Electronics
The A10E actuator also simplifies the electronics. In many applications, its high stiffness and the resulting high resonance frequency allow open-loop operation with a minimal number of electronic components.
The high natural frequency of the actuator allows quick mechanical switching. This is an advantage over Voice-Coil and other electromagnetic solutions.
Fewer electronic components are needed. Two transistors and one resistor often suffice.
The A10E is efficient. The maximal voltage at the piezoelectric element is 24V. The stroke is approximately proportional to the control voltage. In some applications, e.g., when a shorter life span is acceptable, higher voltages up to 48V may be used yielding larger strokes. The control voltage is easily generated from the supply voltage. In an application inside a television set, for example the electrical current is very low and the supply voltage is 12V. The control electronics and the power supply are correspondingly cheap.
Both analog and digital control is possible and can be integrated into microcontroller-based circuits. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) may be used as well.