But first let’s look at the non-resonant driving method, then compared to the resonant method. This article shows how a series-resonant technique can handle the challenge by boosting the output voltage. Certain devices require low voltage in the few tens of volts, while others need hundreds and even thousands of volts.ĭriving PZT devices that require high voltage, oftentimes accompanied by high frequency and high capacitance, can be very challenging. Some only require dc voltages, while others need ac voltage waveforms such as sine and square. These PZT devices operate over a very wide range of voltages, frequency, and waveforms. Example of such devices include piezo motors, actuators, speakers/buzzers, ultrasound devices for imaging and levitation, high-power ultrasonic transducers for cleaning, etc. Today, most piezo devices (sometimes referred to as PZT) use the inverse piezoelectric effect. In turn, we’ve seen the creation of a wide range of practical piezoelectric devices.

It’s been more than 100 years since the discovery, and during that time numerous scientific research efforts have led to the invention of many superior piezo materials. An ac sinewave applied to a piezo device causes the material to expand and contract. When voltage potential is applied to certain ceramic materials, they expand and contract physically as shown in Figure 1.ġ.

The inverse piezoelectric effect is when the process occurs in reverse. When some solid material is mechanically compressed or stressed, the material accumulates electrical charges on its surface and develops a voltage potential. Jacques and Pierre Curie, French physics, discovered the piezoelectric effect in 1880.

Piezo disc voltage output