Electroactive polymer animated devices
First Claim
1. An animated toy comprising:
- a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and
a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An animated toy comprising:
-
a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An animated toy comprising:
-
a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes, wherein the device is configured such that the transducer is used in a sensor configured to detect a parameter included in the device or detect a parameter from the environment around the device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An animated toy comprising:
-
a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes, wherein the animated toy is backdrivable between the first position and the second position by overcoming the stiffness of the rolled electroactive polymer during motion between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification