New Scale awarded linear motor system patent

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.