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US 6,833,656 B2Granted
Electro active devices
Assignee1 . . . Limited
InventorsAnthony Hooley, David Henry Pearce, Ursula Ruth Lenel, Gareth McKevitt, Mark Richard Shepherd
Life of this patent
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Assignee1 . . . Limited
InventorsAnthony Hooley, David Henry Pearce, Ursula Ruth Lenel, Gareth McKevitt, Mark Richard Shepherd
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to an electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis (36) which is curved, for example in a helix around a major axis (37). The electro-active structure comprises successive electro-active portions (35) extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis (36) such that bending of the successive portions (35) is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis (36) adding incrementally along the minor axis (36). The electro-active structure generates displacement out of the local plane in which the minor axis is curved. The electra-active structure may be continuous electro-active member (35) extending along and curving around the minor axis (35), for example helically to form a helical helix. Alternatively, the electro-active structure may be a plurality of discrete elements (211) connected together. The electro-active portions preferably have a bender structure formed from a plurality of layers. The device may be used as a driver, a sensor or a generator.
An electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis, the minor axis being curved with a total curvature of at least 30°, the electro-active structure comprising successive electro-active portions extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis such that bending of the successive portions is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis.
An electro-active device having a continuous electro-active member extending along a minor axis, the minor axis being curved with a total curvature of at least 30°, the continuous electro-active member curving around the minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis such that bending of successive finite portions of the continuous electro-active member is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active member about the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis.
An electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis, the minor axis being curved with a total curvature of at least 30°, the electro-active structure comprising a plurality of discrete electro-active elements coupled together to extend around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis such that bending of the successive electro-active elements is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis.
An electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis, the minor axis extending in a curve with a total curvature of at least 30°, the electro-active structure comprising successive electro-active portions extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis, the successive electro-active portions being coupled together such that bending of the successive portions is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis adding incrementally along the minor axis, which rotation is concomitant with displacement of the structure out of the local plane of the curve of the minor axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.