The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
May. 18, 1998
Leslie J Bowen, Concord, MA (US);
Craig D Near, Acton, MA (US);
Materials Systems Inc., Concord, MA (US);
Abstract
An actuator includes a ceramic body having a base and an array of tube-shaped or blade-pair-shaped piezoelectric or electrostrictive ceramic elements defining an enclosure and integral with the base. A first electrode contacts the inner surfaces of walls of the elements, while a second electrode contacts the wall outer surfaces. The actuator is driven for d.sub.31 mode or d.sub.15 mode vibration of the walls. The wall vibration is transmitted to a desired medium via a vibration transmission means, e.g., a compliant polymer filler material of Shore A30 to Shore D75 filling the enclosure and bonded to the walls. Alternatively, a stiff cover plate may be used to transmit the tube wall vibration to a desired medium. An acoustic sensor device is also described.