A MS€IC4M€AIX¥ ABfPLIFIEQ FiEZOlLEC^aiC TSANSBϋCM

iwsx\ The prεsesi sppScstsos elsixss tiss feτisδi of U.S. Støvisiosaϊ F&tsat Ajjp&siios $1/041 , 185 ; tlfed Maκ:li 31 „ 200S ₅ which is hsraby sscotporsied by rβfesace issrsrs.

PMSSJ TIJS present isve&fckm Is generally directed to & ^" bo&e sonductias dsϊvtce, and ts&rs

lδ§&ϊ) Hssriisg bss _j which sisy bs- due Io difesxd: causes, is geαerall)' of two tj'pss, coasiaotlvs 4>r seϋsorisgϋisL Is røsssy peopis who ats pmfenaaify de«C the Sϊϊ tfesϊr deafesss; Is srøsoόsssϊssi bs««sg loss. Tk;s type of he^iag loss is due to the abs&sσa ør da-s-rucUDn of tiss hsk esEs ϊE &S cosMes wMeh traBsάace ϊicoustfc- slgsisia into serve iaapuiscs. Vsrksus μrøiilϊstic .hsssisg kipkuts have bees developed to pmvlde isdmdaais who safer fern ssssorssstsra! hssϊisg loss witk the sbittfcy to percβivs ssomid, OES SUCK p ^p ssihstfe hcsvπsg ksplaαt b ϊϋicTcsd to ss & «ϋsshisas- tsrφkal. Coeslesr a« as eiedxsds {array kspiass-tad is tbø csdϊlsa ø;f a ϊeoφieM to ^" bypass tbc jnsc&smsais of the esr. Mors spsciϋcslljs ss eissctrissil stimalxss b pRsvidM -vis ths siβstrode ^rsy dirsotly to tbs cocs^sa nsrve _s thereby causing a

i«S©4] CossdϊϊOtyvς kcs∑iag loss ocεiire wbss "t&s sieofesϊύcai patfevays &s provsie sound Ss hφ cells m. έfes cscscbies. are kϊ5pssd«4 tbr by damage to i&e ossicular chain Jo sar cas^i Ho^oYcr, issdmάsals wbo sd&r feom coaάaetive bsariag foss may siiU bs«'S BOϊϊSS form ø€residssl hssrisg ^eoasuse the bsir ceils m the coclifca are smy t«msaa -aadBruag ^g d, prøsi ladrøduais wk> smTar iroπi ooaduct^ hearisg fcss are typically txst ssadidatεs fiϊf a cochlear isϊspkst due IQ Use lπ»versib!e aatore of the cochlear iπipisst. SpaciScsily» msestfcs of ths dbcsrodc srrsy ϊsto a r&φiεst's cochlea exposes tk« rficψJest to risk of the άesttuetirø sfihs

tsvφ ^ή ty Q£ hair ceils mthm tM codibs. The dsslruetiem of "dbs cochlea hair ceils results is the loss of all rssldu&J hearing by the rsebϊeøε,

$sss] Rather, s&divkluals sisf&risg £kκ& coashietive hearing loss typically rsoefve as acousdc feesriag ids, referred i» as a fessrϊBg aid ls<3rei& B^srisg iύύs rely on principles of air αmdadioii to trs&ssslt acoustic ssgssais through iise oylcr asά middls ears to the cccMgs. ϊ55 psrtscϊslar, a sesriag ssd tj^icsliy uses sn atrasgssaeat positioacd is tbs reeψieai's car css&l to a∑∑φϋfy 2 sαsad roccB ^« ε4 by the ouisr ssr of &e redpieri. TMs sπspMfbd somκi reaches the oochϊes. sad caxisas ϊBøtlsis of the cochlea flssM sad δtirsuύatba otsiss cqcMaa hair ceik.

\mrr _s Us&τiimSiObf, SOL all iadivsdαals- wfco saffibr fem ooαdϋδtivε beariϊg loss are aisle to derive suϋsbte feεastli %s bsaπng aids. Fey gxsRψts. some kdlwkals are pmse to skϊsrie ts ^j l8«us.a£kss or ύϊfeeiiots of the ear sasai ssd easaot wesar liesriRg aids. Qihss hάmάasύs kavs sisalferrscid or afcsest osaer ear ssclfer ear casais as a jssult of ϋ birth defscs, or as a resafc of isødkϊai cøsdstbssa asch as Tmsdsar Colliϊss synάroms or Mscroϋa. IVtissmJore-, feesaiπg aids aτ» tjpssslly ϊmsuέable &i individuals who safer fern smgle-sidad dssfesss (Jotal te^riag loss otsly ;ss OS& sar). Ooss suds have bees dsvekjpsd for skgte siάsά deaf iacIMduak. TSis$ε devices r&eetvs ife« ssoimd Soia Ebe deaf side WϊUI OΏS hesmg aid sasd prasssat this slgaai (sfetser vis a dϊrsε! cfecmcs! cosuKsetloa or tirelessly) to & feeaπag mά which, is svoxs on Uss opposite side. Use dkadvsstags of ύ ^ή $ te brsoksgj' 1$ tljs seed fbr iks bsάbdήmύ to vssr tvrø lsssrisg aids sad dαSer ths cossψb ^' catϊotis of hearing aid sse. jαe ^ξ ^l Wbca as kdmdvisl Iisvisg feily Sαactiouai hearing reoei^cs aa sap^ϊl soi∑ed, Ifee ssβwά is traasϊjώtsd to the coc&ea via two primssy nseohaalsπis: ak sioaductsoa and boae aosidactfes. As ϊi«tsd ab*>ve. hesrώg &ids rely pnmsrily on the prmcφiss of atr ccssdiscdos. Is contrast, other dsvksss, rs.fesτsd to &s bsae coadiscdos devices, r«ly predo-mjsastiy on vibrate offee teiiss of fee rec-φϊems nkxsU Vo pmvids acoustic signals 1x> ttie soclil.es.

\<m?i Tksse isdividαals who css^>t dmve su≥able feesafit Mrs bearing aids sa&y bsssiϊt fern ks ^j ie cosdϊiεfeπ devices. Base cosductsaa dsviess fasction by coaΫSs±sag a received sound into & xts&chs&ic&i -vibot ^j JoD of the recβrved soaad. I ¹ Ms vitefes is thea trarssfersd to & Boss structure of &« skall, csaslng yitetioa of -Use recipient's, skϊjiL 'lists skαil vitsmJaa rea ^j iέs in raøt icsα csf the fhxiά of i&» cochka. HsIr cell* _ssid# tfe. cochlea are rss&ossive to this

■solios. of fjje cocMδs {hud _* thereby geserate ogrys sspuises resulting ϋn. ih& perceptiba of the ^■ received sossd,

;»iδ| A kaowa alteraatiw to & ssxsjai air «oadϋotκm aid is a boas sosdoctkss tearing Md wiiids. -uses a he&n&g aid to drmj a. vibratos ^* wlύch. is puώsd agaiasi the &S&21 vis a mecfeaaism, ssdi as glasses or wire kκ?p§, Ttsese devises sre generally usesmfettafele is w»ar sπd, &r soms τβ&φks&B, s$?6 sscapabie of gssssstssg aafficieai vibtatbα to aosurafdy presεsst csjtais røcetved

SUMMARY

fSδOs Is. ©as aspect of the iβ>"ejsiδs _s a mschassical &s3p!££sr csnfigursd to sπ^>!it>' a csfbmisirfesϊϊ of a pi«!sodacti-ic s&nck asd coaSgarsd to exert aprsloadssg ⁽ bϊoe os s&M ^ ^; ack _s is provMad. The jn.ychan.ical ampHiler etsφkte ρo&itbm%i pajaiki to snd adjeMϊig s Bxst ssd of ^id stack: a secssd ssφlats pc>sitio.t?sd psrsllei to ssd aάμossi a asseoad «s3d of Mid &isck; a pair of spposbg hiagβ amis δxtsωjfeg Ixom said &si øaφMs to said second gsdpkie sboυs op|ssss^g sklss of said stack; &ad s pisioss sσaϋgsred to øκt«sd lea ssid ssooaό saφkts t<s said sec«ad end of said so JJS tcs exert as a^ustabbprebad feres oasskl stack-

{mm ϊ&. § ?eδ»Bd JSδ|?sct αf the psesent iavenisois, s sascisssicsi ampiiδsr ooaSgarsd to sssφlϋy a d$&mmLioa of s pi€soδfectric stack aαd cosSgured έo exert & preloading 5>s"es OH said stack, fa pτmkkά. The xsecliissical asspIiSβr comprises; a fir&i sadpiate positioned |>s$rallei io assd sdjoisjjϊg & Srss e»β of saM stack; a psir of apposfeg Mπge SπϊXS extcajdbg δom said first røφist© ahoist sides of said stack; and a ssseoϊsd essdplaϊβ positioBsd patsiki to ssά adjotsfcg a sscoM «sd of said sεack coaSgaκ;d to be sάksisMe abϊig su s.sis g&r&Ue! to s bsgitydiasl axis of ssM ^tsok so as to vsry s&ϊd jsϊϊlosdkg Joros sxεstsd ^Q S said stack, and whsreSs said opposing arms SPS con%u∑sd Io b«? seαsrs≤ to said seeosi esdpkfs whsa said sesoad oaφl&ts bas be>sa adjusted sάmg ssid axis so as to ssert a desired prskssdkg &π;e oa ssid stack,

§8§LT| Is & thhύ aspect of the p^seat iavetitjoa, a rneeiiasie&I smjpSSer soπS^irsd to aπφMiy s. ύchttτxs&ihn of & pisasdsctris sϊaek ssd cosSgured to esαt a pfeio&ding &rcβ on ssϊd stack, is provided. Tbs maelxaskal asapliSer sotϊψrises: a Sf&t mdpiate positsoaed psrallei to asd. sdjsiδijjg s first «ad of said sέadς s secoad endplate pø&Itkmed paraltel to aad adpesfeg a

secrøi exϊd of said st&sk; a pair sf opposiag isisge aπns extssdlπg fiom said first e&dpkte fe s&ϊd seeosd eisdplsrø aboϊ∑t cspfsαafesg ^■ sides of said stable; whetc-m said fest eaφkts, said secεsad esφiate αad said Mπge smss cαikcϋveiy comprise two or SHOTS separate oossjso&esis coafigared to be posteϊsδd &lxiwt said stack so ss to dlfsctly sxert a άεsksά preloadisg ferce thsrson, aad v/l5<3 ^v esE s?άd iws or ∑søre coϊ3ψos«tsfe are secisϊsd ia said _| >ositss!i is exert saκl desired prsl&sydssg tbrce via wslds festwess said two or sssrc sσasp&tt&ss&i.

