A linear or rotary step motor for moving an object comprising: one or more beam actuators; and one or more auxiliary actuators. Each beam actuator comprises: (a) a flexible beam; (b) two holders holding the flexible beam from the beam edges; and (c) an actuator for moving the said at least one holder in order to bent the beam toward the object or to pull the beam away from the object. The axillary actuators are connected to the one or more beam actuators. The beam actuators configured to grip or release the object, and the one or more beam actuators perform a movement step to the object by first grip the object by the one or more beam actuators then push the object by activating the auxiliary actuator.

A method of fabricating an apparatus for piercing an object, the apparatus comprises: a substrate; one or more needles; one or more anchors and one or more piezoelectric actuators. The method comprises the steps of deposit sacrificial layer over the substrate; deposit conducting layer over the sacrificial layer; deposit piezoelectric layer over the conducting layer; etch a geometry of the one or more piezoelectric actuators using a first mask created by lithography process; deposit the one or more needle and one or more anchors using a second mask created by lithography process and a lift-off process; etch the sacrificial layer under the needle and the one or more piezoelectric actuators, wherein the anchors are configured to connect the substrate to the piezoelectric actuators and the one or more piezoelectric actuators are configured to move the one or more needles.

A braking device including: a piezoelectric element; and a braking portion. The braking portion is configured to be fixed to a member when the piezoelectric element is in a first state, and to be slidable along the member when the piezoelectric element is in a second state. The piezoelectric element changes from one state to another state when a voltage is applied.

Embodiments of the invention include a self-propelled sensor system. In an embodiment, the self-propelled sensor system includes a piezoelectrically actuated motor that is integrated with a substrate. In an embodiment, the self-propelled sensor system may also include a sensor and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the piezoelectrically actuated motor. Embodiments of the invention may also include self-propelled sensor systems that include plurality of piezoelectrically actuated motors. In an embodiment the piezoelectrically actuated motors may be one or more different types of motors including, but not limited to, stick and slip motors, inchworm stepping motors, standing acoustic wave motors, a plurality of piezoelectrically actuated cantilevers, and a piezoelectrically actuated diaphragm. Additional embodiments of the invention may include a plurality of self-propelled sensor systems that are communicatively coupled to form a sensor mesh.

A posture adjustment device for an optical sensor includes: a controller, a posture detector, and a posture adjustment structure. An optical sensor to be detected is fixed on the posture adjustment structure. The posture detector receives an emitted beam of the optical sensor to be detected, detects a posture of the optical sensor to be detected according to the emitted beam, and sends posture information to the controller. The controller controls, according to the posture information, the posture adjustment structure to adjust the posture of the optical sensor to be detected.

The invention relates to a drive device (1) comprising at least one drive unit (2) with at least one first and one second drive element (20), and a runner (3) which is to be moved in a drive direction by way of the drive unit (2), wherein each drive element (20) comprises a base element (210) and at least three actuators (200) which are arranged on the base element (210) so as to lie next to one another in an arrangement direction which lies transversely with respect to the drive direction, and wherein at least one of the actuators (200) of a drive element (20) has a shear section (220) for carrying out a shear movement transversely with respect to the arrangement direction of the actuators (200) and along the drive direction of the runner (3), and at least one of the actuators (200) of a drive element (20) has a stroke section (240) for carrying out a stroke movement transversely with respect to the arrangement direction of the actuators (200) and transversely with respect to the drive direction of the runner (3), and wherein the at least two drive units (2) are arranged so as to lie behind one another along the drive direction of the runner (3). In addition, the invention relates to a method for operating a drive device (1) of this type.

The technical solution relates to devices for pumping fluid media and can be used in industry, transport and the home for pumping liquids and other incompressible and compressible fluid media as well as for extracting oil from wells. The pump assembly with an electric drive consists of a housing, an electric drive armature situated inside the housing, and a displacer situated in the fore end of the housing, wherein the electric drive armature and the displacer are connected to one another. The displacer is in the form of a piston. The electric drive armature consists of the following, connected in series: an electric drive rear spacing block, an electric drive motion block capable of moving relative to the housing in the direction of a change in the length of the motion block, and an electric drive fore spacing block. Unlike the closest prior art, at least one electric drive spacing block is in the form of a magnetostrictive spacing block, and/or the electric drive motion block is in the form of a magnetostrictive motion block. The invention is intended to solve the technical problem of extending the range of existing technical equipment. The positive result of realizing the invention is that of achieving this purpose.

The invention relates to a linear actor arrangement, comprising a linear actor with two ends whose distance is variable depending on an energizing of the linear actor, wherein each end is attached to a respective first or second coupling element which engage a coupling surface, wherein the coupling surface and the coupling elements exhibit mating surface structures in such a manner that the coupling elements are prevented from moving in a direction while being allowed to move in an opposite direction.

A piezoelectric drive unit for a syringe pump includes a drive frame, a control unit, a push rod movable on the drive frame in an oscillating manner via a longitudinal stroke device with a first piezo actuator, a linear guide, and a carriage traversable along the linear guide. A first clamping device is coordinated by the control unit for alternating coupling and decoupling of the carriage to or from the push rod. During coupling, an advance of the carriage is generated according to the longitudinal stroke of the push rod movable from an axial starting position. In the first decoupling state, the push rod is released for a motion separate from the carriage. The first clamping device includes a second piezo actuator connected to the control unit. The second piezo actuator is configured to cause at least the first coupling state by expansion or contraction thereof.

Embodiments of the invention include a self-propelled sensor system. In an embodiment, the self-propelled sensor system includes a piezoelectrically actuated motor that is integrated with a substrate. In an embodiment, the self-propelled sensor system may also include a sensor and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the piezoelectrically actuated motor. Embodiments of the invention may also include self-propelled sensor systems that include plurality of piezoelectrically actuated motors. In an embodiment the piezoelectrically actuated motors may be one or more different types of motors including, but not limited to, stick and slip motors, inchworm stepping motors, standing acoustic wave motors, a plurality of piezoelectrically actuated cantilevers, and a piezoelectrically actuated diaphragm. Additional embodiments of the invention may include a plurality of self-propelled sensor systems that are communicatively coupled to form a sensor mesh.