JPH08162689A - Converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a novel small-sized thin converter which can generate a voltage of several 100 volts or higher from a battery having a several volts or less and has a simple structure. CONSTITUTION: The converter comprises a coil 1, a magneto-strictive element 2, and a piezoelectric element 3. The coil 1 is wound around the element 2. The elements 2 and 3 are butted at one end each as seen from the winding axis direction of the coil 1, and restricted at the other end each.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to converters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as seen in the widespread use of liquid crystal displays, a converter for generating a voltage of several hundreds of volts from a portable battery of several volts has been required. When obtaining a lighting power supply for a liquid crystal display, conventionally, a DC-DC converter including a winding transformer is used to boost a voltage of several volts supplied from a battery to several hundreds of volts.

[0003]

The liquid crystal display is
For example, since it is used in a high-density packaging device such as a notebook computer or a laptop computer that is required to be portable, the power supply device used for it must be small and thin. However, the winding type transformer that constitutes the conventional illumination power supply for liquid crystal displays requires a few hundred turns to generate the required high output voltage, and thus meets the demand for a small size and a thin shape. Was difficult. Instead of a wire-wound transformer,
Recently, a lighting power supply for liquid crystal displays using a piezoelectric transformer has been proposed. As a prior art document of a piezoelectric transformer, there is JP-A-56-101790. However, since the piezoelectric transformer is used in the resonance frequency range, it is necessary to control the number of times so that the resonance point does not shift due to the ambient temperature. Therefore, in the past, it was small and
It was not possible to obtain an illumination power supply for a liquid crystal display that is thin and has a simple configuration.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new converter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a converter capable of producing a high voltage of several hundred volts or more from a battery of several volts or less.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compact and thin converter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a converter having a simple structure.

[0008]

To solve the above problems, a converter according to the present invention includes a coil, a magnetostrictive element, and a piezoelectric element. The coil is wound around the magnetostrictive element. One ends of the magnetostrictive element and the piezoelectric element viewed in the winding axis direction of the coil are butted against each other, and the other ends thereof are restrained.

In the converter according to the present invention, AC power is supplied to the coil, and thereby an alternating magnetic field is generated. The magnetostrictive element is expanded and contracted by the application of the alternating magnetic field generated in the coil. The piezoelectric element receives the expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element and generates a voltage.

In another application, the piezoelectric element is supplied with AC power from the outside, and thereby expands and contracts. The magnetostrictive element expands and contracts in response to expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The coil generates a voltage according to expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element.

Preferably, a magnetic bias means is included, and the magnetic bias means applies a magnetic bias to the magnetostrictive element. .

In another preferred example, a pressure adjusting means is included, and the pressure adjusting means presses the magnetostrictive element in the expansion / contraction direction.

[0013]

[Operation] The coil is wound around the magnetostrictive element,
In the magnetostrictive element and the piezoelectric element, one ends of the magnetostrictive element and the piezoelectric element viewed in the winding axis direction of the coil are butted against each other, and the other ends of the magnetostrictive element and the piezoelectric element are restrained. With this structure, it is possible to realize a novel converter that extracts the AC power input to the coil from the piezoelectric element or extracts the AC power input to the piezoelectric element from the coil.

When the AC power input to the coil is taken out from the piezoelectric element, the coil is excited to generate an alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive element, and the magnetostrictive element expands and contracts according to the change in the alternating magnetic field. Let In the general case where the coil is excited by a sine wave current, the alternating magnetic field also becomes a sine wave, so that the dimensions of the magnetostrictive element expand and contract like a sine wave.

The piezoelectric element is coupled with the magnetostrictive element so as to generate a voltage in response to expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element, and outputs the voltage as an output voltage. As a result, the input power supplied to the coil is converted into the output voltage of the piezoelectric element and taken out. In the present invention, since the magnetostriction generated by the magnetostrictive element with respect to the alternating magnetic field is used as the stress on the piezoelectric element, the output voltage of the piezoelectric element is generally a sine wave. As a result, an input voltage of about 1.5 V supplied from the AC power supply E can be converted into a voltage of several hundred volts and output from the piezoelectric element 3.

