New Concept of a Hybrid Amplifier for Driving Piezoelectric Actuators

Abstract This paper describes a new concept of an amplifier for piezoelectric actuators, which combines the high efficiency of a switching amplifier with the output signal accuracy of an analogue amplifier. This so-called hybrid amplifier includes a bidirectional switching voltage source and an analogue final stage. The description of the control unit for the switching power supply with its unconventional structure form the main focus of this paper, simulated and measured output signals from the amplifier as implemented are included.