Abstract: In an embodiment a method includes applying an AC voltage to an input region, converting, by the input region, the AC voltage into a mechanical oscillation, converting, by an output region, the mechanical oscillation into an electrical voltage and igniting a plasma at an output-side end side of an piezoelectric transformer, wherein the piezoelectric transformer includes the input region and the output region, wherein the piezoelectric transformer includes a longest edge and a shortest edge, and wherein the longest edge has a length that is twenty times a length of the shortest edge or less.

Abstract: In an embodiment a process for producing ozone includes applying an input voltage to an input area of a piezoelectric transformer so that a high voltage is generated in an output area of the piezoelectric transformer, wherein the piezoelectric transformer is operated in a pulsed manner such that phases in which the input voltage is applied to the piezoelectric transformer and phases in which the input voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric transformer alternate at regular intervals and surrounding the piezoelectric transformer with an oxygenic process gas so that the ozone is formed from the process gas by the high voltage generated in the output area.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer and a method for producing a piezoelectric transformer are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes manufacturing a main body having an input region having electrodes and a first piezoelectric material being alternately stacked one on top of the other. An output region includes a second piezoelectric material. The first piezoelectric material is polarized and a removable contact is fitted to an output-side end side of the main body, which end side faces away from the input region. A first electrical potential is applied to the removable contact for polarizing the second piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A control circuit and a method for controlling a piezoelectric transformer are disclosed. In an embodiment the control circuit includes an inductor and a control unit, wherein the control circuit is configured to apply a voltage with a periodic waveform to a piezoelectric transformer, wherein a period duration of the voltage is specified by a control frequency and adjust the control frequency of the applied voltage as a function of an average current intensity of a current flowing through the inductor.

Abstract: An electronic arrangement includes a first bias terminal, a ground terminal, a photodiode including an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, and a transimpedance amplifier including an operational amplifier. The electronic arrangement is selectively switchable to a photocurrent measurement mode and a temperature measurement mode. In the photocurrent measurement mode: the anode terminal is connected to a first input of the operational amplifier; the cathode terminal is connected to a second input of the operational amplifier; and the first bias terminal is connected to the first input of the operational amplifier and the anode terminal. In the temperature measurement mode: the anode terminal is connected to the ground terminal; the cathode terminal is connected to the second input of the operational amplifier; and the first bias terminal is connected to the first input of the operational amplifier and disconnected from the anode terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric transformer having a piezoelectric element (1) of the length L, wherein an input voltage Uin can be applied on an input side (2) for being transformed into an output voltage Uout on the output side (3) according to a transformation ratio Uout/Uin=Ku. The piezoelectric element (1) comprises multiple plies (4a, 4b, 4c) of inner electrodes, which are arranged in multiple different layers (S1, S2, S3). Each ply (4a, 4b, 4c) of inner electrodes extends along at least one predetermined sub-section of a predetermined length, wherein sub-sections of plies (4a, 4c) of a first group of layers (S1, S3) and sub-sections of plies (4b) of a second group of layers (S2) have different dimensions, so that the piezoelectric transformer satisfies the following condition: Cin?N2Cout, wherein Cin indicates the input capacitance, Cout indicates the output capacitance, and N indicates the transformation ratio of the ideal transformer.

Abstract: In an embodiment a process for producing ozone includes applying an input voltage to an input area of a piezoelectric transformer so that a high voltage is generated in an output area of the piezoelectric transformer, wherein the piezoelectric transformer is operated in a pulsed manner such that phases in which the input voltage is applied to the piezoelectric transformer and phases in which the input voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric transformer alternate at regular intervals and surrounding the piezoelectric transformer with an oxygenic process gas so that the ozone is formed from the process gas by the high voltage generated in the output area.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method includes applying an AC voltage to an input region, converting, by the input region, the AC voltage into a mechanical oscillation, converting, by an output region, the mechanical oscillation into an electrical voltage and igniting a plasma at an output-side end side of an piezoelectric transformer, wherein the piezoelectric transformer includes the input region and the output region, wherein the piezoelectric transformer includes a longest edge and a shortest edge, and wherein the longest edge has a length that is twenty times a length of the shortest edge or less.

