Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoceramic multi-layer actuator with a moisture-repellant protective layer and a method for producing same.

Abstract: A method, a device and use for measurement of a force with a pressure sensor made of a piezoelectric material. The change in the capacitance of the pressure sensor is used for force measurement so that no load amplifier is necessary for measurement and as a result the measuring system as a whole is miniaturized.

Abstract: According to the state of the art, piezoceramic multi-layer elements are sintered in air at temperatures of approximately 1100 DEG C or higher. Therefore, only a noble metal having a high melting temperature can be used as the inner electrode. Non-noble metals would oxidize. Therefore, a silver-palladium alloy having up to 40% palladium is normally used. However, such a measure is associated with high material costs. Lower melting temperatures of the inner electrode material, however, also require a ceramic material having correspondingly low sintering temperatures. The invention therefore proposes that an electrically non-conductive sintering additive added be added to the base material, and that the inner electrode comprise silver, preferably pure silver, as the main material component thereof, and an electrically non-conductive material component and/or a metal alloy or metal oxide mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a machining tool that is used for machining primarily metal materials, comprising a cutting tool, wherein the cutting force, feed force, and passive force can be adjusted during machining, and comprising sensors to measure forces. In order that machining can be stopped 2 to 60 seconds, preferably 2 to 10 seconds, prior to failure of the cutting body, the invention proposes that the sensors continuously sense at least one of said forces during machining and machining is stopped if a sudden reduction in the sensed force occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to actuator module (22) having a piezoceramic multilayer actuator (1) arranged in a casing (23). In order to avoid an increase in conductivity and hence rising leakage current at the actuator surface even after a long period of use, the invention proposes that the casing (23) is hermetically sealed, and a chamber (24) is arranged between the multilayer actuator (1) and the casing (23), which chamber is entirely or partially filled with a medium (21) that chemically transforms and/or binds water.

Abstract: A method, a device and use for measurement of a force with a pressure sensor made of a piezoelectric material. The change in the capacitance of the pressure sensor is used for force measurement so that no load amplifier is necessary for measurement and as a result the measuring system as a whole is miniaturized.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, in particular a motor vehicle relay, contains a magnet yoke, a relay coil, a hinged armature which is pivotable about an axis of rotation and on which a moving contact, as working or switchover contact, is retained relative to at least one fixed contact. A piezo actuator is provided, which keeps the working or switchover contact closed when the relay coil is de-energized as a result of the actuation of the piezo actuator.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, in particular a motor vehicle relay, contains a magnet yoke, a relay coil, a hinged armature which is pivotable about an axis of rotation and on which a moving contact, as working or switchover contact, is retained relative to at least one fixed contact. A piezo actuator is provided, which keeps the working or switchover contact closed when the relay coil is de-energized as a result of the actuation of the piezo actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a force module (20) for generating forces in a highly dynamic manner by assembling a plurality of piezo actuators (1) for connecting to a voltage source. To enable the force module (20) to generate forces in the range of a few 100 kN in a highly dynamic and spatially resolved manner, according to the invention it is proposed that the force module (20) consists of at least two sub-modules (21), each having at least two piezo actuators (1) and their electrical contacting elements, and a controlling and protection module (16) for the piezo actuators (1) in the sub-modules (21), wherein all electric contacting elements of the sub-modules (21) are fed into the controlling and protection module (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to actuator module (22) having a piezoceramic multilayer actuator (1) arranged in a casing (23). In order to avoid an increase in conductivity and hence rising leakage current at the actuator surface even after a long period of use, the invention proposes that the casing (23) is hermetically sealed, and a chamber (24) is arranged between the multilayer actuator (1) and the casing (23), which chamber is entirely or partially filled with a medium (21) that chemically transforms and/or binds water.

