Piezoelectric polymer composite article and system

• US 7,443,082 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Grumm, Kipp O.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US11/276,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 310363-366, 310/800
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/878 the principal material being non-metallic, e.g. oxide or carbon based
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The subject invention provides composite articles (20, 120) and associated systems (32, 132). A first composite article (20) includes a piezoelectric layer (22) having a piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric layer (22) is sandwiched between a first conductive layer (28) and a second conductive layer (30). At least one of the conductive layers (28, 30) is a conductive polymer having an electrically conductive property. A second composite article (120) includes first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124) having a piezoelectric property. The first and second piezoelectric layers sandwich an insulating layer (126). A first system (32) and a second system (132) each include a control device (34) electrically connected to the first composite article (20) or the second composite article (120), respectively. The control device (34) measures an electrical signal generated by the respective piezoelectric layers (22, 122, 124) and/orproduces an electrical signal to actuate the respective piezoelectric layers (22, 122, 124).

Claims

1. A composite article (120) comprising;

a first piezoelectric layer (122) having a piezoelectric property and comprising electrically conductive material,

a second piezoelectric layer (124) having a piezoelectric property and comprising electrically conductive material, and

an insulating layer (126) sandwiched between said first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124).

2. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second piezoelectric layers (122, 124) comprise polymers having a piezoelectric property.

3. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first piezoelectric layer (122) comprises polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF) having a piezoelectric property and said second piezoelectric layer (124) comprises PVDF having a piezoelectric property.

4. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive material is further defined carbon nanotubes.

5. A composite article (120) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insulating layer (126) comprises a polymer.

6. A composite article as set forth in claim 5 wherein said insulating layer (126) comprises polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF).

7. A system (132) comprising;

a first piezoelectric layer (122) having a piezoelectric property and including electrically conductive material,

a second piezoelectric (124) layer having a piezoelectric property and including electrically conductive material,

an insulating layer (126) sandwiched by said first and second piezoelectric layers, and

a control device (34) electrically connected to said first piezoelectric layer (122) and said second piezoelectric layer (124).

8. A system (132) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said control device (34) is further defined as a meter (42) for receiving an electrical signal produced by said piezoelectric layers (122, 124).