Electro-Polymer Motor
First Claim
1. An electro-polymer motor, the motor comprising:
- a fixed member;
a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end, the first actuator comprising a polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with a power supply;
a driven member comprising a body having an axis, wherein the driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator; and
a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the body of the driven member, the compressible member spaced apart from the first actuator;
wherein the first actuator changes length after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-polymer motor comprising a fixed member and a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end is presented. The first actuator comprises a polymer positioned between two electrodes. The electrodes are in communication with a power supply. The motor also comprises a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by an axis. The driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator. The motor also comprises a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the second leg of the driven member. The compressible member is spaced apart from the first actuator. The first actuator elongates after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.
48 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An electro-polymer motor, the motor comprising:
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a fixed member; a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end, the first actuator comprising a polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with a power supply; a driven member comprising a body having an axis, wherein the driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator; and a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the body of the driven member, the compressible member spaced apart from the first actuator; wherein the first actuator changes length after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.
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2. An electro-polymer motor, the motor comprising:
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a fixed member; a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end, the first actuator comprising a polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with a power supply; a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by an axis, wherein the driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator; and a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the second leg of the driven member, the compressible member spaced apart from the first actuator; wherein the first actuator elongates after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electro-polymer motor, the motor comprising:
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a fixed member; a first actuator having a first end connected to the fixed member and a second end, the first actuator comprising a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with a power supply; a second actuator having a first end connected to the fixed member and a second end, the second actuator spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first actuator, the second actuator comprising a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with the power supply; and a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by a first angle across a central axis, the first leg connected to the second end of the first actuators and the second leg connected to the second end of the second actuator; wherein the first and second actuators elongate in response to an applied voltage from the power supply to move the driven member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An electric toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising:
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a head having a cleaning surface; a handle connected to the head and having a power supply and a motor, wherein the motor comprises; a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the handle and a second end, the first actuator comprises a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with the power supply; a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the handle and a second end and spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first actuator, the compressible member comprises a pre-strained polymer positioned between two electrodes, wherein the electrodes are in communication with the power supply; a driven member comprising a first leg, a second leg and a shaft bearing positioned between and connected to the first leg and the second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by a first angle across the shaft bearing, the first leg connected to the second end of the first actuator and the second leg connected to the second end of the compressible member; and a shaft in communication with the shaft bearing of the driven member; wherein the first and second actuators elongate in response to an applied voltage from the power supply to oscillate, pulsate and/or linearly move the driven member and the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of electro-polymer motion, the method comprising:
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alternately actuating a first pre-strained polymer actuator and a second pre-strained polymer actuator with a oscillating pulse from a power supply; and oscillating a driven member by the actuation of the first and second actuators about an axis of the driven member. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification