Electroactive polymer manufacturing

• US 8,508,109 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Pelrine, Ronald E., Kornbluh, Roy D., Pei, Oibing, Oh, Seajin, Joseph, Jose P.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSENAU, DEREK JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/042,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 310/328, 310/365, 310/366, 310/800
• US Class Current: 310/365
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/043 the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2243/52 acoustic
• 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 35/045 using solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2225/08 Thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 9/14 characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 5/16 using variation of distance between electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/023 Inchworm motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/02 Loudspeakers H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/00 Transducers other than those covered by groups H04R9/00 - H04R21/00 diaphragms for transducers of the distributed-mode type H04R7/045
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/098 Forming organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2042 Cantilevers, i.e. having one fixed end
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/308 Membrane type
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/87 Electrodes or interconnections, e.g. leads or terminals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

Described herein are transducers and their 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 provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Claims

1. A polymer roll transducer comprising:

an electroactive polymer roll having a plurality of layers of an electroactive polymer having an elastic modulus below 100 MPa in a rolled configuration; and

an end cap to secure the electroactive polymer roll in its rolled configuration, wherein the electroactive polymer has an electrode having a non-uniform shape disposed thereon.

2. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode comprises a textured shape.

3. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode comprises troughs having a width and a depth substantially less than a thickness of the electroactive polymer.

4. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode comprises crests having a width and a height substantially less than a thickness of the polymer.

5. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the non-uniform surface of the electrode comprises a roughened surface.

6. The transducer according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrode having a non-uniform shape.

7. The transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform surface corresponding to the non-uniform shape of the electrode, such that the electrode is conformably disposed on the non-uniform surface.

8. The transducer according to claim 6, wherein the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform first surface corresponding to the non-uniform shape of the electrode and the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform second surface corresponding to the non-uniform shape of the second electrode, such that the electrode is conformably disposed on the non-uniform first surface and the second electrode is conformably disposed on the non-uniform second surface.

9. The transducer according to claim 8, wherein the polymer roll transducer actuates linearly by deflecting axially along its cylindrical axis in response to a voltage being applied across the first and second electrodes.

10. The transducer according to claim 9, wherein the non-uniform shape of the electrode and the second electrode comprises troughs and crests, such that the troughs and crests of the decrease in height and depth upon actuation of the polymer roll transducer.