The piezoelectric element as a mechanical / electrical energy converter requires no bias power source and is easy to handle. Therefore, a converter having a simple circuit configuration and easy handling can be realized.

The conventional wire-wound transformer has a voltage of 1.5V.
To generate a high output voltage of several hundred volts or more with a moderate AC power supply, several hundreds of turns were required. In addition, since the recently developed piezoelectric transformer is used in the resonance frequency range, a control circuit is required to prevent the resonance point from shifting due to ambient temperature. On the other hand, the converter according to the present invention does not require the number of turns as in the conventional case, and does not require a control circuit or the like. Therefore, it is possible to realize a small, thin, and simple converter.

Next, when the AC power input to the piezoelectric element is taken out from the coil, the AC power is externally supplied to the piezoelectric element. This causes the piezoelectric element to expand and contract. The magnetostrictive element expands and contracts in response to expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element, and a voltage is generated in the coil according to expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element. Applications of such converters are, for example, sensors.

The magnetostrictive element has a nonlinear relationship between the external magnetic field and the magnetostriction, and has a hysteresis characteristic. But,
Displacement in a limited magnetic field range shows a relatively linear change. In order to take advantage of this property of the magnetostrictive element, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a DC bias magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive element.
This allows the magnetostrictive element to operate in a relatively linear characteristic region. As a method of applying a DC bias magnetic field, there are a method using a magnet and a DC superimposing method using a coil, but the latter method involves heat generation due to constant energization. On the other hand, the DC bias method using a magnet does not cause a problem of heat generation. Therefore, it is desirable to use the DC bias method using a magnet.

When the magnetostrictive element is prestressed, a large elongation can be obtained, which increases the stress of the piezoelectric element and a high output voltage can be obtained. Therefore, in a further preferred example of the present invention, a pressure adjusting unit is included, and the pressure adjusting unit applies pressure to the magnetostrictive element in the expansion / contraction direction. The preferred value of prestress is around 40 kgf / cm ² .

[0021]

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a converter according to the present invention. The converter according to the present invention includes a coil 1, a magnetostrictive element 2, and a piezoelectric element 3. The coil 1 is supplied with input power from an AC power source E to which the coil terminals 101 and 102 are connected, thereby generating an alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field generated in the coil 1 is applied to the magnetostrictive element 2 so that the magnetostrictive element 2 expands and contracts.

Magnetostriction means that when the magnetostrictive element 2 receives a magnetic field from the outside, as shown in FIG. 2, its dimension L is the dimension (L ± Δ).
This is a phenomenon that changes to L). The principle of such a magnetostriction phenomenon is well known. That is, when there is no external magnetic field, the magnetostrictive element 2 is distorted in a specific direction by the magnetic moment under the electromagnetic balance inside. When an external magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive element 2 in this equilibrium state, it moves to a new electromagnetic equilibrium point. At that time, since the direction of the magnetic moment also changes, a magnetostriction phenomenon of expanding in a certain direction and contracting in a certain direction occurs.

The piezoelectric element 3 is coupled to the magnetostrictive element 2 so as to generate a voltage by receiving the expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element 2, and outputs the generated voltage as an output voltage V0. The piezoelectric element 3 is polarized in the direction of arrow P0 (or the opposite direction), and electrodes 31 and 32 are printed on both ends of the piezoelectric element 30 in the polarization direction P0. Electrode plates 51 and 52 are connected to the electrodes 31 and 32 of the piezoelectric element 3, respectively.
Lead wires 61, 62 are connected to 1, 52. One ends of the magnetostrictive element 2 and the piezoelectric element 3 are abutted against each other, and the other ends are held by the fixing means 41 and 42. The coil 1 is wound around the magnetostrictive element 2. As the AC power supply E, an oscillator that generates an AC having a frequency of several hundreds Hz to several thousands Hz or higher can be used.

