Patent ID: 7203552
Filing Date: 2007-04-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling deformation of a structure, the method comprising: applying a command signal at a first signal level to a first electrode of at least one actuator mechanically coupled to a structure, the first signal level known to produce an energy level in the at least one actuator substantially the same as an energy level currently stored by the at least one actuator; electrically coupling an electrical reference to a second electrode of the at least one actuator to enable the at least one actuator to respond in an electromechanical manner to the command signal at the first signal level, the at least one actuator having a substantially negligible electromechanical response to the command signal at the first signal level; driving the command signal from the first signal level to a second signal level, the at least one actuator changing in at least one dimension in an electromechanical manner as a function of the command signal, resulting in a corresponding deformation of the structure; and electrically decoupling the electrical reference from the second electrode of the at the least one actuator, resulting in maintaining deformation of the structure defined by energy stored in the at least one actuator.