ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND CIRCUITS INCLUDING SAID COMPONENTS

• US 20130100575A1
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Benjamin Marc, Anderson, Iain Alexander, McKay, Thomas Gregory, Calius, Emilio Patricio
• Granted Patent: US 10,804,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/283.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 5/00 Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by mechanical means, e.g. by turning a shaft; Processes of their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/802 Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits

Abstract

The invention provides an electric circuit device including a conductive element configured to provide an electrical input to an electrical component, the resistivity of the conductive element being variable based at least on the extent of deformation thereof, and a deformable body coupled directly or indirectly to, or integral with, the conductive element such that deformation of the body causes the conductive element to deform, thereby varying the resistance thereof and altering the input to the electrical component. Said devices may be used singularly or in combination as logic elements within electrical circuits, providing drive and/or control functionality. Particular embodiments provide improved electrostatic generators.

Claims

1. An electric circuit device comprising:

a conductive element configured to receive an electrical signal and provide an electrical input to an electrical component, the resistivity of the conductive element being variable based at least on a deformation force applied thereto; and

a deformable dielectric elastomer coupled directly or indirectly to, or integral with, the conductive element such that deformation of the body causes the conductive element to be subjected to the deformation force,

wherein the electrical input to the electrical component is dependent on at least the received electrical signal and the deformation force, and

wherein variation of said electrical input provides or triggers a predetermined response.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the response includes direct drive of the electrical component by the electrical input.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein cooperation of the dielectric elastomer device and the conductive element controls said component, said response being providing a control signal to the component.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the dielectric elastomer device, the conductive element, and the component cooperate to provide closed loop control of the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electrical signal is generated at least in part by the electrical component and assists at least in part with said control.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said response comprises generating a desired deformation of the conductive element.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the dielectric elastomer device is configured to generate the deformation.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric elastomer device is deformable in response to application of a voltage thereto or thereacross.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric elastomer device comprises at least first and second electrodes, such that application of a voltage to the electrodes causes the dielectric elastomer device to deform.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising said component.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the component is integrated with the device.

12. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of said dielectric elastomer devices.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein first and second ones of said plurality of dielectric elastomer devices are formed by at least three electrodes provided on a single dielectric elastomer body, and wherein each dielectric elastomer device comprises at least first and second electrodes such that application of a voltage to the electrodes causes the dielectric elastomer device to deform, first and second said electrodes operatively coupled to form the first deformable dielectric elastomer device and the first and third electrodes operatively coupled to form the second deformable dielectric elastomer device.

14. The device of claim 1, comprising one or more additional said conductive elements and/or functionally distinct portions of the same conductive element, each being configured to provide an electrical input to the same or a different electrical component, the resistivity of each conductive element or portion thereof being variable based at least on the extent of deformation thereof.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein first and second ones of said conductive elements are directly or indirectly electrically and/or mechanically coupled.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein each conductive element is configured to be deformed by a respective one or more of said deformable dielectric elastomer devices.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said conductive element is electrically coupled to said dielectric elastomer device.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said dielectric elastomer device is configured to act as a capacitor.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein mechanical deformation of said dielectric elastomer device varies the capacitance thereof.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the device is configured to act as or form part of a charge pump or a generator.

21. The device of claim 20, configured such that:

when the dielectric elastomer device deforms or is deformed in a first manner, the resistance of the first element changes and results in electrical energy being stored by the dielectric elastomer device as said response; and

/or

when the dielectric elastomer device deforms or is deformed in a second manner, the resistance of the first element changes in a different manner and results in electrical energy being drawn away from the dielectric elastomer device as said response.

22. The device of claim 21, comprising a second said element and/or a second said dielectric elastomer device, the second element and/or dielectric elastomer device configured to cooperate with the first element and/or the first dielectric elastomer device, to perform said storing and/or drawing away electrical energy as said response.

23. The device of claim 21, including a second said dielectric elastomer device, wherein:

the first dielectric elastomer device comprises first and second electroded zones electrically coupled via first and second said elements; and

the second dielectric elastomer device comprises first and second electroded zones and a third said element, the third element being electrically coupled to the first and second electroded zones of the first dielectric elastomer device.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive element is coupled to or configured to couple to an electrical power supply, and wherein said element and said dielectric elastomer device are configured such that deformation of the dielectric elastomer device deforms the element to control the current from said power source as said response.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the conductive element is directly or indirectly electrically coupled to the electrical component, thereby varying the current provided thereto.

26. The device of claim 1, configured to act as a logic device.

27. The device of claim 1, configured to act as any one or more of an AND gate, a NOT gate, a NAND gate, a voltage clamp, a diode, a summing junction, a neuron or weighted summing junction, a latch, a buffer, an operational amplifier, a frequency multiplier, a Schmitt trigger, an oscillator, and a low current driver, wherein said response comprises a transformation of one or more input signals to one or more output signals according to a predetermined logic operation.

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for inhibiting deformation in one or more directions of the dielectric elastomer device and/or said element.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the means for inhibiting comprises one or more ribs, frame elements or areas of increased stiffness.

30. The device of claim 1, comprising means for shielding, at least in part, said dielectric elastomer device and/or said element from deformation from at least one direction.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the means for shielding comprises one or more frame elements or regions of increased stiffness.

32. A circuit comprising at least two electric circuit devices of claim 1.

33. The circuit of claim 32, wherein at least first and second ones of said at least two devices are electrically and/or mechanically coupled.

34. The circuit of claim 32, configured to provide drive and/or control of an electric motor or a mechanosensitive cilia array.

35. A method of driving and/or controlling an electrical component, the method comprising:

providing an electrical signal to a conductive element; and

deforming a dielectric elastomer device having the conductive element associated therewith, said deformation causing the resistivity of the conductive element to change based at least on the extent of deformation thereof; and

providing an electrical input to the electrical component, said electrical input being dependent on said electrical signal and said deformation; and

providing or triggering a predetermined response dependent on the electrical signal.

36. (canceled)

37. A logic element comprising at least one dielectric elastomer device and at least one conductive element, wherein the at least one element is configured such that application of a deformation force thereto affects the electrical resistance thereof.

38. The logic element of claim 37, wherein said at least one dielectric elastomer device and said at least one element cooperate to transform one or more inputs into one or more outputs, said outputs being predetermined but dependent on the one or more inputs.

39. A computing device comprising one or more logic elements of claim 37.

40. A charge pump and/or a generator comprising at least one electrostatic generator operatively coupled to at least one dielectric elastomer switch, whereby in a first state the at least one dielectric elastomer switch directs current to a load and/or in a second state the same or another said at least one dielectric elastomer switch routes at least a portion of the energy generated to a storage means, the storage means being adapted to provide charge to the or another said electrostatic generator.

41-47. -47. (canceled)