公开(公告)号：US06833656B2

公开(公告)日：2004-12-21

申请号：US10168730

申请日：2002-10-10

申请人： Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

发明人： Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

IPC分类号： H01L4108

CPC分类号： H04R17/00 ,  H01L41/094 ,  H04R2217/01 ,  Y10S310/80

摘要： The present invention relates to an electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis (36) which is curved, for example in a helix around a major axis (37). The electro-active structure comprises successive electro-active portions (35) extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis (36) such that bending of the successive portions (35) is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis (36) adding incrementally along the minor axis (36). The electro-active structure generates displacement out of the local plane in which the minor axis is curved. The electra-active structure may be continuous electro-active member (35) extending along and curving around the minor axis (35), for example helically to form a helical helix. Alternatively, the electro-active structure may be a plurality of discrete elements (211) connected together. The electro-active portions preferably have a bender structure formed from a plurality of layers. The device may be used as a driver, a sensor or a generator.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及具有沿着短轴（36）延伸的电活性结构的电活性器件，该短轴（36）例如以围绕长轴（37）的螺旋线弯曲。 电活性结构包括围绕所述短轴延伸的连续的电活动部分（35），并布置有电极，当被激活时，其绕着短轴（36）弯曲，使得连续部分（35）的弯曲伴随着旋转 所述电活性结构围绕所述短轴（36）沿着所述短轴（36）逐渐增加。 电活动结构在短轴弯曲的局部平面中产生位移。 电活性结构可以是沿着短轴（35）延伸并围绕短轴（35）弯曲的连续的电活性构件（35），例如螺旋形以形成螺旋形螺旋。 或者，电活性结构可以是连接在一起的多个分立元件（211）。 电活性部分优选具有由多个层形成的弯曲结构。 该装置可以用作驱动器，传感器或发生器。

公开(公告)号：US07224813B2

公开(公告)日：2007-05-29

申请号：US10168736

申请日：2000-12-21

申请人： Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  James Allan ,  Simon Andrew Longbottom ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel

发明人： Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  James Allan ,  Simon Andrew Longbottom ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R17/00 ,  H01L41/094 ,  H04R2217/01 ,  Y10S310/80

摘要： A loudspeaker comprising: a support, a sound-generating element mounted to the support for vibration to generate sound; and an electro-active device coupled between the support and the sound-generating element for vibrating the sound-generating element in response to an electrical signal. The electro-active device comprises a structure extending along a minor axis which extends in a curve around a major axis parallel to the vibration direction of the sound-generating element, the structure comprising successive electro-active portions arranged with electrodes to bend around the minor axis on activation in response to application of the electrical signal to the electrodes, and coupled together such that bending of successive portions causes concomitant rotation of adjacent portions around the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis, which rotation causes concomitant change of the axial length of the structure along the major axis.

摘要翻译： 一种扬声器，包括：支撑件，安装到所述支撑件上以产生声音的振动的发音元件; 以及耦合在所述支撑件和所述发声元件之间的电活动装置，用于响应于电信号振动所述发声元件。 电活动装置包括沿着短轴延伸的结构，所述结构沿着平行于发声元件的振动方向的长轴的曲线延伸，该结构包括连续的电活动部分，其布置有电极以围绕次要弯曲 响应于将电信号施加到电极而被激活，并且耦合在一起，使得连续部分的弯曲导致围绕短轴的相邻部分的伴随旋转沿着短轴逐渐增加，该旋转引起轴向长度的伴随变化 的长轴上的结构。

公开(公告)号：US07069795B2

公开(公告)日：2006-07-04

申请号：US10480675

申请日：2002-06-19

申请人： Gareth McKevitt ,  Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

发明人： Gareth McKevitt ,  Anthony Hooley ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

IPC分类号： G01L1/04 ,  H04R17/00

CPC分类号： H01L41/1132 ,  G01D5/12

摘要： Various sensors use an electro-active device (11) electrically connected to a detector circuit. The electro-active device (11) comprises an electro-active structure in the form of a continuous electro-active member (12) curving in a helix around a minor axis (13) which is in itself curved for example in a helix around a major axis (14). On activation by relative displacement of the ends (16) of the device (11), the electro-active structure twists around the minor axis due to the fact that the minor axis (13) is curved. The continuous member (12) has a bender construction of a plurality of layers (21) and (22) including at least one layer of electro-active material so that concomitantly with the twisting the continuous member (12) bends generating an electrical signal detected by the detector circuit. The electro-active device (11) is advantageous as a sensing element in a sensor because it has a large displacement, high sensitivity and low compliance.

