Tear resistant electroactive polymer transducers

An electroactive polymer transducer for converting between electrical and mechanical energy, the transducer comprising:

• an electroactive polymer;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to a first portion of a first surface of the electroactive polymer;
• a second electrode electrically coupled to a second portion of a second surface of the electroactive polymer;
• and
• an added compliant and tear resistant material mechanically coupled to the electroactive polymer and disposed outside polymer material in an active area related to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the added material is configured to reduce stress or strain in electroactive polymer material outside the active area when the electroactive polymer transducer is deflected or pre-strained, and wherein the added material includes a substantially sized opening toward the center of the electroactive polymer that does not have any compliant material.

An electroactive polymer transducer for converting between electrical and mechanical energy, the transducer comprising:

• an electroactive polymer;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to a first portion of a first surface of the electroactive polymer;
• a second electrode electrically coupled to a second portion of a second surface of the electroactive polymer;
• and
• a compliant and tear resistant material coupled to the electroactive polymer proximate to an edge portion of the electroactive polymer, wherein the compliant and tear resistant material includes a substantially sized opening toward a center portion of the electroactive polymer.

An electroactive polymer transducer for converting between electrical and mechanical energy, the transducer comprising:

• an electroactive polymer;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to a first portion of a first surface of the electroactive polymer;
• a second electrode electrically coupled to a second portion of a second surface of the electroactive polymer,
• wherein the first electrode and second electrode contribute to define an active area of the electroactive polymer transducer;
• and
• added material coupled to the electroactive polymer and disposed outside polymer material in the active area, wherein the added material is a compliant material, wherein the added material is configured to reduce stress or strain in electroactive polymer material outside the active area when the electroactive polymer transducer is deflected or pre-strained, wherein the added material includes a substantially sized opening toward the center of the electroactive polymer that does not include any of the added material.

An electroactive polymer transducer for converting between electrical and mechanical energy, the transducer comprising:

• an electroactive polymer defining a substantially flat material having top and bottom surfaces and an outer circumference therearound;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to a first portion of the top surface of the electroactive polymer;
• a second electrode electrically coupled to a second portion of the bottom surface of the electroactive polymer;
• and
• one or more compliant layers adapted to prevent a tear from propagating in the electroactive polymer, wherein the one or more compliant layers are coupled to one or both of the top and bottom surfaces of the electroactive polymer proximate to an edge portion of the electroactive polymer, and wherein said one or more compliant layers do not include any center portion proximate to the center of the electroactive polymer.