Patent ID: 6685306
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A piezoelectric actuator comprising:a piezoelectric plate member formed of a piezoelectric material and having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric plate member, the piezoelectric plate member being fixed at fixed positions spaced away from each other in an extending direction of the piezoelectric plate member; and, electrodes for deforming the piezoelectric plate member, each electrode being positioned for imparting an electric field to the piezoelectric plate member so as to impart expansion force in the extending direction to a part of the piezoelectric plate member, the part being defined between neighboring fixed positions of the piezoelectric plate member, a vacant zone being provided at a position deviating to one of the first and second surfaces in the thickness direction and at a position between the neighboring fixed positions, expansion force of the part of the piezoelectric plate member in the extending direction causing the part to be bendingly deformed between the neighboring fixed positions.