New Scale Technologies' patented piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor captured top honors in the 2007 Golden Mousetrap awards. The annual awards are presented to recognize engineering innovation and creativity in product design.
The piezoelectric SQUIGGLE motor is the world's smallest linear motor. With very few parts and no gears, SQUIGGLE motors are smaller, more precise, less expensive and more efficient than conventional electromagnetic motors. SQUIGGLE motors also operate reliably in extreme environments such as vacuum, cryogenic temperatures and high magnetic fields.
In winning the award, the linear SQUIGGLE motor was cited for its tiny size, high push force, accuracy and precision. The simplicity of its unique ultrasonic design was also noted: a SQUIGGLE motor has just seven parts, compared to electromechanical stepper motors and gear systems that contain dozens of components.
The SQUIGGLE motor consists of piezoelectric ceramics that create ultrasonic vibrations in threaded nut, causing a mating screw to rotate and translate with precise linear movement and high force in a very small space. Applications include nano-scale fluid control including lab-on-a-chip systems, medical devices including miniature drug pumps and endoscopes, optics and imaging, aerospace and defense systems, cryogenic and MRI-compatible instruments, and consumer electronics.
