PI (Physik Instrumente) reports that it has received a United States patent for its development of innovative multilayer ceramic actuators. PI's exclusive PICMA piezo-ceramic actuators are based on novel stress reduction and encapsulation technologies which are said to increase lifetime by several orders of magnitude both in static and dynamic applications, addressing key lifetime mechanisms common to other piezoelectric actuators.
For more information, check out US Patent No. 7,449,077 "Method for the production of monolithic multilayer actuator made of a piezoceramic or electrostrictive material and external electrical contact for a monolithic multilayer actuator."
Typical applications for piezoceramic actuators include semiconductor test and measurement, life sciences, nanomanipulation, aerospace and astronomy, optics, photonics, spectroscopy, nanopatterning and motion control.