This section provides an overview for piezoelectric transformers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 3 piezoelectric transformer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked piezoelectric transformer companies as of November, 2024: 1.Steminc, 2.Analog Devices, Inc., 3.TAMURA Corporation.
Table of Contents
A piezoelectric transformer is a unique type of transformer that harnesses the piezoelectric and electrostrictive effects of a specific ceramic element (dielectric) to convert electrical power. Unlike conventional electromagnetic transformers with coils, piezoelectric transformers offer distinct advantages, including a simple structure, the ability to be made smaller, thinner, and lighter, a high step-up ratio, exceptional efficiency, and the absence of magnetic noise. Consequently, piezoelectric transformers have become essential components for conserving space and energy in various electrical and electronic devices.
Piezoelectric transformers find extensive use in power supplies for electrical and electronic equipment. With the increasing trend towards smaller and thinner devices like notebook PCs and mobile gadgets, there is a growing demand for compact power supplies. Piezoelectric transformers have emerged as replacements for traditional wire-wound electromagnetic transformers in such applications. For example, they are employed in power supplies for LCD backlights in notebook PCs and LCD TVs. Beyond their size advantages, piezoelectric transformers are poised for broader applications due to their high efficiency and the absence of magnetic interference.
A piezoelectric transformer consists of a rectangular dielectric material, divided into two halves: one serving as the primary side and the other as the secondary side. A voltage is applied to the primary side in the direction of its thickness, invoking the electrostrictive effect, which transforms electrical energy into mechanical vibrations. The electrostriction effect is a phenomenon in which an electric field applied to a dielectric material induces mechanical deformation. On the secondary side, the piezoelectric effect is at work, converting these mechanical vibrations back into electrical energy. This electrical energy is extracted as an output voltage in the longitudinal direction. In contrast to the electrostrictive effect, the piezoelectric effect involves the generation of voltage when pressure is applied to a dielectric. A material with this property is referred to as a piezoelectric element.
Piezoelectric transformers operate at their natural resonant frequency, determined by the dimensions of the dielectric. There are two main types based on the length of the dielectric: the λ-mode type, which operates at a full wavelength, and the λ/2-mode type, which operates at half wavelength. The transformation ratio (V2/V1) of the input voltage (V1) to the output voltage (V2) in a piezoelectric transformer is governed by the square root (√(C1/C2)) of the ratio of the primary side capacitance (C1) to the secondary side capacitance (C2). Since C1 and C2 are influenced by the thickness and length of the dielectric, the transformation ratio is primarily determined by the length-to-thickness ratio, which is also utilized to define the transformer ratio.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Steiner & Martins, Inc. (Steminc), founded in 1991 and based in Davenport, Florida, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of piezoelectric ceramic solutions and products. The piezo products are discs, rings, plates, blocks, and cylinders, as well as miscellaneous, diaphragm, massage, fans, and capacitors. It also manufactures lead-free piezoelectrics, stack piezo actuators, multilayer piezo speakers, ultrasonic generators, and multi & single-layer transformers. The company ships the products internationally by FedEx, DHL, and UPS.
Tamura Corporation was founded in 1924 in Tokyo, Japan as Tamura Radio Store, making it one of Japan’s oldest electronics companies. Today the company serves the semiconductor, audio consumer appliance, power distribution, and other industries as a developer and manufacturer. The company’s Electronic Component segment has eight categories, among them, transformers, reactors, vacuum tube type power supply transformers, current sensors, and AC adaptors. The company’s Information Equipment segment has 3 subcategories including broadcast studio systems, communication systems, and network systems.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Steminc |
44.7%
|
2 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
29.8%
|
3 | TAMURA Corporation |
25.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the piezoelectric transformer page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 2 | 66.7% |
Japan | 1 | 33.3% |
11 products are listed.
Hottinger Brüel & Kjær
40+ people viewing
The vibration transducer contains a wide range of acceleration pickups, forstans dusa, impedance head, impact hammer, octopus, vibration calibratio...
Hottinger Brüel & Kjær
20+ people viewing
The vibration transducer contains a wide range of acceleration pickups, forstans dusa, impedance head, impact hammer, octopus, vibration calibratio...