Silent stick-slip piezo motor

Abstract

A stick-slip piezo motor. At least one voltage source is connected to a piezo motor. The piezo motor has at least one oscillating piezo element and at least one moving friction element connected to the oscillating piezo element. The moving friction element moves in a desired travel direction. A computer is programmed to control the voltage source to deliver voltage to the piezo motor at a predetermined frequency and amplitude to control the speed of the piezo motor. The computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant while varying the amplitude to adjust the speed of the piezo motor. In a preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at an ultrasonic frequency. In another preferred embodiment the computer is programmed to hold the frequency constant at a value of 15 kHz or higher.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stick-slip piezo motor system, comprising:
 A. at least one voltage source,   B. a piezo motor electrically connected to said at least one voltage source, said piezo motor comprising:
 i. at least one oscillating piezo element, 
 ii. at least one moving friction element connected to said at least one oscillating piezo element, said at least one moving friction element for moving in a desired travel direction, and 
   C. a computer programmed to control said at least one voltage source to deliver voltage to said piezo motor at a predetermined frequency and amplitude to control the speed of said piezo motor, wherein said computer is programmed to hold said frequency constant while said amplitude is varied to adjust the speed of said piezo motor.   
     
     
         2 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 1 , wherein said frequency is an ultrasonic frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 1 , wherein said frequency is greater than or equal to 15 kHz. 
     
     
         4 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 1 , wherein said frequency is audible and pleasant to a human. 
     
     
         5 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 1 , wherein said piezo motor is a single-phase motor. 
     
     
         6 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 5 , wherein said piezo motor first accelerates during an acceleration mode, then operates at a constant speed during a constant speed mode, and then decelerates during a deceleration mode, wherein said computer is programmed to operate at fixed amplitude and variable frequency during at least a portion of said acceleration mode, wherein said computer is programmed to operate at variable amplitude and fixed frequency during said constant speed mode, and wherein said computer is programmed to operate at fixed amplitude and variable frequency during a portion of said deceleration mode. 
     
     
         7 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 1 , wherein said piezo motor is a multi-phase motor and wherein said at least one oscillating piezo element is a plurality of oscillating piezo elements and wherein said at least one moving friction element is a plurality of oscillating friction elements. 
     
     
         8 . The stick-slip piezo motor system as in  claim 7 , wherein said piezo motor first accelerates during an acceleration mode, then operates at a constant speed during a constant speed mode, and then decelerates during a deceleration mode, wherein said computer is programmed to operate at fixed amplitude and variable frequency during at least a portion of said acceleration mode, wherein said computer is programmed to operate at variable amplitude and fixed frequency during said constant speed mode, and wherein said computer is programmed to operate at fixed amplitude and variable frequency during a portion of said deceleration mode. 
     
     
         9 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of alternating voltage sources, wherein each of said plurality of alternating voltage sources provides alternating voltage to one said oscillating piezo elements so that each one of said oscillating piezo elements oscillates out of phase with respect to the other oscillating piezo elements. 
     
     
         10 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of piezo elements are two piezo elements. 
     
     
         11 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 10 , wherein said two piezo elements are connected to the same side of said piezo housing, wherein both of said piezo elements are expanding together or contracting together when both are operating is said stick phase. 
     
     
         12 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 10 , where said two piezo elements are connected to the opposite side of said piezo housing, wherein one of said piezo elements is expanding while the other of said piezo elements is contracting when both are operating is said stick phase. 
     
     
         13 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said travel direction is linear. 
     
     
         14 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said travel direction is rotational. 
     
     
         15 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said piezo motor allows for planar movement of said moving friction element. 
     
     
         16 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of piezo elements are at least three piezo elements. 
     
     
         17 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of piezo friction elements are ceramic friction elements. 
     
     
         18 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said moving friction element is a sliding friction element. 
     
     
         19 . The stick-slip piezo motor as in  claim 1 , wherein said moving friction element is a rotational friction element. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using a stick-slip piezo motor, comprising the steps of:
 A. connecting a piezo motor to a voltage source, said piezo motor comprising:
 i. at least one oscillating piezo element, 
 ii. at least one moving friction element connected to said at least one oscillating piezo element, said at least one moving friction element for moving in a desired travel direction, 
   B. programming a computer to control said at least one voltage source to deliver voltage to said piezo motor at a predetermined frequency and amplitude to control the speed of said piezo motor,   C. programming said computer to hold said frequency constant while said amplitude is varied to adjust the speed of said piezo motor.   
     
     
         21 . The method as in  claim 20 , wherein said frequency is an ultrasonic frequency. 
     
     
         22 . The method as in  claim 20 , wherein said frequency is greater than or equal to 15 kHz. 
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 20 , wherein said frequency is audible and pleasant to a human. 
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 20 , wherein said piezo motor first accelerates during an acceleration mode, then operates at a constant speed during a constant speed mode, and then decelerates during a deceleration mode, further comprising the steps of:
 A. programming said computer to accelerate said piezo motor for at least a portion of said acceleration mode at fixed amplitude variable frequency,   B. programming said computer to operate said piezo motor during said constant speed mode at variable amplitude and fixed frequency, and   C. programming said computer to decelerate said piezo motor for at least a portion of said deceleration mode at fixed amplitude variable frequency.