ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER TRANSDUCERS FOR SENSORY FEEDBACK APPLICATIONS

• US 20100205803A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mateligent Ideas GmbH
• Original Assignee: Artificial Muscle, Inc. (Covestro AG)
• Inventors: Weaber, Chris, HUI, Otto, HITCHCOCK, Roger, LIPTON, Michael G., RUSSELL, Gordon, BIGGS, Silmon James, KRIDL, Thomas A., ZARRABI, Alireza, HEIM, Jonathan R., POLYAKOV, Ilya
• Granted Patent: US 8,127,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/825
• 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 method for fabricating electroactive polymer transducers, the method comprising:

providing an electroactive polymer film;

forming an array of electrodes on the film; and

applying at least one array of frame components to the electrode array to form an array of electroactive polymer transducers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising singulating the array of electroactive polymer transducers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising coupling the singulated electroactive polymer transducers to individual user interface devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an array of negative spring rate biasing mechanisms onto the array of electroactive polymer transducers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating the transducer array into an array of user interface devices.

6. The method of claim 5, where the electroactive polymer transducers further comprises an output member and where the negative spring rate bias mechanism is associated with the output member.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the steps thereof are performed with web-based manufacturing techniques.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling each electroactive polymer transducer to an output member.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising mechanically coupling each output member to a user contact surface.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising magnetically coupling each output member to a user contact surface.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling the output member to a keypad or keyboard.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a sealing material to hermetically seal the electroactive polymer transducer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising encasing the electroactive polymer transducer with the sealing material.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer transducer is activatable in two phases.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding an additional component layer to the array of electroactive polymer transducer.

16. The method of claim 1, where applying at least one array of frame components to the electrode array comprises sandwiching the electrode array between a top and bottom array to form the array of electroactive polymer transducers.