Three-dimensional electroactive polymer actuated devices
AssigneeArtificial Muscle, Inc.
InventorJonathan R. HEIM
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Abstract
Devices employing electroactive polymer actuators are disclosed. Acrylic dielectric material based actuators are optionally provided in which architectures are presented that allow for improved power output as compared with other known acrylic dielectric material based transducers. Such technology may be applied in motor-driven applications, lightweight flight applications and lighting applications among others.
Claims20
An electroactive polymer actuator comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is free to actuate in at least two component directions upon application of voltage for output from the actuator, the actuator adapted to have an unstable equilibrium configuration when unpowered and undisturbed by a bias force.
A bistable electroactive polymer actuator comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm,
- wherein the diaphragm is free to actuate in at least two component directions upon application of voltage for output from the actuator,
- the actuator adapted to offer two stable equilibrium positions when unpowered.
An electroactive polymer transducer comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm,
- the transducer having a first saddle-shaped configuration and a second more flattened configuration.
An electroactive polymer transducer comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm,
- the transducer having a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration along three axes.
An electroactive polymer actuator system comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm,
- the transducer adapted to produce a flapping motion when actuated by cycling voltage application.
An electroactive polymer actuator system comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material stretched within the frame to form a diaphragm, such that in an unpowered state the frame of the diaphragm is preloaded to deform into a nonequilibrium shape;
- the actuator adapted to produce a cyclic motion by cycling voltage application thereto where application of the voltage causes the frame of the diaphragm to move towards an equilibrium shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.