64 results about "Piezo switch" patented technology

A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.

The invention relates to a piezoelectric switch type valve positioner control method and a piezoelectric switch type valve positioner control system. The system consists of a 4-20mA current source, a current-to-voltage (I / V) conversion circuit, a voltage conversion module, a control signal amplifying and filtering circuit, a feedback signal amplifying and filtering circuit, 2 external analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an ultra-low power consumption singlechip, a liquid crystal keyboard module, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a passive crystal, and a piezoelectric valve driven amplifying circuit. The control method comprises the steps of: determining the optimum pulse width modulation (PWM) duty cycle during the self-tuning of parameters; and adopting a five-step switching method with reverse PWM during the control. The piezoelectric switch type valve positioner control method and the piezoelectric switch type valve positioner control system can effectively avoid the overshoot phenomenon during the control of a valve positioner, solve the non-linear problem of an actuating mechanism, and have stronger universal applicability.

A piezoelectric switch for tunable electronic components comprises piezoelectric layers, metal electrodes alternated with the layers and contact pads. Cross voltages are applied to the electrodes, in order to obtain an S-shaped deformation of the switch and allow contact between the contact pads. Additionally, a further electrode can be provided on a substrate where the switch is fabricated, to allow an additional electrostatic effect during movement of the piezoelectric layers to obtain contact between the contact pads. The overall dimensions of the switch are very small and the required actuation voltage is very low, when compared to existing switches.

A piezoelectric switch for tunable electronic components comprises piezoelectric layers, metal electrodes alternated with the layers and contact pads. Cross voltages are applied to the electrodes, in order to obtain an S-shaped deformation of the switch and allow contact between the contact pads. Additionally, a further electrode can be provided on a substrate where the switch is fabricated, to allow an additional electrostatic effect during movement of the piezoelectric layers to obtain contact between the contact pads. The overall dimensions of the switch are very small and the required actuation voltage is very low, when compared to existing switches.

A piezoelectric switch includes a piezoelectric element which is electrically connected to a printed circuit board by a pair of wires. A unitary plastic carrier is designed to retain both the piezoelectric element and the printed circuit board fixedly mounted thereon. In turn, the plastic carrier is sized and shaped to be co-axially disposed within the interior cavity of a generally cylindrically-shaped protective housing, wherein the plastic carrier is provided with at least one flexible finger which is configured to snap-fit into engagement within an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the housing so as to retain the carrier in place within the interior cavity. With the carrier fixed in place within the housing, an adhesive spacer disposes the piezoelectric element in contact with the inner surface of a touch plate provided in the housing. Accordingly, in use, the application of a tactile input onto the outer surface of the touch plate in turn causes the approximate center of the piezoelectric element to slightly deform. In response thereto, the piezoelectric element generates an output signal which passes to the printed circuit board. Based on the output signal received, the printed circuit board regulates the state of the piezoelectric switch.

Systems and methods for operating piezoelectric switches are disclosed. A piezoelectric switching system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a bias voltage source. The first actuator has a first body electrode, a first gate electrode, and a first contact region. The second actuator has a second body electrode, a second gate electrode, and a second contact region. The first and second contact regions are separated by a gap. The bias voltage source applies a bias voltage to the body electrodes. The bias voltage is lower in magnitude than an actuation voltage for the switch. The gate electrodes receive a switching voltage. The switching voltage causes at least one of the first and second actuators to bend, thereby closing the gap such that the second contact region electrically contacts the first contact region. The difference between the switching voltage and the bias voltage exceeds the actuation voltage of the switch.

A piezoelectric switch includes a piezoelectric element which is electrically connected to a printed circuit board by a pair of wires. A unitary plastic carrier is designed to retain both the piezoelectric element and the printed circuit board fixedly mounted thereon. In turn, the plastic carrier is sized and shaped to be co-axially disposed within the interior cavity of a generally cylindrically-shaped protective housing, wherein the plastic carrier is provided with at least one flexible finger which is configured to snap-fit into engagement within an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the housing so as to retain the carrier in place within the interior cavity. With the carrier fixed in place within the housing, an adhesive spacer disposes the piezoelectric element in contact with the inner surface of a touch plate provided in the housing. Accordingly, in use, the application of a tactile input onto the outer surface of the touch plate in turn causes the approximate center of the piezoelectric element to slightly deform. In response thereto, the piezoelectric element generates an output signal which passes to the printed circuit board. Based on the output signal received, the printed circuit board regulates the state of the piezoelectric switch.

