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US 9,013,090 B2Granted
Drive device using polymer actuator
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsIsao Takahashi, Hideo Kurokawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator includes an electrolytic layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The electrolytic layer includes a polymer and an ionic liquid included in the polymer. When a voltage that makes the first electrode layer a positive side is applied, the actuator deforms to be in a drive state, thereby driving a protruding member. In a period other than a drive period in which the protruding member is driven, a reverse voltage that makes the first electrode layer a negative side is applied, thereby rectifying the tendency of the actuator to bow or the like.
Claims19
A drive device comprising:
- a polymer actuator formed of a polymer containing an ionic liquid, the polymer actuator including a first electrode layer provided on a first surface thereof and a second electrode layer provided on a second surface thereof, the polymer actuator having a fixed end, and
- a controller configured to control voltages applied across the first and second electrode layers,
- wherein the polymer actuator drives a drivable member during a drive period when a drive voltage is applied in a first direction across the first and second electrode layers by bending in a direction in which the first surface becomes concave, while a reverse voltage is applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction across the first and second electrode layers in a period other than the drive period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.