Abstract: A pressure sensor has a detecting unit configured to detect a difference between outputs from deformation detecting units of first and second pressure variation sensors. The first and second pressure variation sensors are connected to one another so that the gap of the first pressure variation sensor communicates the exterior of the cavities of the first and second pressure variation sensors and the interior of the cavity of the first pressure variation sensor, and so that the gap of the second pressure variation sensor communicates the interior of the cavity of the first pressure variation sensor and the interior of the cavity of the second pressure variation sensor.

Abstract: To suggest an electromechanical transducer device with a high S/N ratio, an electromechanical transducer device includes a first substrate; electromechanical transducer elements two-dimensionally arrayed on a front surface of the first substrate and configured to provide conversion between acoustic waves and electric signals; an electric wiring substrate that is a second substrate electrically connected with a back surface of the first substrate; a first acoustic matching layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an acoustic attenuating member arranged on a back surface of the second substrate; and a second acoustic matching layer provided between the second substrate and the acoustic attenuating member.

Abstract: In a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator having a reduced magnitude of thermal coefficient of frequency (TCF), a resonant member has first and second surfaces and an opening in the first surface that extends toward the second surface. A compensating material is disposed within the opening and characterized by a temperature coefficient of Young's Modulus (TCE) having a sign opposite that of a TCE of the resonant member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric material portion. The piezoelectric material portion is made of a piezoelectric ceramic that includes a perovskite-type metal oxide including barium titanate and Mn and that has residual polarization. The piezoelectric material portion has a measurement surface extending in a direction that crosses a direction of the residual polarization of the piezoelectric ceramic, and, after the measurement surface has been polished to have a surface roughness of 200 nm or less, the measurement surface has a (002)/(200) X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of 1.0 or more at room temperature. A ratio c/a of a c-axis lattice constant c to an a-axis lattice constant a of the piezoelectric ceramic at room temperature satisfies 1.004?c/a?1.010. A half-width of a (002) diffraction peak of the measurement surface at room temperature is 1.2° or less.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generator that includes an ultrasonic generating element and a first acoustic path. The ultrasonic generating element includes a frame including a through hole in its central portion, a first transducer being flat-shaped and bonded to a first principal surface of the frame, and a second transducer being flat-shaped and bonded to a second principal surface of the frame and is configured to generate ultrasonic waves in a buckling tuning-fork vibration mode where the first transducer and the second transducer vibrate in mutually opposite phases. The first acoustic path is disposed so as to be adjacent to at least one of both principal surfaces of the ultrasonic generating element and configured to compress the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic generating element and to allow the ultrasonic waves to propagate therethrough in a direction along the principal surface of the ultrasonic generating element.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to acoustic transducers. In certain aspects, the acoustic transducer includes a diaphragm and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the diaphragm to cause movement of the diaphragm. In certain aspects, the transducer also includes a member that limits bending of the actuator.

Abstract: The present invention is a piezoelectric composition and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric composition, the composition being characterized by: having a Perovskite structure represented by general formula ABO3; being represented by composition formula x(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3-yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-zBiFeO3, x+y+z=1 in the composition formula above; and in a triangular coordinate using x, y and z in the composition formula above, having a composition represented by a region which is surrounded by a pentagon ABCDE with apexes of point A (1, 0, 0), point B (0.7, 0.3, 0), point C (0.1, 0.3, 0.6), point D (0.1, 0.1, 0.8) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8) and which does not include the line segment AE that connects point A (1, 0, 0) and point E (0.2, 0, 0.8).

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes: a first electrode; a piezoelectric body layer which is provided on the first electrode; and a second electrode which is provided on the piezoelectric body layer, the piezoelectric body layer is made of a composite oxide with a perovskite structure, which contains bismuth, barium, iron, titanium, and strontium, and the content of strontium with respect to barium is equal to or greater than 5 mol % and equal to or less than 18 mol %.

