ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS FOR SENSORY FEEDBACK APPLICATIONS

• US 20090001855A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Artificial Muscle, Inc. (Covestro AG)
• Inventors: Hui, Otto, Zarrabi, Alireza, Heim, Jonathan R., Polyakov, Ilya, Biggs, Silmon James, Lipton, Michael G., Hitchcock, Roger, Kridl, Thomas A., Russell, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,952,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/331
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/84 characterised by ergonomic functions, e.g. for miniature keyboards; characterised by operational sensory functions, e.g. sound feedback legends H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/008 Wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/03 Assembling devices that include piezoelectric or electrostrictive parts
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2041 Beam type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/85 Piezoelectric or electrostrictive active materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49121 Beam lead frame or beam lead device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 : Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 : by forming conductive walled aperture in base

Abstract

Electroactive polymer transducers for sensory feedback applications are disclosed.

Claims

1. A user interface device having sensory feedback comprising:

a user contact surface;

an electroactive polymer transducer comprising an output member coupled to the contact surface;

a sensor for sensing a mechanical force on the user contact surface and providing an activation signal to the transducer, wherein activation of the transducer moves at least a portion of the user contact surface; and

a sealing material adapted to substantially hermetically seal the transducer.

2. The user interface device of claim 2, wherein the movement of the contact surface is in a lateral direction.

The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the user contact surface comprises a keypad.

4. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the output member is mechanically coupled to the user contact surface.

5. The user interface device of claim 4, further comprising at least one pin extending between the output member and the user contact surface.

6. The user interface device of claim 5, wherein the at least one pin extends through the sealing material.

7. The user interface device of claim 6, further comprising a compliant material between the pin and the sealing material.

8. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the sealing material comprises a countersunk hole for receiving a pin.

9. The user interface device of claim 8, wherein the at least one pin extends from a pivotable lever.

10. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the output member is magnetically coupled to the user contact surface.

11. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an electroactive polymer film extending between the output member and an open frame.

12. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the transducer further comprises a negative spring rate bias mechanism associated with the output member.

13. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the sealing material forms a gasket between the user contact surface and the transducer.

14. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the sealing material encases the transducer.

15. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is activatable in two phases.

16. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is formed at least in part by web-based manufacturing techniques.

17. A method for fabricating electroactive polymer transducers, the method comprising:

providing an electroactive polymer film;

forming an array of electrodes on the film; and

sandwiching the electrode array between a top and bottom array of frame components to form an array of electroactive polymer transducers.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising singulating the array of electroactive polymer transducers.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying an array of negative spring rate biasing mechanisms onto the array of electroactive polymer transducers.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising incorporating the transducer array into an array of user interface devices.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the steps thereof are performed with web-based manufacturing techniques.

23. The user interface device of claim 22, wherein the motion coupling mechanism is mechanical.

24. The user interface device of claim 22, wherein the motion coupling mechanism comprises at least one pin.

25. The user interface device of claim 23, wherein the motion coupling mechanism comprises a lever arm.

26. The user interface device of claim 22, wherein the motion coupling mechanism is magnetic.

27. The user interface device of claim 22, further comprising a sealing material between the transducer and the user contact surface.

22-1. A user interface device having sensory feedback comprising:

a user contact surface;

an electroactive polymer transducer comprising an output member coupled to the contact surface; and

a motion coupling mechanism extending between the user contact surface and the transducer, wherein activation of the transducer moves at least a portion of the user contact surface.