Conductive particle interconnect switch

A system comprising:

• a conductive particle interconnect (CPI) comprising:
• an elastomeric carrier having an electroactive polymer (EAP), the EAP being configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to application of an electrical field;
• and
• a plurality of conductive particles disposed in the elastomeric carrier;
• a voltage source coupled to the CPI;
• a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the EAP;
• and
• processing logic configured to perform a method comprising:
• determining a target state of the CPI, the target state being associated with the second position;
• generating an input signal based on the target state;
• transmitting the input signal to the voltage source to cause the voltage source to apply the electrical field to the CPI to move the EAP to the second position;
• and
• applying, in response to detecting that the temperature of the EAP is below a threshold, using the voltage source, a DC bias voltage to the EAP, the DC bias voltage being a voltage that causes expansion of the EAP so as to offset constriction caused by the temperature.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

• determining a target state of a conductive particle interconnect (CPI), wherein the CPI includes an elastomeric carrier having an electroactive polymer (EAP) configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to application of an electrical field, the CPI further including a plurality of conductive particles, wherein the second position is associated with the target state;
• generating an input signal based on the target state;
• transmitting the input signal to a voltage source to cause the voltage source to apply the electrical field to the EAP to move the EAP to the second position;
• monitoring, after transmitting the input signal to the voltage source, an output of the CPI, wherein monitoring the output of the CPI includes determining a resistance of the CPI;
• determining, based on the monitoring, whether the CPI is in the target state;
• and
• adjusting, in response to determining that the CPI is not in the target state, a voltage applied to the EAP, wherein the adjusting includes:
• in response to the resistance of the CPI being too high, increasing the voltage applied to the EAP to cause further compression of the CPI;
• and
• in response to the resistance of the CPI being too low, decreasing the voltage applied to the EAP to reduce compression of the CPI.