Piezoelectric assembly

1. A piezoelectric assembly comprising:

an electrode assembly;

a signal electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly;

a reference electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and

a spacer positioned about a perimeter of the electrode assembly and disposed between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector such that no electrical communication is provided between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector through the spacer;

wherein a humidity barrier space is defined between the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer, wherein the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer are disposed in close contact with each other to form a substantially water-tight seal which seals the humidity barrier space from an environment external to the humidity barrier space; and

wherein the electrode assembly is disposed in the humidity barrier space.

2. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed between the first and second electrodes.

3. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is positioned about the entire perimeter of the electrode assembly.

4. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrode assembly comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric material in electrical communication with each one of the first and second electrodes, wherein the piezoelectric material is provided in an unactuated state in the absence of an electric field generated between the first and second electrodes and is provided in an actuated state in the presence of the electric field.

5. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the spacer comprises a non-conductive adhesive, and wherein the spacer is disposed in close contact engagement with each of the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector.

6. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein one of the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector supports the electrode assembly.

7. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the signal electrical connector is electrically connected to the first electrode and the reference electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrode.

8. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second electrodes are comprised of a silver material.

9. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector include a flexible material, the flexible material being more resistant to fatigue than the first and second electrodes.

10. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the signal electrical connector is coupled to the first electrode using a conductive adhesive.

11. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reference electrical connector is coupled to the second electrode using a conductive adhesive.

12. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the signal electrical connector is configured for connection to a current or voltage source.

13. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reference electrical connector is configured for connection to a reference source.

14. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode, second electrode and piezoelectric element are disc-shaped and the spacer is a ring-shaped.

15. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the signal electrical connector covers at least 50% of an area of a side surface of the first electrode which is opposite to a side surface of the first electrode which is disposed in contact engagement with the piezoelectric material.

16. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 15 , wherein the signal electrical connector covers an entire area of the surface of the first electrode which is opposite to the side surface of the first electrode which is disposed in contact engagement with the piezoelectric material.

17. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 4 , wherein the reference electrical connector covers at least 50% of the area of a side surface of the second electrode which is opposite to a side surface of the second electrode which is disposed in contact engagement with the piezoelectric material.

18. The piezoelectric assembly of claim 17 , wherein the reference electrical connector covers an entire area of the surface of the second electrode which is opposite to the side surface of the second electrode which is disposed in contact engagement with the piezoelectric material.

19. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a touch-sensitive display coupled to the processor for accepting touch input;

a piezoelectric assembly coupled to the touch sensitive display for providing a tactile feedback in response to the touch input, the piezoelectric assembly including an electrode assembly, a signal electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a reference electrical connector electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and a spacer positioned about a perimeter of the electrode assembly and disposed between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector such that no electrical communication is provided between the signal electrical connector and the reference electrical connector through the spacer, wherein a humidity barrier space is defined between the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer, wherein the signal electrical connector, the reference electrical connector and the spacer are disposed in close contact with each other to form a substantially water-tight seal which seals the humidity barrier space from an environment external to the humidity barrier space, and wherein the electrode assembly is disposed in the humidity barrier space.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly is disposed adjacent to the touch-sensitive display, the piezoelectric assembly being in a concave configuration away from the touch-sensitive display in an unactuated state and being disposed in a substantially planar configuration flush with the touch-sensitive display in an actuated state, the piezoelectric assembly being actuated in response to a signal representing a touch input and being unactuated in the absence of the signal representing the touch input.