Piezoelectric Transformer Edge Rounding for Plasma Ionization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric transformers experience reduced service life due to mechanical stress and cracking caused by plasma ignitions at lateral edges, which leads to undesirable reactions and shortened lifespan.
Innovation Solution
The piezoelectric transformer is designed with rounded lateral edges and an optional insulation layer to reduce electrical field strength at the edges, preventing ionization and mechanical stress, thereby extending the service life by ensuring ionization only occurs at the output-side end face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the piezoelectric transformer is used to generate high voltage for plasma ignition, then plasma generation capability is improved, but mechanical stress and cracking occur at lateral edges reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different regions of the piezoelectric transformer. The output-side end face is left with a smooth surface to facilitate plasma ignition, while the lateral edges are rounded to reduce electrical field strength and prevent unwanted plasma formation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing high voltage generation at the end face while protecting the lateral edges from mechanical stress and cracking.
2Productivity
If plasma ignition occurs at lateral edges, then plasma generation is enhanced, but mechanical stress peaks cause cracking and reduce service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized different conditions on the surface: the output-side end face maintains a smooth surface for effective plasma ignition, while the lateral edges are rounded to suppress plasma formation. This ensures plasma generation efficiency at the intended location while preventing the harmful mechanical stress and cracking that would reduce service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The rounding of lateral edges, which might seem to reduce the active plasma generation area, actually converts a harmful effect (unwanted plasma ignition causing mechanical stress) into a beneficial one (reduced field strength preventing cracking). This transforms the potential harm of edge effects into a protective feature that extends service life.
3Manufacturing precision
If the output-side end face is metallized to enhance plasma ignition, then ionization efficiency is improved, but electrical field concentration at edges increases causing unwanted plasma formation
Solution Approach 1:
The metallization is applied selectively: the output-side end face is metallized to enhance ionization efficiency and plasma ignition, while the lateral edges are left with a rounded, non-metallized surface. This local differentiation allows the end face to generate strong electrical fields for effective plasma ignition while the rounded edges naturally reduce field concentration, preventing unwanted plasma formation.
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 avoids mechanical stress peaks and cracking, increasing the service life of the piezoelectric transformer while maintaining functionality and allowing controlled plasma generation for applications like surface activation and medical uses.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the piezoelectric effect, the alternating voltage applied on the input side is initially converted into a mechanical vibration
Implementation Method 2
a mechanical wave forms within the piezoelectric material 5, 9 and, due to the piezoelectric effect, generates an output voltage in the output region 3
Implementation Method 3
the piezoelectric transformer 1 generates high electrical fields which are capable of ionizing gasses by means of electrical excitation. In this case, atoms or molecules of the particular gas are ionized and form a plasma
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric transformer (1) which is divided in the longitudinal direction (L) into an input region (2) and an output region (3), wherein electrodes (4) and piezoelectric material (5) are alternately stacked in the input region (2) and an alternating voltage can be applied to the electrodes (4) in the input region (2), wherein the output region (3) comprises piezoelectric material (9) which effectuates the build-up of an electrical field when alternating voltage is applied in the input region (2), wherein the piezoelectric transformer (1) has an output-side end face (10) which faces away from the input region (2), and lateral edges (13) which extend in the longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the piezoelectric transformer (1) is designed for ionizing atoms or molecules at the output-side end face (10), thereby avoiding ionization of atoms or molecules at the lateral edges (13).