An actuator device incorporating an electroactive polymer actuator and a driving method
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsACHIM HILGERS, MARK THOMAS JOHNSON, DAAN ANTON VAN DEN ENDE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A field-driven electroactive polymer actuator is provided with a current sensor for sensing a current flowing to the actuator. A control circuit is used for driving the actuator which includes a voltage source. The driving of the actuator is controlled in dependence on the sensed current, thereby to provide a predetermined charge delivery for particular changes in actuation level of the actuator. This provides a combined voltage-based and current-based drive scheme for a voltage-driven EAP actuator, and it enables mechanical movements of the actuator to be more reliably repeated.
Claims18
An device for converting an electrical input into a mechanical output comprising:
- a field-driven electroactive polymer actuator;
- a current sensor, wherein the current sensor is arranged to sense a current flowing to the electroactive polymer actuator;
- and
- a control circuit,
- wherein the control circuit is arranged to drive the electroactive polymer actuator,
- wherein the control circuit comprises a controllable voltage source,
- wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the driving of the actuator in dependence on the sensed current, thereby to provide a predetermined charge delivery to the actuator based on current monitoring to implement particular changes in actuation level and then to maintain an actuation level using voltage control.
A method of driving a field-driven electroactive polymer actuator, comprising:
- applying a voltage to the actuator so as to change an actuation state of the actuator;
- sensing a current flowing to the actuator;
- and
- controlling the actuation of the actuator in dependence on the sensed current, thereby to provide a predetermined charge delivery for a particular change in actuation level of the actuator and then maintaining an actuation level using voltage control.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.