Electroactive polymer generators
First Claim
1. A generator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, the generator comprising:
- at least two electrodes; and
an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection applied to a first portion of the electroactive polymer wherein an energy change resulting from the deflection of the electroactive polymer is converted to electrical energy which is removed at the two electrodes and wherein the electroactive polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.
238 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A generator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least two electrodes; and
an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection applied to a first portion of the electroactive polymer wherein an energy change resulting from the deflection of the electroactive polymer is converted to electrical energy which is removed at the two electrodes and wherein the electroactive polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A generator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least two electrodes; and
an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a net area decrease of the polymer for the area orthogonal to the thickness, wherein the electroactive polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto and wherein energy released during the change in the net area decrease of the polymer is converted to electrical energy which is removed at the two electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A generator for converting from electrical energy to mechanical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least one transducer, each transducer comprising;
at least two electrodes, and an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection applied to a first portion of the polymer, and a frame attached to a second portion of the polymer, the frame comprising at least one aperture, wherein the first portion of the polymer is arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection applied to a third portion of the polymer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A generator for converting mechanical eneergy in a first direction into electrical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least one transducer, each transducer comprising;
at least two electrodes, and an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection in the first direction; and
a flexible frame coupled to the polymer, the frame providing improved conversion from mechanical to electrical energy for the at least one transducer. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A generator for converting mechanical energy in a first direction into electrical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least one transducer, each transducer comprising;
at least two electrodes, and an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection in the first direction wherein an energy change resulting from the deflection of the electroactive polymer is converted to electrical energy which is removed at the two electrodes and wherein the electroactive polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto; and
at least one stiff member coupled to the at least one transducer, the at least one stiff member substantially preventing displacement in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A generator for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, the generator comprising:
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at least two electrodes; and
an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to a deflection applied to a first portion of the electroactive polymer, wherein, prior to the deflection an initial area of the electroactive polymer is elastically pre-strained by a factor in the range of about 1.5 times to 50 times the initial area to improve the performance of the generator when the deflection is applied. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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Specification