Provided are a flexible body and a method for controlling the flexible body to deform. The flexible body comprises one or more flexible units, wherein each of the flexible units comprises: a first electrode, a second electrode, an electroactive polymer layer, and a thin film transistor, wherein a source electrode or a drain electrode of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to provide an electric field acting on the electroactive polymer layer, and the electroactive polymer layer is configured to deform in response to the electric field provided by the first electrode and the second electrode.

A piezoelectric element and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric element are provided. The piezoelectric element is provided with a substrate having an intermediate layer disposed between a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer, a first electrode layer of an electrically conductive non-ferroelectric material disposed on the second substrate layer, a ferroelectric, piezoelectric and/or flexoelectric layer disposed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer of an electrically conductive non-ferroelectric material disposed on the ferroelectric, piezoelectric and/or flexoelectric layer. The intermediate layer and/or the first substrate layer is removed below a layer stack formed by the first electrode layer, the ferroelectric, piezoelectric and/or flexoelectric layer, and the second electrode layer so that the layer stack can be moved in a translatory manner along its normal directed along the layer sequence.

According to one embodiment, a drive circuit includes a first circuit part. The first circuit part includes a first detecting part, a second detecting part, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The first detecting part is configured to detect a first piezoelectric element current flowing in a first piezoelectric element, and output a first detection signal corresponding to the first piezoelectric element current. The second detecting part is configured to detect a first capacitance element current flowing in a first capacitance element, and output a second detection signal corresponding to the first capacitance element current. The first circuit includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The first circuit is configured to apply a first drive signal to the first piezoelectric element and the first capacitance element. The second circuit is configured to supply a first differential signal to the second input terminal.

A vibration apparatus may include a vibration plate, a vibration generator at the vibration plate, and a connection member between the vibration plate and the vibration generator. The vibration generator may include a vibration structure. The connection member may include a first connection member between the vibration plate and the vibration structure and overlapping the vibration structure. The connection member may also include a second connection member surrounding the first connection member. A modulus of the first connection member may be greater than a modulus of the second connection member.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, and a driving assembly. The movable assembly is configured to be connected to an optical element and is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move along a first axis relative to the fixed assembly.

A circuit module includes a mounting substrate including a conductor wiring, an elastic wave element provided in or on a main surface of the mounting substrate, an electric element provided in or on the main surface, the electric element being different from the elastic wave element, and an insulating resin portion provided in or on the main surface to cover the elastic wave element and the electric element. The elastic wave element and the electric element are connected to each other by the conductor wiring. A height of the elastic wave element is about 0.28 mm or less, which is less than that of the electric element. The thickness of the resin portion in a region in which the resin portion covers the elastic wave element is greater than the thickness of the resin portion in a region in which the resin portion covers the electric element.

Provided is a piezoelectric structure including a braid composed of a conductive fiber and piezoelectric fibers, the braid being a covered fiber having the conductive fiber as the core and the piezoelectric fibers covering the periphery of the conductive fiber, wherein the covered fiber has at least one bent section, and when the piezoelectric structure is placed on a horizontal surface, the height from the horizontal surface to the uppermost section of the piezoelectric structure is greater than the diameter of the covered fiber.

Provided is an actuator including a piezoelectric element capable of satisfying three of a large amplitude, a high resonance frequency, and a large generated force. Actuator (100) is a drive source having a cantilever structure in which one end is a fixed end and the other end is displaced, and includes first piezoelectric body (110), second piezoelectric body (120), and shim member base (130) disposed between first piezoelectric body (110) and second piezoelectric body (120). In first piezoelectric body (110) and second piezoelectric body (120), piezoelectric body removal parts (110a) and (120a) are formed.

A method and apparatus for converting power comprising an input bridge having an input adapted for coupling to a DC source, a piezoelectric transformer having an input coupled to an output of the input bridge, and an output bridge having an input coupled to an output of the piezoelectric transformer and an output adapted to couple to a load. A trajectory controller, coupled to the input bridge and output bridge, (1) measures current and voltage in the input bridge, the output bridge or both, (2) measures a current into or out of the piezoelectric transformer, (3) determines switch timing for control signals for the input bridge and output bridge based upon the measured current and/or voltage, and (4) applies the control signals to the input bridge and output bridge.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to an applicator for applying ultrasound energy to a tissue volume, comprising: an array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducers, the transducers arranged side by side, the transducers configured to emit unfocused ultrasound energy suitable to thermally damage at least a portion of the tissue volume, each of the transducers comprising a coating thin enough so as not to substantially affect heat transfer via the coating to the tissue; and a cooling module configured to apply cooling via the transducers to prevent overheating of a surface of the tissue volume being contacted by the transducers.