Integral preload mechanism for piezoelectric actuator

A piezoelectric actuator, comprising:

• A. an actuator frame, comprising:
• (i) a monolithic configuration with all elements of the actuator frame being formed from a single piece of continuous uninterrupted material,
• (ii) a first support element including a first contact surface,
• (iii) a second support element including a second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed in a spaced and substantially opposed relation relative to the first contact surface,
• (iv) a bias band which is configured to provide a resilient restoring force that resists perpendicular displacement of the first contact surface away from the second contact surface, the bias band extending distally from a distal portion of the first support element, extending around a space disposed between the first contact surface and the second contact surface, extending around a distal portion of the second support element along an outer surface of the second support element which is disposed substantially opposite the second contact surface, and terminating at the second support element at a band hinge section on a back side of the second support element, and
• (v) a piezoelectric element cavity disposed between a first mount surface of the actuator frame and a second mount surface of the actuator frame;
• and
• B. a piezoelectric element which is disposed within the piezoelectric element cavity, which has a first end secured to the first mount surface, which has a second end secured to the second mount surface, which is configured to expand and contract in response to an electrical driver signal transmitted to the piezoelectric element and which is configured such that an expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element results in respective substantially parallel reciprocating displacement between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

A piezoelectric actuator, comprising:

• A. an actuator frame, comprising:
• (i) a monolithic configuration with all elements of the actuator frame being formed from a single piece of continuous uninterrupted material,
• (ii) a first support element including a first contact surface,
• (iii) a second support element including a second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed in a spaced and substantially opposed relation relative to the first contact surface,
• (iv) a bias band which is configured to provide a resilient restoring force that resists perpendicular displacement of the first contact surface away from the second contact surface, the bias band extending distally from the first support element around a distal portion of the first support element along an outer surface of the first support element which is disposed substantially opposite the first contact surface, extending around a space disposed between the first contact surface and the second contact surface, extending around a distal portion of the second support element along an outer surface of the second support element which is disposed substantially opposite the second contact surface, and terminating at a band hinge section which is located on a back side of the second support element, and
• (v) a piezoelectric element cavity disposed between a first mount surface of the actuator frame and a second mount surface of the actuator frame;
• and
• B. a piezoelectric element which is disposed within the piezoelectric element cavity, which has a first end secured to the first mount surface, which has a second end secured to the second mount surface, which is configured to expand and contract in response to an electrical driver signal transmitted to the piezoelectric element and which is configured such that an expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element results in respective substantially parallel reciprocating displacement between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

An adjustable optical mount, comprising:

• I. an optical mount device which is configured to receive an optical element and secure the optical element thereto;
• II. a base which is configured to be securely mounted to a stable surface and which is coupled to the optical mount device by an adjustable optical mount mechanism, the adjustable optical mount mechanism being configured to allow relative and adjustable displacement between the optical mount device and the base along at least one degree of freedom;
• and
• III. a piezoelectric actuator assembly which is operatively coupled to the adjustable optical mount mechanism, the piezoelectric actuator comprising:
• A. an actuator frame, comprising:
• (i) a monolithic configuration with all elements of the actuator frame being cut from a single piece of continuous material,
• (ii) a first support element including a first contact surface,
• (iii) a second support element including a second contact surface, the second contact surface being disposed in a spaced and substantially opposed relation relative to the first contact surface,
• (iv) a bias band which is coupled between the first support element and the second support element and which is configured to provide a restoring force for relative displacement between the first contact surface and second contact surface, and
• (v) a piezoelectric element cavity disposed between a first mount surface of the actuator frame and a second mount surface of the actuator frame;
• and
• B. a piezoelectric element which is disposed within the piezoelectric element cavity, which has a first end secured to the first mount surface, which has a second end secured to the second mount surface, which is configured to expand and contract in response to an electrical driver signal transmitted to the piezoelectric element and which is configured such that an expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element results in respective substantially parallel displacement between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.