The invention concerns an electrical functional unit with a body which is formed from a stack of ceramic layers lying on top of one another.
A piezoelectric actuator with a basic body that contains a stack of piezoelectric layers lying on top of one another and electrode layers in-between, wherein the piezoelectric layers contain ceramic material and are sintered with the electrode layers, is known from the publication WO03/094252A2. Perpendicular to the electrode layers is a hole running through the basic body, into which a rod is inserted.
The aforementioned electrical functional unit is known from the publication JP03151677A, in which internal electrodes of a piezoelectric actuator are contacted by an elastic element, wherein the elastic element can follow the movement of the piezoelectric actuator during operation.
The goal of the invention under consideration is to describe an electrical functional unit in which the electrical contact takes place in a reliable manner.
This goal is obtained by a functional unit according to Patent Claim 1. Advantageous developments of the functional unit and a method for the production of the functional unit are the object of the other patent claims.
An electrical functional unit with a body is indicated. The body is preferably formed from a stack of ceramic layers on top of one another.
The ceramic layers can be, for example, layers with piezoelectric properties. In this case, the electrical functional unit can be a piezoelectric actuator. Preferably, electrode layers, which are contacted outwardly, are in this case also arranged between the ceramic layers, so that a voltage can be applied to a condenser whose dielectric is filled with a piezoelectric material.
A cavity can be provided that is found in the body and is accessible from the outside. The cavity has a wall, on which a contact surface can be placed. The contact surface is preferably connected with an electrical functional element in an electrically conductive manner. Such an electrical functional element can, for example, be an electrode layer of a multilayer piezoelectric actuator.
Moreover, a contact device is preferably provided that is suitable for contacting the contact surface. The contact device can also be connected from outside the body. For example, contact wires can be soldered on from the outside of the contact device or fixed, in an electrically conductive manner, in some other way.
Furthermore, provision is made so that the contact device comprises a contact spring that exerts an elastic force on the contact surface.
The electrical contact between the contact device and the contact surface is mediated by the contact spring.
The invention under consideration utilizes a concept wherein contacting of a contact surface takes place in the interior of the body. In this way, the contacting of disturbing external influences, for example, mechanical influences, is decoupled. Moreover, the advantage of an economizing of space can be obtained by integrating the contact device into the interior of the body.
Moreover, in contrast to a contacting from the outside, room remains on the outside of the body for other necessary elements, such as a cooling device, for example.
Furthermore, since the contacting is effected by means of a contact spring, it is insensitive to mechanical influences that occur, for example, during the contraction or expansion of a piezoelectric actuator in the longitudinal direction.
In particular, the type of contacting described here can be used advantageously with moved components, such as piezoelectric stacks.
It is particularly advantageous if the contact device is located, in a displaceable manner, in the cavity of the body. In this way, the contact device can be displaced as a whole, for example, to react to mechanical external or internal influences. For instance, with a decreasing electrical contact after many operating hours of the electrical functional unit, a simple servicing of the electrical contact can be done by taking out the contact device.
Preferably, the contact device is inserted into the cavity. This design of the electrical functional unit has the advantage that the steps for production of the body and the steps for production of the electrical contact can be separated from one another with regard to time, and also with regard to place. In this way, for example, materials can be used for the electrical contact device which need not be compatible with the processing steps used for the production of the body or the electrical functional unit.
Moreover, it is advantageous if the contact device can be inserted. It need not necessarily be displaceable. Rather, it is also sufficient to obtain the aforementioned advantage if the contact device can be inserted once and then, for example, remain in the body by means of a locking device. It need not always be displaceable in the body or in the cavity.
Moreover, it is advantageous if one or more contact springs are provided that procure the electrical contact with the contact surface and at the same time make it possible to connect or contact the contact device electrically from outside the body.
In one embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that the contact surface is connected with an electrically conductive functional element located in the interior of the body. With the aid of such an embodiment, it is possible to contact an electrical functional element in the interior of the body from the outside with the aid of the contact device.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that the contact surface is formed by a cover which at least partially covers the wall of the cavity. The entire wall of the cavity need not necessarily be covered. It is sufficient if a covering of the cavity wall is provided at certain places provided for contacting. In another embodiment of the functional unit, the entire wall of the cavity can also be covered with a cover. The cover is preferably made throughout of an electrically conductive material, but this is not absolutely necessary. It is sufficient if the cover is electrically conductive at places provided for the purpose, so as to be able to procure a contact for the contact device.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the contact device has a connecting part projecting from the cavity. This connecting part is connected with the contact spring in an electrically conductive manner. Furthermore, the connecting part can be further contacted from the outside, for example, by clamping or soldering on an electrically conductive wire. With the aid of the connecting part projecting outwards, a functional separation can be obtained between an elastic electrical contact and outward contactability. This has the advantage that each of the two functions can be optimized with regard to the form of the element fulfilling the function to be selected, and also with regard to the materials to be selected.
However, this does not mean that the two functions must necessarily be implemented in separate elements. There are embodiments of the functional unit in which the contact spring is simultaneously used for the external contacting.
