Piezoelectric transformer, its manufacturing method and its driving method

• US 5,939,818 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hakamata, Hiroyo
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US08/899,825
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316, 310/317, 310/319, 310/366, 310/358, 310/359
• US Class Current: 310/359
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/40 with electrical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as transformers

Abstract

In a piezoelectric transformer having a piezoelectric body in polarized condition, input electrodes provided on the surface of the piezoelectric body and applied an alternating voltage of a frequency depending upon the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body and a leading electrode provided on the surface of the piezoelectric body and taking out a voltage depending upon vibration of the piezoelectric body, and a grounding electrode is further provided on the surface of the piezoelectric body and electrically isolated from the input electrode and taking out output voltage in cooperation with the leading electrode by forming a pair, depending on the vibration of the piezoelectric body. Thus, even when an alternating voltage having a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body, respective junctions have sufficient strength against vibration.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric transformer at a resonance frequency in a longitudinal vibration tertiary mode, comprising:

a piezoelectric body in a polarized condition;

input electrodes provided on a surface of said piezoelectric body and applied with an alternating voltage of a frequency depending upon the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body, said input electrodes having a portion being positioned at a node of vibration of said piezoelectric body;

a leading electrode provided on the surface of said piezoelectric body, said leading electrode taking out a voltage depending upon a vibration of said piezoelectric body; and

a grounding electrode extending around said piezoelectric body at a position of peak vibration of said piezoelectric body, said grounding electrode further having a portion on a side surface of said piezoelectric body extending to said node of vibration of said piezoelectric body, said grounding electrode further being electrically isolated from said input electrodes,

an output voltage is taken-out between said leading electrode and said grounding electrode, and positions of junctions between external terminals and respective electrodes are matched with the node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

2. A piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 1, wherein a position of applying alternating voltage to said input electrodes and a position to take-out the output voltage from said leading electrode and said grounding electrode are located at the node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

3. A piezoelectric transformer at a resonance frequency in a longitudinal vibration tertiary mode, comprising:

a piezoelectric body having a plate-shape and having a length corresponding to 3/2 of a wavelength corresponding to the resonance frequency;

first and second driving portions provided at one primary surface and a second primary surface at both ends in a length direction of said piezoelectric body and having input electrodes, said input electrodes having a portion being positioned at a node of vibration of said piezoelectric body and an alternating voltage having a frequency depending upon said resonance frequency being applied to said input electrodes; and

a generator portion positioned at approximately a midpoint along said length direction of said piezoelectric body;

a leading electrode positioned at substantially a center of said generator portion, said leading electrode taking-out an alternating voltage depending upon an alternating current applied to said first and second driving portions;

a grounding electrode forming a pair with said leading electrode, said ground electrode taking-out a voltage depending upon vibration of said piezoelectric body, said grounding electrode extending around the plate-shape in a width-wise direction of said piezoelectric body at a position of peak vibration of said piezoelectric body, said grounding electrode further having a portion extending on at least one side of said piezoelectric body to said node of vibration of said piezoelectric body, said grounding electrode further being electrically isolated from said input electrodes,

wherein positions of junctions between external terminals and respective electrodes are matched with the node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

4. A piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 3, wherein a position to apply said alternating voltage to said input electrodes and a position to take out said output voltage from said leading electrode and said grounding electrode are positions of nodes of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

5. A piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said grounding electrode has a projecting portion projecting to the take out position.

6. A piezoelectric transformer comprising:

a piezoelectric body having a disc-shape and having a diameter corresponding to 3/2 of a wavelength corresponding to a resonance frequency;

a driving portion provided at substantially central portions of said piezoelectric body and having input electrodes formed on one primary surface and a second primary surface of said driving portion, said input electrodes having a portion being positioned at a node of vibration of said piezoelectric body and an alternating voltage having a frequency depending upon said resonance frequency being applied to said input electrodes; and

a generator portion located at a circumference of said piezoelectric body and having a leading electrode and a grounding electrode, said leading electrode being proximate to the grounding electrode and taking-out an alternating voltage depending upon an alternating current applied to said input electrodes and said grounding electrode forming a pair with said leading electrode for taking-out a voltage depending upon vibration of said piezoelectric body,

said grounding electrode being located at a position of peak vibration of said piezoelectric body and having a portion extending away from said grounding electrode to said node of vibration and further being electrically isolated from said input electrodes, said grounding electrode further extending circumferentially about the disc-shaped piezoelectric body and extending into portions of the driving portion,

wherein positions of junctions between external terminals and respective electrodes are matched with the node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

7. A piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 6, wherein a position to apply said alternating voltage to said input electrode and a position to take-out said output voltage from said leading electrode and said grounding electrode are positions of nodes of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

8. A piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 6, wherein said grounding electrode has a projecting portion projecting to said take out position.

9. A driving method of a piezoelectric transformer at a resonance frequency in a longitudinal vibration tertiary mode, including a piezoelectric body in a polarized condition, input electrodes provided on a surface of said piezoelectric body and applied with an alternating voltage of a frequency depending upon a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric body, a leading electrode provided on the surface of said piezoelectric body and taking-out a voltage depending upon vibration of said piezoelectric body, a grounding electrode provided on the surface of said piezoelectric body at a position of peak vibration of said piezoelectric body, having a portion extending to a node of vibration of said piezoelectric body, and being electrically isolated from said input electrode and taking-out an output voltage in cooperation with said leading electrode by forming a pair, and external terminals connected with respective electrodes at a node of vibration of said piezoelectric body,

wherein an alternating voltage having a frequency equal to the resonance frequency of said piezoelectric body is applied to said input electrodes.

10. A piezoelectric transformer comprising:

a piezoelectric body in a polarized condition;

first input electrodes provided at a first end of said piezoelectric body on opposing surfaces, said first input electrodes each having a portion positioned at a first node of vibration of said piezoelectric body;

second input electrodes provided on a second end of said piezoelectric body on opposing surfaces, said second input electrodes each having a portion positioned at a second node of vibration of said piezoelectric body;

a first leading electrode extending around said piezoelectric body between said first and said second input electrodes, said leading electrode taking out a voltage depending upon a vibration of said piezoelectric body; and

second leading electrodes extending around said piezoelectric body at a position of peak vibration of said piezoelectric body and being proximate to said first and said second input electrodes, respectively, said second leading electrodes further having leg extensions extending toward said first and said second input electrodes, respectively, on one surface of said piezoelectric body and extending to said first node and said second node of vibration of said piezoelectric body, respectively, said second leading electrodes further being electrically isolated from said input electrodes,

an output voltage being taken-out between said first leading electrode and said second leading electrodes, and positions of junctions between external terminals and respective electrodes are matched with the respective node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

11. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first leading electrode is provided at a third node of vibration of said piezoelectric body.

12. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second leading electrodes are provided on different surfaces than said first and said second input electrodes.

13. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second leading electrodes are provided on a same surface as said first and said second input electrodes.

14. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second leading electrode leg extensions extend to opposing ends of said piezoelectric body.

15. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first and said second input electrodes are substantially U-shaped.

16. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

positions of opposing vertical legs of said U-shaped first input electrodes are positioned at said first node of vibration of said piezoelectric body,

positions of opposing vertical legs of said U-shaped second input electrodes are positioned at said second node of vibration of said piezoelectric body,

said second leading electrode leg extensions extend within said opposing vertical legs of one of said U-shaped first and said second input electrodes, and

positions of said second leading electrode leg extensions are positioned at one of said first and said second node of vibrations of said piezoelectric body.

17. The piezoelectric transformer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second leading electrode leg extensions are provided on different surfaces of said piezoelectric body.