Abstract: A sensor assembly including one or more capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) microarray modules which are provided with a number of individual transducers. The microarray modules are arranged to simulate or orient individual transducers in a hyperbolic paraboloid geometry. The transducers/sensor are arranged in a rectangular or square matrix and are activatable individually, selectively or collectively to emit and received reflected beam signals at a frequency of between about 100 to 170 Hz.

Abstract: A panel for use in a vibratory panel device comprises a substrate, a layer of electroactive material applied to the substrate and a layer of material applied to the electroactive material forming separate active areas whereby signals may be applied to or received from respective areas of the electroactive material, wherein the layer of material forming the active areas forms at least three active areas comprising at least two primary active areas and at least one secondary active area, the secondary active area being positioned relative to the two primary active areas such that one or both of the following conditions is provided: at least one secondary active area can be driven to at least partially offset any net displacement of the panel caused by driving two of the primary active areas; and the at least one secondary active area can sense vibrations of the panel affecting both of the two primary active areas.

Abstract: An energy harvesting device using auxetic materials includes a first auxetic conductive electrode layer. A second auxetic conductive electrode layer is associated with the first auxetic conductive electrode layer. The auxetic conductive electrode layers have negative Poisson ratios. At least one dielectric elastomer layer is associated in layered orientation between the first and second auxetic conductive electrode layers.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device includes a plurality of channels configured to receive data and a scan line data forming unit including a plurality of sub-scan line data forming groups and a data summing unit. The sub-scan line data forming group forms partial data of scan lines, and the data summing unit forms scan line data of the scan lines by summing the partial data. The sub-scan line data forming group includes a plurality of sub-scan line data forming units for forming the partial data of the scan lines by using the receiving data and providing a transmission path of the receiving data. First data lines transmit the receiving data between at least one of the sub-scan data forming unit and the channels, and second data lines transfer the receiving data between the sub-scan line data forming units.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a fiber mat comprising polymer fibers with ferroelectric particles embedded in the polymer fibers. The ferroelectric particles are oriented to generate a net polarization in the fiber mat. The ferroelectric particles may comprise barium titanate particles. The polymer fibers may comprise polylactic acid (PLA) fibers. The piezoelectric device may further include substrates sandwiching the fiber mat, and the fiber mat may be formed by electrospinning polymer fibers containing ferroelectric particles onto one of the substrates. The piezoelectric device may be a piezoelectric actuator configured to receive an input voltage applied across the fiber mat and to output a mechanical displacement in response to the voltage, or the piezoelectric device may be configured to output a voltage in response to a mechanical force applied to the fiber mat.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a single LTGA crystal from a polycrystalline starting material prepared from a mixture of La2O3, Ta2O5, Ga2O3, and Al2O3, wherein a mixture having a composition represented by y(La2O3)+(1?x?y?z)(Ta2O5)+z(Ga2O3)+x(Al2O3) (in the formula, 0<x?0.40/9, 3.00/9<y?3.23/9, and 5.00/9?z<5.50/9) is used as the polycrystalline starting material, and a single LTGA crystal is grown using the Z-axis as a crystal growth axis. The grown LTGA single crystal is preferably subjected to a vacuum heat treatment. The single LTGA crystal grown by the method according to the present invention, which is highly insulative and highly stable, can be utilized in such applications as a piezoelectric element of a highly reliable combustion pressure sensor useful in measurement of a combustion pressure in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A sealing member for an electronic component package includes, on another principal surface of a base material constituting the sealing member for the electronic component package, an external terminal electrode, a wiring pattern, and a resin material. The external terminal electrode is to be electrically coupled to an outside of the electronic component package. The wiring pattern is configured to couple an electronic component element on one principal surface of the base material to the external terminal electrode. The resin material is layered over the other principal surface and the wiring pattern. The external terminal electrode is layered over the wiring pattern and the resin material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated sensor, including terminals (1, 2) for connection to an electric generator, said terminals being connected to a metal measuring line (4, 5) in which a current proportional to the voltage or current of the generator to be measured flows, and magnetoresistors (31, 32, 33, 34). The metal measuring line includes elongate and parallel sections (4, 5) in which the current flows in opposite directions, said sections being connected to a portion (3) for closing the metal measuring line (3, 4, 5), which is arranged on a galvanic isolation layer (8) that is in turn arranged on an integrated circuit portion including the magnetoresistors (31, 32, 33, 34), each of which have a sensitive portion that is vertically adjacent to one of the elongate sections (4, 5). The sensor can be integrated into a diagnostic system.

