Patent ID: 6392329
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A vibratory motor, comprising:a first mounting member having a first attachment point; a second mounting member having a second attachment point; a first piezoelectric actuator comprising an electroactive ceramic layer bonded to a substrate; said first piezoelectric actuator having an arcuate shape such that first and second arced edges of said first actuator are disposed on nonadjacent sides of said arcuate shape and such that first and second ends of said first actuator are disposed on nonadjacent sides of said arcuate shape; said first end of said first actuator being attached to said first mounting member at said first attachment point; said second end of said first actuator being attached to said second mounting member at said second attachment point; a variable magnitude of curvature of said arcuate shape being characterized by a distance between said first and second ends of said first actuator at said first and second attachment points along a plane intersecting said first and second attachment points; electrical energizing means for applying a voltage across said electroactive ceramic layer; said distance between said first and second ends of said first actuator being increasable by application of a first voltage of a first polarity across said electroactive ceramic layer, whereby said magnitude of curvature of said first actuator decreases when said distance between said first and second ends of said first actuator increases; said distance between said first and second ends of said first actuator being decreasable by application of a second voltage of a second opposite polarity across said electroactive ceramic layer, whereby said magnitude of curvature of said first actuator increases when said distance between said first and second ends of said first actuator decreases; and whereby said application of said first or second voltage across said electroactive ceramic layer causes said first and second mounting members to move with respect to each other parallel to said plane.