초록 ▼

A pre-stressed piezoelectric actuator is comprised of a plurality of layers. The layers include at least one electrically-active ceramic layer, a reinforcing substrate, and a top layer. Preferably, the top layer is comprised of a copper material having at least one lead integrally formed therewith,

A pre-stressed piezoelectric actuator is comprised of a plurality of layers. The layers include at least one electrically-active ceramic layer, a reinforcing substrate, and a top layer. Preferably, the top layer is comprised of a copper material having at least one lead integrally formed therewith, the lead being available for attaching the device to a voltage source. The copper layer further has a plurality of apertures defined therein to compensate for the stiffness of the copper and to allow the copper layer to deform. The layers are bonded by a thermally-activated adhesive. When the layers and adhesive are heated and cooled, the higher coefficients of thermal expansion in the substrate and top layers stresses the ceramic and causes the device to cool into an arcuate shape.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A piezoelectric bender, comprising: a first layer including a plurality of aperture; and a second layer adhered to the first layer via an adhesive layer such that the first and second layers flex as a unit. 2. The bender, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first layer is comprised of a conduc

1. A piezoelectric bender, comprising: a first layer including a plurality of aperture; and a second layer adhered to the first layer via an adhesive layer such that the first and second layers flex as a unit. 2. The bender, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first layer is comprised of a conductive material. 3. The bender, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first layer is comprised of a copper material and the second layer is comprised of an electrically-active ceramic. 4. The bender, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first layer comprises: a disk portion including the plurality of apertures defined therein, the disk portion adhered to the second layer, and a lead portion. 5. The bender, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lead portion is integrally formed from the copper material, the lead portion being available for supplying a voltage to the bender. 6. The bender, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a third layer adhered to the second layer via an additional adhesive layer such that the second and third layers flex as a unit. 7. The bender, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the adhered layers form an arcuate structure. 8. A piezoelectric bender, comprising: a first layer having an arcuate shaped portion and a lead formed integrally therewith; and a second layer of piezoelectric material adhered to the arcuate shaped portion of the first layer via an adhesive layer such that the first and second layers flex as a unit. 9. The bender, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first layer is comprised of a conductive material. 10. The bender, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first layer is comprised of a copper material, wherein the second layer is comprised of an electrically active ceramic, and wherein the lead is available for supplying a voltage to the bender. 11. The bender, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first layer comprises: a lead portion forming the integral lead; and a disk portion including a plurality of apertures defined therein, the disk portion adhered to the second layer. 12. The bender, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: third layer adhered to the second layer via an adhesive layer such that the second and third layers flex as a unit. 13. A piezoelectric bender, comprising: a first layer having a lead formed integrally therewith; a second layer adhered to the first layer; wherein the first layer is comprised of a conductive material; wherein the first layer is comprised of a copper material; wherein the second layer is comprised of an electrically active ceramic; wherein the lead is available for supplying a voltage to the bender; wherein the first layer comprises a lead portion forming the integral lead a disk portion including a plurality of apertures defined therein, the disk portion adhered to the second layer; a third layer adhered to the second layer, and wherein the adhered disk portion of the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer form an arcuate structure.