# US 2015/0177480 A1 · Condensation inhibiting layer, method of forming the layer, and condensation inhibiting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0177480 A1 - Document ID: US20150177480A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/578,063 - Filed: 2014-12-19 - Published: 2015-06-25 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Applicants: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Steven Bullock; Sarah M. Simon; John B. Stetson, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150177480A1 ## CPC - G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)} - H10N 30/082: by etching, e.g. lithography - H10N 30/206: {using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices} - B08B 7/02: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} - B08B 17/065: {the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower} - H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions - Y10T 428/2457: Parallel ribs and/or grooves - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A condensation inhibiting layer includes an electrostrictive actuator film, and a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film and including a plurality of channels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A condensation inhibiting layer, comprising: an electrostrictive actuator film; and a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film, the treated surface including a plurality of channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film which is formed on a transparent surface, and wherein the plurality of channels comprise directional channels for directing water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 2, wherein the transparent surface comprises a transparent door and the directional channels direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film at a bottom of the door. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 3, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film is pulsable by a voltage pulse to at least one of inhibit a condensation of water on the electrostrictive actuator film and remove condensed water on the electrostrictive actuator film, to maintain a transparency of the door. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises one of an electrostrictive polymer film and a large-area graphene (LAG) film. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein a channel of the plurality of channels comprises a depth in a range from 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm, and a width in a range from 0.05 mm to 10 mm. ### Claim 7 A method of forming a condensation inhibiting layer, comprising: forming an electrostrictive actuator film; and treating the electrostrictive actuator film to form a treated surface including a plurality of channels on the electrostrictive actuator film. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein forming the electrostrictive actuator film comprises: liquid casting a piezoelectric material onto a substrate; and subjecting the piezoelectric material to infra-red light to transform the piezoelectric material into the electrostrictive actuator film. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein treating the electrostrictive actuator film comprises applying selected magnitude and direction laser emissions onto the electrostrictive actuator film to form the plurality of channels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film, and the forming of the electrostrictive actuator film comprises forming the transparent electrostrictive actuator film on a transparent surface, and wherein the plurality of channels comprise directional channels for directing water toward an edge of the electrostrictive actuator film. ### Claim 11 A condensation inhibiting device, comprising: a condensation inhibiting layer, comprising: an electrostrictive actuator film; and a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film, the treated surface including a plurality of channels; and an electrode electrically connected to the condensation inhibiting layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film formed on a transparent surface, and wherein the plurality of channels comprise directional channels of a length and orientation to direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 12, wherein the transparent surface comprises a transparent door and the directional channels direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film at a bottom of the door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 13, wherein the electrode is formed on the condensation inhibiting layer around a periphery of the transparent door, and receives a pulsed voltage to produce a contractive, piezoelectric constrictive response in the condensation inhibiting layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 14, wherein the contractive, piezoelectric constrictive response in the condensation inhibiting layer at least one of inhibits a condensation of water on the electrostrictive actuator film, and removes condensed water on the electrostrictive actuator film, to maintain a transparency of the transparent door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 14, wherein the voltage source comprises a spring-loaded hinge formed on the electrode and connected via the transparent door to a door frame, the voltage source generating a pulsed voltage in response to a transition between an open door configuration to a closed door configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, further comprising: an air current source directed to transport moisture away from the condensation inhibiting layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, further comprising: a sensor which detects a presence of water on the treated surface and generates a detection signal, the sensor comprising one of: an optical sensor which detects the presence of water by detecting a decrease in transparency of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film; and a dielectric constant sensor which detects the presence of water by detecting a dielectric constant of the treated surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 18, further comprising: a controller for controlling an operation of the condensation inhibiting device based on the detection signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 19, wherein if the detection signal indicates that the sensor detects the presence of water on the treated surface, then the controller causes a voltage from the electrode to actuate the condensation inhibiting layer, and wherein if the detection signal indicates that the sensor does not detect the presence of water on the treated surface, then the controller causes the voltage on the electrode to be redirected away from the condensation inhibiting layer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film formed on a non-transparent surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 21, wherein the non-transparent surface comprises a mirror surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a pre-formed sheet that is applied to a surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The condensation inhibiting device of claim 14, wherein the pulsed voltage causes a vibration of the condensation inhibiting layer and the vibration at least one of: forces water droplets off of the condensation inhibiting layer in a direction away from the condensation inhibiting layer; and forces water droplets to migrate into a base of the plurality of channels for transport off of the condensation inhibiting layer.