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US 2012/0326564 A1Published application
Drive device using polymer actuator
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsIsao TAKAHASHI, Hideo KUROKAWA
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Abstract
An actuator includes an electrolytic layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The electrolytic layer includes a polymer and an ionic liquid included in the polymer. When a voltage that makes the first electrode layer a positive side is applied, the actuator deforms to be in a drive state, thereby driving a protruding member. In a period other than a drive period in which the protruding member is driven, a reverse voltage that makes the first electrode layer a negative side is applied, thereby rectifying the tendency of the actuator to bow or the like.
Claims14
A drive device comprising:
- a polymer actuator formed of a polymer including an ionic liquid, the polymer actuator including an electrode layer stacked on a first surface and an electrode layer stacked on a second surface, the polymer actuator being partially fixed,
- wherein the polymer actuator activates a driven member when a drive voltage is applied across the electrode layers and the polymer actuator bows and deforms in a direction in which the first surface becomes concave, and
- wherein a reverse voltage in a direction opposite to that of the drive voltage is applied across the electrode layers in a period other than a drive period in which the driven member is activated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.