An electronic device includes an integrated circuit, a flexible heat spreader, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator is coupled to the flexible heat spreader and the controller is configured to control the actuator between a first actuation mode and a second actuation mode. When in the first actuation mode, the actuator positions the flexible heat spreader with an air gap between the flexible heat spreader and the integrated circuit such that the flexible heat spreader is thermally separated from the integrated circuit to increase a thermal impedance between the flexible heat spreader and the integrated circuit. When in the second actuation mode, the actuator positions the flexible heat spreader in thermal contact with the integrated circuit without the air gap there between to reduce the thermal impedance between the flexible heat spreader and the integrated circuit.

Provided is a multilayer actuator and a display device comprising the same with improved driving displacement that includes, for example, a plurality of electroactive layers, wherein the electroactive layers comprise a ferroelectric polymer, and polarization directions of all electroactive layers are substantially the same.

An integrated thermal apparatus includes a piezoelectric device and a thermal module which includes a thermal plate contacting a heat source to remove heat from the heat source. The thermal plate has built-in heat sinks for maximizing the surface area for heat dissipation. Each piezoelectric device includes one or more piezoelectric elements. Through the actions of piezoelectric elements, a jet of air and an influx of air are generated to cool the heat sinks. The airflow also cools the surface of heat plate, which acts like a fan mounted on top of the heat source.

A piezoelectric cooling chamber and method for providing the cooling system are described. The cooling chamber includes a piezoelectric cooling element, an array of orifices and a valve. A vibrational motion of the piezoelectric cooling element causes an increase or decrease in a chamber volume as the piezoelectric cooling element is deformed. The array of orifices is distributed on at least one surface of the chamber. The orifices allow escape of fluid from within the chamber during the decrease in the chamber volume in response to the vibration of the piezoelectric element. The valve is configured to admit fluid into the chamber when the chamber volume increases and to substantially prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the valve when the chamber volume decreases.

A frequency adjustment method of a vibrator element includes preparing a vibrator element that has a vibrating arm, a first weight placed on one principal surface of the vibrating arm, and a second weight placed on the other principal surface of the vibrating arm, in which the first weight has a non-overlapping region which does not overlap the second weight in a plan view in a normal direction of the principal surface, preparing a substrate including a wiring portion, and fixing the vibrator element to the substrate by causing the other principal surface side of the vibrator element to face the substrate side, and irradiating the non-overlapping region of the first weight with an energy ray from one principal surface side, removing a portion of the non-overlapping region of the first weight, and adjusting a resonance frequency of the vibrating arm.

Provided is a combined actuator and sensor device having an electroactive polymer (EAP) structure (22) and a controller for generating drive signals applied to the EAP structure. The controller is adapted to superpose a small high-frequency AC sensing signal (34) on top of a larger actuation drive signal (32), the sensing signal having a frequency which resonates with the mechanical resonance frequency or anti-resonance frequency of the EAP structure. Application of mechanical loads to the device may be identified in changes in the impedance of the EAP structure, caused by damping of the mechanical resonance. In this way the device facilitates simultaneous sensing and actuation. A corresponding method of simultaneous sensing and actuation is also provided.

An actuator device (21) comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a driver (20) for generating a electrical drive signals which give opposite polarity voltages and thus electrical field within the electroactive polymer at different times. In this way, charge build-up can be reduced or avoided, while prolonged activation times are still possible. This improves the performance and/or lifetime of the device.

A flexible device includes a flexible body and a plurality of piezoelectric materials arranged on the flexible body that deform in response to drive signals causing deformation of the flexible body of the flexible device.

A piezoelectric speaker-forming laminate (10) includes: a piezoelectric film (35); a pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17); an interposed layer (40) being a porous body layer and/or a resin layer disposed between the piezoelectric film (35) and the pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17); and a release layer (20) joined to the pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17). The pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17) is disposed in such a manner that at least a portion of the piezoelectric film (35) overlaps the pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17) when the piezoelectric film (35) is viewed in plan. The piezoelectric film (35) and the interposed layer (40) are allowed to be fixed to a support (80) as a piezoelectric speaker or a portion of a piezoelectric speaker by sticking the pressure-sensitive adhesive face (17) from which the release layer (20) has been removed to the support (80).

A MEMS device includes a dual membrane, an electrode, and an interconnecting structure. The dual membrane has a top membrane and a bottom membrane. The bottom membrane is positioned between the top membrane and the electrode and the interconnecting structure defines a spacing between the top membrane and the bottom membrane.