Shear deformation-type bimorphic piezoelectric actuator

A piezoelectric actuator comprising:

• a metal block comprising two oppositely arranged side surfaces, an upper surface connecting the two side surfaces, and a lower surface arranged opposite to the upper surface;
• a first pair of ceramic members, each comprising a first driving surface, a second driving surface arranged opposite to and separate from the first driving surface by a thickness, an output surface connecting the first driving surface to the second driving surface, and a fixed surface arranged opposite to and separate from the output surface by a height, wherein the thickness is shorter than the height, and wherein the first driving surface is coated with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged side-by-side with each other, and the second driving surface is coated with a counter electrode, with the first electrode coated on the first driving surface being electrically connected to the first electrode coated on the second driving surface, the second electrode coated on the first driving surface being electrically connected to the second electrode coated on the second driving surface, and the first electrodes being electrically insulated from the second electrodes, and wherein the first pair of ceramic members are polarized along a polarization direction orthogonal to the thickness direction and attached at the second driving surfaces thereof to the two side surfaces of the metal block, respectively, so that the counter electrodes are electrically connected to the metal block;
• and
• an output head protruding outward from the upper surface of the metal block.