^• ?®i4] Hkstra&Ys af die presesύ mveatam are described hersfe with teferesce to ths assosspsaymg drawings, in. whschi

{mt$\ FIG. I is a perspesriivβ vis«f of as. exsmip?ary rsedlcal device, -oarsely s Ixjae eo»j]du.c*iois device, m whizh ztxib&άimmls of the prssesjt Isrø±fcs tmy be sdwaϊageomsy implsmeatal;

$røsj FlG. 2A is a lύgh-level fissstbml ^" stock άfag&m of a boas oxud«etkss d«vϊ&e ₅ suoh ss tke boϊse coadαctjoa demise of PIO. U

(S#ϊ?| FfG.2.8 Cs steJi3il«<! SmctJosai lsksck diagram of &s ^' bos© coudiϊctios άmizz iifcstraied is FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 s$ ϊsα ^g jφkϊdsd view of sπ ctateάimsut sf a boss conduedsm dcvics in sssmtά&nos wsik mis «sjbodεm«33t: of FIG, 2B; lim$ι HG. 4 ss a Sowck?ϊt Illusmjnsg the ooavsssksa of ss ixφvέ sawaά trώs slasll vϊbrslsoπ ia accotϊlrøce with ssabedinssasts sf tlis pressaϊ Inrrøarbt;; ϊSSϊθj PKl. 5 ss s SsrPA^^t S-UStsrs-lag the gcaserattaa of ϊsgohasiesl ύsύl in &cerødsaoε wish one eττils&ilJs:sgM of bbck 408 of FIG.4i

|S«∑i5 HO. 6A Is a sasψlsBssi schematic dϊagtam ϋtestisϊisg essbodππsssits of irassdaesr 306 of

HG.3;

PϊSS] FIG, €B is a simplified sctieisstls dkgram iUBStratmg esibodaasms αf trsssducsr 3S6 of

i®231 FICi ? is a cjrøss-βeαsoxs≤i! view af orse «Esl?otUπϊsJ3t of traasdacasr 356 of FIG. 3 siosg

!«<§! FlG-. 8 is a saϊπψiifkd. schemata diagram iilssέrsliag ssakxiimeals of a piezoelectric &ass«ksesr Jh&v ^j &g a wdded amplifier in sxeordsBos wiέh embαdimests of tits preaest

|SS3Sj HO, 9 is & steφli&d sdi«maiic di&gπas iϋust∑δiϊsg δϊJάo&acats of a fseaoeiestne tπassdiscer lia.^.'iag a welded amplifier sa accordsncs with smixsdimes^ of fee pscsesi ssvestfasi; ξ^2δl BlQ. 10 is a aaBpOfied sdi<?ϊss£k> diagram, illustmtisg embsdi∑si&at» of & pissoei-sabric trassάuosr bsvmg A weMeα atssplMsr is accoπlsBoe with ^fthm ptesssxi lavsaikm;

{®mt FIG. 11 is a smiplfk4 sckemaiic diagr&ts iilϊjstrstϊsg eκil»dimeϊϊts of a pieme-faclrie trassάϊssst Mvkg a wcklsd amplifier in sccsEdssse^Mi esϊjbodimeϊits of δic prsseas trrv'SϊJ.tiøsς

FsO. 12 is s simplified scisssmtie- disgrsm iMϊiStradπg emlxxϋrrssma of & piesaeisetxic tπsssdsixa" having a welded a∑splmcr is sccotd&acs esώctdfeetϊts of ths pressαt iaYen&B; ξ#δ2?i FlG. π is &si st5ias-g«d penspeetive view iHussxsting sssssodtaigsέs sf a welded regiea betwsea coaψoasϊsts of a "wsϊdfid atnpisfisr m acsotdsacs wi& aspects of tke priest asveatidJU

®1 FIQ. 14 is a flowchart ϋiusirsiiag ib& ϋsasaSustsa ^ή ag of » jaechsskally asϊψlMsd piaaoeicciπc eisaisst ?a accoxdsaco with emkκϋaieMg o£ths presesl JBVesmoB.

ϊj The output stoke of the transducer (sosssfeses referred to fesreiβ as ώs %sssdu©sr stroke") is udlέ≥sd to geaeεate & mechanical force αaipst by tho føtssdaeet, The jmsϋsiura available transducer støske is based <j& ttse aα&sϊble dsibπB&tiøs of th« pissoeksctnc eietsest The 3IΏ ^Q IKB£ of dβ&πcation of a piezoelectric elsmxs. Ia response fe as applied electrical sigasl (kpsssls on, fbr ssasapis, mstsrM properties of ths element, orfestatbn of the skxtxis Sold with. rsspβct to cb; polsrizsstfcϊi direction of ths sbsseai, gβosaetry of ths steicsit, eic. £lss as&miafes of picsoeksstric afcisiest so as to tacrsase ths sv&il&bte lrsiisducoZ sαsske, Ihsrvby jsereasiϊϊg the xsssiπϊum Ssrse zMi HUBJ he aϊiψni bγ tht n-msώxcsr, Thfc mφ&Scs&kiu αf tks? ptesQsfcetrfs eiαsest xmγ bs provύlsd ^" by a mechanical amplifier ώOωplsd to fas pieaodeclTic

\m33\ Dim to ths Iks thst pi82esiectrio clc mesas ars stractuiaϋy wsafe ^fesa pfeoβd mάsz fsssioB, Bi^hamca! ampHSess sa aceoidissse "with &s present mvensbs are coaSgarsd to sx«rt a fotos (pHj~!oe<l) OΌ, ths pisso&bc-tne cskmsnt that elϊ»iiaates teasife ibrcβ OSϊ lte piszo&lecfssc eissjsaϊ, Tbi$ allows fae -sOlfsg^ ta swmg throtjgli sesro. Tlss ssertian af thss fcrε? oa fee &«iϊ5SBt is sotaetimss rsfstted 5» .hsrsm as pt^badiag, sad the &rcs is refsπ^d to ss a preloadisg S>tce. As describes! ^' bebw, the sfisgsit^ds of the prcfeadmg fiϊsee ssay vary <.k|>eeLdiag- os ths iiδslr«d. sjsjsUeatbsi of sibs traasdscsf. ξ«54] Ia a m≤scδsxasai aaφKfier cosflgursd to atϊϊph ^' fy s dsibrπsstioB of a ptezoeicsliiς element, as well s$ to sxsrt a dessrsd pt^loadJsg S>r»« os the akasmή comprises &st ^sad seecmd etϊφistss, and a pair of oppssiβg Iikge sπss. The Srst ssdpkts is pasfeksaed par&lkl So atsd adjoisisg a fest wά of the slsasetit,, vάήki the secosti §sφkts is positϊQssd paϊsilsl to ®sά adjaceist dis opposfe «sd αf fee etemsBt Tlss opposmg lώjgs arsis sxisad t«ta the fest eadpMe to t&e s&xwd eadpMe »bo«t opposing sides of ifeϊ pltøoeles^rxc skaseai. The ssr^>liSex has a piston wMeis esέsjids tboffi tfes sβsoad esφists to ihε sdjacesst e-sd of itssj siess«8t. The pjstoa may be adjϊsstsd. sbsg a losgitudisal sxis psxllsi to s knsgfeudmsJ asds Si> ^J to gssri costrollafeis prsb&ding Ss?ce or ₆ the piessoslsciric βlEaαesst

pes] IB. sfchsr smbsdsxKSsfcs of ihe present mγera!øs ₅ the ∑nseh&sls&i ajnpiϊϋar soxjipmes first eπφlats posJ&OBsά parallel i<? and adjoining a &st essd of the eieraest a pair <α£ øppodsg Mngs snss sxtoάbg Jksπi t&e fesi ssφlatc sώoat lbs efassπk aadl 8 secoad <ssφiai&. The second βadplatg is posslioxisd parallel to asi adjskkg a sδεo$κi ssd of ihs stetest Tbs secoad sadpfee is adjuδiabb along &>i ass psralis! Io s bngttudtaal axis of tb« st^ϊk so ss to ^y zr/ a preloading force exerted «a έlie stael:. The spposlag SπΏS ars coafigared t» be sssyured to έks sscGFsd aodplsts wkes £hs secosd satφisle via welds otsse the esφlate bias been adjusted afeag ths sxb so us Ui exest the dssksd prebsdltsg lores e& tas §ksseat,

|δS3gi Is &i&rnaih>s stxάsodi-ScartSj lbs mechaskal ss-pU&et asmgdsss ftmi mά seooad sssdϊslstas mά s pair of opposing &SBg<s arsiss gx∑eaώsg &øm this fast erϊφi&ts ss the sβcoisd εaφlsis sboπϊ op^osisg stdss oFtlis slesssajt. The tkst eϊiφkis, ike seεoM sadpMs ssd th« lώϊge sπrώ coilx-lively coifsprise two or siore septals ∞mφβssssss cosSgured to be positsoBsd aboϊii ihs efeaesa rø as 1» dlreclly exert a dssksd pjsbacUBg t?τc« tltsrecm. Tk ^; two or ssore

V X3sapøs£s££ srs seemed to one asotfaer ia tJie pysltbs te exert the d&ssrεd prefeadisg ferce vw ^,

IB «ac rodi «ωibo4itn8BS in -vihkk ihs Bui endpiste, the scsssd esdρks« as«i the bfegs arms coitectsv^iy αjsφrise hro or isors sepsϊste coispossesiS, fee first eaφiais sad a fest ose asf ths haϊg« SOT. «ss3 _| jπsβ a Ursi uaiϊsjry amdϊrøs. Simllssif, m fe& smbαdiϊsest, the ssxoad sssdρϊst« asid a sccoud OBS of ths Mags sπss cocαp ^ή sδ a ssoosd tmaasy stπictαrα Ths fct δsφkts is so»%iied to be ss«5lded to the sad of Jise second srss opposing ibe esφMs sM ths secotsd ssadplaie is mrϋgϊjrδd to be wslded to ifss ssd of the fet aπs ogposi^ use fes ^j; «sφ!sie. Following \h& weMiag,, dss &st asά sεco∑d. stmcturss Gøilscjiwely sxsst the des ^j red prebadkg .tsrcs s>a tfe stuck.

{mm M <3as <sϊkκ such «ϊS5ljo&s.«κt Is which the Srst esφiate, fe second ε∑φsats asd iis« bmgc ϊsiBs ^' cssilscttysh' comprise tw or s ^srs ths? asψϊiflδr fksL said sώcosid ^aitar>' kϊoJc-xfespδd strtastsjress. A first κκ£i&ty ksok-siiaped stoo∑are sorrøises -IϊS first esφiϊite, s subsfcasli&i pordsm ofllse fest hinge aroϊ, sad at !«ast a pcsrtssa of the ^ecosd hissgs srsrs, A.seα>mi book-shaped structure cossprises fes sssosd esφSaϊe,, & su&stssdsl pa∑tkϊn of the ssxoBd biage sjm, sxd at least a po-Etkm of the fmt lώige arsi. Tk? csds of the sufestassial jKss±siiSS- of tks fet sad seeoad arms are coafigtirsd ss bs wsided io oss to tks jus-ssssέag

p-ϊjϊtfeas of Use a ^y jv©, sxsά wirøεϊa S&lkswfeg Use wdάibg the stnsetsres ealiecfcively sssjt &g desired prdøadiag isrce oa tfe? coisgoaesis. ξ8§3§] Ia stϋl other ssnbodimεsiis six msds&tdesl asnpMSsr oomørisss &ur separate asmgossrάs _* A Sτsl coπsposesf. ineltsdes th& first csdpisfc sad aέ lsast & pottioa of saoh of tihs hinge amss, τ&M& a seoosd srøωξxmest iacisάes the second esφlsiig and ai toast a portion of sssh of the aiπ.g« aπjis, ^" H)S: sko ϊδølades Srst iiaklag region cosfigyrβd h> Qxiznά hsfrm&s. tkf porϋoss of th.« fkst feisge &nxs _s aad a sεsosd ϊlsldsg sregios oonSgissd to esctssd. betvwsss the pcsfcbtss of th.«j sεcoϊϊd blsge srss, in ώess smbo4iaκsHs of the srsssat myestssδj the Srst &&d scooδd coHspo-sscsKs as-sj coMgajsd to !xs psssitjbϊ-cd such thst sack cαφisie is sάjaitϊisg &Ά ssd of ihe ]ss.eseekctiie slamensj:. Th& &si ssd ooijφoδents sι« tjasved. relative Jo one auαtlisf so ;s& to sxa^t ss- sbr-cδ on the piezoelestπo eissnsss tto sHsmstes tβnslls ibpce an the piesadfeoinc d ^g rs.ss.1. Whsa a desired Isεcβ is as&erfed on tlss psssαβiectrb stack, th» srds ef ts&k of the &_kkϊg rsgiisis isrs coaSguisd to bs wεMed to the ssds of &e kiags aπs po∑tbs≤ of t&s Stst asd

i®mi Various dsvicss rssfe ssβ of pϊsϊϊoeiβctrk; Brsl5OdJnjersts of tl-e present isvestba will Bs discussed Wscia w&h re&reooe tø one sxssjψisry such device which ωTsakes BS© of s piS2sjelso£nc trassdaicer, nsmaly & Ixsisa sθBώ»yέbω device. B<.SB« coxsshjctsjs. devices «osvsft a Toocsvsd scoustio soma sigaai iato a ϊsechadoal lό?eβ &r vieisvery to s rsdpfeai's skull YfMcSs results in s by Use recψϊsat Boss sosdiusior<. device isciade^ a sousd ispus. cosπpjmesi, sssdx as Io τec«av« the acoisstlsj sound «igsai ₅ sm elee&eoics ssiodtjls emήsgiirsd te g«ji.s3-ate atϊ eteatrieal ssgϊisl the acoasέse SOϊSi≤ ssga»I, mύ. S pmsseisctsis traissdaoer to coBsrørt tέss dsstricsal signal iato tfe.e ssscfessicai &vεe &r delivery to tfe πscψksfs skull imtϊ i FlQ, i 35 s perspecii^ view of smbodansaits of a boae δossόsϊctiaa device 100 m whizh e∑εbos&sesϊϊs ofthe pfss&at issv^aJiøB may be advastagemssiy ϊsψismsstϋd. Ia a fully fimctmn&l miηism lsssnsg anatomy ostss gsr 101 cotsprisss as s«ric!e 1.05 sM. m ear cassi 106. A sousd ^■ wsve ©s: acoustic pressure 10? is αslksSed by mxάote 105 SJS≤ ehasmslsd iate ssd tis∑c gh ear -CKSTiSl 1S ^§ . Dss|ϊssε<i across &e disϊsi esd of esr oaaεϋ !δ€» is a iympame asaBis-sss Iδ4 wliά vfb?ate& si rssφosse to acmsstie xvsve 107. This v&ratloB. k co-tspfed to αvai window or fε&estrs ov&& J. ID ifenigh tsrse bosss sf middle ear 102, collectively referred s> ss the ossictes llϊ and

coϊϊspdst&g the mallems 112, tks fxscus Iϊ3 mά &>$ stapes 114. BOϊSSS 112, 113 sad 114 of siiddϊe esr 102 ssrvs to fife sad. amplify acoustic -wave 10?» raising oval window 110 to ariiculsis, or vibrate. Such, vtesiioti ssis up wsyss of SUKI motion within coelsisa 115. Bum Hskl SBBπISEL. is turn, activates cochlear hair ceils (set shews). Casblesr hair sssϋs cams SS two SE38tom!c&% aad functsαsssϋy dsstϊact fcypss; the outer smi inssr lsair cells, Actuation of ose sr sκ>ro types of tbes« bair selk causes approπriats ϊsψdses to b§ tra∑ϊsferred ihκsO# έ&e jφkal gasgϋoa csib and auditory seτve 116 to lise b∑aia (jsot sbown), wtee ihsy ars perεeϊYsd

fW2] FIG- 1 also Maεst∑stes εbs pβsϊϋoBώg of Ijone eoπdisctioa device 100 rsissvs to ovisε sa? K)I, middle ear 102 ssd km&τ sss 103 of a redpfeat of devise KM), As stems,, boss aoniiuctfcn dsvioe 100 m&y bs pasϊtiosed b-shiad outer ssr 101 of ihe recipient.

IW31 Ia ths Qis&aάhmtits δhist∑sted fa FIG. ϊ, boss cassdastioa devk« 100 scstieprisss a heaskg 123 havisg s micropbαs© 126 psjssώssd ibssein or thsrøjτL Bousfcg 125 is cøBpied to ihs body of tbss s-eslpieat m coupSag HG. As dsssaibed 1?ebw, bsne eosaώiαkta device 100 may oo-Bprise a sound proeessotv a traosd^csa-, t?assduc«r dtiv© coss^poassts SIKS/ST VOTUS odisr

*m% Ia ascordasMsc with ssribodimeπts of tlie pr^sαit røeϊϋssn, ss. asd-or s^terα (not skøwa) s _B a.y be mspϊssted ia the rserspies^. As described bobw, the aεcliar sysusm asay fee &<ed to I ^j ose 126. M mήύvs. esskxHiBessl^ tks mzhot system sssy b© Hiaplaatcd «a«ter skia 132 witfak mx&ch IM sad/or &t I2S. M osrt&k smbadϊasϊais, a couplag UQ mmch&s slβΫtδe 100 Is tbs sschor systδm.

R»4Sj λ gjB.cliαs5si block disgπas of ose βmbodiissat of ^* tese oosdiiciioE 1O0. referred to sss boae «5sκkcϊi?B devscs 200, is shαwB fe PIG, 2A, ϊs fe illssstrsted & soimd 207 ss reϊϊervsd by a soϊsad inpat elsπseM 202. Is. sosse srobαdimeats, sou∑id fepst alsnssssl 2€£ is a πsϋssrøho&e osafig^'ed to rscsi^s δ&ϊmd 207, ssά to cαsiwrt sssisnd 2δ? jstrø SB. elsotricsi sigasi 222. As described beksw, is other esώαdssBsats sound 207 may røssivsd 1?y soimd hψvtk slem ^β rsi 202 as &a ^isdrical si^sL ϊδfrέέi As άszwsx m FlG. 2A, eieetrisai sϊgs»i 222 is ovsφw % sound input slsmeaε 202 to as «botrosics jxsoduie 204. Electronics πsodtile 204 Is ssotsϋgursd to oosrver. sLsϊtriisai sigasl 222 jsto m. &ά\ιmiaά skosies! s∑gaal 224. As described betew £τ? S3oi« detail, eieαrsalcs εβodul*

2CH πs&y bekde a mvsά pπseessssr, control dectrosics, trsasduoer ώivc cos^sosests, sad a vsrissy of other siemetsts.

»f?! As skrøn hk FlG, 2A ₅ a έraasdϋser 206 receives sdjssied eissiricai signal 224 asd gβssrsies & ϊsschsδϊcai oyt^i fasse that is delivered έe this sknil of ike rβdpissi vis a∑s ascber systeα 208 ssapfccl So base cssudacϋαs device 200» Delivery of this yyipsB &rcst causes oae or raore of tJiodøs or vibratiøs of ifan redpisat's sJϋtiil, thereby ac&vstjβg fc hair cells sπ the c«cMsa viiJ cssM-ea Said isotioa, ims§ FIG. 2 A also flkstrslss a power sκ>άsle 2LO. Power xssckle 210 provides dectrieaj p3war rs ess or more sojsspe&eists of lsoae cαsdttciioB devise 200, For ease of ϋkstestfesti,, power taodsile 21*3 IJSS feβaπ shown cosiiβcled only to interfaces tnodule 212 and eiecttesics Esodide 284. H«weys!", ft sisoυid be appredstsd thst power rπodule 2! S may !>a ssed Io supply power to my slecϋϊcslly jxswssfed drcuts/compoaes^ of boss ooaδacifoϊs. devses 200. m<®\ Bens c©fidδS33ot3 device 2Od farther snomdes ss Isterfece module 212 Ss&ϊ albws tks redpissii to msaract 'wsth. dsvϊce 200. Far assmφte, ia^rs%se x?xodu!e 212 m&y allow tie recipisst to adjust ilis voJursie, s^er the speech processing str&tcgssSj power oa/ofF the dgvice, sic, tsss&cs rxmάals 212 mjssssialcaies w§h «fectonics sssdufe 2δ4 vis slgaai ϋas 22S. fs#sδs Is tijs eεab€sdisϊsπi Slastt3£«d k FIG, 2A, pickϊψ άsrή&α 202, slscfesaies module .21% tπsssckcsr 206, power ssodule 210 sad iatsrfece sscdule 212 li&w all bssa shown as ajiegπasd is. a ssjgle hoasisig^ referred to ss ixjysisg 255. However, ii should be spprsoistβd that Ia cαtsώi embadiπassats of the present so-yesdesi, ose or ssore of the iluitettsd cosssposststs ϊϊay bs kj-i.ss.c4 si. S8ξ>arst3 or αiδgreπt housings. SImUSrIy ₅ it shotiid also be appreciated tlsst in suoh embodissssa^ dsrøα sosaectisss betswsea the various πκ>dules ajid devices sre JKJϊ ssosssary sM ihsx the δCFϊxφoϊsssis ss.ay"C&asuiinii;ats _f for exansple^ VϊS wmilβss oassaectioss.

