Displacement amplification mechanism for dynamic use

The first resonance frequencies of present rigid-displacement transducers with amplification mechanisms are usually smaller than several Kilohertz. Consequently, the potential advantage of solid state actuators, i.e., the ability to generate very fast mechanical signals, is used only in pure material- or resonant transducers with some micrometer amplitudes. We present one- and two-stage amplification mechanisms which provide a guided translational output in one axis. The structural parameters of the devices can be optimized for either large amplification ratios but limited frequency range or moderate amplifications but good dynamic characteristics. We designed and built mechanisms which have an effective amplification factor of 2.5-3 and output of some ten micrometers. The limiting resonance frequency is placed in the range of 12-1 5 Kilohertz which allows them to be used for pulse-drive motors with rise timps smaller than 70 mu m but also for servo displacement devices with high repet ition rates.