Electroactive polymer systems

• US 9,216,237 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST TipTech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Keady, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefer, A.
• Application Number:
  US14/246,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20140216480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A device includes a core, a membrane, at least one first electrode coupled to the core, at least one second electrode coupled to the core or the membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The collapsible polymer element is configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core where the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage. The voltage is applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a core;

a membrane;

at least one first electrode connected to the core;

at least one second electrode connected to the membrane;

a collapsible electroactive polymer element configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and is in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage, the voltage being applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and

a first electroactive polymer sub element, a second electroactive polymer sub element, a first sub electrode operatively coupled to the first electoactive polymer sub element, a second sub electrode operatively coupled to the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements, a third sub electrode operatively coupled 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 of claim 1, wherein the collapsible electroactive polymer element is configured to extend around at least a portion of the core, wherein the element is covered by the membrane.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the membrane further includes additional straightening folds to reduce membrane resistance to bending.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be inserted in an ear canal.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the voltage is modified to change a pressure of the device for a level of sealing the ear canal.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to seal an ear canal when the device is in the expanded configuration and wherein alternating electrodes are used to move sub units of electroactive polymers.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be inserted in a pipe.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device is configured to seal the pipe when the device is in the expanded or collapsed configuration.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device is configured to expand up to a design pressure for sealing the pipe.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the voltage is modified to change a pressure of the device for sealing the pipe.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible electroactive polymer element forms a flange shape, wherein the flange shape moves toward the core when voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is wired electronic device or a wireless electronic device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a wireless earpiece, a wired earpiece, an earbud, a headphone, an ear terminal, hearing aid, or a behind the ear device.

14. A device comprising:

a core;

a membrane;

at least one first electrode connected to the core;

at least one second electrode connected to the membrane;

a collapsible electroactive polymer element configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and is in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage, the voltage being applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode, and wherein the device is configured to expand up to a design pressure for sealing an ear canal; and

where the membrane further includes additional straightening folds to reduce membrane resistance to bending.

15. A device, comprising:

a core;

a membrane;

at least one first electrode connected to the core;

at least one second electrode connected to the membrane;

a collapsible electroactive polymer element configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and is in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage, the voltage being applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and

a moment arm, wherein the moment arm is operatively attached at a position along the core so that the moment arm can rotate about the position and wherein the first electrode is operatively connected to a first side of the electroactive polymer element and the second electrode is operatively attached to a second side of the electroactive polymer element so that when a voltage difference is applied between the first and second electrodes the moment arm is rotated about the position.