Electroactive polymer-based flow sensor and methods related thereto
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor comprising:
- an electroactive polymer (EAP) member deformable in response to at least one of a flow characteristic of a fluid medium or a fluid characteristic of the fluid medium; and
first and second electric terminals coupled to the electroactive polymer member and configured to provide a current electrical signal based on deformation of the member, the current electrical signal corresponding to the flow or fluid characteristic.
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Abstract
An apparatus includes an electroactive polymer member and a first electric terminal and a second electric terminal. The electroactive polymer member has a free portion configured to change position relative to a fixed portion in response to an external stimulus corresponding to at least one of a flow parameter or a fluid parameter. The first electric terminal and the second electric terminal are coupled to the electroactive polymer member. The first electric terminal and the second electric terminal provide an electrical signal in response to the change.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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an electroactive polymer (EAP) member deformable in response to at least one of a flow characteristic of a fluid medium or a fluid characteristic of the fluid medium; and first and second electric terminals coupled to the electroactive polymer member and configured to provide a current electrical signal based on deformation of the member, the current electrical signal corresponding to the flow or fluid characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25)
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18. A method comprising:
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allowing a sensor comprising an electroactive polymer (EAP) member to deform in response to at least one of a flow characteristic of a fluid medium or a fluid characteristic of the fluid medium; and coupling first and second electric terminals to the electroactive polymer member, wherein the first electric terminal and the second electric terminal are configured to provide a current electrical signal based on deformation of the member, the current electrical signal corresponding to the flow or fluid characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification