The present invention relates to a microfluidic pump for generating forced traveling waves that can directly drive liquid. A surface traveling wave-driven microfluidic pump comprises a channel with two opposing channel walls. Two symmetric traveling waves are generated on the surface of two opposite channel walls. The channel contains liquid that becomes trapped inside the cavities and is pumped along the direction of the traveling wave at the same speed as the traveling wave.

A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

A power generating device is provided. The power generating device includes an element having flexibility and a support to support at least one portion of the element. The element is capable of undergoing a deformation when receiving a vibration and capable of generating power when undergoing the deformation. The deformation includes at least one of a bending deformation, a torsional deformation, and a bending-torsional complex deformation.

A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

A linear piezoelectric motor and a slider drive system thereof are disclosed. The linear piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric ceramic element and a base structure. The piezoelectric ceramic element includes a first region, a second region and an interval region located between the first and the second region, wherein the first and the second region may be formed by a first and a second power signal supplied by a power supply to form a first and a second standing wave, respectively. The interval region is a quarter wavelengths. The first and the second standing wave have a phase difference so as to form a traveling wave. The base structure disposes the piezoelectric ceramic element and has a pectinate structure to increase the amplitude of the first and the second standing wave, thereby enabling the piezoelectric motor to be driven.

A linear piezoelectric motor and a slider drive system thereof are disclosed. The linear piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric ceramic element and a base structure. The piezoelectric ceramic element includes a first region, a second region and an interval region located between the first and the second region, wherein the first and the second region may be formed by a first and a second power signal supplied by a power supply to form a first and a second standing wave, respectively. The interval region is a quarter wavelengths. The first and the second standing wave have a phase difference so as to form a traveling wave. The base structure disposes the piezoelectric ceramic element and has a pectinate structure to increase the amplitude of the first and the second standing wave, thereby enabling the piezoelectric motor to be driven.

A piezoelectric motorization system for driving mechanical loads multi-dimensionally by an electronic circuitry is disclosed. The piezoelectric motorization system has a piezoelectric apparatus that is constructed by a mechanically flexible body that has multiple piezoelectric actuators attached its surfaces, where these actuators are controlled by an electronic circuitry. The mechanically flexible body has a finite structure with a sets of boundary conditions to determine its out-of-plane resonant modes. The electronic circuitry inject at least two sets of control signals into different groups of actuators at or near different resonant frequencies. Using these control signals, traveling waves can be generated on the piezoelectric apparatus to move mechanical loads placed on its surface. Or, the traveling waves are used to propel the piezoelectric apparatus for motorization. The moving direction and velocity are controlled and adjusted by amplitude ratio and phase difference among driving frequencies of control signals. The moving direction and velocity also is controlled by the size, shape and locations of piezoelectric actuators on the mechanically flexible body. Different combinations of bending and/or twisting modes are used to generate one-dimensional or two-dimensional movements. Finally, multiple piezoelectric apparatus can be placed on three orthogonal planes of a three-dimensional mass for three-dimensional motorization.

A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.