The Pennsylvania Research Corporation

Qichang C Xu

Robert E Newnham

Shoko Yoshikawa

The metal-ceramic actuator includes an electroactive substrate having at least a pair of opposed planar surfaces and a determined thickness, with the ceramic substrate being poled in its thickness dimension. Conductive electrodes sandwich the ceramic substrate and are bonded to its planar surfaces. Metal caps, each having a concave cavity bounded by a rim, are bonded to both planar surfaces of the ceramic substrate. A potential is applied to the conductive electrodes to cause an expansion of the ceramic substrate in its thickness dimension and a concomitant contraction in its planar dimensions. The contraction creates a flexure of the metal caps, which flexures are used to actuate another instrumentality.

Metal-electroactive ceramic composite actuators

This invention describes an acoustic transducer assembly wherein an extremely high figure of merit (d.sub.h g.sub.h) is obtained as a result of converting incoming acoustic axial stress into radial extensional stress thereby multiplying its effect. The piezoelectric active element is encased in a metal sandwich enclosing two semilunar air spaces which allow the device to withstand extremely high hydrostatic pressure yet still respond to low level sound waves when acting as a hydrophone. The mechanical prestress induced by the differential coefficients of expansion between the metal case and the piezoelectric ceramic element also serves to prevent depolarization aging.

Growing community of inventors

State College, PA, United States of America

Qichang C Xu