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AssigneePanasonic Corporation
InventorsKazuo Yokoyama, Katsuhiko Asai, Yuji Kudoh, Masaki Yamamoto
Estimating the term…
A plane thin-type polymer actuator is provided with a conductive active member serving as a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer, with at least a first electrolytic layer made in contact with the active member layer. The first electrolytic layer being sealed between the two electrode layers so that, by applying an electric field between the two electrode layers, the active member layer is expanded and contracted. In this structure, the first electrolytic layer is a solid-state electrolyte having a specific elastic modulus, or a liquid-state electrolyte. A holding member is provided to maintain the thickness between the active member layer and the second electrode layer.
A polymer actuator, which is a plane thin-type polymer actuator, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Characterised by positioning means for manipulator elements: chemically actuated
Electro-chemical actuators: electroactive polymers
Electrostatic generators or motors using a solid moving electrostatic charge carrier: electrostatic motors
Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for: characterised by the…
About 11 months of term left · ends 14 Sep 2027 (estimated)
The present invention relates to a flexible light-weight polymer actuator that is deformed upon receipt of an electrical stimulus, and applicable to home-service robots and the like.
With respect to a driving source for a joint driving mechanism used for conventional industrial robots, devices such as an electromagnetic motor, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator are used. The joint driving mechanisms using such driving sources include a mechanism using an electromagnetic motor and a reduction mechanism mainly made of metal as well as a mechanism using a hydropneumatic cylinder made of metal, and are made of a hard heavy material, and used under control at a specific place in a factory.
In contrast, with respect to the driving source used for apparatuses such as robots that are expected to be actively operated closely to people for jobs, such as house chores and work assist jobs as well as nursing assist jobs for the aged and physically-challenged person, in homes, offices, and hospitals, there have been demands for allowing the driving source itself to be small-sized, light-weight and flexible, and also to be used safely. With respect to such an actuator, among the pneumatic actuators, a pneumatic actuator made from rubber, which is highly flexible, has been proposed; however, in order to drive this, auxiliary machineries such as a compressor and a controlling valve are required, with the result that the weight-reducing attempt for the entire system has a limitation. Here, artificial muscle actuators using various polymer materials that are light-weight and highly flexible have been proposed, and the practical use thereof has been desired.
These and other aspects and features of the present invention will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a plane view that shows an actuator in accordance with one mode of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the actuator in accordance with the one mode of the first embodiment of the present invention;
Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings.
Referring to Figures, the following description will discuss embodiments of the present invention in detail.
Prior to the detailed description of embodiments of the present invention based upon the drawings, various aspects for the present invention will be explained.