ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER SYSTEMS

• US 20090130423A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Keady, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/304.400
• 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

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a device that includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element, where the element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application, where the element is covered by the membrane.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a membrane; and

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

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer element is a gel.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer element is an electroactive polymer that bends about a point when a voltage is applied across the electroactive polymer.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane reduces any water in the electroactive polymer element from passing through the membrane to the environment.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the membrane includes additional straightening folds to reduce membrane resistance to bending.

6. The device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a core, wherein the electroactive polymer element is attached to the core.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is operatively attached to the core.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is operatively attached to or part of the membrane.

9. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is operatively attached to the core.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the electroactive polymer element moves in a direction radially outward from the core when a voltage difference is applied between the first and second electrodes.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the electroactive polymer element moves in a direction radially outward from the core when a voltage difference is applied between the first and second electrodes.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer element includes:

a first electroactive polymer sub element;

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;

a third sub electrode operatively 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.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the first voltage difference is a negative portion of the second voltage difference.

14. A sealing device, comprising:

at least one electroactive polymer element;

a core;

a first electrode; and

a second electrode, wherein the at least one 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.

15. A sealing device, comprising:

a moment arm;

an electroactive polymer element;

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a core, wherein a first end of the electroactive polymer element is operatively attached to the core and a second end of the electroactive polymer element is operatively attached to the moment arm, wherein the moment arm is operatively attached at a position along the core so that the moment arm can rotated about the position 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.