摘要翻译： 各种传感器使用电连接到检测器电路的电活动装置（11）。 电活性器件（11）包括呈短轴弯曲的连续电活性部件（12）形式的电活性结构，短轴（13）本身例如以螺旋形弯曲 长轴（14）。 在通过装置（11）的端部（16）的相对位移激活时，由于短轴（13）弯曲的事实，电活动结构围绕短轴扭转。 连续构件（12）具有包括至少一层电活性材料的多个层（21）和（22）的弯曲结构，从而与扭转相伴随，连续构件（12）弯曲产生检测到的电信号 由检测器电路。 电动装置（11）作为传感器中的感测元件是有利的，因为它具有大的位移，高灵敏度和低顺应性。

公开(公告)号：US07068930B2

公开(公告)日：2006-06-27

申请号：US10480664

申请日：2002-06-19

申请人： Gareth McKevitt ,  Anthony Hooley ,  James Allan ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel

发明人： Gareth McKevitt ,  Anthony Hooley ,  James Allan ,  David Henry Pearce ,  Ursula Ruth Lenel

IPC分类号： G03B3/10

CPC分类号： G02B7/023 ,  G03B17/00 ,  H04N5/2254

摘要： A camera (30) uses an electro-active device (11) to position a movable lens. The electro-active device (11) comprises an electro-active structure in the form of a continuous electro-active member (12) curving in a helix around a minor axis (13) which is in itself curved for example in a helix around a major axis (14). The continuous member (12) has a bender construction of a plurality of layers (21 and 22) including at least one layer of electro-active material so that it bends, on activation, around the minor axis (13). Concomitantly with the bending, the electro-active structure twists around the minor axis. Concomitantly with that twisting, relative displacement of the ends (16) of the device (11) occurs due to the combination of the twisting around the minor axis (13) and the fact that the minor axis (13) is curved. This structure of the electro-active device (11) is compact and provides for linear displacement, thereby making it suitable for positioning the lens of the camera (30).

摘要翻译： 相机（30）使用电动装置（11）来定位可移动透镜。 电活性器件（11）包括呈短轴弯曲的连续电活性部件（12）形式的电活性结构，短轴（13）本身例如以螺旋形弯曲 长轴（14）。 连续构件（12）具有包括至少一层电活性材料层的多个层（21和22）的弯曲结构，使得其在启动时绕短轴（13）弯曲。 伴随着弯曲，电活动结构围绕短轴扭转。 伴随着扭转，由于围绕短轴（13）的扭转和短轴（13）弯曲的事实的组合，发生装置（11）的端部（16）的相对位移。 电活动装置（11）的这种结构是紧凑的并且提供线性位移，从而使其适合于定位相机（30）的透镜。

公开(公告)号：US07166952B2

公开(公告)日：2007-01-23

申请号：US10491220

申请日：2002-09-26

申请人： Richard Topliss ,  David Livingstone ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  Anthony Hooley

发明人： Richard Topliss ,  David Livingstone ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  Anthony Hooley

IPC分类号： H01L41/08

CPC分类号： H01L41/094 ,  H01L41/098

摘要： An equivalent to the spatial separation either side of a nominal median plane that is inherent in a bimorph (with one piezoelectric layer on one side, and the second on the other side of the plane) is attained by structurally shaping the cross-section of a simple, single piezoelectric layer (11) such that it has a multiplicity of piezoelectric portions arranged in two generally-planar groups one either side of a median plane, so that any dimension change undergone by a portion on one side of that plane will tend to bend the whole device in the opposite direction to the same sense dimension change undergone by a portion on the other side of that plane. The simple, single layer acts as though it were a bimorph if elongate and beam-like, bending along its length, one end moving up/down, or back/forth, relative to the other but with any need for an internal, electrode.

摘要翻译： 相当于双压电晶片中固有的标称中间平面的两侧（在一侧具有一个压电层，而在该平面的另一侧上的第二面）的空间分离是通过结构地成形一个 简单的单个压电层（11），使得其具有多个压电部分，其布置在中间平面的任一侧上的两个大致平面的组中，使得由该平面的一侧上的部分所经历的任何尺寸变化将倾向于 使整个设备沿与该平面另一侧的部分相同的感官尺寸变化的相反方向弯曲。 简单的单层如同细长的和束状的，像其一样弯曲，一端向上/向下移动，或相对于另一端向前/向前弯曲，但是任何需要内部的电极。

公开(公告)号：US07486004B2

公开(公告)日：2009-02-03

申请号：US10493743

申请日：2002-10-28

申请人： James Allan ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  Richard Topliss

发明人： James Allan ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Richard Shepherd ,  Richard Topliss

IPC分类号： H01L41/08

CPC分类号： H01L41/0953 ,  H01L41/33

摘要： A piezoelectric device comprising a continuous piezoelectric element (10) extending alternately back and forth to form a plurality of parallel, straight portions (14) arranged in a stack with intermediate linkage portions (15) at alternate ends of the straight portions (14). Each straight portion (14) is constructed and arranged with electrodes (12, 13) to bend, on activation, in the stacking direction in which the straight portions (14) are stacked with opposite curvature in two halves (16, 17) of the straight portion (14) to create displacement between the ends of the straight portion (14) in the stacking direction adding in series through the stack. The continuous nature of the piezoelectric element (10) eases manufacture. Devices with two types of construction are disclosed. Firstly, the continuous piezoelectric element (10) may have a bender construction such as a bimorph bender construction. Secondly, the continuous piezoelectric element (101) may be a sheet of piezoelectric material having overlapping slits (102) extending from alternate sides to form the straight portions (103) between the slits (102), with opposed electrodes (105) arranged on each major surface of the sheet in pairs separated across, and extending along, the straight portions (103).

摘要翻译： 一种压电装置，包括连续的压电元件（10），所述连续压电元件（10）交替地前后延伸以形成多个平行的直线部分（14），所述直的部分以直线部分（14）的交替端部处的中间连接部分（15）布置成堆叠。 每个直线部分（14）被构造和布置成具有电极（12,13），在激活时，沿堆叠方向弯曲，其中直线部分（14）以相反的曲率堆叠在两个半部（16,17）中 直线部分（14），以在堆叠方向上在直线部分（14）的端部之间产生位移，通过堆叠串联。 压电元件（10）的连续性使制造变得容易。 公开了具有两种结构类型的装置。 首先，连续压电元件（10）可以具有诸如双压电晶片弯曲机结构的弯曲结构。 其次，所述连续压电元件（101）可以是具有从交替侧延伸的重叠狭缝（102）的压电材料片，以在狭缝（102）之间形成直线部分（103），并且每个上设置有相对电极（105） 片材的主表面成对地分离并且沿直线部分（103）延伸。

公开(公告)号：US07302068B2

公开(公告)日：2007-11-27

申请号：US10480733

申请日：2002-06-19

申请人： Simon Andrew Longbottom ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Richard Topliss ,  Matthew John Pitts ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

发明人： Simon Andrew Longbottom ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Richard Topliss ,  Matthew John Pitts ,  Mark Richard Shepherd

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R17/00 ,  H04R2217/01 ,  H04R2499/11 ,  H04R2499/15

摘要： A loudspeaker for audible sound is described having a sound emitting element mounted onto a support structure and at least one actuator adapted to rotate said sound emitting element around a hinge section, wherein the actuator is made of piezoelectric material. In variants the actuator forms part of the hinge section and the loudspeaker is capable of generating vibrations through its support structure.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种用于可听见的声音的扬声器，其具有安装在支撑结构上的声音发射元件和至少一个致动器，其适于围绕铰链部分旋转所述发音元件，其中致动器由压电材料制成。 在变型中，致动器形成铰链部分的一部分，并且扬声器能够通过其支撑结构产生振动。

公开(公告)号：US20050040736A1

公开(公告)日：2005-02-24

申请号：US10491220

申请日：2002-09-26

申请人： Richard Topliss ,  David Livingstone ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Shepherd ,  Anthony Hooley

发明人： Richard Topliss ,  David Livingstone ,  Andrew Matheson ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Shepherd ,  Anthony Hooley

IPC分类号： H01L41/09 ,  H01L41/187 ,  H01L41/22 ,  H02N2/00 ,  H01L41/08

CPC分类号： H01L41/094 ,  H01L41/098

摘要： An equivalent to the spatial separation either side of a nominal median plane that is inherent in a bimorph (with one piezoelectric layer on one side, and the second on the other side of the plane) is attained by structurally shaping the cross-section of a simple, single piezoelectric layer (11) such that it has a multiplicity of piezoelectric portions arranged in two generally-planar groups one either side of a median plane, so that any dimension change undergone by a portion on one side of that plane will tend to bend the whole device in the opposite direction to the same sense dimension change undergone by a portion on the other side of that plane. The simple, single layer acts as though it were a bimorph if elongate and beam-like, bending along its length, one end moving up/down, or back/forth, relative to the other but with any need for an internal, electrode.

摘要翻译： 相当于双压电晶片中固有的标称中间平面的两侧（在一侧具有一个压电层，而在该平面的另一侧上的第二面）的空间分离是通过结构地成形一个 简单的单个压电层（11），使得其具有多个压电部分，其布置在中间平面的任一侧上的两个大致平面的组中，使得由该平面的一侧上的部分所经历的任何尺寸变化将倾向于 使整个设备沿与该平面另一侧的部分相同的感官尺寸变化的相反方向弯曲。 简单的单层如同细长的和束状的，像其一样弯曲，一端向上/向下移动，或相对于另一端向前/向前弯曲，但是任何需要内部的电极。

公开(公告)号：US20050253487A1

公开(公告)日：2005-11-17

申请号：US10493743

申请日：2002-10-28

申请人： James Allan ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Shepherd ,  Richard Topliss

发明人： James Allan ,  Gareth McKevitt ,  Mark Shepherd ,  Richard Topliss

IPC分类号： H04R17/00 ,  H01L41/09 ,  H01L41/187 ,  H01L41/193 ,  H01L41/33 ,  H02N2/00 ,  H01L41/08

CPC分类号： H01L41/0953 ,  H01L41/33

摘要： A piezoelectric device comprising a continuous piezoelectric element (10) extending alternately back and forth to form a plurality of parallel, straight portions (14) arranged in a stack with intermediate linkage portions (15) at alternate ends the straight portions (14). Each straight portion (14) is constructed and arranged with electrodes (12, 13) to bend, on activation, in the stacking direction in which the straight portions (14) are stacked with opposite curvature in two halves (16, 17) of the straight portion (14) to create displacement between the ends of the straight portion (14) in the stacking direction adding in series through the stack. The continuous nature of the piezoelectric element (10) eases manufacture. Devices with two types of construction are disclosed. Firstly, the continuous piezoelectric element (10) may have a bender construction such as a bimorph bender construction. Secondly, the continuous piezoelectric element (101) may be a sheet of piezoelectric material having overlapping slits (102) extending from alternate sides to form the straight portions (103) between the slits (102), with opposed electrodes (105) arranged on each major surface of the sheet in pairs separated across, and extending along, the straight portions (103).

摘要翻译： 一种压电装置，包括连续的压电元件（10），所述连续压电元件（10）交替地前后延伸以形成多个平行的直的部分（14），所述直的部分以交替的直线部分（14）的中间连接部分（15）布置成堆叠。 每个直线部分（14）被构造和布置成具有电极（12,13），在激活时，沿堆叠方向弯曲，其中直线部分（14）以相反的曲率堆叠在两个半部（16,17）中 直线部分（14），以在堆叠方向上在直线部分（14）的端部之间产生位移，通过堆叠串联。 压电元件（10）的连续性使制造变得容易。 公开了具有两种结构类型的装置。 首先，连续压电元件（10）可以具有诸如双压电晶片弯曲机结构的弯曲结构。 其次，所述连续压电元件（101）可以是具有从交替侧延伸的重叠狭缝（102）的压电材料片，以在狭缝（102）之间形成直线部分（103），并且每个上设置有相对电极（105） 片材的主表面成对地分离并且沿直线部分（103）延伸。