External electrode for a monolithic multi-layer actuator

Abstract

A monolithic multi-layer actuator includes a sintered stack of thin films of piezoceramic material with metallic internal electrodes which lead out of the stack (2) in alternate directions and are connected electrically in parallel by way of external electrodes, with the external electrodes on the contact sides of the stack consisting of an applied basic metallisation and being connected to electrical connection elements preferably by way of soldering. In order to avoid failures of the actuator during dynamic loads it is suggested that an electroconductive electrode which is structured to be three-dimensional in structure be arranged between the basic metal lining and the connection elements, which electrode is connected to the basic metallisation by way of partial contact points and is constructed to be expandable between the contact points.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.