Abstract: A monolithic multilayer actuator made of a sintered stack of thin films of piezoceramio with embedded metallic internal electrodes. All metallic internal electrodes of one polarity are electrically connected in parallel by way of a base metallization applied to the stack and wherein an external electrode is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the base metallization for electrical contacting purposes. In order to provide that the external electrode can be applied to the base metallization using simple and cost-effective means so that said electrode is expandable such that it dissipates the cracks arising from cracking energy in the actuator without the external electrode disconnecting in the process that are sintered together, the layer being applied onto the base metallization.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, in particular a motor vehicle relay, contains a magnet yoke, a relay coil, a hinged armature which is pivotable about an axis of rotation and on which a moving contact, as working or switchover contact, is retained relative to at least one fixed contact. A piezo actuator is provided, which keeps the working or switchover contact closed when the relay coil is de-energized as a result of the actuation of the piezo actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a force module (20) for generating forces in a highly dynamic manner by assembling a plurality of piezo actuators (1) for connecting to a voltage source. To enable the force module (20) to generate forces in the range of a few 100 kN in a highly dynamic and spatially resolved manner, according to the invention it is proposed that the force module (20) consists of at least two sub-modules (21), each having at least two piezo actuators (1) and their electrical contacting elements, and a controlling and protection module (16) for the piezo actuators (1) in the sub-modules (21), wherein all electric contacting elements of the sub-modules (21) are fed into the controlling and protection module (16).

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy in a rotating system for the purpose of supplying electric current to electronic components in the system, comprising external forces, acting on the system, that act on piezoelectrically active energy converters in the system, as a result of which electrical energy is generated, and comprising an electronic system for processing the generated electrical energy and transferring it to the components.

Abstract: A method for producing a component as monolithic multilayer element or multilayer bending element, comprising at least two layer stacks each having 1-400 layers of piezoelectrically active material which are separated by at least one layer stack comprising 0-100 layers of piezoelectrically inactive material, wherein the inner electrodes of the active layer stacks contain at least the following materials: a) pure silver b) electrically non-conductive material having a proportion by weight of 0% to at most 30% and the material of the piezoelectrically active layers has a sufficient activity in a thermal process such that sintering below the melting point of the material of the inner electrodes is possible and performed.

Abstract: A monolithic multilayer actuator made of a sintered stack of thin films of piezoceramio with embedded metallic internal electrodes. All metallic internal electrodes of one polarity are electrically connected in parallel by way of a base metallization applied to the stack and wherein an external electrode is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the base metallization for electrical contacting purposes. In order to provide that the external electrode can be applied to the base metallization using simple and cost-effective means so that said electrode is expandable such that it dissipates the cracks arising from cracking energy in the actuator without the external electrode disconnecting in the process that are sintered together, the layer being applied onto the base metallization.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy in a rotating system for the purpose of supplying electric current to electronic components in the system, comprising external forces, acting on the system, that act on piezoelectrically active energy converters in the system, as a result of which electrical energy is generated, and comprising an electronic system for processing the generated electrical energy and transferring it to the components.

Abstract: According to the state of the art, piezoceramic multi-layer elements are sintered in air at temperatures of approximately 1100 DEG C or higher. Therefore, only a noble metal having a high melting temperature can be used as the inner electrode. Non-noble metals would oxidize. Therefore, a silver-palladium alloy having up to 40% palladium is normally used. However, such a measure is associated with high material costs. Lower melting temperatures of the inner electrode material, however, also require a ceramic material having correspondingly low sintering temperatures. The invention therefore proposes that an electrically non-conductive sintering additive added be added to the base material, and that the inner electrode comprise silver, preferably pure silver, as the main material component thereof, and an electrically non-conductive material component and/or a metal alloy or metal oxide mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a monolithic multilayered actuator comprising a stack of thin active piezoceramic films with applied metallic inner electrodes which reciprocally lead from the stack and are electrically connected in parallel using outer electrodes.

Abstract: A method for producing a component as monolithic multilayer element or multilayer bending element, comprising at least two layer stacks each having 1-400 layers of piezoelectrically active material which are separated by at least one layer stack comprising 0-100 layers of piezoelectrically inactive material, wherein the inner electrodes of the active layer stacks contain at least the following materials: a) pure silver b) electrically non-conductive material having a proportion by weight of 0% to at most 30% and the material of the piezoelectrically active layers has a sufficient activity in a thermal process such that sintering below the melting point of the material of the inner electrodes is possible and performed.