Piezoelectric Transformer

Abstract

A piezoelectric transformer is disclosed. In an embodiment a piezoelectric transformer includes an input region and an output region, wherein the input region is configured to convert an AC voltage into a mechanical oscillation, wherein the output region is configured to convert a mechanical oscillation into an electrical voltage, wherein the piezoelectric transformer includes a longest edge and a shortest edge, and wherein the longest edge includes a length that is twenty times a length of the shortest edge or less.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A piezoelectric transformer for generating plasma comprising:
 an input region and an output region,   wherein the input region is configured to convert an AC voltage into a mechanical oscillation,   wherein the output region is configured to convert a mechanical oscillation into an electrical voltage,   wherein the piezoelectric transformer comprises a longest edge and a shortest edge, and   wherein the longest edge comprises a length that is twenty times a length of the shortest edge or less.   
     
     
         15 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the longest edge comprises a length of less than 45 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the longest edge comprises a length of less than 35 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein a first external electrode is arranged on a first side surface of the input region,   wherein a second external electrode is arranged on a second side surface of the input region, the second side surface arranged opposite the first side surface,   wherein the input region comprises piezoelectric layers and electrodes stacked one above another in a stacking direction,   wherein the electrodes are contacted either with the first external electrode or with the second external electrode alternately in the stacking direction, and   wherein the output region comprises a monolithic piezoelectric layer.   
     
     
         18 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the longest edge extends from the input region to the output region. 
     
     
         19 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the shortest edge is perpendicular to the longest edge. 
     
     
         20 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric transformer has a resonant frequency of more than 100 kHz. 
     
     
         21 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the longest edge comprises a length that is fifteen times a length of the shortest edge of the piezoelectric transformer or less. 
     
     
         22 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the shortest edge comprises a length of between 10 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric transformer is configured to avoid plasma ignitions along the longest edge in the output region based on a ratio of a length of the longest edge to a length of the shortest edge. 
     
     
         24 . The piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 , wherein mechanical loadings of a piezoelectric material in the output region are reduced by a ratio of a length of the longest edge to a length of the shortest edge. 
     
     
         25 . A plasma generator comprising:
 the piezoelectric transformer according to  claim 14 .   
     
     
         26 . The plasma generator according to  claim 25 , wherein the plasma generator is configured to provide a plasma ignition primarily at an output-side end side of the piezoelectric transformer.