Device having a plurality of latching micro-actuators and method of operating the same
AssigneeEcole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl)
InventorsNadine Besse, Juan Josë Zarate, Samuel Rosset, Herbert Shea
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Abstract
An actuator device including a plurality of transducer actuators, and a common pneumatic actuation mechanism for shaping the plurality of transducer actuators, wherein each actuator of the plurality of transducer actuators includes a shape memory polymer membrane, an integrated stretchable heater, and a pressure interface to the common pneumatic actuation mechanism.
Claims12
An actuator device comprising:
- a plurality of transducer actuators;
- and
- a common pneumatic actuation mechanism for shaping the plurality of transducer actuators,
- wherein each actuator of the plurality of transducer actuators includes,
- a shape memory polymer membrane,
- an integrated stretchable heater, and
- an pressure interface to the common pneumatic actuation mechanism.
A method for operating an actuator device, the actuator device including a plurality of transducer actuators, and a common pneumatic actuation mechanism, each transducer actuator including a shape memory polymer membrane, an integrated stretchable heater, and a pressure interface to the common pneumatic actuation mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
- selectively heating some of the transducer actuators by the corresponding integrated stretchable heater;
- and
- providing a common fluid pressure to all of the transducer actuators for moving the transducer actuators that are heated by the step of selectively heating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.