Abstract: In an electronic component, an outer electrode includes a sintered layer containing a sintered metal, an insulation layer containing an electric insulation material, and a Sn-containing layer containing Sn. The sintered layer extends from each of end surfaces of an element assembly onto at least one main surface thereof so as to cover each of the end surfaces of the element assembly. The insulation layer is directly provided on the sintered layer at each of the end surfaces of the element assembly so as to extend in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a side surface of the element assembly, and defines a portion of a surface of the outer electrode. The Sn-containing layer covers the sintered layer except for a portion of the sintered layer that is covered by the insulation layer, and constitutes another portion of the surface of the outer electrode.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed to be opposed to each other on plate surfaces of the piezoelectric device, a first electrode plane of the piezoelectric device is fixedly bonded to a plate surface of a vibrating plate, a piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric device is polarized in a direction parallel to the first electrode plane, the piezoelectric device is fixed to a base through a second electrode plane of the piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric device generates a thickness-shear vibration with the fixed second electrode plane being a reference plane. The piezoelectric vibration generated by the piezoelectric device generates a flexural vibration in the vibrating plate, to thereby remove dust adhering to a surface of the vibrating plate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric photovoltaic cell is disclosed. The cell may include a photovoltaic portion, including a sensitized semiconductor material. The cell may also include a piezoelectric portion, including a piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material having a high Curie temperature and satisfactory piezoelectric characteristics, the piezoelectric material being represented by the following general formula (1): A(ZnxTi(1-x))yM(1-y)O3??(1) where A represents a Bi element, M represents at least one element selected from Fe, Al, Sc, Mn, Y, Ga, and Yb; x represents a numerical value of 0.4?x?0.6; and y represents a numerical value of 0.17?y?0.60.

Abstract: A tubular clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. In use, the wall of the clip has a plurality of corrugations. The pitch of the corrugations is variable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clip. The clip is configurable into an unfitted configuration and into a fitted configuration and in the fitted configuration the minimum transverse internal separation of the clip walls is less than in the unfitted configuration.

Abstract: A sodium niobate powder includes sodium niobate particles having a shape of a cuboid and having a side average length of 0.1 ?m or more and 100 ?m or less, wherein at least one face of each of the sodium niobate particles is a (100) plane in the pseudocubic notation and a moisture content of the sodium niobate powder is 0.15 mass % or less. A method for producing a ceramic using the sodium niobate powder is provided. A method for producing a sodium niobate powder includes a step of holding an aqueous alkali dispersion liquid containing a niobium component and a sodium component at a pressure exceeding 0.1 MPa, a step of isolating a solid matter from the aqueous dispersion liquid after the holding, and a step of heat treating the solid matter at 500° C. to 700° C.

Abstract: A vibration module based on a piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric device; a vibration plate connected to one side of the piezoelectric device by a medium of an adhesive and an intermediate material; the intermediate material interposed between the piezoelectric device and the vibration plate; and a molding part formed on the side of the piezoelectric device where the intermediate material is not formed.

Abstract: The design of the free-mass in an ultrasonic driller/corer (USDC) has been refined in order to improve the performance and operational reliability of the system. In one embodiment, the improvements in performance and operational reliability include decreasing the impact surface area of the free-mass to increase the transfer of impact energy from the piezoelectric transducer and reductions in the likelihood that the system will jam.

