906 results about "Electrorheological fluid" patented technology

Conductivity of a photoconductive layer 420 changes in accordance with a display pattern made of black and white, which is displayed on a display device 200 of a touch panel apparatus with tactile display function 10. With this change of the conductivity, viscosity of an electrorheological fluid layer 430 changes in accordance with this display pattern. This change of the viscosity is presented to an operator, as tactile information corresponding to the display pattern displayed as the visual information.

An improved damping apparatus that utilizes a fluid having a viscosity that may be varied by the application of an electromagnetic field, such as a magnetorheological fluid or an electrorheological fluid, to provide the damping response. The damping apparatus includes a linear to rotary conversion mechanism which comprises a translatable member that is adapted for linear translation in a forward and a reverse direction and a rotatable member comprising a rotatable shaft that is rotatably coupled to the translatable member; wherein translation of the translatable member in one of the forward or the reverse directions produces a forward or a reverse rotation of the rotatable member and shaft, respectively. The damping apparatus also includes a damping mechanism which comprises a hub that is fixed to the shaft, a means for generating a variable electromagnetic field in response to an applied electrical signal that may be continuously varied in response to an input signal that is representative of a desired damping force and a fluid having a viscosity that may be continuously varied by application of the electromagnetic field that is in touching contact with the hub. Application of the variable electromagnetic field to the fluid produces changes in the viscosity of the fluid that in turn provides variable resistance to rotation of the hub and resistance to translation of the translatable member, thereby providing a damping apparatus with a continuously variable damping response.

A haptic feedback device including a fluid viscosity-controlled brake that outputs high forces to the device user at low cost while maintaining inherent safety. An interface device includes a manipulandum physically contacted by the user. A sensor senses a position of the manipulandum and outputs a sensor signal. The interface device also includes a brake including a field-controlled fluid having a viscosity that can be controlled by controlling an electric current in a coil, where a resistive force or drag on the manipulandum is controlled by controlling the fluid's viscosity. The fluid can be an electrorheological fluid controlled by an electric field or a magnetorheological fluid controlled by a magnetic field. In one preferred embodiment, the resistive force is controlled by adjusting a degree of contact of the brake with the manipulandum based on the fluid's viscosity. Disclosed embodiments include fishing devices, bicycle simulators, and control knobs.

Conductivity of a photoconductive layer changes in accordance with a display pattern made of black and white, which is displayed on a display device of a touch panel apparatus with tactile display function. With this change of the conductivity, viscosity of an electrorheological fluid layer changes in accordance with this display pattern. This change of the viscosity is presented to an operator, as tactile information corresponding to the display pattern displayed as the visual information.

Provided are a braille display device using an electrorheological fluid and a method for manufacturing the same. The braille display device includes: a base body in which a plurality of insulating reception grooves are formed; a first electrode arranged below the base body; an electrorheological fluid received in the reception groove; a microcapsule having an electrophoresis particle which is dispersed in the electrorheological fluid; a second electrode arranged above the microcapsule; a braille pin installed above the second electrode; and a braille pin protection film arranged above the braille pin.

Active pressure relief valves and methods of use for regulating atmospheric conditions within an interior compartment of a vehicle generally include an active material to effect movement of a flap relative to an opening. The active material has the ability to remember its original at least one attribute such as dimension, shape, and / or flexural modulus, which can subsequently be recalled by applying or removing an external stimulus, as will be discussed in detail herein. Suitable active materials include, without limitation, shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, piezoelectric materials, electroactive polymers, magnetorheological fluids and elastomers, electrorheological fluids, composites of one or more of the foregoing materials with non-active materials, combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials, and the like. Depending on the particular active material, the activation signal can take the form of, without limitation, an electric current, a temperature change, a magnetic field, a mechanical loading or stressing, or the like.

