PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 16429924
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2019-06
Publication Date: 2019-10
Patent Classification: ["192", "084400"]

Abstract:
An electrostatic clutch is described comprising a plurality of micron-scale thickness electrodes, adjacent electrodes being separated by a thin film of dielectric material. A power source and controller apply a voltage across two electrodes, causing an electrostatic force to develop. When engaged, a force can be transferred through the clutch. A tensioning device maintains the alignment of the clutch when the electrodes are disengaged, but permits movement in at least one direction. In some embodiments, multiple clutches are connected to an output to provide variable force control and a broad range of torque input and output values. Moreover, the clutch can be used as an energy-recycling actuator that captures mechanical energy from negative work movements, and returns energy during positive work movements.

Claim (Index 1):
An electrostatic clutch assembly for transmitting a torque comprising:\n a first electrode disposed on the surface of an input shaft, a second electrode aligned parallel to the surface of the input shaft,\n wherein the second electrode is flexible, \n wherein at least one of the surface of the first electrode and the surface of the second electrode is coated with a dielectric material, thereby forming a clutch; \n a rigid bar connected to the second electrode; an output connector affixed to the rigid bar; and a power source for applying an electric field across the first electrode and the second electrode to develop an electrostatic charge, causing the first electrode and the second electrode to exist in either an attractive state or a non-attractive state,\n wherein a torque is transmitted through the input shaft to the output connector when in the attractive state.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 1.0
- Percentile: 100.0
- Lexical Diversity: 1.51685
- Patent Class: 192.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15484052', '14746762', '12608627', '10090231', '11339075']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.7703190450476896
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.4491463152352171
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7382017720664423
- Mean Citation Score: 142.20005799999996
- Max Citation Score: 243.6313
- Similarity Product: 189.620169066906

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 1
- Claim Label 103: 0
- Claim Label 112: 1
- Combined Label: 1
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test