Piezoelectric assembly
First Claim
1. A piezoelectric assembly comprising:
- an electrode assembly including;
a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes and being disposable in an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an un actuated state in the absence of the generated electric field and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the generated electric field;
a metal shim supporting the electrode assembly and being electrically connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode;
a printed circuit board including a trace, the printed circuit board having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, and a passage provided between the first side surface and the second side surface;
the passage being a plated drill hole;
an interconnecting structure effecting electrical communication between the trace and the metal shim wherein the interconnecting structure being disposed within the passage of the printed circuit board; and
extending through the first side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a coupling structure coupled to the metal shim at a coupling structure surface interface, and the interconnecting structure also extending through the second side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the second side surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezoelectric assembly is provided, including an electrode assembly, a signal electrical connector, and a reference electrical connector. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material. The signal electrical connector is in electrical communication with the first electrode and configured to be connected to the current or voltage source so as to provide electrical communication with a current or voltage source. The reference electrical connector is in electrical communication with the second electrode and configured to be connected to the reference source so as to provide electrical communication with a reference source. One of the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector includes a metal shim for supporting the electrode assembly. A flexible printed circuit board is provided including a trace. An interconnecting structure effects electrical communication between the trace and the metal shim. The interconnecting structure is disposed within a passage provided between a first side surface and an opposite second side surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and extends through the first side surface to provide a coupling structure coupled to the metal shim at a coupling structure surface interface, and also extends through the second side surface to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the first side surface to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the first side surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric assembly comprising:
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an electrode assembly including;
a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes and being disposable in an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an un actuated state in the absence of the generated electric field and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the generated electric field;a metal shim supporting the electrode assembly and being electrically connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode; a printed circuit board including a trace, the printed circuit board having a first side surface and an opposite second side surface, and a passage provided between the first side surface and the second side surface;
the passage being a plated drill hole;an interconnecting structure effecting electrical communication between the trace and the metal shim wherein the interconnecting structure being disposed within the passage of the printed circuit board; and
extending through the first side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a coupling structure coupled to the metal shim at a coupling structure surface interface, and the interconnecting structure also extending through the second side surface of the printed circuit board to provide a retainer disposed in opposition to the second side surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method manufacturing a piezoelectric assembly, the method comprising:
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providing at least an intermediate assembly including; an electrode assembly including;
a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes and being disposable in an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an un actuated state in the absence of the generated electric field and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the generated electric field; anda metal shim supporting the electrode assembly and being electrically connected to one of the first electrode and the second electrode; providing a printed circuit board having a first side surface and an opposite side surface, and a passage provided between the first side surface and the second side surface;
the passage being a plated drill hole;laser soldering the intermediate assembly to the printed circuit board with solder such that flow of solder is effected through the passage, such that, after the solder has cured, the solder provides a coupling structure coupling the metal shim of the intermediate assembly to the printed circuit board at a coupling structure interface and extends from the coupling structure interface and into the passage. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification