Piezoelectric Element Polarity Boundary Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional piezoelectric elements lack external indicators for polarity, leading to potential misorientation during assembly, which can result in incorrect deformation direction and damage, especially in applications like head suspensions where precise positioning is critical.

Innovation Solution

A piezoelectric element design featuring electrodes and a non-electrode part with a patterned boundary that indicates polarity, allowing for external recognition and correction of orientation before assembly, thereby preventing erroneous attachment and reducing the risk of microcracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional piezoelectric elements without external polarity indicators are used, then the device structure remains simple, but misorientation during assembly occurs leading to incorrect deformation direction and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidcorrect orientation assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual marking (pattern formation) on the piezoelectric element surface to indicate polarity. The pattern creates a distinguishable visual difference between opposite polarities, enabling assembly workers to correctly identify and orient the piezoelectric element during assembly, thereby preventing misorientation errors while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The pattern acts as an intermediary indicator between the piezoelectric element's internal polarity and the external assembler. This visual mediator translates the invisible electrical polarity into a visible form that can be easily recognized and acted upon during assembly, ensuring correct orientation without complicating the device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If piezoelectric elements are attached without polarity indicators, then the manufacturing process is faster, but misorientation is frequently overlooked until final testing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoiddefect detection delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements polarity indication through pattern formation during the manufacturing process, before assembly occurs. This preliminary visual marking ensures that orientation correctness can be verified immediately during assembly, preventing misoriented elements from being installed and eliminating the need for time-consuming defect detection during final testing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If piezoelectric elements lack external polarity indicators, then the device structure remains simple, but misoriented elements cause serious troubles after assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelement structure simplicityVSAvoidoperational correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces visual patterns on the piezoelectric element surface to indicate polarity without fundamentally changing the element's structural simplicity. The pattern serves as a visual guide that enables correct orientation during assembly, preventing operational errors while maintaining the basic structural integrity and simplicity of the piezoelectric element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents incorrect attachment, enhances the reliability of piezoelectric elements by avoiding misorientation and microcrack formation, and improves the productivity and longevity of piezoelectric devices by ensuring correct polarity recognition and smooth manufacturing processes.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric body (2) that deforms according to polarity in response to a voltage applied thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8233245B2Piezoelectric element with electrode and head suspension

Publication Date: 2012.07.31 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

A piezoelectric element with electrode is capable of preventing an assembling error. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric body configured to deform according to polarity in response to a voltage applied thereto, electrodes formed on surfaces of the piezoelectric body, respectively, a non-electrode part formed on at least one of the surfaces of the piezoelectric body, the non-electrode part continuing to the one electrode that is on the at least one surface of the piezoelectric body, and a boundary between the non-electrode part and the one electrode. The boundary has a pattern to indicate the polarity of the piezoelectric element.