The invention relates to a magnetorheological-material-based 3D (Three-Dimensional) printing type rapid prototyping method and device. According to the principle of magnetorheological effect, a magnetorheological material is used as a 3D printing raw material; and a 3D solid model is constructed by spraying the magnetorheological material on a workbench with a magnetic field, rapidly solidifying and prototyping the sprayed magnetorheological material, and then depositing the treated material layer by layer. A computer is provided with three control circuits; one circuit is used for controlling the flow of a driving pump, namely the flow at a spray head; another circuit is used for controlling the 3D motion of the spray head through a servo mechanism; and the rest circuit is used for controlling colour mixing and allocating of a colourized ink box. The magnetorheological material is solidified and prototyped by utilizing the magnetic field generated by an electromagnet. According to the magnetorheological effect of the magnetorheological material, a temperature control module in the traditional melting, spraying and rapid prototyping type 3D printing method is replaced by the magnetic field; in addition, the device disclosed by the invention is also different from a high-pressure electric field required by an electrorheological fluid effect, has the advantages of being simple in structure, low in energy consumption and cost, capable of realizing the microminiaturization and the like, and can be applicable to the fields of process design, art and entertainment, prosthesis model and the like.

An electrorheological fluid device and an electronic apparatus, which realize various hardness or tension in a portion of the device or apparatus to which a human body touches, enabling application to a product that needs to have portability. An electrorheological fluid device is formed by including: a container capable of containing fluid internally; a pair of electrodes having flexibility, disposed in the container so as to oppose each other; and an electrorheological fluid having an elastic property changeable in accordance with an electric field generated between the electrodes, the electrorheological fluid being contained in the container and disposed between the electrodes. By using the electrorheological fluid device to various electronic apparatus, the hardness, tension, texture, shape, or the like of the apparatus can be electrically controlled.

Active pressure relief valves and methods of use for regulating atmospheric conditions within an interior compartment of a vehicle generally include an active material to effect movement of a flap relative to an opening. The active material has the ability to remember its original at least one attribute such as dimension, shape, and / or flexural modulus, which can subsequently be recalled by applying or removing an external stimulus, as will be discussed in detail herein. Suitable active materials include, without limitation, shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, piezoelectric materials, electroactive polymers, magnetorheological fluids and elastomers, electrorheological fluids, composites of one or more of the foregoing materials with non-active materials, combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials, and the like. Depending on the particular active material, the activation signal can take the form of, without limitation, an electric current, a temperature change, a magnetic field, a mechanical loading or stressing, or the like.

In combination with a vehicle and a closure, one or more lockdown regions disposed between the closure and the vehicle body, the one or more lockdown includes a device including an active material disposed in operative communication with the closure and the vehicle body, wherein the active material includes a shape memory alloy, a magnetic shape memory material, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device coupled to the active material, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the active material and effectuate a change in a dimension, a shape, and / or a flexural modulus property of the active material, wherein the change in the dimension, a shape, and / or flexural modulus of the active material locks down or releases the closure from the vehicle. Such active materials include shape memory alloys, magnetic shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, shape memory polymers, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, electrorheological fluids, and piezoelectric materials. Also provided herein are methods for selectively stiffening a closure hingeably attached to a vehicle body.

A latch for engaging and disengaging two opposing surfaces includes a pin disposed on one surface and a gate disposed on an opposite surface; an active material in operative communication with the pin or the gate, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an engagement or a disengagement of the pin or the gate from the other of the pin or the gate, wherein the disengagement without the activation signal is opposed by a lifting force.

Provided are a braille display device using an electrorheological fluid and a method for manufacturing the same. The braille display device includes: a base body in which a plurality of insulating reception grooves are formed; a first electrode arranged below the base body; an electrorheological fluid received in the reception groove; a microcapsule having an electrophoresis particle which is dispersed in the electrorheological fluid; a second electrode arranged above the microcapsule; a braille pin installed above the second electrode; and a braille pin protection film arranged above the braille pin.

The present invention can provide particles for electro-rheological fluid for providing a high electro-rheological effect over a wide temperature range at low electric power consumption, and having high strength and excellent durability, not being susceptible to break-up due to the load of stress. Particles for an electro-rheological fluid of the present invention comprise spherical carbonaceous particles, obtained substantially from a solvent and a condensation product of a methylene type bond of aromatic sulfonic acid or a salt thereof.

The invention relates to a method for producing robot, mechanical arm or mechanical clamp, belonging to the electromagnetic flowing deformation application technique. It comprises a flexible film and a support element, wherein, the support element is formed by hydraulic pistons in array and a multi-path magnetic flowing deformation valve; the hydraulic piston comprises a cylinder body and a piston with straight movement in said cylinder; the surface of flexible film is connected with piston end; the valve of multi-path magnetic flowing deformation has two or more connectors while each connector is through to the cylinder to form a sealed chamber to contain the magnetic flowing deformation liquid; two magnetic electrodes made from soft magnetic material are arranged inside the valve while their distance is at least 0.5mm; the magnetic deformation liquid can be replaced by electric flowing deformation liquid while the magnetic flowing deformation valve can be replaced by electric flowing deformation valve. Said invention can non-stepped adjust the rigidity of every position of flexible film via adjusting the voltage of multi-path flowing deformation valve or the magnetic field of multi-path flowing deformation valve, to apply the clamped matters in different rigidities and shapes.

The invention relates to a method for synthesizing a metal oxide-coated heterogeneous metal core-shell type nanometer particle, which belongs to the technical field of synthesizing nanometer composite material. The method is characterized in that metal and heterogeneous metal oxide micron powder is used as raw material and evenly mixed and pressed into block target material to be used as an anode. Hydrogen plasma is utilized as the heat source; the block target material is evaporated, and the core-shell type nanometer composite particle material is formed after the transformation of gaseous state-liquid state-solid state. The effect and advantage of the invention lies in that the root position-coating of the metal oxide pottery material to heterogeneous metal is realized in the process of evaporation and condensation; the invention is characterized by a simple method, low cost, little impurity, regular shape of the particle, and application to large scale production. The method can be used for preparing the core-shell type nanometer composite particles of a large variety of matters, and has wide application prospect in the fields of electromagnetic absorption / shielding, biomedicine, optoelectronic material, magnetic material, electrorheological fluid, and functional paint, etc.

A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

The subject disclosure relates to microfluidic devices, systems and methodologies that facilitate generation of droplets, control, and / or manipulation thereof with electrorheological (ER) fluids. In one aspect, ER fluids can be employed with a carrier fluid or as a carrier fluid to enable droplet generation, control, and / or manipulation. As a further advantage, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can include droplet generation, control, and / or manipulation for liquids, gases, combinations, etc. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed structures.

The invention discloses a flexible display backboard and a flexible display device using the flexible display backboard. The flexible display backboard comprises multiple sequentially-arranged supporting parts, wherein the adjacent supporting parts are connected by using flexible bendable materials, and storage spaces are formed among the adjacent supporting parts and are filled with an electrorheological fluid which can be in connection with an external power supply. In the flexible display backboard, the adjacent supporting parts are connected by using the flexible bendable materials, so that the flexible display backboard is bendable, the electrorheological fluid is further accommodated among the adjacent supporting parts and is converted to be in a solid state after being electrified, and the flexible display backboard is kept in a bent state. Therefore, the flexible display backboard can adapt to the bending and stretching transformation requirement of the flexible display device, and bending degree can be controlled.

The invention discloses an electrorheological fluid clamping tool for a light and low-noise gearbox. The electrorheological fluid clamping tool is used for positioning and clamping the end face of thegearbox in the machining process, the tool comprises a base, the base is provided with a workpiece bearing plate perpendicular to the base, a through hole used for mounting and demounting the workpiece is formed in the middle of the workpiece bearing plate, protruding positioning blocks are arranged on the inner wall of the through hole, flexible fluid bag storing grooves are formed in the positions, between the positioning blocks, of the inner wall of the through hole, flexible fluid bags are arranged in the storing grooves and connected with a cylinder body through guiding pipes, the cylinder body is internally provided with a piston, the space, at one end of the piston, inside the cylinder body, the guiding pipes and the flexible fluid bags constitute an accommodating chamber for electrorheological fluid jointly, the other end of the piston is connected with a piston driving mechanism, positive electrodes and negative electrodes are arranged at one end of the piston and the inner walls of the flexible fluid bags correspondingly, and the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes are connected with a controller. The electrorheological fluid clamping tool is simple in structure, convenient to use and good in workpiece clamping effect, clamping force in all directions of the workpiece is uniform and firm, and the workpiece can be quickly mounted and demounted.

