Patent ID: 8981621
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: F02G,F04B,F05C,F25B,H01G,H01L,H02N,H04R,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising: an electroactive polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer; and an electrode having a non-uniform surface; and wherein the polymer has a non-uniform surface; and wherein the non-uniform surface of the electrode mates with the non-uniform surface of the polymer such that deformation of the polymer provides directional compliance of the transducer in a first direction wherein the electroactive polymer is a pre-strained electroactive polymer and the pre-strained electroactive polymer comprises a high pre-strain direction and a low pre-strain direction, and wherein the polymer is less compliant in the high pre-strain direction and wherein the polymer is more compliant in the low pre-strain direction.