# US 11,439,433 B2 · Optically transparent polymeric actuator and display apparatus employing same

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- Number: US 11,439,433 B2
- Document ID: US11439433B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/308,186
- Filed: 2021-05-05
- Published: 2021-10-14
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-10
- Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
- Applicants: University of Pittsburgh—of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
- Inventors: Ravi Shankar Meenakshisundaram
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439433B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/3476: {Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives}
- A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133})
- A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles
- A61B 17/3423: {Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247)}
- A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00)
- A61B 18/08: by means of electrically-heated probes
- A61B 18/12: by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B 18/1487: {Trocar-like, i.e. devices producing an enlarged transcutaneous opening}
- C09K 19/0208: {Twisted Nematic (T.N.); Super Twisted Nematic (S.T.N.); Optical Mode Interference (O.M.I.)}
- C09K 19/38: Polymers
- F03G 7/0614: {using shape memory elements}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion}
- A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy}
- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/3415: {for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters (A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06)}
- A61B 17/3474: {Insufflating needles, e.g. Veress needles}
- A61B 2017/3405: {using mechanical guide means}
- A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation}
- A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization}
- A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting}
- C09K 2219/03: in the form of films, e.g. films after polymerisation of LC precursor
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An optically transparent actuator apparatus is provided that includes an optically transparent bi-stable member including an optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer. The bi-stable member is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus and from the second state to the first state in response to a second stimulus. Also, a display apparatus includes a plate member and an actuator assembly coupled to the plate member. The actuator assembly includes a number of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein each of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display apparatus, comprising:
a plate member; and
an actuator assembly coupled to the plate member, the actuator assembly including a number of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein each of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus being applied to the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer, wherein the actuator assembly comprises an actuator array coupled to the plate member, the actuator assembly including a number of optically transparent actuators, wherein the number of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is a plurality of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein each optically transparent actuator includes an optically transparent bi-stable member including a respective one of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein the bi-stable member is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus and from the second state to the first state in response to a second stimulus, wherein the bi-stable member has arch-shaped portion, wherein the first state is a first arched state and the second state is a second arched state, and wherein the movement from the first state to the second state and the movement from the second state to the first date is each by snap-through action so as to provide haptic feedback.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is an optically transparent plate member, wherein the display apparatus is a haptic display apparatus, and wherein each bi-stable member is structured to: (i) not engage the plate member when in the first state, and (ii) impact the plate member and provide haptic feedback when in the second state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is deformable, and wherein each bi-stable member is structured to: (i) not deform the plate member when in the first state, and (ii) engage and deform the plate member in the second state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer comprises a number of twisted nematic liquid crystalline polymer films.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer comprises a pair of cross-linked twisted nematic liquid crystalline polymer films.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer comprises a number of splayed liquid crystalline polymer films.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer comprises a pair of cross-linked splayed liquid crystalline polymer films.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bi-stable member comprises a layered structure including: (i) a first transparent conductor layer, (ii) a second transparent conductor layer, and (iii) the respective one of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein the respective one of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is provided in between the first transparent conductor and the second transparent conductor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The display apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an electronic control system structured to selectively provide first resistive heating through the first transparent conductor layer and second resistive heating through the second transparent conductor layer, wherein the first resistive heating comprises the first stimulus and the second resistive heating comprises the second stimulus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first stimulus and the second stimulus are each heat.