Micro linear motors drive partnership

Epcos and New Scale Technologies have signed a technology cooperation agreement to develop ultrasonic motors.

The cooperation will combine New Scale's experience in developing minute piezo-based motors and Epcos's expertise in manufacturing multilayer piezo components.

The first product is a reduced-voltage version of New Scale's Squiggle motor with an ultra-precise resolution of 0.5 µm that is optimised for phone camera modules with optical zoom functionality.

The latest generation of the motor measures 1.82 x 1.82 x 6 mm and as key components uses four multilayer piezo resonators that can be powered directly by a battery of less than 3 V.

That is less than a tenth of that needed by the larger current generation. The reduced voltage also shrinks the size of the driving circuit by 75%.

Future projects will include a family of motors even smaller than the Squiggle. The ultra-thin actuator family (UTAF) of piezo motors measures less than 1 mm thick.