In the above structure, the coil 1 is excited by the input power supplied from the AC power source E to generate an alternating magnetic field. This alternating magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive element 2,
The magnetostrictive element 2 expands and contracts according to the change in the alternating magnetic field. In the general case where the coil 1 is excited by a sine wave current, the alternating magnetic field also becomes a sine wave, so that the size of the magnetostrictive element 2 expands and contracts in a sine wave.

The piezoelectric element 3 is coupled to the magnetostrictive element 2 so as to generate a voltage by receiving the expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element 2, and thereby outputs the output voltage V0. This allows the coil 1
The input power supplied to is converted into the output voltage V0 of the piezoelectric element 3 and taken out. In a general usage mode, since the magnetostriction of the magnetostrictive element 2 generated by the alternating magnetic field is used as the stress to the piezoelectric element 3, the output voltage V of the piezoelectric element 3 is increased.
0 is a sine wave. As a result, an input voltage of about 1.5 V supplied from the AC power source E can be converted into a sine wave voltage of several hundred volts and output from the piezoelectric element 3.

The piezoelectric element 3 as a mechanical / electrical energy converter does not require any bias power source and is easy to handle. Therefore, a converter having a simple circuit configuration and easy handling can be realized.

In the conventional converter, the number of turns of several hundreds of turns is required to generate a high output voltage of several hundred volts or more by using the AC power source E of about 1.5V. In addition, since the recently developed piezoelectric transformer is used in the resonance frequency range, a control circuit is required to prevent the resonance point from shifting due to ambient temperature. On the other hand, the converter according to the present invention does not require the number of turns as in the conventional wire-wound transformer, and does not require a control circuit or the like. Therefore, it is possible to realize a small, thin, and simple converter. By the way,
We were able to obtain a very thin converter with a thickness of 3 mm.

The converter according to the invention is preferably
A magnetic bias means 7 is included. The magnetic bias means 7 applies a magnetic bias to the magnetostrictive element 2. The illustrated magnetic bias means 7 includes yokes 71 to 74 and a magnet 7
5 and 76 are included. At least two magnets 75 and 76 are provided, each of which is oriented so as to apply a magnetic bias in the same direction to the magnetostrictive element 2, and is coupled to the yokes 71 to 74. The magnetostrictive element 2 and the piezoelectric element 3 are connected with the yoke 74 interposed therebetween. Since there is a minute gap between the other ends of the yokes 72 and 73 and between both ends of the yoke 74, the magnetostriction generated in the magnetostrictive element 2 is reliably transmitted to the piezoelectric element 3 via the yoke 74.

It is desirable that the yokes 71 to 74 should be arranged so that the magnetic circuit resistance is small and a uniform magnetic field can be applied to the magnetostrictive element 2. As such a concrete means, the yoke 71 is formed into a U shape to receive the end portion of the magnetostrictive element 2, and the magnets 75 and 76 are provided at both ends of the U shaped yoke 71.
One end of each of the magnets 75 and 76 is closely attached to one end of each of the yokes 72 and 73.
The yoke 7 is provided between the other ends of the yokes 2 and 73 with a minute gap.
It has a structure in which 4 are arranged. A space is generated between the other ends of the yokes 72 and 73 and between both ends of the yoke 74. By reducing the space, the magnetic resistance can be reduced and the magnetic efficiency can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 3, the magnetostrictive element 2 has a nonlinear relationship between the external magnetic field and the elongation rate due to magnetostriction, and
Although it has a hysteresis-like characteristic, it exhibits a relatively linear magnetostrictive characteristic in a certain limited magnetic field range. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in, the DC bias magnetic field ΔHb is applied to the magnetostrictive element 2 so that the magnetostrictive element 2 operates in the linear magnetostrictive characteristic region. As a method of applying a DC bias magnetic field, there are a method using a magnet and a DC superimposing method using a coil, but the latter method involves heat generation due to constant energization. In the embodiment, since the DC bias magnetic field ΔHb is applied to avoid such a heating operation, the magnets 75, 7 are
6 is used.

The magnetostrictive element 2 is prestressed.
A large elongation can be obtained by applying the pressure (res), thereby increasing the stress of the piezoelectric element 3 and increasing the output voltage V
0 is obtained. The preferred value of prestress is 40kgf / cm
It is around ² . The prestress can be obtained by applying a force in the direction indicated by arrow F1 to the assembly of the magnetostrictive element 2 and the piezoelectric element 3 by the fixing means 41 or 42 shown in FIG.

A giant magnetostrictive material is suitable as a constituent material of the magnetostrictive element 2. The response speed of the super magnetostrictive material 10 ^{over 6} se
It is as fast as c and has a high specific resistance of 10 ⁻⁴ Ω · cm as a metal, and a 1 mm square shape can be used with low loss up to 100 kHz. The magnetostrictive material forming the magnetostrictive element 2 is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,308,474.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the converter, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A6-A6 of FIG. The coil 1 is wound around the magnetostrictive element 2. Thereby, a magnetic field is applied in the length direction of the magnetostrictive element 2. In a specific example,
Coil 1 has 224 turns and can be made as thin as 3 mm.
The magnetostrictive element 2 is composed of a Tb-Dy-Fe alloy.

The piezoelectric element 3 is made of a piezoelectric material whose main component is BaTiO ₃ . The piezoelectric element 3 having a high g constant and a high d constant is suitable for generating a high voltage. In the embodiment, the piezoelectric element body 30 of the piezoelectric element 3 is polarized in the vertical direction P0 in the drawing (see FIG. 6), and the polarization direction P
Electrodes 31 and 32 are printed on both ends of 0. Electrode plates 51 and 52 to which lead wires 61 and 62 for extracting electric power are connected are closely attached to the electrodes 31 and 32 of the piezoelectric element 3.

The magnetic bias means 7 comprises yokes 71-74.
And magnets 75 and 76. Magnet 75,
At least two 76 are provided, each of which is oriented so as to apply a magnetic bias in the same direction to the magnetostrictive element 2, and is coupled to the yokes 71 to 74. It is desirable that the yokes 71 to 74 have a low magnetic circuit resistance and that they can apply a uniform magnetic field to the magnetostrictive element 2. As such a specific means, the yoke 71 is formed in a U shape to receive the end portion of the magnetostrictive element 2, and one end of each of the magnets 75 and 76 is closely attached to both ends of the U-shaped yoke 71 so that each of the magnets 75 and 76 is The ends of the yokes 72 and 73 are closely attached to the ends, and the yokes 72 and 73 are
A yoke 74 is arranged between the other ends of 73 with a small gap g1, g2.

Spacers 81 and 82 made of electrically insulating plastic or the like are arranged on both surfaces of the piezoelectric element 3.

The assembly of the coil 1, the magnetostrictive element 2, the piezoelectric element 3, the electrode plates 51 and 52, the yokes 71 to 74, and the magnets 75 and 76 is a housing 41 serving as fixing means.
Is placed inside and is held by a lid 42 which is another fixing means. The housing 41 and the lid 42 can be made of a metal material. The lid 42 is attached to the housing 41 by a coupling tool 43 such as a screw. Electrical insulating sheets 53 and 54 such as Teflon are sandwiched between the electrode plate 51 and the yoke 74 and between the electrode plate 52 and the lid 42.

The magnetostrictive element 2 is directly compressed together with the piezoelectric element 3 at 40 kgf / cm ² by the tightening force of the coupler 43 for fixing the lid 42 to the housing 41. As shown in FIG. 7, the magnetostrictive element 2 can obtain a large elongation by applying a prestress of 20 to 60 kgf / cm ² . Therefore, in this example, 40 kgf / cm ² was selected as a preferable prestress value.

Next, when the prestress is set to 40 kgf / cm ² , the displacement of the magnetostrictive element 2 required to obtain the output voltage V0 of 100 Vp-p from the piezoelectric element 3 is obtained.

Considering the generated voltage V when the stress T is applied (or removed) to the piezoelectric element 3, the following equation is obtained.

[0041] _{V = Lp · g 33 · T} / Ap where g ₃₃ is the output voltage coefficient, this voltage will self-discharge disappears spontaneously by the insulation resistance of the internal resistance and the output terminal of the piezoelectric element 3. Lp is the length of the piezoelectric element 3, and Ap is the electrode 3.
The cross-sectional area is 1, 32. The target value of V was 100 Vp-p. Therefore, the stress T must be 0.35N. When the Young's modulus of the piezoelectric element 3 is Yp, the piezoelectric element 3
The stiffness Kp of is expressed by the following equation.

