Patent ID: 6679588
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A piezoelectric transducer, comprising:a piezoelectric ceramic member; and a plurality of electrodes spaced along the piezoelectric ceramic member, the plurality of electrodes including: a first set of electrodes defining therebetween at least one first area; and a second set of electrodes split by the at least one first area and defining second areas, one on each side of the at least one first area, the second areas being polarized, in a first polarization direction, substantially perpendicular to an opposing direction of electrodes of the second set of electrodes, wherein upon application of a drive voltage to the first and second sets of electrodes, a first electric field is generated in each of the second areas substantially perpendicular to the first polarization direction, each of the second areas is obliquely deformed by a piezoelectric shear effect to unidirectionally shift the at least one first area, and the at least one first area is deformed to increase a space created between the second areas deformed.