Electrically driven mechanical actuators and methods of operating same

An electrically driven actuator comprising:

• a piezoelectric diaphragm;
• a displaceable actuator element;
• a coupler which connects the piezoelectric diaphragm to the actuator element;
• a controller which actuates the piezoelectric diaphragm in a manner to cause the coupler, as a function of applied voltage, either to engage or slip on the actuator element and thereby displace the actuator element relative to the piezoelectric diaphragm.

An electrically driven actuator comprising:

• a displaceable actuator which includes a piezoelectric diaphragm;
• a guide element;
• a coupler which connects the piezoelectric diaphragm to the guide element;
• a controller which actuates the piezoelectric diaphragm in a manner to cause the coupler, as a function of applied voltage, either to engage or slip on the guide element and thereby displace the actuator relative to the guide element.

An electrically driven actuator comprising:

• a deformable assembly, the assembly comprising a first deformable member and a second deformable member, the first deformable member and the second deformable member being deformable as a function of applied voltage, the first deformable member and the second deformable member being essentially circular shaped elements which are connected at their peripheries;
• a shaft;
• a coupler which connects the first deformable member to the shaft;
• a sleeve for fitting over the shaft and accommodating relative motion of the shaft and the sleeve, the second deformable member being connected to the sleeve;
• a controller which actuates the first deformable member and the second deformable member by applying voltage in a manner to cause the coupler, as a function of applied voltage, either to engage or slip relative to the shaft and thereby cause relative displacement of the shaft and the first deformable member.