Kp = Yp · Ap / Lp (1) Further, the stiffness Km of the magnetostrictive element 2 has a length L
m, the cross-sectional area is Am, and the Young's modulus is Ym.

Km = Ym · Am / Lm (2) The piezoelectric element 3 and the magnetostrictive element 2 are connected to the housing 41 and the lid 42.
When fixed with, it is thought to be affected by the increase in spring constant. Therefore, the displacement X of the magnetostrictive element 2 after being fixed is given by the following equation.

X = ΔLm / (Lm + Kp / km) (3) Here, ΔLm represents the displacement of the magnetostrictive element 2 at 40 kgf / cm ² . From the equations (1), (2) and (3), the displacement X is 0.45 μm. The generated force F of the magnetostrictive element 2 is expressed by the following equation.

F = Ym · Am · ΔLm / Lm (4) At this time, the generated force F is 0.9N. The force T required for the voltage generated by the piezoelectric element 3 is 0.35 N, so 100 Vp
You can expect a voltage above -p.

FIG. 8 shows the prestress-output voltage characteristic. As shown in the figure, a large output voltage can be obtained by applying a prestress of 20 to 60 kgf / cm ² .
Especially, when the prestress of about 40 kgf / cm ² is applied, the output voltage becomes maximum.

FIG. 9 shows the frequency-output voltage characteristic of the converter. The magnetic field applied to the magnetostrictive element 2 was kept constant, and the prestress was measured under the conditions of 40 kgf / cm ² . As the frequency increases, the impedance of the piezoelectric element 3 decreases, so that the output voltage increases. The measured value was 100 Vp-p or more.

When the AC power input to the piezoelectric element 3 is extracted from the coil 1, the AC power is externally supplied to the piezoelectric element 3. As a result, the piezoelectric element 3 expands and contracts.
The magnetostrictive element 2 expands and contracts in response to expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 3, and a voltage is generated in the coil 1 according to expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element 2.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (A) A new converter can be provided. (B) It is possible to provide a converter capable of producing a high voltage of several hundreds of volts or more from a battery of several volts or less. (C) A small and thin converter can be provided. (D) It is possible to provide a converter having a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating magnetostriction when a magnetostrictive element receives a magnetic field from the outside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a magnetic field-elongation characteristic curve of a magnetostrictive element.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operating characteristics when a bias magnetic field is applied to a magnetostrictive element.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a specific embodiment of the converter according to the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A6-A6 of FIG.

FIG. 7: Prestress of magnetostrictive element
It is a graph which shows the relationship between s) and an elongation rate ((triangle | delta) Lm / Lm).

FIG. 8 shows a prestress-output voltage characteristic of the converter according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between prestress and output voltage of the converter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 coil 2 magnetostrictive element 3 piezoelectric element

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A converter including a coil, a magnetostrictive element, and a piezoelectric element, wherein the coil is wound around the magnetostrictive element, and the magnetostrictive element and the piezoelectric element are the same as those of the coil. A converter in which one ends of each of which are viewed in the winding axis direction are butted against each other and the other ends of which are constrained. 2. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the coil is supplied with AC power and thereby generates an alternating magnetic field, and the magnetostrictive element is applied with the alternating magnetic field generated in the coil. A converter that expands and contracts thereby, and the piezoelectric element generates a voltage upon expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element. 3. The converter according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is supplied with AC power from the outside to expand and contract, and the magnetostrictive element expands and contracts due to expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element, The coil is a converter that generates a voltage according to expansion and contraction of the magnetostrictive element. 4. The converter according to claim 1, further comprising magnetic bias means, wherein the magnetic bias means applies a magnetic bias to the magnetostrictive element. 5. The converter according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure adjusting means, wherein the pressure adjusting means applies pressure to the magnetostrictive element in the expansion / contraction direction.