Condensation inhibiting layer, method of forming the layer, and condensation inhibiting device

• US 9,507,145 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bullock, Steven E., Simon, Sarah M., Stetson, John B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US14/578,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 359/512
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/065 the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/02 by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned B08B7/0007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/082 by etching, e.g. lithography
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/206 using only longitudinal or thickness displacement, e.g. d33 or d31 type devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/857 Macromolecular compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

A condensation inhibiting layer includes an electrostrictive actuator film, and a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film and including a plurality of channels.

Claims

1. A condensation inhibiting layer, comprising:

an electrostrictive actuator film;

a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film, the treated surface including a plurality of channels;

the electrostrictive actuator film includes a transparent electrostrictive actuator film which is formed on a transparent surface; and

the plurality of channels include directional channels for directing water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film.

2. The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein the transparent surface comprises a transparent door and the directional channels direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film at a bottom of the door.

3. The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 2, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film is pulsable by a voltage pulse to at least one of inhibit a condensation of water on the electrostrictive actuator film and remove condensed water on the electrostrictive actuator film, to maintain a transparency of the door.

4. The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises one of an electrostrictive polymer film and a large-area graphene (LAG) film.

5. The condensation inhibiting layer of claim 1, wherein a channel of the plurality of channels comprises a depth in a range from 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm, and a width in a range from 0.05 mm to 10 mm.

6. A method of forming a condensation inhibiting layer, comprising:

forming an electrostrictive actuator film by liquid casting a piezoelectric material onto a substrate and subjecting the piezoelectric material to infra-red light to transform the piezoelectric material into the electrostrictive actuator film, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film, and the forming of the electrostrictive actuator film comprises forming the transparent electrostrictive actuator film on a transparent surface; and

treating the electrostrictive actuator film to form a treated surface including a plurality of channels on the electrostrictive actuator film, wherein the plurality of channels comprise directional channels for directing water toward an edge of the electrostrictive actuator film.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein treating the electrostrictive actuator film comprises applying selected magnitude and direction laser emissions onto the electrostrictive actuator film to form the plurality of channels.

8. A condensation inhibiting device, comprising:

a condensation inhibiting layer, comprising;

an electrostrictive actuator film; and

a treated surface formed on the electrostrictive actuator film, the treated surface including a plurality of channels; and

an electrode electrically connected to the condensation inhibiting layer.

9. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 8, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film formed on a transparent surface, and

wherein the plurality of channels comprise directional channels of a length and orientation to direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film.

10. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 9, wherein the transparent surface comprises a transparent door and the directional channels direct water toward an edge of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film at a bottom of the door.

11. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 10, wherein the electrode is formed on the condensation inhibiting layer around a periphery of the transparent door, and receives a pulsed voltage to produce a contractive, piezoelectric constrictive response in the condensation inhibiting layer.

12. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the contractive, piezoelectric constrictive response in the condensation inhibiting layer at least one of inhibits a condensation of water on the electrostrictive actuator film, and removes condensed water on the electrostrictive actuator film, to maintain a transparency of the transparent door.

13. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the voltage source comprises a spring-loaded hinge formed on the electrode and connected via the transparent door to a door frame, the voltage source generating a pulsed voltage in response to a transition between an open door configuration to a closed door configuration.

14. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 8, further comprising:

an air current source directed to transport moisture away from the condensation inhibiting layer.

15. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 8, further comprising:

a sensor which detects a presence of water on the treated surface and generates a detection signal, the sensor comprising one of;

an optical sensor which detects the presence of water by detecting a decrease in transparency of the transparent electrostrictive actuator film; and

a dielectric constant sensor which detects the presence of water by detecting a dielectric constant of the treated surface.

16. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 15, further comprising:

a controller for controlling an operation of the condensation inhibiting device based on the detection signal.

17. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 16, wherein if the detection signal indicates that the sensor detects the presence of water on the treated surface, then the controller causes a voltage from the electrode to actuate the condensation inhibiting layer, and

wherein if the detection signal indicates that the sensor does not detect the presence of water on the treated surface, then the controller causes the voltage on the electrode to be redirected away from the condensation inhibiting layer.

18. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 8, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a transparent electrostrictive actuator film formed on a non-transparent surface.

19. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 18, wherein the non-transparent surface comprises a mirror surface.

20. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 8, wherein the electrostrictive actuator film comprises a pre-formed sheet that is applied to a surface.

21. The condensation inhibiting device of claim 11, wherein the pulsed voltage causes a vibration of the condensation inhibiting layer and the vibration at least one of:

forces water droplets off of the condensation inhibiting layer in a direction away from the condensation inhibiting layer; and

forces water droplets to migrate into a base of the plurality of channels for transport off of the condensation inhibiting layer.