In one embodiment of the functional unit, the cover is formed by a metal sheet. This metal sheet can, for example, have the form of a tube and thereby cover the wall of a hole-shaped cavity in the body.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the cover is formed by a metal-containing baking paste. This baking paste can, for example, be spread on the wall of the hole, and subsequently be baked on the surface of the wall at a suitable temperature.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, a cover is provided in the form of a conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive can be applied to the wall of the cavity by means of a brush, for example.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that the cover is formed by a wire coiled in the shape of a screw. It can be a round wire or also a wire with a rectangular cross section.
In an embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that the contact device is formed by an elastic tube slit in the longitudinal direction. This embodiment has the advantage that the function of elastic contact with the contact surface and the function of capability for contact from the outside can be obtained with a single element—namely, with the elastic tube. In this way, the functional unit has a particularly simple and compact structure.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that a separate connecting part is part of the contact device. This connecting part can, for example, be a metal rod. The connecting part can, however, also be formed by wires twisted together with one another.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, a spring part is provided that has the form of a bent, elastic sheet.
In another embodiment, the spring part can be formed by a tube with a corrugated wall. An elastic force can be produced between the spring part and the contact surface by the undulating wall.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the spring part can be formed by the bristles of a tube brush. In particular, metal or electrically conductive bristles can be taken into consideration, which are affixed, for example, on wires twisted together with one another.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the spring part can have the form of a wire mesh.
In an embodiment of the functional unit, a large number of electrical functional elements are provided, wherein these functional elements are formed in the shape of electrically conductive electrode layers that are placed between the ceramic layers.
With the aid of such functional elements, it is possible to implement, for example, a piezoelectric actuator as an electrical functional unit.
In another embodiment, it is possible to provide for the cover to be sintered into the cavity. In this way, a firm mechanical union is advantageously formed between the body and the cover, so that the risk of detachment of the cover is in particular reduced during contraction or expansion movements of the body.
In a special embodiment of the functional unit, provision is made so that the functional unit produces mechanical stresses during operation. These mechanical stresses can, for example, be contractions or expansions in a longitudinal direction.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the cavity is shaped in the form of a hole running in the body. In this case, the cover can preferably have the form of a tube that is adapted to the hole. In a special embodiment, the body of the functional unit is produced by the joint sintering of several green ceramic laminations lying on top of one another, wherein by a suitable adaptation of the length of the tube and the external diameter of the tube, a solid sintering of the tube into the hole can be obtained.
In a special embodiment, provision may be made so that the tube is held in the hole by forces resulting from sintering shrinkage, which are directed toward the interior of the hole.
Moreover, it is advantageous if the material of the tube is the same as the material of the electrode layers. In this case, the material diversity can be reduced, and moreover, a particularly good electrically conductive binding of the tube to the electrode layers of the multilayer component can be obtained.
In another embodiment of the functional unit, the tube can be a slit, porous, or perforated tube, or also a tube provided with dents.
Moreover, a method is indicated for the production of an electrical functional unit wherein is formed a stack of green ceramic laminations lying on top of one another. Electrode layers are placed between the green laminations.
The stack thus formed has a hole.
A cover is introduced into the hole.
The cover can, for example, be inserted into the hole or also be pressed in.
Subsequently, the stack is sintered together with the cover.
In a special embodiment of the method, a large number of green ceramic laminations is prepared that are provided with punched openings.
Subsequently, the green laminations are stacked on top of one another in such a way that the openings lie over one another so that they coincide. The hole in the body can then be formed by the openings which lie over one another.
In another variant of the method described here, green ceramic laminations are stacked on top of one another, wherein the green laminations are, however, preferably free of openings. Subsequently, a hole is bored in the green stack thus formed. The cover, for example, in the form of a tube, can be inserted into this hole.
In another embodiment of the method, a tube is selected as the cover whose lateral dimension, measured transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tube, is such that the tube is kept in the hole by shrinkage of the hole during the sintering of the green ceramic laminations.
The result of this is a good mechanical union between the outside wall of the tube and the ceramic material, and a good electrical connection between the tube and the inside electrodes.
Below, an electrical functional unit is explained in more detail with the aid of embodiments and corresponding figures.
The same elements, or elements which exert the same function, are designated with the same reference symbols.
In a schematic cross section,
In an oblique representation,
In
Contacting the electrode layers 611, 612 can be achieved, for example, by means of two cavities 3. This means of contacting is represented, in an exemplary way, in
It is advantageous if the hole runs the entire length of the body 1, so that all electrode layers 611 of the first type can be contacted by a contact device.
The cover 7 can, for example, be sintered into the cavity 3. In this way, a good electrical contact is formed between the cover 7 and the electrode layers 611 of the first type. The electrode layers 612 of the second type are designed such that they are sufficiently distant from the cover 7 so that electrical contact, and consequently a short circuit, can be avoided between the two different electric poles. Moreover, good mechanical binding of the cover 7 to the ceramic layers 2, and consequently to the body 1, can be achieved by sintering the cover 7 into the cavity 3.
The cover 7 can, for example, be constructed in the form of a tube, for example, a copper tube. The copper tube can have an inside diameter of 1.2 mm. The copper tube has a length of approximately 30 mm, in accordance with the expansion of the body 1. If a larger number of ceramic layers 2 and accordingly, electrode layers 611, 612, are provided, for example, in order to obtain a particularly large deflection of the piezoelectric actuator, copper tubes with a length of 60 mm or even more are also conceivable. Preferably, the material of the cover 7 is selected such that it corresponds to the material of the electrode layers 611, 612. For example, copper or silver-palladium can also be considered as materials for the electrode layers. Accordingly, the same materials can also be used for the cover 7.
In
The contact device 5 has a longitudinal slit 9 in
In
This is effected by sintering shrinkage, which acts in the direction of the middle of the cavity.
The coil represented in
The following applies:
B+A=H.
In the production of a body 1 in the form of a stack of green ceramic laminations, lying on top of one another, a relative longitudinal change L:L0=0.84 can be obtained during sintering in the longitudinal direction—that is, in the stack direction, for example. Here L stands for the length of the stack after sintering and L0, for the length of the stack before sintering. By a suitable selection of the parameters of the coil, it is possible to achieve closing of the coil openings during sintering, and at the same time, not have the coil offer any resistance to the shrinkage since it yields to the sintering shrinkage by closing the openings. A suitable selection of the coil parameters would be found by establishing that:
B/A=L/L0, which is equivalent to:
B/(A+B)=L/L0.
The hole shown in
It is generally true for the contact springs described here that they are preferably made of an elastic material, for example, beryllium-bronze, copper-bronze, or a similar suitable, electrically conductive material.
The contact springs described here exert radial, elastic forces that act between the wall 8 of the cavity 3 and a connecting part 52 or the contact spring itself.
By the selected surface of the tube in
For example, this is shown in
The contact spring 53 in the form of a corrugated tube can also be described as a corrugated metal tube.
With the insertion of the contact parts 13, together with the interwoven cords 13, a radially directed elastic force is generated by pressing together the cords 12, wherein the cords 12 or the interwoven cords 12 take over the function of the contact spring 53.
The wire mesh described in
In all embodiments which are shown in the figures, the elastic force arises through insertion of the contact device 5 into the cavity or hole. In most cases, a central connecting part 52 is provided that is at a distance from the wall 8 of the cavity 3 because of the contact springs 53. By the insertion of the connecting part or by the insertion of the connecting part 52 and the contacting spring 53 as a whole, a radially directed elastic force is generated that produces an electrical contact between the connecting part and the contact surface 4 or the inside wall of the cover 7.
The production of an electrical functional unit described here can be carried out, for example, in the following manner. A tube, preferably made of copper or also a copper alloy in the case of a copper-piezoelectric-ceramic tube is inserted into a cylindrical hole in the green component. The insertion of the tube therefore takes place before sintering of the green component. The green component is produced by stacking on top of one another and laminating ceramic layers that contain a piezoelectric ceramic.
The hole in the green component can be produced, on the one hand, in that punched laminations are stacked on top of one another. The hole, however, can also be produced after production of the green body by boring, on a milling machine, by means of a laser, or also by means of a water jet. Subsequently, the green component is decarbonized and sintered, wherein sinter shrinkage causes a good mechanical union between the outside wall of the tube and the ceramic material of the component. At the same time, a good electrical union is created between the tube and the electrode layers.
After sintering has taken place, a contact device is used in the cavity in the interior of the tube. This contact device can be constructed in different ways. It should be guaranteed, however, that with a suitable material combination a good electrical contact is assured by means of the contact force produced. Furthermore, it should also be assured that the elastic force which produces the electrical contact is maintained even at the typical operating temperatures between 100° and 150° C., or perhaps even 180° C.
It is possible that the tube forming the cover 7 will break during operation. This does not impair the function of the piezoelectric actuator, however, since each segment of the broken tube is reliably contacted by the contact device.
Contacting from the inside, described here, has that advantage that metallization of the inside wall of the cavity or hole can be produced in any wall thickness, wherein a high mechanical strength and a low susceptibility to mechanical wear can also be produced. Furthermore, the cover of the inside wall can also be reprocessed. Thus, a high number of different contacting methods is made possible.
Structural changes and changes in the mechanical characteristics of the tube material and any cracks formed in the tube influence the function of the functional unit thus produced only insubstantially. The adhesion of the tube is very good due to sintering on of the ceramic material, so that it is more probable that the tube will break into individual elements than that it will become detached from the inside wall of the hole.
Elements for the power supply and perhaps also for the production of a mechanical prestress for a piezoelectric component can be introduced into the interior of the tube.
Since these contact or prestressing elements are introduced only after sintering, there is great freedom here regarding the selection of material and the mode of contacting.
List of Reference Symbols
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2004 020 329.6 | Apr 2004 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE05/00767 | 4/26/2005 | WO | 12/19/2006 |