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AssigneeSRI International
InventorsRoy D. Kornbluh, Ronald E. Pelrine, Paul Gallagher, Joseph S. Eckerle, Donald E. Czyzyk, Subramanian Venkat Shastri, Qibing Pei
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The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.
An animated device comprising a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated device comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.
An animated face comprising a facial feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated face comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the facial feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.
An animated toy having a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated toy comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.
An animated skin comprising a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated skin comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.
An animated device having a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated device comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes;
An animated device having a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated device comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes;
An animated device capable of surface based locomotion and having a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated device comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes;
A doll comprising:
An animated device having likeness of a human and a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position, the animated device comprising a transducer configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes, wherein the feature has a human likeness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.