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US 7,608,989 B2Granted
Compliant electroactive polymer transducers for sonic applications
AssigneeSRI International
InventorsRichard P. Heydt, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Neville A. Bonwit, Joseph S. Eckerle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described herein are compliant electroactive polymer transducers for use in acoustic applications. A compliant electroactive polymer transducer includes a compliant electroactive polymer at least two electrodes. For sound production, circuitry in electrical communication with the transducer electrodes is configured to apply a driving signal that causes the electroactive polymer to deflect in the acoustic range.
Claims21
A sonic actuator comprising:
- an electroactive polymer transducer including a portion of an electroactive polymer and a first electrode in contact with the portion and a second electrode in contact with the portion, wherein the electroactive polymer transducer is arranged in a manner which causes the portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field that is applied via at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a biasing mechanism that is configured to position the portion in a bias position that differs from a resting position of the portion when no external forces are applied to the electroactive polymer transducer;
- and
- a circuit in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide an actuation signal to the at least one of the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the actuation signal causes the portion to deflect from the bias position at a frequency less than about 50 kHz.
1 more element
A sonic actuator comprising:
- an electroactive polymer transducer including a portion of an electroactive polymer and a first electrode in contact with the portion and a second electrode in contact with the portion, wherein the electroactive polymer transducer is arranged in a manner which causes the portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field that is applied via at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode;
- a biasing mechanism that is configured to position the portion in a first bias position and a second bias position that each differ from a resting position of the portion when no external forces are applied to the electroactive polymer transducer;
- and
- a circuit in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to provide an actuation signal to the at least one of the first electrode and second electrode, wherein the actuation signal causes the portion to deflect from the first bias position or the second bias position at a frequency less than about 50 kHz,
- wherein, upon deflection, the first bias position and the second bias position include a different directivity of acoustic output.
2 more elements
A sonic actuator comprising:
- an electroactive polymer transducer including
- a first portion of an electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes in contact with the first portion, wherein the electroactive polymer transducer is arranged in a manner which causes the first portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field that is applied via the at least two electrodes in contact with the first portion, and
- a second portion of the electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes in contact with the second portion, wherein the electroactive polymer transducer is arranged in a manner which causes the second portion to deflect in response to a change in electric field that is applied via the at least two electrodes in contact with the second portion;
- a first biasing mechanism that is configured to position the first portion in a first bias position that differs from a resting position of the first portion when no external forces are applied to the electroactive polymer transducer;
- a second biasing mechanism that is configured to position the second portion in a second bias position that differs from a resting position of the second portion when no external forces are applied to the electroactive polymer transducer;
- and
- a circuit in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes in contact with the first portion and in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes in contact with the second portion and configured to provide an actuation signal to the at least two electrodes in contact with the first portion and an actuation signal to the at least two electrodes in contact with the second portion, wherein the actuation signal causes the first portion or the second portion to deflect at a frequency less than about 50 kHz.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.