3-1 and 3-2 patterns and a method of fabrication thereof are described. Fabrication is accomplished by drilling holes in sintered PZT blocks and filling the holes with epoxy or some other inactive polymer. The influence of hole size and volume fraction PZT on the hydrostatic properties of the composite is evaluated. By decoupling the piezoelectric coefficients d.sub.33 and d.sub.31 in the composite, the hydrostatic coefficients are greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A composite of PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate) and a compliant polymer matrix aving 3-1 connectivity (i.e., in a diphasic material, one of the two phases is continuously self-connected in all three mutually perpendicular directions and the second phase is self-connected only along one of the three mutually perpendicular directions) and fabrication method thereof is described. An array of parallel PZT rod elements is embedded in a mechanically compliant polymer matrix with their axes along the direction of the poling electric field. Such a composite has a high value of g.sub.h, d.sub.h and g.sub.33 with very little sacrifice in the value of d.sub.33.

Abstract: A flexible, low-density piezoelectric transducer utilizing a PZT-polymer posite that is formed with the two phases three-dimensionally interpenetrant. The ceramic PZT microstructure, which is produced by a replication process that in one embodiment reproduces the structure of a coral species, is filled with silicone rubber and thereafter its transverse connectivity is broken by a light shearing deformation to give it flexibility.

Abstract: Ferroelectric crystals and ceramics prepared with tailored domain patterns hich are selected to enhance or suppress certain modes of vibration which may include those normally unattainable such as, for example, second harmonics.

Abstract: Lead germanate, Pb.sub.5 Ge.sub.3 O.sub.11, or lead germanate/silicate in which up to 2/3 on a molar basis of the germanium has been substituted with silicon, can be formed from a glassy state to a ferroelectric state by a simple annealing process. The lead germanate or lead germanate/silicate is heated to a temperature sufficient to anneal it into a crystalline phase, then cooled below the ferroelectric transition temperature for the composition while an electric field is applied.

Abstract: Polarizable particulate material, such as organic and inorganic colloidal particles such as small pieces of metal, oxides and the like, zwitterionic molecules, and even living organisms and viruses can be preferentially removed from a liquid by dielectrophoresis, by passing the liquid containing the polarizable particulate material to be removed over a ferroelectric apparatus which generates a periodic non-uniform electric field near the boundary between alternately polarized portions of the ferroelectric material. The periodic non-uniform electric field is generated by subjecting portions of the ferroelectric material to an alternating potential to alternately polarize the portions, while allowing other portions of the ferroelectric material to remain polarized in the same direction.

Abstract: Polarizable particulate material, such as organic and inorganic colloidal particles such as small pieces of metal, oxides and the like, zwitterionic molecules, and even living organisms and viruses can be preferentially removed from a liquid by dielectrophoresis, by passing the liquid containing the polarizable particulate material to be removed over a ferroelectric apparatus which generates a periodic non-uniform electric field near the boundary between alternately polarized portions of the ferroelectric material. The periodic non-uniform electric field is generated by subjecting portions of the ferroelectric material to an alternating potential to alternately polarize the portions, while allowing other portions of the ferroelectric material to remain polarized in the same direction.