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| Product Abstract |
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| PiezoWave -
Technology |
The PiezoWave™
motor consists of very small piezo ceramic elements that are surface assembled
on a flexible printed circuit board. The design enables us to manufacture the
motors in mass volume manufacturing equipment at very low cost.
The motor consists of just a few parts (see figure below). When activated
electrically, the piezo ceramic elements will vibrate with an ultrasonic
frequency. The drive pads, which are used for transferring the movement from the
elements to the drive rail, will move in an elliptical fashion due to flexural
(bending) waves in the piezo element (see figure and animation below).
The PiezoWave™ was originally developed for applications within handheld
consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, but the product is now being
integrated into many other applications, including other handheld devices,
consumer electronics, medical technology applications, electromechanical door
locks, advanced toys, cameras etc. |
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| Main parts of the PiezoWave™ motor. |
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| Moving pattern of the piezo elements |
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| Piezo LEGS -
Technology |
A walking drive
principle
Imagine an electric motor of approximately the same size as an ant, but 1,000
times as strong. Then imagine that it moves like an ant, despite being
constructed in one solid piece. Still, it can actually walk, step by step, one
pair of legs at a time.
What is really unique with the Piezo LEGSŪ motor is its ability to synchronize
the movement of each pair of legs – just like an ant. What is obvious in nature
is not necessarily as obvious to an electric motor.
Made in one piece
In the Piezo LEGSŪ, multiple bimorph actuators are co-sintered to a single body
with four movable legs made out of ceramic “muscles”.
A conventional electric motor usually requires several assembled parts such as
rotor, stator, ball bearings etc. to make it work. Piezo LEGSŪ operates directly
with no need for gears or mechanical transmission and the material is virtually
impossible to wear out.
Nanometer steps and direct drive
The applied voltage on the ceramic “muscles” controls the synchronized movement
of each pair of legs, enabling them to move forward and backward. The unique
design of Piezo LEGSŪ makes the motor walk in precise linear motion, taking
steps typically no bigger than a couple of micrometers, steps that can be
controlled to the single nanometer range.
By taking several thousand steps per second, Piezo LEGSŪ can reach travelling
speeds of several centimeters per second. The motion dynamics are fascinating;
performing nanometer precision and then suddenly moving several million
nanometer (centimeters) per second.
Designed for large volume production
The simple design makes Piezo LEGSŪ easy to produce in large quantities with a
high degree of precision and we can adapt the motor’s properties and performance
to suit your application or product. This saves you time and money as you do not
have to change your product to fit the motor. |
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| Piezo LEGSŪ |
| A demo and test unit – complete with battery powered
control unit – is available upon request. |
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| 5 to 20 mm |
| The length of a motor element is typically in the range of
5 to 20 mm. The functional properties and performance of Piezo LEGSŪ are easily
adapted to different demands and applications. The simple design also makes the
motor easy to produce in large quantities with a high degree of precision. |
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| Here is why you should use Piezo LEGSŪ: |
- Very small and powerful
- You can simplify your design
- Quick and precise motion at low cost
- Extremely high resolution (single nanometer) and motion control
- Simple drive and control electronics
- The motor can be tailor-made to your specifications
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