Abstract: In an embodiment an apparatus for generating ozone includes a piezoelectric transformer having an input area and an output area, wherein the input area is configured to convert an applied AC voltage into a mechanical vibration, and wherein the output area is configured to convert the mechanical vibration into an electrical voltage so that the ozone is generated by the electrical voltage of the output area.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus for generating a non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma includes a first piezoelectric transformer, a second piezoelectric transformer, and a drive circuit configured to apply an input voltage to each of the piezoelectric transformers, and wherein the input voltage applied to the first transformer is phase-shifted by 90° in relation to the input voltage applied to the second transformer.

Abstract: A device for generating a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma is disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a first piezoelectric transformer configured to ignite a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in a process medium and a control circuit configured to apply an input voltage to the first piezoelectric transformer and to perform a modulation of the input voltage such that the first piezoelectric transformer generates an acoustic signal as a result of the modulation.

Abstract: A plasma generator is disclosed. In an embodiment a plasma generator includes a piezoelectric transformer subdivided into an input region and an output region in a longitudinal direction, wherein the piezoelectric transformer comprises an output-side end face facing away from the input region, wherein the plasma generator comprises a passive load arranged permanently in front of the output-side end face, and wherein the plasma generator is configured to generate non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezoelectric transformer (1) which is divided in the longitudinal direction (L) into an input region (2) and an output region (3), wherein electrodes (4) and piezoelectric material (5) are alternately stacked in the input region (2) and an alternating voltage can be applied to the electrodes (4) in the input region (2), wherein the output region (3) comprises piezoelectric material (9) which effectuates the build-up of an electrical field when alternating voltage is applied in the input region (2), wherein the piezoelectric transformer (1) has an output-side end face (10) which faces away from the input region (2), and lateral edges (13) which extend in the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the piezoelectric transformer (1) is designed for ionizing atoms or molecules at the output-side end face (10), thereby avoiding ionization of atoms or molecules at the lateral edges (13).

Abstract: A device for producing a non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma are a method for frequency control of a piezoelectric transformer are disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a piezoelectric transformer, an activating circuit configured to apply an AC voltage at an activating frequency to the piezoelectric transformer as an input voltage and a field probe configured to measure a field strength of an electric field produced by the piezoelectric transformer, wherein the activating circuit is configured to adapt the activating frequency based on the measurement results of the field probe such that a field strength is maximized.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus for generating a non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma includes a first piezoelectric transformer, a second piezoelectric transformer, and a drive circuit configured to apply an input voltage to each of the piezoelectric transformers, and wherein the input voltage applied to the first transformer is phase-shifted by 90° in relation to the input voltage applied to the second transformer.

Abstract: A plasma generator is disclosed. In an embodiment a plasma generator includes a piezoelectric transformer subdivided into an input region and an output region in a longitudinal direction, wherein the piezoelectric transformer comprises an output-side end face facing away from the input region, wherein the plasma generator comprises a passive load arranged permanently in front of the output-side end face, and wherein the plasma generator is configured to generate non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma.

Abstract: A device for generating a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma is disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a first piezoelectric transformer configured to ignite a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma in a process medium and a control circuit configured to apply an input voltage to the first piezoelectric transformer and to perform a modulation of the input voltage such that the first piezoelectric transformer generates an acoustic signal as a result of the modulation.

Abstract: An electronic arrangement includes a radiation source. A controlled voltage converter is configured to provide a lamp voltage for the radiation source for operating the radiation source in an ON state for a pulse duration, and to regulate the lamp voltage such that a reference voltage at a feedback terminal of the voltage converter is maintained substantially constant. A voltage source is connected to the feedback terminal and configured to provide, via the feedback terminal for acting on the regulation of the voltage converter, a time-dependent control voltage having a predefined time profile. The voltage converter is configured to select a time profile for the lamp voltage as a function of the predefined time profile of the time-dependent control voltage such that a power of the radiation source deviates from a constant power value by no more than 25% during at least 90% of the pulse duration.

Abstract: A method for frequency control of a piezoelectric transformer and a circuit arrangement including a piezoelectric transformer are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes exciting a piezoelectric transformer on an input side with an AC voltage of predetermined frequency as input voltage, capturing a phase information for an input impedance of the piezoelectric transformer in a feedback path, evaluating the captured phase information in respect of a predetermined phase criterion, and regulating the frequency of the AC voltage on a basis of the evaluated phase information.

Abstract: A plasma generator and a method for setting an ion ratio. In an embodiment a plasma generator includes a piezoelectric transformer suitable for ionizing a process gas, an ion separation electrode and a drive circuit suitable for applying a potential to the ion separation electrode.