Patent ID: 8304961
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: G01N,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for testing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator, the method including the steps of obtaining one or more frequency characteristic values of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator selected from the group consisting of heights and areas of the peaks of resonance waveforms and a difference between a maximum and minimum value of a first order or first to higher orders of the resonance frequency characteristic values of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator and the k-th order (k=1 to 4) of the first or first to higher orders of resonance frequencies; and estimating a displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator based on a relation between one or more of the obtained frequency characteristic values; wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator comprises a support portion and a vibration portion, the vibration portion having a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuating portion disposed thereon, and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuating portion comprising at least one piezoelectric/electrostrictive body sandwiched between at least two electrodes.