Method of manufacturing flextensional transducer using pre-curved piezoelectric ceramic layer
OwnerStephen E. Clarkinventor
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing pre-stressed piezoelectric actuators using a pre-curved piece of ceramic is provided. An adhesive, preferably a polyimide, is disposed between a metal pre-stress metal layer and a pre-curved PZT ceramic. The entire composite structure is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the adhesive material and then subsequently cooled to allow the adhesive layer to set. As a result of the difference in thermal contraction rates of the materials, the pre-curved PZT ceramic is compressively stressed. This pre-stressing provides a piezoelectric actuator which is durable, and produces a higher displacement than a conventional piezoelectric actuator.
Claims16
A method for manufacturing a flextensional transducer comprising:
- selecting an initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer;
- said initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer having two major faces;
- wherein one of said major faces is convex and one of said major faces is concave;
- positioning an adhesive layer adjacent one of said major faces of said initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer to create a composite structure;
- heating said composite structure to a temperature above a melting point of said adhesive layer;
- and
- cooling said composite structure to induce a pre-stress into said ceramic layer.
A flextensional transducer manufactured by a process which comprises:
- selecting an initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer;
- said initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer having two major faces;
- wherein one of said major faces is convex and one of said major faces is concave;
- positioning an adhesive layer adjacent one of said major faces of said initially curved, electrically active, ceramic layer to create a composite structure;
- heating said composite structure to a temperature above a melting point of said adhesive layer;
- and
- cooling said composite structure to induce a pre-stress into said ceramic layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.