Aug 14 2008
The future of sensing, actuating, and energy harvesting is looking bright for the aeronautic, automotive, and manufacturing industries, with the introduction of a new suite of packaged, and conformable piezoelectric transducers.
QuickPack Piezoelectric Sensor
The packaged QuickPack®, and flexible PowerAct™ piezoelectric transducers are replacing traditional solenoid and standard piezo technologies with a new, low profile, low power, flexible, and robust alternative.Packaged QuickPack®, and flexible PowerAct™ piezoelectric transducers are replacing traditional solenoid and standard piezo technologies with a new, low profile, low power, flexible, and robust alternative.Piezoelectric transducers can do many things. They can operate as sensors, actuators, vibration dampeners, and energy harvesters.
Traditionally pneumatic valves have performed such operations using solenoid technology. However, size, reliability, and power consumption have pushed the limits of these devices. Now a new alternative is available that can offer several advantages over solenoids, including reduced size, weight, and faster response time. These advances offer huge potential in the aeronautic, automotive, and manufacturing industries.
Midé's President, David Gilbert, believes that, "the next generation of piezoelectric transducers take actuating and sensing to a new level; offering viable solutions for many varied applications, including: powering wireless sensor networks; health monitoring for oil and gas industries; solid state cooling fans for LED lighting; health monitoring for flight vehicles; and, pneumatic valve control."
This smart technology has been pioneered by Medford based Midé Technology , and its QuickPack® piezoelectric transducer range, which brings piezoelectric technology to a number of new applications. Through a proprietary QuickPack® manufacturing process, Midé Technology packages piezoelectric wafers into a robust, hermetically sealed, protective skin with pre-attached electrical leads, producing a highly reliable component with no soldered wires. The QuickPack® transducer's protective skin also provides electrical insulation and defense against humidity and harsh contaminants, bringing ease of connection, and increased life time to piezoelectric actuators, sensors, vibration dampeners, cooling fans, and energy harvesters. It makes piezoelectrics easier to use, and easier to integrate into products.
A recent addition to this smart technology has been the flexible PowerAct™ piezoelectric transducer. The PowerAct's ability to conform to curved surfaces whilst adding conformability and directionality of actuation to the existing benefits of the QuickPack® packaged piezoelectric transducer make it ideally suited for sensing and actuating applications with cylindrical, or complex surfaces.
Recently, Midé has been able to improve its proprietary manufacturing process and reduce manufacturing costs. In turn Midé can now offer the benefit of packaged piezoelectric transducers at a much lower cost than ever before. Midé transducers can be used as sensors, actuators, energy harvesters, and cooling fans. Midé has previously developed custom transducers for such applications as HVAC valves to replace solenoid valves. Midé has also designed a custom valve that is used in a large volume air regulator product.
For more information on piezoelectric, click here.