A navigation controller for a watercraft enables an operator to safely control the vessel even when in rough seas. A grip member and control head act as an integrated grab bar to be grabbed by a hand of a user and transfer the force to a mount. The grip member is engagable by fingers on the hand of the user for providing a grab bar to the user to resist movement of the body of the user caused by the applied force. The applied force is transferred through the hand of the user to the grip member to the mount to a force transfer member to a structural member to dissipate the applied force in resisting excessive movement of the body of the user caused by the applied force. A navigation controller includes control switches for controlling the operation of the watercraft. A control plate supports the control switches and the control plate with the control switches is configured and dimensioned relative to the grip member to enable a thumb of the user to engage with one or more of the control switches while the fingers remain engaged with the grip member so that the resistance of the applied force to keep the user steady does not cause a unintended activation of one or more of the control switches. A tactile location indicator is disposed on the control plate to provide easy and rapid location indication by haptic feedback. The control switches may include piezo switches to allow use in a severe marine environment that may include prolonged deep immersion, and powerful and prolonged salt spray and pressure washing, enduring conditions that would render a conventional marine joystick inoperable.

The invention relates to a miniature hydrodynamic piezoelectric switch valve which comprises a piezoelectric oscillator, a liquid storage cavity, a driving hole, a flexible valve plug, a valve opening, an inlet, an outlet, a flow passage and driving liquid, wherein the piezoelectric oscillator is arranged at the upper part or the lower part of the liquid storage cavity; the driving hole connected with the liquid storage cavity is formed in the upper part, the lower part or the cavity wall of the liquid storage cavity; the flexible valve plug is arranged on the driving hole and matched with the valve opening; the piezoelectric oscillator, the liquid storage cavity and the flexible valve plug together form a sealed space filled with the driving liquid. The switch valve provided by the invention controls the opening and closing of a valve indirectly by virtue of hydraulic power, can fully utilize the overall deformation of a piezoelectric chip, and has the advantages of high response speed, good cut-off property, high cut-off pressure, low leakage rate and easiness in processing and manufacturing. The piezoelectric driving part and the fluid control part of the switch valve can be separated through a liquid guide tube, and the mounting form is flexible.

A circuit arrangement for an electric appliance, having a control device and a power supply unit connected with an electric current supply connector for providing functional units, which are to be controlled, of the electric appliance with current. A switch is provided on the electric current supply connector for cutting off the power supply unit from the electric current supply connector on a primary side. The switch has a piezo switch which is open in the non-activated state. The circuit arrangement of this invention is used, for example, in connection with electronic household appliances.

The invention relates to a switch device (10), for switching a user on and off, in particular, a motor or similar in a vehicle, comprising a housing (20), an operating element (30), a switch element (40) and a display (50), wherein the display (50) is arranged on the operating element (30), the switch element (40) may be activated by the operating element (30) and at least one switch signal (117) for a control unit (15,15′) may be generated by means of the switch element (40). According to the invention, the switch element (40) is a piezo switch and the piezo switch is arranged such as to generate the switch signal (17) on pushing (31) the operating element (30) into the housing (20).

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring a gas-insulated high-voltage substation by measuring partial discharges, the substation including an enclosure (11); an electrical field sensor (10) comprising a metal plate (13) attached to the wall of the enclosure (11); a conical metal part (12) closed with a cover at the flared portion thereof, the other end of same extending into the enclosure and opening into a bushing (14) that extends through the metal plate (13) which serves as a back-plane for the conical antenna thus formed; and a connector (15) connected to the bushing (14), which can be used to connect the bushing (14) to a measurement and display device via a coaxial cable.

A functional vehicle component and related methods include a functional leather assembly fixed over a vehicle component. The functional leather assembly includes a leather sheet, a flexible electronic circuit arranged on a first surface of the leather sheet that faces away from the vehicle component to thereby define an outermost surface of the leather sheet, and including a piezoelectric switch that can be actuated to make or break a conductive path in the circuit; and a pigmented coating arranged over the circuit. Upon actuation of the piezoelectric switch to make or break the conductive path in the circuit, the piezoelectric switch provides a haptic signal that indicates the actuation of the piezoelectric switch.

A method of testing a circuit assembly that includes a piezoelectric switch may include driving a DC current into the piezoelectric switch. The method may further include measuring the time interval it takes to develop a predetermined voltage across the piezoelectric switch and comparing the measured time interval with a first predetermined time interval and a second predetermined time interval. The method may include identifying the circuit assembly as defective when the measured time interval is either less than the first predetermined time interval or more than the second predetermined time interval, and otherwise identifying the circuit assembly is operational.