CTS Piezoelectric Transformer Named "Finalist" In Competition

8 February 2000

CTS Corporation Piezoelectric Transformer Named "Finalist" In EDN Magazine's Innovations of the Year Product Competition

    ELKHART, Ind.--Feb. 4, 2000--A new patented piezoelectric transformer, developed by CTS Wireless Components, has been named a "finalist" product in EDN Magazine's 1999 Innovator/Innovation of the Year Awards Contest. Open to any individual or company, the annual competition recognizes the most innovative people and products that can make an enormous impact on the electronics industry.
    A panel of EDN (an electronics industry engineering and management publication of the Cahners Business Information Group) editors selected three finalists in each of nine technology categories. The winner in each category will be chosen by a vote of the publication's readers and announced in the upcoming April issue.
    The CTS entry, entitled "Piezoelectric Transformer," and submitted for consideration in the Components, Hardware and Interconnect category, was developed by an interdisciplinary team which included experts in materials, device physics, electronics, manufacturing and technology management. The CTS Wireless team, headed by Jim Phillips, Senior Member Technical Staff, developed a patented piezoelectric material, patented device structure, patented drive circuits and proprietary manufacturing methods. A key improvement of the CTS device over alternative piezoelectric transformers is the method of keeping the inverter operating at the resonance of the piezo transformer. The CTS product provides better performance and handles higher power levels than piezoelectric transformers currently available.
    The CTS Piezoelectric Transformer is used with its unique inverter circuitry to convert low DC voltages of 5 to 20 volts to high AC voltages of 1200 to 2500 VAC peak. One primary application is to provide AC drive voltages for cold cathode florescent lamps used as backlights for LCDs in portable applications such as laptop and notebook computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistant's (PDAs), point-of-sale terminals and portable electronics. Other versions can be designed to work at other voltages.
    The winners of each of the nine technology categories as well as the Innovator of the Year will be announced in the April 27, 2000, issue of EDN Magazine.
    For additional specification information on the CTS Piezoelectric Transformer, or to discuss a specific application, contact Jim Phillips, CTS Corporation, Wireless Components, 4800 Alameda Blvd., Albuquerque, NM 87113, Phone: 505-348-4286, or E-mail: jim.phillips@ctswireless1.com.

    CTS Corporation designs, manufactures and sells a broad line of electronic components and custom electronic assemblies for OEM customers primarily in the communications equipment, automotive and computer equipment markets worldwide. CTS operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Scotland, Singapore, Taiwan and China. For additional information, visit our website at www.ctscorp.com.