|8δss] F!<5. 2B pκm<fes a saor® detailed ^ew of bone ooπdastjoa device 200 o f FJG, 2A. Ia tte ilk ^y ;t3 ^v <uss ssxiχ>diπiess ₅ . sbesscsics tjssdals 204 & smsxi proc-sssor 246, Iramduc-sr drive cojBposeaέs 242 a∑ϊd SOBϊγO. stemdics 246. As «3φiaiued above, is eextais. sssbodmss-rfs ssssϊd bpiϊt siesseM 202 cos^prfses a aussssphose oo&Sgured to coswsrέ s rεsdvsd acoastic sigad im« dsctrisal signal 222, Is othεr embodimeats, as dβlsϋed. bebw, soyM Input elαseat 202 receives mwd 2δ7 as as elφstrical signal

ps2} fe embodiments ©f the preset k«3ntkm, electrical signal 22,2 is ©dξs∑i feja mssά Input etessM 2€ ^! 2 ϊø soiisd possessor 240. Souacl piocssser 240 -vssss s>se or msrs of & plurality of tssbsiqaes to selectively process., saφlity asd/br filter eiectπcsi signal 222 k? gcseisie a prøessssd 8%s&i 224A. Is ae-tais embodiments- ssmd processor 240 smy e&sφπse subst&stssUy siis same somsd processor ss is ased is aa air cosdaotJOH hearing aid. Is farther cjsbQdisϊSfiϊts, søisad frix;«s^>r 240 comprises s. digital sϊgssi procsssciC

|«31 ?messse<i sigssl 226A k provided to transducer irøe cssts^soacsis 242. Trsssάoc^- drive coiϊφoasats 242 avSmi a drive signal 224B _f to tsstsciϊcesr 2δδ. Based on drtvc signs! 224B, ^■ taEJsduser 206 pmvLdss ths o\stptsi t>roβ to the skull of the jaclpiest.

_£ δ85*i For ssss of d^criplios fee olecfrktal signal supplied by trsasckcer drive oδsφoaeals 242 to tr03^duo«r 205 has bβea referred to as 4rivs sigω&i 224B. Hows-vea:, it sk>alsi be ap^esci«Sed that prøcessed sigaal 224B iϊts.y cosφriss as uτsπs?dified- ^* <?ersioa of processed stgϊssl224A*

Itøssi As ϋøted above, trs^dasssr 206 gaasrat&s w. output fows to the skull, af-ύsst r^eipiess vis ssssbor syslα:&20& As sliøwn ia FIG. 2B _S ssscksr system 2δS csjsprissδ & coupling 260 and sa iasδkδted sαcisor 262. Co^pHssg 260 z&Y ^ s&szhsά IQ oae or. mors of trassdacesr 206 or koαssKg 225, F«ϊ sxsπφle, is csrϊaia ^ahodimsats, soup&g 260 h s-iimkeύ fc &aa&<iu««s: 206 ;ssd vibrstkss. is spplied dtrecSiy therøto. Js. othg:r embesfesssts, coϊϊpjmg S60 Is s&sc&ed tss s.<i«si?5g 22S ssd vibratba Is s|>plϊ«d lraas kaasφscδs 2Q6 *άsmmh bousiag 225. l»ss;s As slsDwa m FϊQ. 2B _S ooupϋsg 260 is ςβtsjtted to as aadsor xmplaatsd h. th& mS^rod to §i5 isspkssed anchor 262, As explamεd λ re&rsnes to FIG, 3, ixjφla-itφd aaoksr 262 |^>vtd®s aa element that trsssfers the v&ratsoa Sam aoupimg 260 to ibε skali of lbs

i?SϊS¥] As δated sbovsj, s τ«φi8ϊit sa&y coistrol varksus Sisctssas of &s device via istsrfess ϊMϊduie 212. ϊsεeritce επødule 232 includes <Jts« or rεsre ooπφoasa^s thai allow lbs KssipssEi &s provide ispuis to, or rsceivs ss-Ssπsat»a §m$, slesssats of botse cosdδciibs dsvica 208. tms&i As shows, COSIKSI «iecmmics 246 ϊmy h® msmcboά to <5&s or SS>KJ of irfe&βs ∑nmiiik 212, iioxsϊid pidsap dsvlco 202 _f sεsssa processor 240 asd/or traasd^cer άήvs oawpanssLi 242. Is. sxabodi.fij.ssts of the pxsssst based os. aipsfei rsssiived at IsterSice SBJϊdule 212, costrol electrøαks 246 sassy provide isstπjctbas to, sr reφixest isSjπmtkm SBBI, othsr Kxmψowssάs of

BOBS αmsuets&n άcvks 2CG. Ia csrrsis essbodkaests, Ia the absescs of ysss: sipwts, ooαόts! skctroωics 246 oommi ths operation of boas conduction dsvfcs 2δO. im&i FIG. 3 slksirates as. exploded view of oae mfefessa of boas coadsetfea 200 of MOS. 2A ssd 2B, referred Jo herds as bssrte- coaaactioπ dsvics 300. As sJϊ&wa, boas coadacfkm es ^p ies 3CC' rømprbas as csεabodsmem of clectroaics xmάah 2G4 _S re&tresd io- ss eleεtϊOTSJcs πsodiϊic 304. As aspksscd above, -ajc-luded -vyalsπi dbctr-osks modaϊs 3CM- are a s&issji ψroce$^τ _t tϊsϊ ^j sduώe? drOTs coaφotscats a^d csssKxoi «iectrosics, FOϊ ssse of sMiϊδtratkϊs,, these compoκεjϊts hsvs so-s \κm δiustϊaέsd k HG. 3<

E<&»! fo iha ϊthmtx&ii'λ erabodlmeat., efecteiscs ra&dtue 304 iecksdes s priced cirπsit Ixsard 314 t?CB ^' ) sss dføsirie&My connect sad mβchaaically suρpoτx the <3sispoaenSs of elocrøiύcs πs&dafe 3D4, Attached to PC8 314 εrs øse or πrøre soimd iεpξ∑t eiejsjsπts, shows as talcκ>phβ33ses 302 to receive s sonnά. gs«q ϊδ the Ofestmed Mas sosduetirø. device 30δ feπlier e« aaprises battery shoo 310 for ssppiymg po^sr to cosjpoϊJsssts af devise 300. Ba^sa^ shoe 310 may jaaluds o∑i© or ΏIOI« Ijatreπss. lacerSsis. ean^adaseisis, BCB 314 $s attached to s c&aaecwr J?δ. Cosssctor3?6 is cosfs gored ks fsatβ ^h bajtety shos 310. JB c-srt.sk eπsbodimsats, coxsεrøcior 376 ssά b&tftsxy sbo« 319 sπay be relessably S5iκp»loaked to one saoϋϊsf. Fxsrtkexjssra, is suck smbodimesits, ossc or more ^∑tcsy coGseets {m>t sfeowa) are disposed m. cossesior 376 to «!δdsicsily cαs&eeϊ bat ^j ξKy skse- 310 mtk ekatsosics tsodiuk 304.

! ^§ δss| Ia the essbodimsst ilkstraisd ts HG. 3, bone cmdtustson. άsvϊoc 300 fbshsr kolϊϊdas a ftvo-psrt ksmitsg 325, coϊspriskg Srβt Isousϊsg parέios 325A sad second horøsg jsorsbπ. 325B, Housmg porik>ss 325 are amSgssrsd to mats wa& ots.e εEDihssr to substastϊaiiy ssa! boϊJs coBdsC'ϊfcs. device 300,

{mm Ia Uss embodiment of FKJ. 3, first housing pQXihn 32SA has ss op«siag fe»k &r .reessvύig issJtsry shoe 31&. FB saah. ©mbodmiεαSs, bsitery shoe pjstradss first teasmg port ^j oa 325A. and πmy bs rsjssjDved or lassrtsd by die reeipiesi Also k the illustrated eaabodsHS-sr. JsEcropk>5>js covαs 372 srδ tsisasably ;5ttefed to first hoasfsg pαsiiϋG 32SA- Mk ^g oph<m& sovtss 372 pio-vid<5 a bamer ovαr saicropIsoBss 302 to pmtest ssicropfeoaes 302 Soss 4i5sL <fet or other debris.

p&4] Bøas so&dactksn device 300 iteiher iscfadss aa emtssditsest of inteifscs ssadtile 212, referred to herds as snfsr&e© ssαduis 312. ϊatεriaee BKXM® 312 is soaSgursd to ρr»τide or

fwss] Abo ss shown, in. FlG. 3 ₅ boae eosdsctsbs device 300 eoπφπses as smJbαdimssϊi of trsssssyvxs- 286, rsfered to ss transducer 306, Transducer 306 gsaesrstes sa ouCpui feπx ^; thai sasses raovsmsmt <sf the cochlea fluid so that a SOSKM r«ay bs perceivsd by the rmpksαL Th& aitpiit ferce ts&y τss\sil m jsβchasical vsbraties of tlie jetφϊest's skall, of kt physk^X woY'smss ^ή of thts sktul abeuJ- t.hc seek of the ϊsεipkst As tsøtsd ssiov^ Is certain easboaisssBJSs boss coBduatsQs device 300 delivers fee o^tp^ fees to tfes skull of the rsciplest vk $m anoksr sysϊeia 308. Anεbcx sysl»m 30S coα^rises s coxψlϊs^ 360 aacl iπipisntβd ssjxϊlsir 362. IB the sisbodsmest illustrated hx BG. 3, cαuplmg 360 k coafigssed to be sttaohed. to seooisd k>asisg poriios 325B. As suoh, αi this ssώodimsat, -vikatloa Som trsesdacer 306 is provided to soup&αg 360 tbmsgk hausssg 325B. Ia tbs ersisoesissst shows m FIG. 3, as opqsisg 368 ϊs pτovkkd ta gecosϊd psrtioti 325H, A scrtsw (uot SIJøWΏ.) may be m&estsd ϋsπs-uglϊ speasig 36S Ks δttsek t∑sasdycer 306 to cosφikg 360» Ia such esjbodimesfe, aa O-πsϊg 3-80 ao&y !^e fsrovsded to sesl opeaing 368 sϊmssά f ^j j» sersw,

ISrøsi M sated at3ove _} aachor sscksr 362, IjiφisBϊed saci-or 362 cosspnses _< i Ixmc s<xew 366 πsplaatsd k Sks skull of the rsφfe&t ats4 ssx s&iiSsasst 3^4. Is as impjsmssi screw 366 prsteides frssi the resipfcjars mύl tks&uφ, fee skm* AWassat 364 is st^schsd is screw 366 above, the 3rsδigiαsi ^* 's sfcfe. .IB sϊlissr smbssdfeseifiSj sbjssrsetd: 364 sad sαrsw 366 may be Iatsgrated mis s single knpiaatabis eompδB^πt Coapimg 360 is ε-øsisgured to ϊ*ε reissssbly sJiaeltsd to aibutmss^ 364 to ersatz a vϊbni&xy pathway feetwcea trassduGsr 306 aad the skull of the sascipisnt mm Ia sfesϊjsdve ssnbodimaMs of this? prsseat boas cosductkss tkrvies 3DO smy ossBpfise oss m more addltioaai soxmά input For «xsa^le« boss eo^dsction dsmt® 300 sj&y cssspnsss aa eleotricsU hψtή 316. Ia saeh cffiWdsasats, the slsctrkal Ispsε is eosiϊg ^y rod to δOϊsssct devke 300 io external squipmest s&ά receive as. elssttical sotssl signal dϊrsctiy feetsfsots. Blδδisfcai gψςs. 316 iasy pεxffiit teas røtϊdactlδJi defies 300 So be coossc-ted to, S?r sxaxsple, I ⁷ M hestrϊsg systøss., MF3 pkyess, teievisiaπs,, tsobάls phøsss, «&.

f«S] ϊs sέsll oέfesr βπsbodlmg-ss. a lύdjser sotaad input slemsas is i&β fossi of & selscoil 318 may b« ssleg∑sϊed is, or coπsyxisd to, bone cαadαctsoα device 300 _* Tefecoii 31? permits hone cosdudisn device 300 to rsccrv® input sisals frora, &r s&ample-, a idepksse or other simusr

i§$&\ FlQ. 4 siksiπsfcs iiss sχsavs£S.«>a of as input aeoiasitc sousd sigxssi Mo s πssαhassfoal force fat delivery to the recipient's siraii m -icsjondsEGc© wϋh embodiments of bone δoπduc-έioω ervice 300, At black 402, Ixsss coadactlos device 30δ .mceή'es aa aooostk saisjd sj^sal Ja cetlam C33-l»d-ϊaeas5, tfe aco«s& soimd sigB≤i is received via micrsphoaes 302, Is other embodiϊBe?ss _} tfe s ^' spst soissd is s-seeiveά via S5j dectneaϊ. isgrut Ia still other esabodϋπøsis, a ielecoϋ sstsgratcd is, or coBrsscssd to, ho&& conduction device 300 πsay Ixt used fs reseJvs ϊks acoujstϊc soasid sigaal

!$8?§1 At bksdϊ 404, the ascitic soaad aigπsl sscsϊved hy IΌϊI€ coaciuδtios 300 Is ptxjcessssd by ih> sρess;h procsasor m decftordes msd^ls 304, As εspkinsd sfeøvs, the spescis pRscasssr say bs simOar fe S|>e»eh procsssois ysjed m aco«sάc skfe. In suck essbodsrρsϊϊt&, cspsech processor may selectively amplify, iijtcr and/or modify acotjstk; soaad. signal For cxβssgi©, spεecli processor assy be as«d to eϋmfsste baekgrousd sr etb^ ¹ TiawaaJcd Bøise signals received by boas c&ssϊuctba devics 300.

\wn$ At block 406, lbs pmeessed souad ssgas! Is pmvided to traasάαcssr 3S6 as an dbcirkal sigssl At bbck 40S ₅ trssssfecer 306 coavms ϋis sfcctrsssl sigsϊsi kto a ικechaa£csl fesc coπ.lϊgϊ5?s-d tt> be dsSverδd to the rseφiasi's ska! via aachor system 308 so SJS to illiok a bearing

{Wfti VlQ. 3 sUbsrates ons fssxώoάϊtmnt of block 4OS of HG. 4 fa. ascordaaoe with cestab embsdimsπts of the prssesl kvestba, Ai bhdk 504, the electrisai ssgεai is appiiscl to at bast oss piesDβbotπc sk3B«5t. As ssφlrøεd ssovs. ihe piezodsetric eSssseul is coaSgured to ddbπn k rsspoiϊsg to fee sppEcatioa of fee eisc-tdcaJ signal thereto- Pisaaeksctriε slsmesils IbM αsay be used Is saifeoάlxaests of the pressss isvealioa πsay compriss, for exassϊpfe, psssoelsdiic csystjiks, pieacϊd€Strse: cersωs£c« _s or sosas other materia! askibsing a de&nastios i.8 reapβss« to as sppilsd ώkϊctdc-al sipsal Sseεjφkry crj>sϊsis iaelade q-uasts (SK>2), BsriMas OϊP>94i <>-silkjsϊ «rtk3phos|5tetg (QaPθ4) mά Exesspisty piszod.estric ceramics i&dxKss teka titanste {BaTiGSϋ), lead adreonate titsBate (PZl) _t or ssss>ϊώiπi (Zr).

prøj SQϊΏS piszoeisstdc aterials _* saeb as PZT, are- poJarfsed tsaferfais. Whes. as. sifeetrse SeUI is appUsd across these smtsπais, the polarized molecules ailgs ifssxπsdh ^y es wsέh tbs sisoteio OsIi, mai&ϋsg is tadaced dmolss ^itlss tlm H-oleeuibr or ctjsstai structure of the rasteriai. Tlsδ ssigssHiesϊ ofsmifestss εsuses the defenssatios of &e ssateriai under an sspikά o;«shic SeId. swwj Remtssng to &s «ssbodissεBts illustratsd fa FIG. 5, st bbck 506 ibs dsSjsuistsoK of &e piessjelβctϊic elesissl Ia mschsmc&iiy εmplsfled to gessrafc & ksssduoer streks tbat ©sciseds tise deibmsatios of thδ piesoεJectπc d^siesa., As sxpiakseά in detail bebw, a ϊssehasiG-ϊIaϊϊψϊϊfϊεir is provided ;<s gaset&ie the Srsssdiicer stroke bss«d oa tfes dsfersiatloa of ths piesoslsetrie siemeKt. Aϊ M<j«k 5OS, tiis ssxhasieai ibrss for delivery is xh& rβssφis&t's sksall Is gsasssied Isased ou ihs tistsdisisssr δtmka applied to ϊbs sSa&bed π^ass 560. Tlsβ ferεe sppHsd is siixφlγ t&s xsass times the aeeslsradδ-i whish is φplied by ills tEsasdscer.

Sstej] FIGS, €A &nd 6B S3^ siπ-pliSed scissmatie disgraπss Hkstratmg essbodbieafe of txassdαeer SM cf Fϊθ, 3, referred to Kereii as tϊssϊMye«r $06« As shows _* traisssiiufier 6ϋύ csffiprfes s msdaaαksi asψMfϊεr ia aecordaτ!«5 wish, ©mbcsdiiϊsssϊts of tijs js:esβai k-vβsiioB,, illustrated ss ϊa©δham ^' «sl asψiiSer 62C ^S _S a piezoelectric sleπsssat 640 and a mass 6S ^Q , lM7£i Is the cmbodiϊsesiϊs of HGS, 6A asd 6B ₅ sssc^ssiesl asapϊifϊsr 620 <sκrveits a ds&πssstrø. o£ gkxsQϋhsMo sleaδsπέ 640 Into a aaeehrøiesl d«ffl«ctbϊs. of σae or |s ^Q ϊt ^j £«ss of siaektøfc&l saiplifjer 620, ^" tb& collective defection of these psrtksm sssseds tfes msgatoide of the dejbmsatis-ϊi «f psαael«ctm stesiest 64δ. & feese saϊk3dimsats ₅ tte ontp^ stroke ibτ &-Hssi|aesr 606 txssapώss. ibis sø&ectivs defie<^ios of ths pαrtssas αf mscδaaic&l M ^j φiillsϊ- 620. Aa discasiisd m detail bsbw _; jπschaώεa! ajiψIiSsxe 620 is configured ia sssrt a prekssdisig ibrc« OB psge^oslsctric sissie∑ϊt 640.

Wm Xtx ihz ffitmraiivs smijodiassa-s αf FIGS, &A a∑ϊcl SB, pka^elsctrk? dstπssϊ 640 coπψmes a pksmlHy of layers of stacked pkssoeisctm mstsrisl, referred to ksrsis ss & pezo«iesmc si&ck 640. For exBjsplis, m mnm atϊixmπmr^ plezoskctrio stack 640 eoπψnsss a piuraEy of

imm Is tfes 8s«ssplsry sjsbodiπoeats of HGS. 6A asd 6B, asec&amcsl aπ^Slssr 62δ εoϊspϊises two cadpiafcs «S24 sadi «>T3.plsd to s sqssra.t« sad <?f pieBoekstrio stack 640. Mesjhasucai smpliSsr 620 feπhsr coϊϊψώes α|fposi5ig hiags sπus 622, €£S _S «steadisg bet^eeo. ssφlates 624. A _π KS 622 sM.6S8 are psssδit>sed «sa opposing sides <sf pissoelessrb clsssss^ 648. M fee

ssabodirasϊsts oi>iGS. 6A mά 68, each appogiag anπ 632, 628, sad pissoefesiπc stack 64ϋ dsSse a frusto-eoaicsi sϊsaps there behv-sstt Ia these eαsbαdasiasis, esch arm.622, 628 has a poitbn 626 spaced, fcmpissfceteetric slemøat 640 by a distastes that sxoseds the remainder of esch of sπrss 622, 628.

\m$t HG. SA Illssέraiss the comigurstjϋsi of tcsssdacss 606 grksr bs spplieaifem oisn appikatbs signs! to pksoelectrk stack 640, wlslie FJG. 6B ftϊasfcsέss the coafigarstferei of trass&acsr 606 folbwfeg applicadon of &e efedriosl sigaai to stack 640. Prior to appliestsos of ths cskrfrksi slgssl, 62δ of -tπϊts 622, €28 aarø SSCJϊ spaced & fesϊ dsstsojce fesxa pfczoekøtric- elemeM 640. FoBo^'mg appiicadoa of the siectribal aigaal, pieaoelsctπc staok 64D dsforπ>s along as axis ^stesdssg there tkwgh sabstftstktly par&ltsi to postksss 626. This asis is sl&&trat«si s& sxls 611. As sisøws, piego&isctxs; stack 640 dbfbπss by sostrsctiiig abag axis €1 1. This cs5itraciioaofplss»sIs«riG gitsck 640 ajfosg axis 611 csus«spoitbns 626 Io dsfisct ourss^rds S«m ρi«s3s!ecMo Stack 640 abng assxls substantially perpeαdkjular Is ths ssϊs of cos&acfexj, ϋkϋtHiied ss axis 613 m MGS. SA mad SB, Ths magastads of th& d&flectsoa of each pδs-Hos 626 Is Siϊistrstssi i∑j FIdS. 6A aisd iSB &s defkxfcs 630,

1«888] Ia these «mbαdsmεn&j tke ϊsagaiJadε of &e coϋsctive deHactkjis of potdoss §26 is tisfsrred Ui as the stoke of taasdacer 666. Ihse so the rønSguϊsέsoix of opposkg jsmss 622, 628, the magft&tisfe sf $h$ c ollastiv^ dsSe^kass βlδ escesds th§ magnitude of the piesoebc-sic stack 64S skmg axis δl L As woaid ^" bs ar^srecisted, the large? the caHes^vw dsBfxtiβa of pottioss 626 _; ϊht, gπsstcr the sfeske of Jrgjssdaeer 606, ξ ^β mi A$ soϊed sfeoTS, trassdtieer 606 mchsdss & mass 650. Whss jsoitJom 626 deSecϊ away SXϊSSI piess&teelϊfc cicsxeat 64^ ₅ ϊϊISSS 650 is caused to 3sove ia proportion "to the Jrasssdiscer stmks. Tfais mo*sm of maas 6SlI results Ia ^ss ^assssSsoa of a nseehsaicsi fsrøs which πsay be »-si!p«i by fesBducei 6G6, Is s3ie ssntooάfeest of HG. 6B _; the gssissrateα sseehaafca! S>ϊO@ SS Ciksteatsd by ibrss s.tτ®^- 625. p^ ^j j Is &e iUasϊrstsd gtϊibodisxssέ, hlogs sπa ^22. 62S ar® ijtlized to miψdi ths mxhsnk&L &rcs to, sbr sssssplε, a a>apHug described above ^^h rgferesce- to FiO. 3. Hfegs SπBS 522, 638 & ssfelsHϊh" rigid ssstssrfai so as to output tkt tmxάmάcύ fbrεs, bisc have daae-Bssϊss, tkjcknsss mά or a&sir ssstssial propsrdes that peπsδ tbs deSecdoii of potϊions 626 dCscussed abow. Hfeϊgs a^5S «22 _* 62S, asd aiκ;has5cai smpMδsr fa general xaay soissprise a vmeSy of aisterkis.

jxs csrlasπ. «isbodsnεπts, jssehaεdeai atspEfier 620 is tisigstea, Ia otihsr ssibodksss^ j&ec&aasesi aoipϋfssr 62S is stainless sisoL frøβS] As dis-?asϋed ks trsore detail ^" below, sieehsiB∞sI aaapHfier 620 may coxjψrise a slagis tmϋsssry pisc«. Ia other JKϊϊbodiϊBesis, isecfcasaeai aiapHSer 620 may coispiise tm or STJ ^Q BS coisposesis welded to o&s- aseiker. l$mi FXG, ? is a cposs-ssctksoal >i©w of one exsrspb-y embodimesS sf transducer 306 _* taksa slosg sfFIG. 3 _S referred to Jjsrsis <ss irsBS&ϊ-e≤r 706. Traδisdaser 706 as substJmHally sssilar IQ trsusducer 606 of F!<5S. SA, sssl 6B. Traasdseer 706 cos^riϋes a pieasQsjlsctric elemeat 14% wschmkml ssxφUSsr 720 smd mass 750. Msdaaicsϊ aH^>i£lisJ- sfcπil&dy coaφrises ssdpktss 724, ϊisd pardon 726, Ia the Siαstrs& ^y e emlxsdimenj, sκφ!afe 724B is attasfesd So art βsά of plβϊsoelβcttio Stack 748. Bsφlst ^β 724A is ccnφfeά ts pkasslecsrio stack 740 yh & p reload^ Pt«feaimig ia acostdasee witfe sssbødii _T tffπLs of lisa prssetsl; kvssdsa is di^esssed below m more detail For sstasφie, ss <l jscsssed. bsbw, sKschamcsi ss«|>lifi«r ?2δ π∑ay be designed to «xeit &<? dβsated p^losdkg &rce oa ]?sKsoeis£t-ic stack 740 wShoyl prefeaδffig demsπi 738. mm Mass 7.SQ tiiay be aftaclssd io posiiøa 726A of srm 722. As shown, m FRl. 7, p£>.stk>ti 716A h sτtacssd to SSϊS& 750 vk sitaekssat screw 746. FsrtioR 726® of aarm.628 Is ®sta©hed Io a -os-sp&g 770 via cøυfsiaig SCϊ«W 772. λs expkfased afao^e with reierescs te I ¹ IG. 3, a cosφϋBg, sssh as cospUBg 77CI _S ϊs&y be sitsched to an asebor l^φlsated m fee tedplsat i^mi As sjoted, wbea ssxs $!««mcal slgsal is sppiϊed to pieKJ&iaetric stack ?4θ, partksss 726 άcMssi awsy §om pϊ≤as>eieeϊ3is sέsck 740 aloag axis 713, Is tfefe Hϊ3stτs£h?B ssujodismni, axis 713 is subsέaaεMly popesdicdsr to &s rssψiesfs skdl As ssck ponios 725B the wMIβ parties.726A deflects aw&y &om. the retφiest. As sotβd above, ths sB.sgπ.&ϊκfe of tlώ deSsctsss, referred Ie as the stoke of Srsssdaesr 706» s&ss«s πiotJOK of ϊisass 7S0. This rootjos. is tern gessrates a foτxss. Tim -mchmiail ibεce sa&y be o^spm ts <;αapfeg 770 asd. rslsyodts the anchor implsstsd siiise recφiδtst-

$mn FlO. S seh«ms&cally Il&stmtes oas embadimsat of a saschsπicai asψϋSef ia aocordaacs with aspects of Use pres«ai invsαϊsøa, ϊeiai^d to «ss ssscteiioal smplifisr §20. As sfeøwn, sϊβahasj<5sl aasspHSsr 820 ocsmjs-ήses a fest sajφlate 824A, a sβcoad eaφlaϊδ S24B, opposkg Msge sxtm S22 _S 828, assi a pistos 833.

$«] /U? disp-assed aim's, wfees as efecmcsi sigi&d is applied to a piezoelectric stsek, swcfe ss stack 840, sϊask 840 deforms by oomxactsag aloag at bast uss aids, I& FIG. 8, this ass «£ crøfeaefiss Is iifasϊraisd ss axis 835, This coαiracdoa of stack 84C ₅ oa^es kfege srsss 822, 828 to bead, shsrsljy dsSscϋπg one sr ax?r« porfess of Mage arπss 822, 828 outwards Sϋm psexoeisfirέrkϊ stack 840, Is the illustrated sEsfjodiπKKSis, portions §26 cf Mage arms 822, S2S ^e csxstEgured in deSsst oatward IγOϊXS psjsodectric si&sk 840, ηss sssgrifeds offjhits eo&ciiys dsikctkfs, reibiϊsd to as ths StJt ₁ IcS of -the Irai3sdsc-et _? is as.3Bψiiii©d representatk>a of 1ii« ds'&rssa&H of pϊsaosieoSric stack S4β. ξ W! As <!sscrib«4 above, a pis2»e!ec»ic eleassajf , such as pieaseigstric stack 848, ss slmcturally weak -whsa pkcsd wxks: a fessils lores:. Fattfaenaors, to βperaie ia as. osεSkimg ζ?psrstkϊs ₅ the i>rcs &pp:ll&α to the pfesxselsctric slsmestby the mechanical amplifier ssust fes suck thst ds&πsstisa of tbs piezosieetxk- elemsπt saiises the bmgs SπJIS of ihs mx&mk&L SHϊpliδer to besd, as dssc-ribsd above, Ihs fores which c&ssβs bsadsag o€ths bisgβ aπ^ss Is rs&rred to hsrssm ss a <!esfesd prsskjadajg fece. immi As such, mec&asieai smpHfler S2θ JS coafigm«d to exert fee desired prsfoadisg ferc« o» pisKsssktctrkr stack §20, Ia the esafeøάϊment of HG, S, isediaeisaj amplifier S20 mcludss a psstoa 833 ihst is ase-d its eoaJsisciioQ -with ffrsέ: aaφlats B24S ID exert a dessrsd grstoasHαg fo s<s oapiesKOskssnc stack 840.

$ ^β m\ As skrswa. k FSG, 3 _? Srst esφlatβ SZ4B is posϋio«ed psr&Eel to ®aά sάpixάng; a Srst ssd of pks-ϊalsctdc stack 840, Se«5ω.d esφlase g24A is pcssiέioEsd psrsifol to sad βάμαsxtf tke opposite snd of pjffiseefectπc stack S4CX Secorsi ssdpkts 824A Is spaced Sromstsck S4S. Opposa^ lmgs arms S2:2 _S §28 extend from first aπφkte 824B to sscosd saφlsiβ 824B about oppøδfeg sϊdes «f piezoskwtric stack 840, Ia &e illuδtπϊted sssk^dimeM, ssassd ersdplsiβ 824A hs& &Ώ op«5J3ig thej-eώs s∑ϊd pi&toiϊ §33 v&imάa thxxmφ. fes epeskg. Fistoji S33 saay bs sβcairad to set^ϊϊJd ssdpists 824 A yk ose or jsorβ welds 830. imm\ At isssϊ a p»rfen «f ps^on 833 Kttssds Ss∑a seooad «sdp!ste 824A fe plssoeiectrio slack S4D so sxart a feres oa ^.ck 840 *& ^• &© directios of Srst eoφϊ&te 824B, The δ>pse app&d by pbtoa 133 asay ^" be a^asted, thereby vsry∑ag ib& prstoadmg ferce sxarisd. oapssKoekstϊ-iø stack 84S beswses. first saiφkis 824B asd the pistsa portsos. Wbsa a tesrsd prsbadfeg force

&&§ b&sr* ssssrtαi pistøω 833.smy fee bcfced is. posttbts so as to retsia ills force an piezoelectric

tmsi As shows is FIG, 8, mφteies 824 sad Gjjpesasg ktoge anas 822, 82g xssy comprise s ^siissy eossposiesi, Esdplsδss 824 mά oppssiag hinge SπBS 822, S2S comprise a smitsary sioxϊψoϊssϊJl: Ia thst tfcssε coϊspo&esέs comprise a structarally siagsiar erstity ssssm&ctsml as a vώois &&i -vsrs aot aitached to øas another m&, &r ejstapls, a welά, iass^i HG. 9 scfeasa&tic&31y illustrates sssøtise? essksdississi of a- mechanical sxsψϋfita: ta accoKk&ce mtk -aspects of tlss present ϊsvesJio-o, referred ta as soaolsaaical ^nplifser 92$. As shøwn, mschaisissl sjspHϋsr 920 cou^dses Sm mά secøtid βaφktes 924 aad opposing sfege sni3s 922, 92g. ξO^ssj S iπsk s& described above with rβfersssce to HG. S, whm &a eJseSπcsl sigsal is applied ts> a p!«2!oelscSϊk; stack 94D, siaok 940 deforms by coalr≤αfeg slang at least osβ axis, Skstπ&≥d as axis 335. Tbas coitescdos of si&sk 94S ₅ causes hisge -stag 922, 92S to bead, thereby dsSecfeg OES or mors potsosϊs of lώϊge sππs 922, 928 outwards fesm pirøoeisctric sxssk 940. TIKS πsagskiide of this cofisdiw dβSectiojs, ss &s &iκsks of the tmssducer, is aa

?øs%] Also ss aescrissd above wώh ssimaice to FlG. B ₅ &r psppe? ampIiScslloB- of Mss deformstbss of pisssoetectrfc stack 94% ϊnec&sajcal asnpiiRstr 920 us eαsSguεed to «κ a dssiϊ-ed p^-baduϊg force oa piεseeks&ϊo stack 920. & the stsibcsdkiesst of HG- % Ms dssked prsfe&diag lbrce B exited fey Srst s&ά secotid ssiφlatεs 924. prn? As shows Is FIG, 9, &st sssdpkls 924B is posSksjsd paralfei to S ^Q ϊI adjobiag s fir^ «®d ofpsssoeiseϊπc stack 940. Second asφiaέs 924B is posfesss! p«rai!sl to aad adjbmisg th» opposfee esd of pi«ss«tectric stack 940, Is these smbodieπssts, sscαad stKiplaεδ 924A is adjustdϊk abκ« sa jssis pasuilsl tø a fesgihsdkal axis of pieso&isetric stack 940, illustrated as tsάs 533, Adjusϊspϊjsi Q£ secoBd βδφiatø 924A along ssds 935 vsriss the prαbadiag &rse exerted os pisszoefcctπe stack 948. Adjostπnait « seeorsd δϊsφkts 924A ss&y be provided, for <sx&mρhχ by s. spring ϊaseϊsats jsas.910.

{<m%i A&ϊγ second craφiats 924A has bsea adjusted sack feat pfezoslectrb ssasfc 940 is issdsr a desϊrαl ppsios&mg &rs;s _s oppαsmg hinge anas 922, 928 srs sach coaSguted to be secured m

SSOTSHI ssφiats 924A via welds 930. After liissgs arms 922 _* 928 are sesuredtø second ssdplats 924A, spsfeg tseolsεsisss 9 IS would, bs removed.

:3δ9*>? As shows iii FIO. % first ©adplate 924B sad hisge amis 922, 92S comprise a uϊiftsry cosspoiiest. First «adplsis 924B sεd opposmg hinge asss 922, 928 coαφdse a sxάtmy OsnψotiSαt ia thst"&ese camposeiKs comprise & s&uc&sr&ily siagakr eastiέy ssssaikcteed as a whole iSs&t wse sot sft^hsd ^o oϋo SDoέlier via, &r axjiπsgls, a wslti. im%i®i FICi JCs schematically ϊllasέratss aitsrnatϊva emfc«κiπι«ϊas of & ssxeclϊaωical sπψlifϊisr in aecordssse with aspects of ths prssest ia a^ ssesbasscai a∑spSSεsr 1020. As skϊws, rτj«5δhssical asiplifisr IG20 coϊsi|>rises Srst and secoad esjdpktes 1024 asui O|φosmg fegfs sαsiϊ lOlS, 5S2S, istisϊf Siπsilsr ss described S!X>λ ^J ϊ? with ϊs&fsncs t« FIG. S _s ^~ whssι ss electrical S%ϊSS! IS 5εp|ϊ!ied m a p£s33sI#cJrfc stack 1040, s∑sαk ICMO άsibπss by c-oatrseϋαg akπjg at least ose SSϊS, ilhsstϊ&tsd as sxss 1035. Has contractksi of stock 1040, causes lώigβ arms 1022, 1028 to besd, deϋsctmg one or SJϊϊTS potiotss of kmgs asag 1022, 1028 oytwsnds Som piasoelsctris stock 1040. Use oftlsis <s>ll©ctiv« dsδectkϊs, reisrresl to ss tls« stroke of fee tr&ssdseer , is aa asi|ϊllSed 1040. siSH82| Also ss dβsss'ibed abovs w^& rsferaaεe to HG- §, fer proper aεεφBϋ.cstioa of Hit 4&fh>t%8&tkm Q£ pismshszήc slack lδ4H _? BKchasissi asfipiffbr 1020 is cosfig5ired tδ eaert a desawi srslosdlag &rc« sa pfcs>«bctrie sstack !02D, M fchss© aseaψlary embodrøsais, Sm said Sϊtoαsd ssilpMess 1024 ss^i the dβsfead prekjadktg Ssrcδ on ptδδiesleetris stssk IS40.

(δδ«S3 As showjifc FICl 10, eaφlaiss 1024 assdhktge arms 1022, 1028 sad collectively oøεspriss tvrø separsis Srst isiώsry stmcture 1050 snd second sπitarj' sjyaeiϊJϊ© 1952. Fs'St sad s«soπd najtsry structsffcs 1050,, 1050 tjseih I^vs a subsss^ieily hook slisp©, As sbs-wjs, Ssst mfiaty struotξjr© ll)5δ coπφris^ first esdpkte 1024B _f a sa&stssaisl jssrtfos. of Hmgs SπϊI ID22j rsfesrsd to as satsteaki postioa 1023 asd at ϊesst a poitios of M*g§ siBi 1028, 1052 sscssd aadf kte 1024A ₅ s substssjϊiai jxjitsosi of te&ge arm !δ2S _s tafered io ss -gy ^' bstaotisl postsoa 1029 and st is&st & jx>ϊtiδ5ϊ »f M-sge arm 1022, ϊsdsmsd to issporlios 102 L

mrni && tlss Skstrated eoibαstimest, Srst aad semnd sέrastsres 10Jδ _s 1032 sre sαa ^β grøest to be pos≥bsed abosύ pssso&kwtήc stack 3040. Whsa pos&joaed s&otit piezoelectric stack .1040. Srsi ssφkte 1<ϊ24B tspos&ksaedparaJbl to aaά adjo&iiag s Srst esd ofpfcseJectrfs stack ID40 _s -wiϊsis seαssd etsdpiaJe. 1024Ais posiuoaed p&raiki to sad adjofeiag tbs stpposit© esd of gisxoekoidc stack 1040, ASer saφktes .1824 are pαsstiosed adlexaiag orφossfe ssds of pissϊselsεtde siaok !04S ₅ first sad SSCO.ES! stmcfar^ 1050, 1052. are eo&Sgsmsd Io be as>ved relative to «a>3 amtlicf ss as te eserl a. prs&jadisg torce o-apfieaosiecfeic slack ! 04€ beiwesrt ssφistffi 1S24. psASSl W&es the |srslosdi£g feres exerted os p«asosfectric staok 1040 tsachss a dsslfcd level, ilrst asι<l second ^cuctøss πisy IKS SSSSSγCKI tootis Bcrsøiaer Oswalds 1030. As shown Ia FIG. 10> ώ» sssl of SHbslastt&i paitloa 1023 of Mδge aπs 1022 i≤ welded So reaπsaπαg postksi 102L SάnOari _j ?, the ssd of s5ibstaκtM pomos 1029 of kføgβ arm I02S is wdάsd i& misssiiag pαsibs.

1027, imtm As slφ\m _; pϋϊtksss ofsaeh Mage sπsi 1022, ICES σv«ruφ at wddissg rsgkais 838. However, ss described bsstow wέLh srsfcresce to FIG. H, it should be apfrscsktsd that is eestaio sϊafecsdsssϊstsihsre is.90 wsiap bβέwsea thεpoϊtioss.

P _MS? 1 FICl 11 5scb«maticslly iitustrxtes otbsjr esabediasests ol a mechanical aϊfϊpli€sr is sscordsssx; wfeb aspects of the presets iaventba, referod 1ω as Bsschiaύoal ss^plmer 1 ¥≥® ^, As shows, mecMnsαd iSs^Hfier 1326 comprises first and sscosei saφiatø 1124 rød op|>O-sag Sfiaiisr as descaled &bov« witli reifersscs to FlG- S ₁ -wises sn «!sdiica! $%sai is sgp!ie<l ts a pjsssselscmc stsck 1148, sts^k X 140 dsi>ras ^' ay cos^ra^ing sbϊig at least ©as sxis, ss sxis 1135. This <»ωiraetion. of stack 1140 _s eaases Mage anus 1122, 1128 to bead, ilsvtiϊig sjss or sssra potbas of Msge ai-fas 1122, 1128 outwards &ompIss»ebϊSrso stscJc 1140. The Sϊsgϋsiade of this coileεtwe deϋeotioti, rsfeisd to as the stH>ks otilse traaisdscer, is as aπxp^iϊed r«prsseatafioB of tfss d^fbmssdba of piezøeiectdc sl^ck 1140>

[§Siδ»? Also as described abows wiS-aτs.&rsac8 to FIG, 8, ibr proper røapliScatkiδ. øfihs defonsssbs «f pkzodsctric stac± 11415, siεdiaaiδsi susjϋSer 1120 & costigursd to sssrt a dmred fest al second, sjiφktes 1124 tbrεs ss p ^j ooβlscttk ^; sts&k ϊ 140.

91

mm As &how& kPlG. π _s esdpktss 1324 asd btage amis 1122, 1128 aari ∞ilectjveiy c ^β πsgrise &xir separate esmpαsssas. A δssl cosspsiieai I ! 50 kckdss fat esφlate 1124B sad si least a poitfes of «ssch oflhsisinge arsag, petϋos 11&2 of Mags arra 1122 aisd pørεbs U 64 of fefsge arm 1128, A sβ«øs& cs^spaasπl 1152 includes seeomi esdpkfe 1124A ascl a£ least & pottba of each of the feg« anm, porϋ&s 1166 of Hugs arm 1122 and portfea 1168 of hisgs sxs 1128,. Ik? aπspliSer mo saciades a fest Iijj3dπ.g εegjoa 1172 «os%ured to sxtαsd between postbas 1162 and I66δ of hisϊge srm 112, ssd & seooad lώkisg reφm 1174 QOB&gmsά ss extesd tew&ea portions ! ?64 aad 1 ! SS of Msig« artn 1128, Is lkesss emboditscsis of ths -gεssssά. mvssnii&n, Sxm &nά sscosd be posstbssd such tliat sssh asφϊafβ k aάpϊnmg ssi sad of ijiesodedrk stack 1 ! 40. First mά. ssoossά α>Bψørseκts 115δ ₅ J 1S2 sre ϊnov&d sskdvβ to c-a-i asorber so as is exert a prsksadfeg force on pwm&hctTb m«k 1140, Wlj«a a dsisired preloadiisg of pisssoebcSπs stack 1 t40 is aafctevficf, tb« ssds of &ιck of the linking rogkjKS 1172, 1174 aps wakied to the eadδ oflώigβ aπs portions of the fesέ asd

iSδHϊ! As shews,, sads of liskkg τsφm 1172 asd 1,174 ^ah Isώge «∑mρoϊtsoasl 162, 1166, ssd r^gbss 1138- However, as <l«scribsd feetow -vvith. referesusc to FKJ. 14, iϊ should be apprscktsd ihut m. certain βiϊjfκ>diiaeϊHS fesxre is sκ> overlap b^w§es fee post ksjjs, l$ ^β &2\ FKL 12 sehømaiicsily ϋlestr&tss altsrtsatsvc embo-dioiests of a ϊ&edumiεsl asssHfler in sccordaaεsϊ whSi saspscU of tiss pjsseπt mveatkϊδj ?efg??sd to ;ss rseclisπicai asspϋfiεr 1220. As shows, tsscshankal amplifier 1220 comprises &st mά second endplales 1234 saci opposing ismge smss 1222, 1228.