Abstract: An electromechanical conversion element for converting an electric signal into mechanical displacement or converting mechanical displacement into an electric signal, includes a bottom electrode in which an alumina film, a metal film, and a conductive oxide film are sequentially laminated; an electromechanical conversion film disposed on the conductive oxide film of the bottom electrode; and a top electrode disposed on the electromechanical conversion film, wherein the metal film is solid.

Abstract: A coating method for producing a function layer on mechanically loaded components or surfaces includes providing or applying a first material layer of a first material or substrate matrix having a mechanical flexibility higher than that of a second material on a substrate constituting the component or the surface, respectively, structuring the first material layer such that the material layer surface of the first material layer, which is opposite to the substrate, obtains a three-dimensionally moulded basic structure with projections and recesses, and coating the material layer surface of the first material layer with a second material layer of the second material in such a way that the second material layer adopts substantially the basic structure of the material layer surface with the projections and recesses. Also, surface layer structures can be produced by this method.

Abstract: A piezoelectric glass ceramic represented by the formula (M1Ox)-(M2Oy)—SiO2 wherein M1 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, M2 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, x is a value equal to the valence of M1, and y is a value equal to the valence of M2. The piezoelectric glass ceramic has a total alkali metal concentration of less than about 1000 parts per million by weight (ppmw). A process of preparing a piezoelectric glass ceramic and a piezoelectric glass ceramic body prepared therefrom.

Abstract: A piezoelectric compound having no occurrence of segregation or uneven structures as well as a piezoelectric element having excellent piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric composition includes a main component that is a perovskite-typed oxide represented by formula of ABO3, wherein, one site includes Bi, Na, and another site includes Ti, and part of the Ti is substituted by transition metal element Me (Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, Fe and Co), according to the conversion of BiMeO3, the content ratio of Bi and the transition metal element Me accounts for 6˜43 mol % relative to the whole perovskite-typed oxides as the main component.

Abstract: A method and deformation compensated flexural pivots structured for precision linear nanopositioning stages are provided. A deformation-compensated flexural linear guiding mechanism includes a basic parallel mechanism including a U-shaped member and a pair of parallel bars linked to respective pairs of I-link bars and each of the I-bars coupled by a respective pair of flexural pivots. The basic parallel mechanism includes substantially evenly distributed flexural pivots minimizing center shift dynamic errors.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrical component includes forming a stack of ceramic green films, where the stack has a hole that is accessible from external to the stack, inserting a cover into the hole, and sintering the stack together with the cover. The method may also include boring the hole through the stack of ceramic green films.

Abstract: Transducer systems with reduced acoustic noise coupling are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a transducer system includes pressure balancing features to prevent a floating portion of the transducer system from contacting a fixed portion of the transducer system, or to reduce the degree to which the floating portion is urged into contact with the fixed portion by process pressure or atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, a transducer system includes one or more acoustic dampening elements, interruption grooves, annular projections, or dampening washers to reduce acoustic noise coupling between various components of the transducer system or between the transducer system and a flowcell in which the transducer system is mounted.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film comprising comprises a (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTiO3 layer with a (110) orientation, where 0.30?x?0.46 and 0.51?y?0.62, and the (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTiO3 layer has composition around a Morphotropic Phase Boundary.

Abstract: Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric ceramics having enhanced mechanical quality factor (Qm) and mechanical strength. The piezoelectric ceramics, includes at least a first crystal grain and a second crystal grain. The first crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 2 ?m or more and 30 ?m or less. The first crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component, and the second crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (2) as a main component: (1) xBaTiO3-yCaTiO3-zCaZrO3; and (2) x?BaTiO3-y?CaTiO3-z?CaZrO3, provided that x, y, z, x?, y?, and z? satisfy x+y+z=1, x?+y?+z?=1, 0?x??0.15, 0.85?y??1, 0?z?0.05, x>x?, 0<y<y?, and z>0.

