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US 12,012,946 B2Granted
Thermochromic actuators
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorsJaeah Lee, Marcio Dias Lima, Sergey Li, Raquel Ovalle-Robles
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Abstract
Polymer and nanotube-based actuators that include a thermochromic coating is disclosed. The actuators include a thermochromic material applied to a surface of the core fiber or the conductive element. Upon heating the actuator, the thermochromic coating undergoes a color transition to indicate a pre-determined temperature correlated to a rated critical temperature, important temperature of the actuator components, or a level of actuation.
Claims23
A thermochromic actuator, comprising:
- a thermal responsive artificial actuator;
- and
- a thermochromic coating comprising a thermochromic material, wherein:
- the thermochromic coating is disposed on an entire surface of the thermal responsive artificial actuator and is infiltrated into the thermal responsive artificial actuator;
- the thermochromic coating has a transition temperature below a rated critical temperature of the thermal responsive artificial actuator;
- and
- the thermochromic coating produces a first color below the transition temperature and a second color above the transition temperature, the second color being different from the first color and indicative of a change of the thermal responsive artificial actuator operation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.