Nec Corporation

Yoshiki Aihara

Naoto Okihara

Kazutoshi Wakamatsu

Tadao Uchikawa

Takashi Oota

Disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator comprising a pair of piezoelectric elements, bistable snap-action means, and projectile means attached to the snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship alternately with the piezoelectric elements. The projectile means has a mass sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of the piezoelectric elements to cause the snap-action means to change state. The snap-action means may comprise an elongated bending element squeezed endwise between supports, the projectile means being carried by bending element at a point intermediate its ends.

Piezoelectric latching actuator having an impact receiving projectile

A miniature relay having dimensions in the order of 30 mm.times.24 mm.times.4 mm is driven by an expansion type piezoelectric actuator element. The actuator drives an interconnected series of lever arms which rest on a mounting block. The actuator rests on an anchor block. The coefficients of thermal expansion for the actuator, the mounting block and the anchor block are mutually cancelling.

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Tokyo, Japan

Yoshiki Aihara