Novel uses of piezoelectric materials for creating optical effects

• US 4,748,366 A
• Filed: 09/02/1986
• Issued: 05/31/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: George W. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US06/904,019
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/338, 310/339, 310/800, 446/34, 446/47, 446/140, 446/219, 446/485, 128/382, 36/1, 36/25 R, 36/87, 36/102, 36/103, 36/136, 36/137
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0027 made at least partially from a material having special colours
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

An optical effect is produced in cooperation with the normal use of an article of manufacture, e.g., a toy such as a frisbee or a ball, or an article of clothing, such as a shoe, by mounting on the article a piezoelectric element for generating electrical energy in response to movement of the article and an optical effect device, such as a neon bulb, gas plasma, liquid crystal, or electroluminescent device, electrically connected to and energized by the element in response to such movement. In one embodiment, the element and device each comprises a thin, layer-like structure, the element and device structures being laminated or attached together.

Claims

1. In combination, an article of manufacture the use of which involves movement thereof, and a transducer mounted on said article for generating an optical effect in response to such movements, said transducer comprising a laminate structure including an electroded layer of piezoelectric material and an electroded layer of an optical effect device, each of two electrodes of said piezoelectric layer being electrically connected to a different one of two electrodes of said device, said article being a ball, the wall thereof comprising said laminate.

3. A combination according to claim 1, the wall of said ball consisting essentially of said laminate.

4. A combination according to claim 1, said laminate being disposed on an inside surface of the ball wall, openings being provided through said wall exposing to view said optical effect device.

2. An optical effect producing frisbee including a piezoelectric element mounted thereon for interaction with the passing air during flight of the frisbee for generating electrical energy, and an optical effect device mounted on said frisbee and electrically connected to and energized by said element for producing a visible optical effect during such flight, said element and said device comprising a laminate structure including an electroded layer of a piezoelectric material and an electroded layer of an optical effect device, each of two electrodes of said piezoelectric layer being electrically connected to a different one of two electrodes of said device.

5. A frisbee according to claim 2 including means for inducing turbulence in the passage of air around said laminate.