The invention discloses a flexible screen support structure, a flexible display screen module and a mobile terminal. The flexible screen support structure comprises a first flexible board, a second flexible board, a side plate and multiple electromagnets; the first flexible board is used for being attached to a flexible display screen, the second flexible board is arranged opposite to the first flexible board, and a gap is formed between the first flexible board and the second flexible board and filled with an electrorheological fluid; the side plate is arranged on the peripheral sides of the first flexible board and the second flexible board in an enclosing mode and seals the gap; the electromagnets are fixed on the first flexible board and located in the gap, each electromagnet is provided with a support face attached to the first flexible board and a side face which has an acute included angle with the support face, the side faces of every two adjacent electromagnets are attached to each other, and therefore the first flexible board is driven to be coiled. The flexible screen support structure supports the flexible display screen when the flexible display screen is unfolded, when the flexible display screen is coiled, the flexible display screen can be tightly coiled and contract conveniently, and therefore the user experience is improved.

An active material hood impact mitigation mechanism is activated in response to a signal generated from an impact sensor or pre-impact sensor or manually. The mitigation mechanism is capable of changing either reversibly or irreversibly the stiffness, shape, location, orientation, or displacement force of the hood either globally or locally, before an impact against the hood. The active material mitigation mechanism is held in a device designed to be installed in operative communication with the hood surface. The active material is characterized by a first shape or stiffness and is operative to change to a second shape or stiffness in response to the activation signal. Such active materials include shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, shape memory polymers, magnetic shape memory alloys, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, electrorheological fluids, and piezoelectric materials.

The invention discloses a liquid phase-change brake comprising a brake rack and a brake disc. The brake rack is a sealed box. The friction part of the brake disc passes through the internal space of the sealed box. The joint between the friction part and the sealed box is moveably sealed. Reversible phase-change liquid is filled in the internal space of the sealed box. A triggering device which is electrically connected with an external control system and used for triggering the change of reversible phase-change liquid form is also arranged in the sealed box. The reversible phase-change liquid is electro-rheological liquid or magneto-rheological liquid. In the invention, the effect conversion that the reversible phase-change liquid changes from liquid state to solid state within milliseconds when an external trigger signal (electric field or magnetic field) exists and quickly restores to the original state when the external trigger signal is removed is applied in the brake, thus having the advantages of simple structure, excellent braking performance, good heat dissipation effect, low exhaustion of friction components, simple production technology and low cost.

The invention discloses an electrorheological fluid-based flexible controllable air sac polishing tool. The tool adopts a rigid cylindrical structure which is provided with a concave cavity and is opened at the lower end; the external upper part of the base is connected with a rotary shaft through a connection piece so as to obtain a driving force; a hollow air sac is adhered on the outer side wall of the base; two electrode plates, which are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the concave cavity in an insulation manner, are distributed in the shape of a Chinese character 'eight' and powered by a lead in the rotary shaft; the electrorheological fluid is filled in the hollow air sac; and the upper surface of a polished workpiece is arranged on and in tight fit with the surface of the hollow air sac. The polishing method is as follows: when the polishing layer is in tight contact with the upper surface of the workpiece, the electrode plates are not electrified, the electrorheological fluid is in a liquid state, so that the polishing layer can deform so as to be matched with the surface of the workpiece in shape; when the electrode plates are electrified, the electrorheological fluid is in a sticky or solid state rathe rather than the liquid state, so that the shape of the surface of the polishing layer is determined so as to realize the recording of the partial surface shape of the workpiece through the polishing layer, further, the surface precision in areas with constant polishing curvature radius is ensured, and the amount of material removal is controlled.

