ACTUATOR

• US 20120326557A1
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hino, Tetsuo, Ikeda, Sotomitsu, Goyal, Amita
• Granted Patent: US 8,779,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/308
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/005 Electro-chemical actuators; Actuators having a material for absorbing or desorbing gas, e.g. a metal hydride; Actuators using the difference in osmotic pressure between fluids; Actuators with elements stretchable when contacted with liquid rich in ions, with UV light, with a salt solution

Abstract

The present invention relates to an actuator including a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, and having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes; a displacement portion; and an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion and including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member. The third electrode includes linear members and a conductive material. The linear members have major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion. The third electrode has conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction. The conductive connecting member is electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes and electrically connects the conduction paths together.

Claims

1. An actuator comprising:

a supporting portion including a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, and a part of a planar electrolyte member disposed therebetween, the supporting portion having terminals configured to apply a voltage between the first and second electrodes;

a displacement portion configured to be displaced as a voltage applied between the first and second electrodes causes ions in the electrolyte member to migrate; and

an intermediate portion disposed between the supporting portion and the displacement portion, the intermediate portion including a third electrode on the electrolyte member and a conductive connecting member configured to supply a current to the third electrode, the third electrode including a plurality of linear members and a conductive material, the linear members having major axes thereof extending in a direction crossing a direction from the supporting portion toward the displacement portion, the third electrode having a plurality of conduction paths through which a current flows in the crossing direction, the conductive connecting member being electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes, the conductive connecting member electrically connecting the conduction paths together.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the linear members of the third electrode comprise linear electrodes containing a conductive material.

3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the third electrode includes a flexible conductive member filling gaps between the linear members.

4. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the electrolyte member has, on one surface thereof, a plurality of first linear electrodes and a first conductive connecting member configured to supply a current to the first linear electrodes such that the first conductive connecting member electrically connects the first linear electrodes together, and the electrolyte member has, on another surface thereof, a plurality of second linear electrodes and a second conductive connecting member configured to supply a current to the second linear electrodes such that the second conductive connecting member electrically connects the second linear electrodes together.

5. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein the conductive connecting member is a linear electrode containing at least a nanocarbon material and a polymer material.