Electroactive polymer systems

• US 8,718,313 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Keady, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefer, A.
• Application Number:
  US12/268,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090130423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 381/380
• US Class Current: 381/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/00 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/04 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]

Abstract

Electroactive polymer devices are provided. A device includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application. The element is covered by the membrane.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a membrane;

a collapsible electroactive polymer element, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with the voltage application, wherein the element is covered by the membrane, the electroactive polymer element including;

a first electroactive polymer sub element, and

a second electroactive polymer sub element;

a first sub electrode operatively connected to the first electroactive polymer sub element;

a second sub electrode operatively connected to the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements; and

a third sub electrode operative connected to the second electroactive polymer sub element, wherein a first voltage difference between the first sub electrode and the second sub electrode and a second voltage difference between the second sub electrode and third sub electrode results in movement of a portion of the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements in the same direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first voltage difference is a negative portion of the second voltage difference.