Energy efficient electroactive polymers and electroactive polymer devices
First Claim
1. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprisingan electroactive polymer having a first active area, the first active area comprising at least two first active area electrodes and a first portion of the electroactive polymer, the first portion arranged in a manner which causes the first portion to deform in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two first active area electrodes and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the first portion, a second portion of the electroactive polymer that stores mechanical input energy in tension, wherein the device is arranged such that elastic potential energy of the polymer is substantially independent of deformation of the first portion in response to a change in electric field and/or deformation of the first portion causing a change in electric field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. Similarly, when a previously charged electroactive polymer deflects, the electric field in the material is changed. The change in electric field may be used to produce electrical energy. An active area is a portion of a polymer having sufficient electrostatic force to enable deflection of the portion and/or sufficient deflection to enable a change in electrostatic force or electric field. The present invention relates to energy efficient transducers and devices comprising multiple active areas on one or more electroactive polymers. The invention also relates to methods for actuating one or more active areas on one or more electroactive polymers while maintaining a substantially constant potential energy.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising
an electroactive polymer having a first active area, the first active area comprising at least two first active area electrodes and a first portion of the electroactive polymer, the first portion arranged in a manner which causes the first portion to deform in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two first active area electrodes and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the first portion, a second portion of the electroactive polymer that stores mechanical input energy in tension, wherein the device is arranged such that elastic potential energy of the polymer is substantially independent of deformation of the first portion in response to a change in electric field and/or deformation of the first portion causing a change in electric field.
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17. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising
at least one electroactive polymer, the at least one electroactive polymer comprising a first active area, the first active area comprising at least two first active area electrodes and a first portion of the at least one electroactive polymer, the first portion arranged in a manner which causes the first portion to change in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two first active area electrodes and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deformation of the first portion, one or more structures that constrain deformation of the polymer such that elastic potential energy of the device, which is the sum of the elastic energy in the device, is substantially independent of deformation of the first portion in response to a change in electric field and/or deformation of the first portion causing a change in electric field.
- 26. A method of using at least one electroactive polymer, the at least one electroactive polymer comprising a first active area, the first active area comprising at least two first active area electrodes and a first portion of the at least one electroactive polymer, the method comprising deflecting the first portion such that elastic potential energy of the at least one electroactive polymer is substantially constant for the deformation.
Specification