Patent ID: 7336022
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. Piezoelectric flextensional transducer, comprising: at least one monolithic multilayer system, comprising a first piezoelectrically active ceramic layer with a first lateral dimensional change inducible by a first electric field; a second piezoelectrically active ceramic layer with a second lateral dimensional change inducible by a second electric field and different in magnitude from said first lateral dimensional change; at least a third piezoelectrically active ceramic layer with another lateral dimensional change inducible by a third electric field and different in magnitude from said second lateral dimensional change; at least a first electrode layer disposed between the first and second ceramic layers for generating the first and second electric fields; and at least a second electrode layer disposed between the second and third ceramic layers for generating the second and third electric fields, wherein the first electrode layer is laminated on the first ceramic layer and the second ceramic layer is laminated on the first electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer is laminated on the second ceramic layer and the third ceramic layer is laminated on the second electrode layer, wherein the multilayer system has a circular footprint, wherein a thickness direction of the ceramic layers defines a stacking direction of the monolithic system, wherein a gradient in the first, second, and third lateral dimensional changes of the ceramic layers, can be produced in the stacking direction of the multilayer system, and wherein the multilayer system is self-supporting across a circumference of the circular footprint.