University of Pennsylvania

Zhijun Guo

Gianluca Piazza

Andre DeHon

Robert W Carpick

Nipun Sinha

Timothy S Jones

Graham E Wabiszewski

Systems and methods for operating piezoelectric switches are disclosed. A piezoelectric switching system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a bias voltage source. The first actuator has a first body electrode, a first gate electrode, and a first contact region. The second actuator has a second body electrode, a second gate electrode, and a second contact region. The first and second contact regions are separated by a gap. The bias voltage source applies a bias voltage to the body electrodes. The bias voltage is lower in magnitude than an actuation voltage for the switch. The gate electrodes receive a switching voltage. The switching voltage causes at least one of the first and second actuators to bend, thereby closing the gap such that the second contact region electrically contacts the first contact region. The difference between the switching voltage and the bias voltage exceeds the actuation voltage of the switch.

Growing community of inventors

Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

Zhijun Guo