Digital piezoelectric actuator

A linear actuator with piezoelectric displacement generator for linearly extending and retracting over a total range of extension along an extension axis thereof in response to voltage excitation signals presented from an external voltage signal source, comprising:

• housing means for providing a compressive load along the extension axis of the displacement generator;
• coupling means, disposed in said housing and responsive to the displacement generator for providing an output manifestation of the extension and retraction thereof;
• as characterized by:
• a displacement generator having discrete groups of piezoelectric material segments disposed coaxially in tandem along the extension axis, each group separately connected for response to bistable state voltage excitation signals presented individually thereto from the external voltage source in alternate extended state and quiescent state magnitudes, each group responding by alternately extending and retracting linearly along the extension axis in correspondence with said extended and quiescent state magnitudes, whereby the instant lineal sum of the extended and retracted states of all of said groups of segments define the instant actual extension of the actuator.