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Tiny Piezoelectric Multi-Layered Actuators with Application in a Compact Camera Module-Design, Fabrication,
Chao-Ping Lee1, Mi-Ching Tsai2, Yiin-Kuen Fuh1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan City 32001, Taiwan.
Micromachines
|December 23, 2022
Summary
This study reviews piezoelectric multi-layered actuators (PMLAs), highlighting their use in portable devices like smartphones. Novel bimorph ultrasonic motors achieved high thrust-to-volume ratios, showing potential for camera image stabilization.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Piezoelectric actuators with multi-layer structures offer advantages like fast response and high force generation.
- Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a common material for these actuators.
- The demand for miniaturized actuators in portable devices, such as smartphones with compact camera modules (CCM) and image stabilizers (IS), has driven development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress in piezoelectric multi-layered actuator (PMLA) applications.
- To focus on miniaturized dimensions and performance metrics (force, speed, power) for various loads.
- To investigate commercial PMLA attempts and propose novel designs.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and commercial PMLA devices (Helimorph, Lobster, USM).
- Development and experimental testing of simple bimorph and multi-layer bimorph ultrasonic motors (USMs).
- Comparison of proposed USMs with 14 other linear USMs based on thrust-to-volume ratio.
Main Results:
- Proposed simple bimorph and multi-layer bimorph USMs achieved thrusts of 3.08 N and 2.57 N, respectively.
- These USMs demonstrated good free speed and minimal structural thickness (0.7 mm and 0.6 mm).
- The proposed designs ranked first and second in thrust-to-volume ratio among 14 reported linear USMs.
Conclusions:
- The developed piezoelectric multi-layered actuators show significant potential for applications in cellphone camera modules, particularly for moving sensor image stabilization.
- Future developments in piezoelectric materials, configurations, fabrication, and applications are discussed.
- The study emphasizes the suitability of PMLAs for miniaturized, high-performance applications.
