Hybrid active deformable material structure
First Claim
1. A hybrid active deformable material structure comprising a deformation unit including:
- an actively deformable material structure, wherein the actively deformable material structure may be caused to change shape in response to an external stimulus; and
a selectively deformable material structure in cooperation with the actively deformable material structure, wherein the selectively deformable material structure may be caused to become selectively stiff or malleable and deform in response to a change in shape of the actively deformable material structure and, when deformed, to nonreversible retain a shape into which it was deformed.
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Abstract
A hybrid active deformable material structure is presented. The hybrid active deformable material structure comprises a deformation unit. Each deformation unit includes a selectively deformable material structure and an actively deformable material structure in cooperation with the selectively deformable material structure. The selectively deformable structure may be caused to deform in response to a deformation of the actively deformable material structure and, when deformed, to retain a shape into which it was deformed. A plurality of deformation activation elements may be positioned about the structure to provide for multi-directional bending-type deformation, stretching-type deformation, and twisting-type deformation. The hybrid active deformable material structure may further comprise a passive material structure in cooperation with the selectively deformable material structure and the actively deformable material structure. The passive material structure may provide mechanical support for at least a portion of the selectively deformable material structure and may enclose the selectively deformable material structure.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A hybrid active deformable material structure comprising a deformation unit including:
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an actively deformable material structure, wherein the actively deformable material structure may be caused to change shape in response to an external stimulus; and a selectively deformable material structure in cooperation with the actively deformable material structure, wherein the selectively deformable material structure may be caused to become selectively stiff or malleable and deform in response to a change in shape of the actively deformable material structure and, when deformed, to nonreversible retain a shape into which it was deformed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for making a hybrid active deformable material structure comprising acts, for forming a deformation unit, of:
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providing an actively deformable material structure, wherein the actively deformable material structure may be caused to change shape in response to an external stimulus; providing a selectively deformable material structure; and placing the selectively deformable material structure in functional cooperation with the actively deformable material structure, wherein the selectively deformable material structure may be caused to become selectively stiff or malleable and deform in response to a chance in shape of the actively deformable material structure and, when deformed, to nonreversibly retain a shape into which it was deformed. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for actuating a hybrid active deformable material structure, comprising acts for deforming a deformation unit comprised of an actively deformable material structure in functional cooperation with a selectively deformable material structure, wherein the actively deformable material structure may be caused to change shape in response to a stimulus and the selectively deformable material structure may be caused to become selectively stiff or malleable in response to a stimulus, by:
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stimulating the selectively deformable material structure to cause the selectively deformable material structure to become malleable; stimulating an actively deformable material structure, causing the deformation unit to deform to a desired shape; and de-stimulating the selectively deformable material structure to cause the deformation unit to nonreversible retain the shape into which it was deformed.
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Specification