Method of fabricating an electroactive polymer transducer

• US 8,042,264 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenthal, Marcus A., Bonwit, Neville A., Pei, Qibing
• Primary Examiner(s): ARBES, CARL J
• Application Number:
  US12/827,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20100263181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 29/250.3, 29/254.1, 298/25, 298/37, 298/46
• US Class Current: 29/825
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0283 Electro-active polymers [EAP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/46 Component parts, details, or accessories, not provided for in preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2301/00 Using particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 7/02 with cylindrical, sleeve, or part-annularly shaped valves of disc type F01L7/06; of conical type F01L7/08
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/00 Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/006 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/00 Electrostatic transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2307/029 Diaphragms comprising fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/05 Manufacture of multilayered piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices, or parts thereof, e.g. by stacking piezoelectric bodies and electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2046 adapted for multi-directional bending displacement
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/506 of cylindrical shape with stacking in radial direction, e.g. coaxial or spiral type rolls
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/802 Drive or control circuitry or methods for piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 : Piezoelectric device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/43 : Electric condenser making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 : Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 : On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49139 : by inserting component lead or terminal into base aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating an electroactive polymer transducer, the method comprising:

disposing an electrode having a non-uniform shape on an electroactive polymer having an elastic modulus below 100 Mpa;

creating an electroactive polymer roll by rolling the electroactive polymer such that the electroactive polymer roll has a plurality of layers of the electroactive polymer; and

securing the electroactive polymer roll to maintain a rolled configuration when converting between electrical and mechanical energy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the electroactive polymer roll by applying and adhesive or glue to the electroactive polymer roll to maintain its rolled configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the electroactive polymer roll comprises attaching an end cap to at least one end of the electroactive polymer roll.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode comprises troughs and crests having a depth and height respectively that is substantially smaller than a thickness of the electroactive polymer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the electroactive polymer roll comprises rolling the electroactive polymer about at least one of a support member, a mechanical linkage, an end cap, a base or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the end cap secures the electroactive polymer roll in its rolled configuration such that actuation of the electroactive polymer transducer results in linear actuation of the transducer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform first surface, and wherein disposing the electrode having the non-uniform shape on the electroactive polymer comprises conformably disposing the electrode having the non-uniform shape on the non-uniform first surface.

8. A method for fabricating an electroactive polymer transducer, the method comprising:

disposing an electrode having a non-uniform shape on an electroactive polymer having an elastic modulus below 100 Mpa;

creating an electroactive polymer roll by rolling the electroactive polymer such that the electroactive polymer roll has a plurality of layers of the electroactive polymer and where the electroactive polymer roll maintains a rolled configuration while converting between electrical and mechanical energy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein securing the electroactive polymer roll comprises attaching an end cap to at least one end of the electroactive polymer roll.

10. The method of claim 8, where creating the electroactive polymer roll further comprises applying and adhesive or glue to at least one of the layers of the electroactive polymer to maintain the rolled configuration.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode comprises troughs and crests having a depth and height respectively that is substantially smaller than a thickness of the electroactive polymer.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein creating the electroactive polymer roll comprises rolling the electroactive polymer about at least one of a support member, a mechanical linkage, an end cap, a base or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein attaching the end cap secures the electroactive polymer roll in its rolled configuration such that actuation of the electroactive polymer results in linear actuation of the transducer.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform first surface, and wherein disposing the electrode having the non-uniform shape on the electroactive polymer comprises conformably disposing the electrode having the non-uniform shape on the non-uniform first surface.