Patent ID: 9741376
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: G11B,H01L,Y10T

Claim:
1. A multi-layer piezoelectric microactuator assembly comprising: a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer, each of the first and second piezoelectric layers comprising poled piezoelectric material, the first piezoelectric layer being closer to a surface to which the microactuator assembly is bonded than is the second piezoelectric layer; a first electrode on a bottom side of the first piezoelectric layer; and a second electrode on a top side of the first piezoelectric layer and disposed underneath the second piezoelectric layer, such that a first voltage differential applied across the first and second electrodes induces an electric field across the first piezoelectric layer; wherein: whereby: the second piezoelectric layer is a substantially inactive piezoelectric layer and acts as a constraining layer to resist expansion or contraction of the first piezoelectric layer; and an overall expansion of contraction of the microactuator assembly is made to be greater in response to the first voltage differential being applied across the first piezoelectric layer than if the second piezoelectric layer were not present.