Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6809462?dq=7245279
Timestamp: 2015-07-02 21:34:51
Document Index: 361157614

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09']

Patent US6809462 - Electroactive polymer sensors - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe invention provides sensors that comprise a transducer that converts between mechanical energy and electrical energy. The transducer comprises an electroactive polymer in electrical communication with at least two electrodes. When a relatively small voltage difference is applied between the electrodes,...http://www.google.com/patents/US6809462?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6809462 - Electroactive polymer sensorsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6809462 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/007,705Publication dateOct 26, 2004Filing dateDec 6, 2001Priority dateApr 5, 2000Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20020130673Publication number007705, 10007705, US 6809462 B2, US 6809462B2, US-B2-6809462, US6809462 B2, US6809462B2InventorsRonald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei, Joseph Stephen EckerleOriginal AssigneeSri InternationalExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (23), Non-Patent Citations (33), Referenced by (201), Classifications (11), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetElectroactive polymer sensors
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/293,004 filed May 22, 2001, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; this application is also a continuation in part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/828,496, filed Apr. 4, 2001 which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/194,817 filed Apr. 5, 2000, all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
In accordance with the present invention, the term “monolithic” is used herein to refer to electroactive polymers, transducers, and devices comprising a plurality of active areas on a single electroactive polymer. FIG. 5A illustrates a monolithic transducer 250 comprising a plurality of active areas in accordance with one sensor embodiment of the present invention. The monolithic transducer 250 converts between electrical energy and mechanical energy. The monolithic transducer 250 comprises an electroactive polymer 251 including two active areas 252 a and 252 b. The polymer 251 can be held using, for example, a rigid frame (not shown) attached at the edges of the polymer 251.
FIGS. 5D-E illustrate a cross-sectional side view of a monolithic ‘diaphragm’ sensor 130 comprising a monolithic polymer 131 before and after externally-induced deflection in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The polymer 131 is attached to a frame 132. The frame 132 includes apertures 133 a and 133 b that allow deflection of polymer portions 131 a and 131 b perpendicular to the area of the apertures 133 a and 133 b, respectively. The diaphragm sensor 130 includes electrodes 134 a and 134 b attached on either side of the portion 131 a to provide or receive electrical energy to or from portion 131 a and electrodes 136 a and 136 b attached on either side of the portion 131 b to provide or receive electrical energy to or from portion 131 b. Electrodes 134 and 136 are compliant and change shape with polymer 131 as it deflects.
Using electrodes 134 and 136, portions 131 a and 131 b are capable of independent sensing. As illustrated in FIG. 5E, upon application of an external mechanical input to portion 131 a to deflect the portion downward, the deflection produces a capacitance or resistance change (depending on the transducer) in the polymer portion 131 a or electrodes 134 a and 134 b that is received by electrodes 134 a and 134 b. Each of the portions 131 a and 131 b is capable of sensing expansion and contraction in both perpendicular directions-upwards or downwards—relative to the plane.
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PARK,Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KORNBLUH, ROY D. /AR;REEL/FRAME:012776/0764;SIGNING DATES FROM 20020326 TO 20020405Apr 28, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 5, 2008REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedApr 11, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services