Back to results
US 12,110,879 B2Granted
Artificial muscle actuators
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorsMarcio Dias Lima, Yang Yang, Luis Plata, Marilu Guerrero, Franklin Le, Randy Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An actuator device that includes a first fiber, a conducting material, and a coating. The coating coats the first fiber or the conducting material. The coating may also provide moisture protection, UV protection, thermal insulation and thermal conductivity.
Claims18
An actuator device comprising:
- at least one or more artificial muscle fibers, the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers being twisted and coiled;
- a thermal conductive material, the thermal conductive material being wrapped around the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers;
- a thermocouple, the thermocouple being incorporated into the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers, and
- an electrical system, wherein
- twisting of the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers causes the coiling of the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers;
- the thermocouple monitors a temperature of the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers;
- and
- the electrical system actuates the at least one or more artificial muscle fibers by electrically heating the thermal conductive material and managing the temperature not to exceed a threshold temperature to prevent failure of the artificial muscle actuator device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.