Method of poling piezoelectric actuator

A method of poling a piezoelectric device, comprising:

• applying a first voltage and then a second voltage which is greater than the first voltage to the piezoelectric device;
• measuring a first and a second displacement of the device caused by the respective applications of the first and the second applied voltages;
• determining a linear relationship between the first and second applied voltages and the measured first and second displacements of the piezoelectric device;
• and
• applying a predetermined poling voltage to the piezoelectric device to achieve a predetermined displacement of the piezoelectric device, where the predetermined poling voltage is a function of the determined linear relationship.

A method to achieve a desired displacement of a piezoelectric actuator, comprising:

• applying a plurality of increasingly greater voltages to the actuator;
• measuring a unique displacement of the actuator for each of the applied plurality of increasingly greater voltages;
• defining a relationship between the applied plurality of increasingly greater voltages and each measured unique displacement of the actuator;
• and
• applying a poling voltage to the actuator to achieve a predetermined displacement of the actuator such that the poling voltage is a function of the defined relationship.