Electroactive polymer animated devices

• US RE45,464 E1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph S. Eckerle, Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh
• Original Assignee: Joseph S. Eckerle, Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh
• Inventors: Kornbluh, Roy D., Pelrine, Ronald E., Pei, Qibing, Eckerle, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US12/855,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/328, 310/800, 310/326, 700/245
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/00 Toy figures with self-moving parts, with or without movement of the toy as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/005 with self-moving head or facial features with a choice of features A63H3/365; movable eyes A63H3/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/00 Drive mechanisms for toys in general
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/043 Micropumps
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 41/083 having a stacked or multilayer structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.

Claims

1. An animated toy device comprising:

a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and

a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes.

2. The toy device of claim 1 wherein the electroactive polymer is elastically pre-strained.

3. The toy device of claim 1 wherein the electroactive polymer is a dielectric elastomer.

4. The toy device of claim 1 wherein the electroactive polymer is molded.

5. The animated toy device of claim 1 wherein the animated toy device is one of a doll, a puppet, and an animatronic device.

6. The toy animated device of claim 1 wherein the toy animated device is included in one of an animated display, a set, a prop, and a moving display of an amusement park ride.

7. The toy animated device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured such that the transducer is used in a sensor configured to detect a parameter included in the device or detect a parameter from the environment around the device.

8. The toy animated device of claim 7 further comprising a second transducer, the second transducer comprising a second active area, which includes at least two second active area electrodes coupled to a portion of a second electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two second active area electrodes.

9. The toy animated device of claim 8 wherein the sensor provides one of haptic feedback and force feedback for motion between the first position and the second position for the feature.

10. The toy animated device of claim 1 wherein the animated toy device is backdrivable between the first position and the second position by overcoming the stiffness of the rolled electroactive polymer during motion between the first position and the second position.

11. The toy animated device of claim 1 wherein motion between the first position and the second position for the feature has human likeness.

12. The toy animated device of claim 1 wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device.

13. An animated toy device comprising:

a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and

a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes,

wherein the device is configured such that the transducer is used in a sensor configured to detect a parameter included in the device or detect a parameter from the environment around the device.

14. The toy animated device of claim 13 wherein the sensor provides one of haptic feedback and force feedback for motion between the first position and the second position for the feature.

15. The toy animated device of claim 14 wherein the sensor provides position feedback for the feature between the first position and the second position.

16. The toy animated device of claim 14 wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device.

17. The toy animated device of claim 13 wherein the animated toy device is one of a doll, a puppet, and an animatronic device.

18. An animated toy device comprising:

a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and

a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes,

wherein the animated toy animated device is backdrivable between the first position and the second position by overcoming the stiffness of the rolled electroactive polymer during motion between the first position and the second position.

19. The toy animated device of claim 18 wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device.

20. The toy animated device of claim 18 wherein the electroactive polymer is a dielectric elastomer.