Patent ID: 7138748
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A method of enlarging a travel of a piezoelectric sensor comprising the steps of: providing an actuator connected at a one end of the actuator to the piezoelectric sensor; shrinking the actuator by applying a potential difference; providing an enlarging means having a proximal end and an end opposed to the proximal end, the opposed end of the enlarging means being elastically attached to the piezoelectric sensor and an end of the actuator opposed to the one end of the actuator being connected to the enlarging means; and enlarging the travel of the actuator by causing the shrinkage of the actuator to rotate the enlarging means about the opposed end of the enlarging means, wherein the piezoelectric sensor is provided with a first electrode and a second electrode is provided at the proximal end of the enlarging means whereby the first and the second electrodes may contact each other when the enlarging means is rotated due to shrinkage of the piezoelectric actuator.