Piezoelectric linear actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9225266-B2
Application number	US-201313914947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2013
Priority date	Dec 10, 2012
Publication date	Dec 29, 2015
Grant date	Dec 29, 2015

Abstract

Provided is a piezoelectric linear actuator. The piezoelectric linear actuator includes a slider having first and second surfaces facing each other, first and second plates spaced by predetermined distances from the first and second surfaces of the slider, respectively, a plurality of shear piezo stacks having one end fixed to the corresponding first or second plates, the plurality of shear piezo stacks being disposed toward the slider, and a friction member disposed on the shear piezo stacks to support the slider by a friction force with the slider. The slider includes a piezo plate expanding or contracting with respect to the shear piezo stacks according to a voltage applied thereto and a sliding member on each of both opposite surfaces of the piezo plate contacting the friction member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A piezoelectric linear actuator comprising:
a slider having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a first plate spaced by a first predetermined distance from the first surface of the slider and a second plate spaced a second predetermined distance from the second surface of the slider;
a plurality of shear piezo stacks, each having a first end fixed to one of the first plate and the second plate, and a second end which faces the slider;
wherein the slider comprises a piezo plate which expands or contracts according to an applied voltage thereto, a first sliding member disposed on a first surface of the piezo plate and a second sliding member disposed on a second surface of the piezo plate; and
wherein the piezoelectric linear actuator further comprises a friction member disposed on the second end of each of the plurality of shear piezo stacks, such that the slider is supported by the friction members by a friction force between the friction members and one of the first sliding member and the second sliding member.

2. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 1 , wherein the piezo plate comprises a first piezo plate and a second piezo plate, and the slider further comprises a slider body disposed between the first piezo plate and the second piezo plate.

3. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 1 , wherein each of the friction member and the sliding member is formed of one of alumina and sapphire.

4. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 3 , further comprising a power source which applies at least one of an AC voltage and a DC voltage to each of the first plate and the second piezo plate.

5. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a first leaf spring facing the first plate and applying a pressure on the first plate and a second leaf spring facing the second plate and applying a pressure on the second plate, thereby increasing a friction force between the friction member and the sliding member.

6. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 5 , further comprising a first steel ball disposed between the first plate and the first leaf spring, applying a uniform force on the first plate, and a second steel ball disposed between the second plate and the second leaf spring, applying a uniform force on the second plate.

7. The piezoelectric linear actuator of claim 6 , wherein the first steel ball is disposed in a central hole in a center of the first leaf spring and the second steel ball is disposed in a central hole in a center of the second leaf spring.

8. A piezoelectric linear actuator comprising:
a slider,
a first plate facing a first side of the slider and a second plate facing a second side of the slider;
at least one first shear piezo stack disposed between the first side of the slider and the first plate and at least one second shear piezo stack disposed between the second side of the slider and the second plate; and
at least one first friction member disposed between the at least one first shear piezo stack and the first side of the slider and at least one second friction member disposed between the at least one section shear piezo stack and the second side of the slider;
wherein the slider comprises a piezo plate which expands and contracts based on a voltage applied thereto, a first sliding member disposed on a first surface of the piezo plate and a second sliding member disposed on a second surface of the piezo plate; and
wherein the slider is supported between the at least one first friction member and the at least one second fraction member.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeon In-Su

Classifications

• H02N2/025 Primary

  Inertial sliding motors · CPC title

• G01Q30/16

  Vacuum environment · CPC title

• H02N2/02 Primary

  producing linear motion, e.g. actuators; Linear positioners {; Linear motors} · CPC title