US 7,233,097 B2 · Rolled electroactive polymers

Abstract

The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A device for converting between electrical and mechanical energy, the device comprising:

a polymer roll transducer comprising a) an electroactive polymer including at least one active area and b) at least two electrodes in electrical communication with the active area wherein at least a portion of the electroactive polymer is wrapped upon itself to form a roll;
at least one support member coupled to the polymer roll transducer for providing at least one of a force that strains at least a portion of the polymer, a force for controlling bending in the polymer roll transducer, and combinations thereof;
and
at least one mechanical linkage coupled to the polymer roll transducer for allowing a force or a moment generated in a first portion of the electroactive polymer to be communicated to a second portion of the electroactive polymer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rolled electroactive polymers

Life of this patent

Rolled electroactive polymers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims53