Patent ID: 9683663
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: F16J,H01L

Claim:
1. An actuator having a multilayer structure comprising: first and second electrodes formed of electrically-conductive polymer materials; and an electroactive polymer layer formed of a dielectric elastomer, the electroactive polymer layer being between and bonded to the first and second electrodes so as to have a thickness dimension therebetween; wherein the multilayer structure is adapted so that applying an electric potential to the first and second electrodes causes the electroactive polymer layer to expand in at least one dimension thereof transverse to the thickness dimension of the electroactive polymer layer; wherein the electroactive polymer layer is in a strain memory state induced by a pre-straining technique that expands the electroactive polymer layer and then releases the electroactive polymer layer to allow the electroactive polymer layer to substantially shrink to pre-strained dimensions thereof prior to bonding of the first and second electrodes thereto.