The "cymbal" electromechanical actuator

Abstract

A new transducer design was developed named the "Cymbal Transducer" with larger displacement, larger generative forces and more cost effective manufacturing. The cymbal transducers consist of a cylindrical ceramic element sandwiched between two truncated conical metal endcaps, and can be used as both sensors and actuators. The cymbal actuator exhibits almost 40 times higher displacement than the same size of ceramic element. Effective piezoelectric charge coefficient, eff. D/sub 33/, of a cymbal is roughly 40 times higher than PZT itself.