ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER ANIMATED DEVICES

• US 20070222344A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Pei, Qibing, Pelrine, Ronald, Eckerle, Joseph, Kornbluh, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/00 Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/005 with self-moving head or facial features with a choice of features A63H3/365; movable eyes A63H3/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/00 Drive mechanisms for toys in general
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/14 having plate-like flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/50 having a stacked or multilayer structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.

Claims

1. An animated toy comprising:

a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and

a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.