IiWiSj Bimϋm ss dgssarsbed abσvs w^h reference to ¥U3. S ₅ whm an electrical sigs&l is applied to a pissoekctric stack; 1240, sisek 1240 dstbπ&s by eostrse&g slosig at least one sxis, tlkst∑ ^g Jed as axis .1235- HJIS eøoteetϊαs of stack 124δ, auses isag« sum 1222, 1228 to beιs4 tkerεfey dsflecϊiBg one or ϊsore ptstbss of&isgs STϊΏS 1222, 122S otitwaπls &»m.pβκoeiscttk issck I24D, The πssgsi&ϊde of this collective clsSecdon, relfersd to as the stoke of ths tKassdαoas; is a® ssjjpMSeci rsprssseπtatba of the dei>rπs∑tba af pkzoelectπc sfeick 1240,

{WkUj Also as described above with refereuse to HG.. S ₅ &r proper assspϋficatles. of Use dsT&rsfsaties of jkssekeiτss stac& 1240, sasdssaical stspliSer 1220 i$ conSgwsd to exert &

dssiredps^IoMltig ibrce OB passoelectrie stack :22δ. Ia these exβsπplaiy es&odisissKS, first and sscsssd ssdplates 1224 exert the desired preloading tbrcs os pfesϊo&lsctπc stack 1240. psπsj Ae SJOøWSI S3 FIG, 12 _S ssdpktes 1224 asd hinge arms I222 _S 1228 e&Hesϋveiy comprise tMS seøsf&έa compoaests, &sϊ uailary stmctar« 1230 sad. second usϊlary sέmetsre 1232. FJm sastary structure 12-50 esmprises Srst eadplsts 1224B asd biags arm 1222. Secoi-d-ξmϋsry sL^ϊdssK? 1252 &mφά$os sseatsά eadplsie 1224A sad hfcg« arm 1228. psuόj Ia Sk? ϊUusϊrsteά arøbodssisϊ^ Srst aad secøM straeteres 1250, 1252 SXΏ cosfigared to be isαs&ioαed sbotsέ piczodccSsic stack !24d. sboui piszoβlecfeic &i≤ak 1240, frsέ esφlals I224B is pαmløssd pasaifel k> acd adjoiamg a stack 1240» while se<x>s<l esdplaJβ I224A ϊs posidonod paasliel to smd adjoϊBmg ihe oppasife ssd ef piδsssieclris ssasl:; 12^0, ASsr csrsdplstss 1224 sx«= |5θsitk>Eδd adjofπisg oppαs&s ®sjdδ of pfegoelectrie stack 124O ₅ Srsi sssd sscom sttudunss 1259, 1232, sre ooaϋgarsd to bs sssvsd «x^t a toros oa piest>d©«rlc stack 1240 fesiwees. rødpktss 1224. imnn Wlssts tks prefeadiiig ibϊs-e sxsrted OB piszoeiostric- stack 1240 rsadi^ a dsstcad fevsl, first mά szO&nά strsjctares may b« gδcarad Se oas asothgr via welds 1230» As sslss^s^ HI FIO. J 2, ths 122a ^' ss wekisd to second rødpi-rfe 1224 A. Similarly, tb& sad bssgs ssm 122S is welded to fct esφkte 1224B, ξ«$H8! As aiastr&tsd xa lbs embodl»es5ts of FIGS, 10 mύ II, poxtioss of ths hbgc sπss tmy αveϊkp si die ^yeld xsgiώSB. HG, O illustrates an sitersatms ssssbodisisBt of &«se ^eM. r«giα!ϊs, showa ;ss w%α nφsn 1338, wtee tteβ is mt »y«rlsp festwees pottsotjs of a hinge amx AS slso^ _B kt FIO. 13, at wsM regfea 1338, a weld 1306 s«;«fss & first portion 1302 »f blage asm 135)0 to a seeoad pot&m 1304 of singe sm 1300, Fast ssd seostsd. rogssss 1302, 1304 røsam sϊHimssiis.%- «ϋgBgd wkh <sse asssther aad ΏO ovsrϊap is sss«ssssy, mu$ι FTG. 14 is s fbwshsrt ϋlastmiiϊg a process &r Bisssfactuikg axaβebaϊϊk&Siy jmψffisd piszoεleσtno stack sa sccordascs \«& smbodimes^ øi the prϊsest iay«Sitk>s- Is tbs ϋbstmesl essljodknsat _j $k bhsk 1402 a pss2»e!ec&ie sέ&sk is provided. Tbs piszosiectda sέaekjmy eojsptlsδ & pre~«ss35&&chsrsά c&sφcras≥s^, or, is s&smattvig βasbodimeats, a pieaoβlactric stack saay bs produced -asisig a pljaalSy of pteaoetecteks layars.

?i

(88S2SI At block 1404, two or more sep&rsSs eoωφαossts of & saselianiesi ssipiife- are positiαssd sdjscsst to, sad sabstastmliv about, t&& pissosleefctie stack, At bJsck 1406, the sepajsiδ ς&txφaϊisss&s. of the tsschsaiesl sEopMfbr are used to prskssd tks pfeaefcetrie stack. As disciϊsssά sbo-ys with 3?sferssce. to FIGS. 8-22, Shis preloading xmy b« perisπasά in a variety of ways. Far ss&asple, ss described stsovs with refsrsace to FϊG, 8 _< the msjcissoica! stapiHler iachides a usstasy fraπse eβBψristsg Srst asά seooml esφi&ies sxd opposfeg hfega ;sttπs, sssd a piston The seeoad ssφlsto has a be Ie ύis∞m coalϊgos^d to rscdvc the psstcjπ. 'the isώsry iδsass Js possioϊicd afeois the pie2»eleeάic stack, aad psstes is posLtsossc itoagk έbs isois in the Sfiooϊid βadpiate so ss to sxsrt a preloading ferc-e as the pfczoekstπc staek. In such, srssbodimssits, st bkxsk 1408 UϊS pistosx may be welded Is seooxid βsdflste, Is this exssnple, it sboalil bs spprecsatstl that the piston .oasy be gositioaed is, sssd welded to, έtte sscoisd βMpMts prior Co pxάkssisg of the isώaty lrame about tho pleaoekctsc s&ok.

Iδδi2ϊj Akkough FlG. 14 has beea dssssibed herβk with rs&reacε U) the sS8EuS*d«re of os« sjsjjϋdkϊδϊsi of a taediasiicaily ampMsd pieaoeiεGJric eteϊscst of the prssesr kvesπoo, aassβϊy Lk; ss3.osdis5eat ξiiustπsisd Ia. HG. % it shoiiid be asprsciatad that tfie Biaasifactsπag pnssess of FKl. 14 Bssy be xt&sά hτ ssy of the embodsaesits desαibed oerdjL pii22| i*dliϊαιsg!ϊ tbc above eaibodfeπssϊtts te ^! e bees described lϊeress with, rsfensn.ee fe a psir of opposing hinge snss posiϊϊossd sroiiαd a piezoekctt'sc sissnesfc, ϊi sbosld be sp^m'eedaisci that altematws sjχaxκ!i?isfiBts are withfe tks scope of the present iavestJαs. For esampiej m sue such a-ltaπmth's easksdjssent, a sseclis-sical aδϊpHBer may comprise a Stst pair of oiyptssiag Jϊssge srms as described &feov«- Tfes rjiechasieai amplitle? smy Srfaer cojBpriss a ssosmi pair of opsosiBg hisgs SγϊϊSS. These see-oad p&ir ofhmgs anas m&y fee pesrαossd, for ssasspte, orfeogosai to, or ^raiisl to, the fiπst pair of oppossag fcbgs SπBS. The secosd pair ofeppasisg Isiϊ3g« au?s sre similar to fee prevkassly describsd laαge a∑m mά ∞&y be positbsad, πjasafsctarsd. stc. in my of tbs ssasajers descπbed above.

PS12S] Is <sέhe? smbodssests, a lώjg« srx∑i s>f the present ϊωvssϊsεioa may eonsjsnse a spiϋ Mage arm. 'Tb& sflit hissge sπa cαssgnsas two portbas or aπss tkat sxtead Ijstwesa eϊsdf kte of tbs ssxsplϊSer, Hjβse ssrtas may samgdss the sssse «r ^" diSe?et5t material Likewise, tfess© arms s^iy ha mbmxsiMly paraSel to oss assother, or thsy may be oM«^ fesm oae aϊsotk^. Ia sperstios,

two <i£feesi πsasses ma? fee coasted to eack srπi of the spik Mngs SOB SO thai two different rssssassi fequeseies ns&y fee produced.

{Wi24\ hx o&sr embodiments a traasdacssr Is acc©κkne*j wtώ erabodiiseaέs of ύ& pr^snaϊ kvesfca πssy «ss oψgasmg mss±aεicai asspffiers to amplify the <lefermstios5- of a giessslscirfc skaacssi. For «sataple, i ^" wo mecisamcal assplMsss, such as those described above, isoaki fee ssed tø aπipliy the άtfermafioa of tfas pϊssoelδctde eierneat. IH ssftaϊa ssich sεώodsmsiϊb, εbs iwe ϊaschasώsi aκϊipϊiS«rs would be positκj-jδd <ss opposite skies of the giesxsfee&io slemeai: to assplify the deferπsaiios.

•mtzsi WMk varioas esabodkBems of the ^sesi: aivβstsos Bavs bses described above, It should bft ^■ us.dsrst od tfest tlxsy ha&s bear _* preseatsd fey w&y of exsiϊψls only, &M aoϊ liststa&ii. It s>/Si b« ξψparcst to |jeεχ>as skOled Ia the rstβvaat Ht thafvsdotis ds&ogss in &πs asd detail can fee πisde disirsss ^v ^j tlsotit dsp&stisg S"oaι fee spirit asd scope of the isrysstioϊL T&JS, ths fersadth and scaρ« of the |JγGS«SϊJ irrvestsm should sot fe ϋsjlted % any of &s above-dss»&©d exexspisxy cssl)odiisj8al&, bϊ∑t skoajά be defmsot oaiy k socof dance wδi U«? laSlowktg dafess ;isd their &q«ival<jsss. Ail pitesώs sad pubHcatsoas discaseed bsε%ϊ& are ineoϊporated fe saesr entirety bf πsfeetscc ihsrel-y,