Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7224106?dq=KOI-18
Timestamp: 2015-03-05 17:06:50
Document Index: 446633379

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

Patent US7224106 - Electroactive polymers - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present...http://www.google.com/patents/US7224106?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7224106 - Electroactive polymersAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7224106 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/335,030Publication dateMay 29, 2007Filing dateJan 18, 2006Priority dateJul 20, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6812624, US7049732, US7199501, US7259503, US7468575, US7923064, US8508109, US20040263028, US20060113878, US20060113880, US20060238079, US20080136052, US20080191585, US20110154641, US20110155307Publication number11335030, 335030, US 7224106 B2, US 7224106B2, US-B2-7224106, US7224106 B2, US7224106B2InventorsQibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. KornbluhOriginal AssigneeSri InternationalExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (72), Non-Patent Citations (99), Referenced by (35), Classifications (48), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetElectroactive polymers
US 7224106 B2Abstract
1. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising:
a 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, wherein the polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa; and
a layer laminated to at least a portion of one of the polymer and the at least two electrodes.
2. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer distributes mechanical forces across the polymer more uniformly during deflection than mechanical forces produced in the polymer without the layer.
3. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer is laminated between the at least two electrodes.
4. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer increases breakdown strength of the transducer.
5. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer is used to compensate for manufacturing defects in the polymer.
6. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer improves a mechanical property of the transducer.
7. The transducer of claim 6 wherein the layer improves stiffness for the transducer.
8. The transducer of claim 7 wherein the layer has a higher stiffness than the polymer.
9. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the layer is an adhesive layer.
10. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising:
a layer mechanically coupled to at least a portion of one of the polymer and the at least two electrodes.
11. The transducer of claim 10 wherein the layer is adhered to the polymer using an adhesive or glue.
12. The transducer of claim 10 wherein the layer distributes mechanical forces across the polymer more uniformly during deflection than mechanical forces produced in the polymer without the layer.
13. The transducer of claim 10 wherein the layer is mechanically coupled between the at least two electrodes.
14. The transducer of claim 10 wherein the layer improves a mechanical property of the transducer.
15. The transducer of claim 14 wherein the layer improves stiffness for the transducer.
16. A transducer for converting between mechanical and electrical energy, the transducer comprising:
a layer mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the polymer and disposed between a first electrode of the at least two electrodes that is configured to electrically communicate with a first surface of the polymer and a second electrode of the at least two electrodes that is configured to electrically communicate with a second surface of the polymer on an opposite side of the polymer relative to the first surface, wherein the layer increases breakdown strength of the transducer.
This application claims priority under U.S.C. �120 from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/893,730, filed Jul. 16, 2004 and entitled, �ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS�, which is incorporated herein for all purposes and which claims priority from U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,624 B1, which claimed priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/144,556 filed Jul. 20, 1999, naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, and titled �High-speed Electrically Actuated Polymers and Method of Use�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/153,329 filed Sep. 10, 1999, naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, and titled �Electrostrictive Polymers As Microactuators�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/161,325 filed Oct. 25, 1999, naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, and titled �Artificial Muscle Microactuators�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/181,404 filed Feb. 9, 2000, naming R. D. Kornbluh et al. as inventors, and titled �Field Actuated Elastomeric Polymers�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/187,809 filed Mar. 8, 2000, naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, and titled �Polymer Actuators and Materials�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; and it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/192,237 filed Mar. 27, 2000, naming R. D. Kornbluh et al. as inventors, and titled �Polymer Actuators and Materials II�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes; it also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. �119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/184,217 filed Feb. 23, 2000, naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, and titled �Electroelastomers and their use for Power Generation�, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. This application cross references co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled �Elastomeric Dielectric Polymer Film Sonic Actuator� naming R. E. Pelrine et al. as inventors, filed on Jul. 19, 1999 (U.S. application Ser. No. 09/356,801), which claims priority from PCT/US98/02311 filed Feb. 2, 1998, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Number 60/037,400 filed Feb. 7, 1997, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
FIG. 1E illustrates a cross-sectional view of the electroactive polymer diaphragm of FIG. 1F after application of a voltage in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Diaphragm devices may be used as pumps, valves, etc. In one embodiment, a diaphragm device having a pre-strained polymer is suitable for use as a pump. Pumping action is created by repeatedly actuating the polymer. Electroactive polymer pumps in accordance with the present invention may be implemented both in micro and macro scales.
By way of example, the diaphragm may be used as a pump having a diameter in the range of about 150 micrometers to about 2 centimeters. These pumps may include polymer strains over 100 percent and may produce pressures of 20 kPa or more.
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