Abstract: A new type of very broad bandwidth filters with small insertion loss and high return loss are given. The new filter uses a substrate that can propagate a PSAW and fan shaped transducers of low metallisation height, high metallisation ratio, low reflectivity and high coupling coefficient.

Abstract: A method for producing an electric contact-connection of a multilayer component is specified. A main body has internal electrode layers, a insulating material, an electrically conductive material and a photosensitive material are provided. The insulating material and the electrically conductive material are arranged in a structured manner on an outer side of the multilayer component for the alternate contact-connection of the internal electrode layers. The structured arrangement is produced by the photosensitive material. A multilayer component comprising such a contact-connection is furthermore specified.

Abstract: A drug delivery pump drive which uses a linear piezoelectric motor to advance a syringe piston to deliver a liquid drug and a method thereof are disclosed. The pump drive, provided in a drug delivery pump, provides silent operation and very low energy consumption compared to electric motor-based drives. The small size of the motor helps also to reduce overall size of the pump drive and the resulting drug delivery pump.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material contains a main component containing a perovskite-type metal oxide having the formula (1); a first auxiliary component composed of Mn; and a second auxiliary component composed of Bi or Bi and Li, wherein the Mn content is 0.04 parts by weight or more and 0.400 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, the Bi content is 0.042 parts by weight or more and 0.850 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide, and the Li content is 0.028 parts by weight or less (including 0 parts by weight) on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein 0?x?0.080, 0.013?y?0.060, 0?z?0.040, and 0.986?a?1.020.

Abstract: A charged particle device includes a cylindrical column (102), a charged particle beam optical system disposed in the column; a sample stage (103) disposed on the column, and a support device (211, 212) supporting the column. The support device includes a simply supported structure that simply supports the column at a plurality of support points set along an axial line direction of the column. The support points for the column are disposed at positions corresponding to the positions of nodes of vibration of the column. In this way, the rigidity of the column can be increased without increasing the weight of the column itself, whereby vibrations acting on the column can be decreased.

Abstract: A device (100) harvests energy from vibration and/or strain and utilizes both capacitive (102a, 102b) and piezoelectric elements (105). The principle of operation is out-of-plane capacitive harvester, where the bias voltage for the capacitive element is generated with a piezoelectric element (105). The device utilizes a thin dielectric film (104) between the capacitor plates (102a, 102b) maximizing the harvested energy and enabling the harvester operation in semi-contact mode so that short circuits are prevented. For example when utilized in a wheel or the like, the capacitor is closed and opened at every strike or every turn of a wheel being thus independent of the harvester's mechanical resonance frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical transducer device (2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) comprising at least one layer composite (4, 4.1) disposed between a first electrode (6) and at least one second electrode (8). Said layer composite (4, 4.1) comprises a first electro-active layer (10) and at least one second electro-active layer (12), an electret material 14, 14.1) being provided, at least in sections, between the first electro-active layer (10) and the second electro-active layer (12), and the electret material (14) has an electric charge which can be predefined.

