Electroactive polymer manufacturing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising:
- an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer; and
an electrode having a non-uniform surface; and
wherein the polymer has a non-uniform surface; and
wherein the non-uniform surface of the electrode mates with the non-uniform surface of the polymer such that deformation of the polymer provides directional compliance of the transducer in a first direction wherein the electroactive polymer is a pre-strained electroactive polymer and the pre-strained electroactive polymer comprises a high pre-strain direction and a low pre-strain direction, and wherein the polymer is less compliant in the high pre-strain direction and wherein the polymer is more compliant in the low pre-strain direction.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising:
-
an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer; and an electrode having a non-uniform surface; and wherein the polymer has a non-uniform surface; and wherein the non-uniform surface of the electrode mates with the non-uniform surface of the polymer such that deformation of the polymer provides directional compliance of the transducer in a first direction wherein the electroactive polymer is a pre-strained electroactive polymer and the pre-strained electroactive polymer comprises a high pre-strain direction and a low pre-strain direction, and wherein the polymer is less compliant in the high pre-strain direction and wherein the polymer is more compliant in the low pre-strain direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification