piezoelectric crystal

(paɪˌiːzəʊɪˈlɛktrɪk)

(General Physics) a crystal, such as quartz, that produces a potential difference across its opposite faces when under mechanical stress. See also piezoelectric effect

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Noun

piezoelectric crystal - a crystal that can be used as a transducer

crystal - a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices

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References in periodicals archive

Mason, Piezoelectric Crystal and Their Application to Ultrasonics, Van Nostrand, New York, NY, USA, 1950.

Optimization of Dimensions of Cylindrical Piezoceramics as Radio-Clean Low Frequency Acoustic Sensors

The sensor itself is approximately 3 millimeters long and is powered by a piezoelectric crystal. The crystal converts ultrasound vibrations into electricity, which gives the device the juice it needs.

Grain-sized implant could one day control prosthetic body parts

"The big advance is phased arrays where an array of piezoelectric crystal is fired in phase to create a beam that can be steered through the test piece.

Stop, look, listen: high resolution cameras and ultrasonics have developed rapidly but are still no substitute for skilled human inspectors

Series accelerometers incorporate the use of Meggitt's proprietary piezoelectric crystal technology, operating in annular shear mode.

Piezoelectric accelerometers

Here's how an accelerometer works: Accelerometers contain a piezoelectric crystal element, which is bonded to a mass.

Protection for automation: automation can enhance production, increase output, maximise profit and minimise waste - but only if the line runs smoothly. Chris Hansford, managing director of Hansford Sensors, explains how the use of modern vibration monitoring tools steers automation clear of costly downtime

Unlike Aoyagi's previous attempts to mimic a mosquito's bite, each of these parts is driven by tiny motors based on lead zirconium titanate (PZT) - a piezoelectric crystal that expands very slightly when you apply an alternating voltage.

Mosquito needle 'hurts far less than regular injection'

(10) If an alternating voltage at an ultrasonic frequency is applied across a piezoelectric crystal, it will result in an oscillating shape change of the crystal at the frequency applied.

Ultrasound in periodontics

A voltage placed across an unstressed piezoelectric crystal causes the crystal to deform.

The rest of the story

Those oscillations, in turn, stress the piezoelectric crystal and produce the voltage.

Powering the revolution: tiny gadgets pick up energy for free

Just as increasing the mass hanging from a spring will change the resonant frequency of the spring, the added mass of molecules on the QCM affects the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric crystal. This frequency can be easily measured electronically, providing a measurement of the amount of analyte in the sample.

Small wonders at Pittcon