HIGH TEMPERATURE BIMORPH ACTUATOR
A bimorph actuator has been found that uses commonly available piezoelectric material and is operational up to about 150° C. or one half of Curie temperature, in that it does not exhibit depolarization due to negative electric fields and/or elevated temperature. This result is accomplished by driving both piezoelectric materials with a positive electric field along the polarization direction.
1 . A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150° C., comprising:
a top active layer;
a substrate; and
a bottom active layer.
2 . The bimorph actuator of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom active layers are comprised of piezoelectric materials.
3 . The bimorph actuator of claim 1 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are subjected to positive electric fields.
4 . The bimorph actuator of claim 3 wherein the top active layer is polarized along the plane of the material, parallel to the substrate.
5 . The bimorph actuator of claim 3 wherein the bottom active layer is polarized through the thickness of the active material, perpendicular to the substrate.
6 . The bimorph actuator of claim 1 that is comprised of macro fiber composites.
7 . The bimorph actuator of claim 1 that further comprises a power source.
8 . The power source of claim 7 that is comprised of a 3 volt battery.
9 . The power source of claim 7 , wherein the 3 volt batter is connected to a circuit comprising two channels, each of which provides 750 volts, for a total of 1500 volts.
10 . A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150° C., comprising:
a top active layer that is polarized along the plane of the material, parallel to the substrate; and
a bottom active layer that is polarized through the thickness of the layer, perpendicular to the substrate.
11 . The bimorph actuator of claim 10 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are comprised of piezoelectric materials.
12 . The bimorph actuator of claim 10 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are subject to positive electric fields.
13 . The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that further comprises a power source.
14 . The power source of claim 13 that is a 3 volt battery.
15 . The bimorph actuator of claim 12 wherein the electric fields are not equal.
16 . The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that further comprises a substrate.
17 . The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that operates in small spaces.
18 . A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150° C., comprising:
a top active layer; and
a bottom active layer.
19 . The bimorph actuator of claim 18 , wherein the top active layer is connected to the bottom active layer with an adhesive.
20 . A bimorph actuator that is operational up to about 50% of Curie temperature, comprising:
a top active layer; and
a bottom active layer.
21 . The bimorph actuator of claim 19 that is operational in small spaces.