A piezoelectric drive motor especially well adapted for use with flow
control systems on commercial aircraft, military aircraft and spacecraft.
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure that
supports a piezoelectric beam. A biasing element, for example a coil
spring, is coupled between a free end of the piezoelectric beam and the
support structure. The spring exerts a compressive force on the beam and
serves to amplify its displacement when electric signals applied to
piezoelectric layers on the beam cause deflection of the beam between two
stable positions. The drive motor operates over a wider band of drive
frequencies than conventional piezoelectric beams and is also suitable
for use as a sensor and in a wide variety of actuator applications.