The reduced-voltage Squiggle micromotor and drive application-specific integrated circuit are displayed by Daniele Piazza.
Motion system device developer New Scale Technologies Inc. of Victor,
N.Y., has received a US patent for its reduced-voltage miniature
piezoelectric motor and drive system, which can operate directly from
battery voltage as low as 2.3 VDC. By eliminating the need for boost
circuits, the technology reduces system size and component cost while
enabling integration into a variety of battery-driven products to move
elements such as optical lenses. The system is five times smaller than
commercial electromagnetic linear motor systems and uses 40 percent less
power. It employs a proprietary Squiggle piezo motor design, replacing
the original Squiggle motor’s monolithic piezoelectric elements with
advanced multilayer piezoelectric elements from TDK-EPC of Munich to
operate at a reduced voltage.