Abstract: Poly(?-amino acid) which contain: (A) a glutamic acid ?-ester unit represented by formula (I): and (B) one or more kinds of units selected from a glutamic acid ?-ester unit represented by formula (II), an alanine unit, a phenylalanine unit and an N?-benzyloxycarbonyllysine unit, represented by formula (III), and a glutamic acid ?-ester unit represented by formula (IV) can be dissolved in various solvents and are useful for preparing piezoelectric elements which exhibit superior piezoelectricity.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is provided with: a piezoelectric ceramic layer that is obtained by firing a piezoelectric ceramic composition which contains a perovskite composition and an Ag component; and a conductor layer that sandwiches the piezoelectric ceramic layer, wherein Ag is segregated in voids in a sintered body of the perovskite composition in the piezoelectric ceramic layer. The piezoelectric ceramic composition preferably contains a perovskite composition which is represented by (Pba.Rex){Zrb.Tic,.(Ni1/3Nb2/3)d.(Zn1/3Nb2/3)e}O3 (wherein Re represents La and/or Nd, and a-e and x satisfy the following conditions 0.95?a?1.05, 0?x?0.05, 0.35?b?0.45, 0.35?c?0.45, 0<d?0.10, 0.07?e?0.20 and b+c+d+e=1) and 0.05-0.3% by mass of an Ag component in terms of oxides relative to the perovskite composition.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical component is provided. The method comprises preparing a subassembly by electrically connecting an integrated circuit to a flexible circuit; and attaching the subassembly to a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a mounting surface with a curvature deviation exceeding 0.008 inches per inch.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel jackhammer that utilizes ultrasonic and/or sonic vibrations as source of power. It is easy to operate and does not require extensive training, requiring substantially less physical capabilities from the user and thereby increasing the pool of potential operators. An important safety benefit is that it does not fracture resilient or compliant materials such as cable channels and conduits, tubing, plumbing, cabling and other embedded fixtures that may be encountered along the impact path. While the ultrasonic/sonic jackhammer of the invention is able to cut concrete and asphalt, it generates little back-propagated shocks or vibrations onto the mounting fixture, and can be operated from an automatic platform or robotic system.

Abstract: A device for separating signal transmission and reception has first, second, and third device ports, a circulator including a first circulator port, a second circulator port and a third circulator port, a transmission filter coupled between the first circulator port and the first device port, and a reception filter coupled between the third circulator port and the third device port. The second circulator port is coupled to the second device port An input to the first port is output from the second port and an input to the second port is output from the third port. The circuit provides isolation between transmission and reception to improve communication efficiency and can reduce the size of a communication system.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material having high Curie temperature, high insulation property, and high piezoelectric performance, the piezoelectric material including a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the general formula (1): xBaTiO3-yBiFeO3-zBi(M0.5Ti0.5)O3, where M represents at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ni, and Zn, x represents a value satisfying 0.25?x?0.75, y represents a value satisfying 0.15?y?0.73, and z represents a value satisfying 0.02?z?0.60, provided that x+y+z=1 is satisfied in which the perovskite-type metal oxide contains V, and content of the V is 0.0005 mol or larger and 0.0050 mol or smaller with respect to 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide. In addition, provided are a piezoelectric element, a liquid discharge head, an ultrasonic motor, and a dust removing device, which use the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric bulk acoustic wave element by forming a sacrificial layer on a part of a primary surface of a substrate. A piezoelectric film sandwiched between a pair of electrodes is formed on the primary surface of the substrate so as to cover the sacrificial layer, the piezoelectric film being formed from scandium-containing aluminum nitride having a scandium atomic concentration with respect to the total number of scandium atoms and aluminum atoms of more than 24 atomic percent. An etching step of removing the sacrificial layer by etching is performed. Prior to the etching step, a protective film formed from aluminum nitride or scandium-containing aluminum nitride having a lower scandium atomic concentration than that of the piezoelectric film is provided so as to cover at least a part of a portion of the piezoelectric film located in a region in which the sacrificial layer is provided.

Abstract: A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer includes undoped piezoelectric material and doped piezoelectric material, where the doped piezoelectric material is doped with at least one rare earth element, for improving piezoelectric properties of the piezoelectric layer and reducing compressive stress.

Abstract: This invention pertains to piezoelectric actuators made of single crystal active elements which not only exhibit uniform and superior displacement in the axial direction but also of lower cost to produce than full single crystal ring or tube actuators. Said multi-stake actuator is made up of multiple longitudinal (d33) or transverse (d3i or d32) mode piezoelectric single crystal active elements, bonded together by epoxy with the aid of shaped edge- and top and bottom washer-stiffeners which are configured to suit various application needs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.