Device with multiple electroactive material actuator units and actuating method
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsAchim Hilgers, Mark Thomas Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The proposed device comprises a plurality of electroactive material actuator units arranged as a set. Control data for driving individual units is transferred over three shared power lines. The electroactive material actuator of each unit is driven depending on control data received from the power lines via a demodulator, a controller, and a driver.
Claims20
A method of actuating a device the device comprising, a plurality of electroactive material actuator units arranged as a set, and three power lines, wherein each electroactive material actuator unit comprises three power line terminals, wherein the three power lines comprise a common reference power line, a controller power line, and a driver power line, wherein the each electroactive material actuator unit is connected in parallel between the three power lines, and wherein each of the three power lines connect to one of the three power line terminals;
- the method comprising:
- providing power signals on the three power lines;
- providing a data signal, wherein the data signal is modulated onto at least one of the three power lines;
- demodulating a data signal carried by the at least one of the three power lines for the each electroactive material actuator unit;
- receiving data from the demodulated data signal for the each electroactive material actuator unit;
- and
- driving the each electroactive material actuator unit in dependence of the received data.
A device comprising:
- a plurality of electroactive material actuator units arranged as a set, wherein each electroactive material actuator unit comprises three power line terminals;
- and
- three power lines,
- wherein the three power lines comprise a common reference power line, a controller power line, and a driver power line,
- wherein the each electroactive material actuator unit is connected in parallel between the three power lines,
- wherein each of the three power lines connect to one of the three power line terminals, and
- wherein the each electroactive material actuator unit comprises:
- an electroactive material actuator;
- a demodulator circuit, wherein the demodulator circuit is arranged to demodulate a data signal carried by at least one of the three power lines;
- an actuator controller circuit, wherein the actuator controller circuit is arranged to receive data from the demodulated data signal;
- and
- a driver circuit, wherein the driver circuit is arranged to drive the electroactive material actuator in dependence on the received data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.