Positive feedback resonant transducer circuit

• US 6,054,796 A
• Filed: 07/16/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Inventors: Bishop, Richard Patten
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/118,136
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316.01, 310/318, 310/359
• US Class Current: 310/316.01
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0238 of a single frequency, e.g. a sine-wave
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/55 Piezoelectric transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/187 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/40 with electrical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/804 for piezoelectric transformers

Abstract

A circuit including a transformer, preferably a laminated piezoelectric transducer, in combination with a positive feedback amplifier circuit, capable of serving: 1) to produce either an audible or ultrasonic signal; or 2) as an energy source capable of driving an auxiliary high voltage device with an initial and continuing low voltage source such as a battery.

Claims

1. A positive feedback amplifier circuit comprising:

a transformer having an input side and an output side,

a rectifier-capacitor array having an input side and an output side,

said input side of said array being electrically connected to said output side of said transformer,

wherein said array is capable of increasing a voltage input to said input side of said array from the output side of the transformer,

a first low voltage power source having an output,

a pair of power transistors;

wherein an output of the rectifier-capacitor array is applied and added to an output of said first low voltage power source to provide a supplemented low voltage to said pair of power transistors;

and further comprising a resistor,

said resistor being connected to said output side of said transformer in parallel with said rectifier-capacitor array;

a pair of optocouplers;

a low voltage operational amplifier having an input and an output,

said input to said low voltage operational amplifier being electrically connected to an output from said resistor,

said output from said low voltage operational amplifier being electrically connected to said pair of optocouplers,

and wherein said low voltage operational amplifier is capable of delivering a voltage of opposite polarity from said output from said resistor to said pair of optocouplers;

wherein said pair of optocouplers are electrically connected to said pair of power transistors;

and wherein an output of each of said pair of power transistors is electrically connected to said input side of said transformer, whereby said pair of power transistors may alternately supply power to the input side of the transformer;

and a switch whose closing activates the electrical circuit.

2. The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the transformer is a laminated, multilayered, piezoelectric transducer.

3. The electrical circuit of claim 2 wherein the laminated, multilayered, piezoelectric transducer comprises a first polarized ceramic layer having two opposing major faces disposed on opposite sides of a first longitudinal axis, a second polarized ceramic layer having two major opposing faces which are disposed on opposite sides of a second longitudinal axis, said first and second longitudinal axes being parallel to each other;

and wherein the first polarized ceramic wafer is bonded to the second polarized ceramic wafer such that a major face of the first polarized ceramic layer and a major face of the second polarized ceramic layer are in opposed spatial relation to each other;

and wherein the direction of polarization of said first polarized ceramic layer and the direction of polarization of said second polarized ceramic layer are the same.

4. The electrical circuit of claim 3 wherein the laminated, multilayered, piezoelectric transducer produces a signal in the range of 500 to about 20,000 hertz upon activation by closure of the switch.