HIGH-PERFORMANCE ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS
First Claim
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1. An electroactive polymer transducer comprising:
- an open frame and electroactive polymer material,wherein the polymer material is stretched into a frustum shape.
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Abstract
Electroactive polymer constructions that convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa are disclosed. The subject transducers (actuators, generators, sensors or combinations thereof) share the requirement of a frame or fixture element used in preloading elastomeric film electrodes and dielectric polymer in a desired configuration. The structures are either integrally biased in a push-pull arrangement or preloaded/biased by another element.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electroactive polymer transducer comprising:
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an open frame and electroactive polymer material, wherein the polymer material is stretched into a frustum shape. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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2. A transducer comprising an open frame and at least two diaphragm layers, each diaphragm layer comprising an electroactive polymer material extending within the frame, wherein central portions of the diaphragm layers are coupled together and wherein the diaphragm layers are free to actuate in at least two directions upon application of a voltage across the electroactive polymer material.
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10. A device comprising:
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an open frame; and electroactive elastomer material secured within the frame and a region central to the elastomer material which form a diaphragm; wherein the central region is less flexible than the elastomer material and wherein the elastomer material is stretched to a concave or convex shape. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification