Piezoelectric transducer and actuator using said piezoelectric transducer

• US 6,208,065 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Ueyama, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/289,233
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/328, 310/330-332, 310/366, 310/367, 310/369, 310/800
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/0025 using combined longitudinal modes
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/025 Inertial sliding motors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/50 having a stacked or multilayer structure
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/506 having a cylindrical shape and having stacking in the radial direction, e.g. coaxial or spiral type rolls

Abstract

A piezoelectric transducer of a new laminated structure is provided that is easy to fabricate, produces a large amount of motive energy and has high mechanical strength. Electrodes are installed on one of the surfaces of respectively a first and a second piezoelectric element formed in a thin shape, a second piezoelectric element formed without an electrode is laminated onto the top of the surface of the first piezoelectric element having an electrode to form a laminated piece. The laminated piece is wound to form a tube or folded to form a rod. The tube or rod-shaped laminate is then baked and polarized to produce a piezoelectric transducer.

Claims

1. An actuator utilizing a piezoelectric transducer, comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer formed by winding a laminated piece which has first and second piezoelectric elements including inorganic piezoelectric materials as a principal constituent, each having an electrode formed thereon;

a drive shaft secured to said piezoelectric transducer; and

a driven member frictionally coupled to said drive shaft;

wherein said driven member is driven by reciprocating vibration of different speeds produced by applying drive pulses to said piezoelectric transducer.

2. An actuator utilizing a piezoelectric transducer, comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer formed by a laminated piece having first and second piezoelectric elements including inorganic piezoelectric materials as a principal constituent, each piezoelectric element having an electrode formed thereon, and said laminated piece is folded consecutively so that the top surface of the laminated piece is located on the outside and inside by turn,

a drive shaft secured to said piezoelectric transducer; and

a driven member frictionally coupled to said drive shaft,

wherein said driven member is driven by reciprocating vibration of different speeds produced by applying drive pulses to said piezoelectric transducer.

3. An actuator utilizing a piezoelectric transducer, comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer formed by a laminated piece having a first piezoelectric element providing a first electrode divided into plural electrode regions and second piezoelectric element providing a second electrode, said piezoelectric element including inorganic piezoelectric materials as a principal constituent, said laminated piece is wound into a tube shape, and a plurality of electrode sections are constituted with said divided electrode regions and said second electrode; and

a driven member frictionally coupled to said piezoelectric transducer;

wherein an elliptical vibration is produced in the piezoelectric transducer by the application of alternation current of different phases to said plurality of electrode sections respectively, thereby driving the driven member frictionally coupled to said piezoelectric transducer.

4. An actuator utilizing a piezoelectric transducer comprising:

a piezoelectric transducer formed by a laminated piece having a first piezoelectric element providing a first electrode divided into plural electrode regions and second piezoelectric element providing a second electrode, said piezoelectric element including inorganic piezoelectric materials as a principal constituent, said laminated piece is folded consecutively so that the top surface of the laminated piece is located on the outside and inside by turn, and a plurality of electrode sections are constituted with said divided electrode regions and said second electrode; and

a driven member frictionally coupled to said piezoelectric transducer;

wherein an elliptical vibration is produced in the piezoelectric transducer by the application of alternation current of different phases to said plurality of electrode sections respectively, thereby driving the driven member frictionally coupled to said piezoelectric transducer.