An active material hood impact mitigation mechanism is activated in response to a signal generated from an impact sensor or pre-impact sensor or manually. The mitigation mechanism is capable of changing either reversibly or irreversibly the stiffness, shape, location, orientation, or displacement force of the hood either globally or locally, before an impact against the hood. The active material mitigation mechanism is held in a device designed to be installed in operative communication with the hood surface. The active material is characterized by a first shape or stiffness and is operative to change to a second shape or stiffness in response to the activation signal. Such active materials include shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, shape memory polymers, magnetic shape memory alloys, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, electrorheological fluids, and piezoelectric materials.

The invention relates to a tomography device (1), especially an X-ray computer tomography device or ultrasound tomography device, comprising a balancing device (23; 45) for reducing an imbalance (61) that was determined by means of the measuring system (2) rotating about an axis of rotation (4). The balancing device (23; 45) comprising means mounted on the measuring system (2) for variably positioning a balancing mass and a control device (25) acting upon said means and designed in such a manner that the balancing mass, controlled by the control device (25), can be positioned in a location appropriate to reduce the imbalance (61). The balancing mass can be configured as a liquid (F) that is positioned in a liquid-tight channel. The invention also relates to a balancing method according to which a mass (m) of a liquid quantity balancing the imbalance (61) is determined and a magneto- and / or electro-rheological liquid (F) is introduced into an annular channel (31; 71; 81, 83, 85) in such a quantity that for the subsequent operation a quantity of liquid (F) dependent on the determined mass (m) is present in the annular channel (31; 71 81, 83, 85).

The invention relates to a display which comprises a flexible display screen and a bearing base for bearing the flexible display screen. The bearing base comprises a flexible shell. A sealed accommodating space is defined in the flexible shell. Electrorheological fluid is filled in the accommodating space. When the electrorheological fluid is powered off, the electrorheological fluid is in a liquid state and the bearing base can be curled along with the flexible display screen. When the electrorheological fluid is powered on, the electrorheological fluid is converted into a solid state from the liquid state and the flexible display screen can be prevented from being curled. Therefore, when the display is powered off, the flexible display screen can be randomly furled and is convenient to store; when being unfolded and powered on, the flexible display screen is changed into a rigid display screen and is convenient to use; and the display has strong practicality. The invention also relates to an electronic device with the display.

There is described an electrorheological fluid comprising particles of a composite material suspended in an electrically insulating hydrophobic liquid. The composite particles are metal salts of the form M1xM22-2xTiO(C2O4)2 where M1 is selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca and wherein M2 is selected from the group consisting of Rb, Li, Na and K, and the composite particles further include a promoter selected from the group consisting of urea, butyramide and acetamide.

The invention discloses a board drawing forming device and method based on electrorheological fluid. The device comprises a closed fluid chamber cavity formed by a female die and a plate electrode; a male die terminal and a positive electrode of a power source control unit are electrically connected; the plate electrode and a negative electrode of the power source control unit are electrically connected; and a plunger is connected with a plunger control unit. The method comprises the steps that 1, the electrorheological fluid of the required proportion of components is prepared; 2, the initial position of the working end face of the plate electrode is set; 3, the electrorheological fluid prepared in the first step is injected into the fluid chamber cavity; 4, a board is put on the upper end face of the female die; 5, a blank holder is downwards moved to the board; 6, the power source control unit controls the intensity of an electric field, and the plunger control unit makes the plate electrode to generate constant acting force on the electrorheological fluid; 7, the male die terminal moves downwards to drive the board for drawing forming; 8, the plunger, the plate electrode, the male die terminal and a male die base retreat and withdraw synchronously; and 9, the male die base and the male die terminal are removed, and the electric field of a working area is unloaded through the power control unit. The board drawing forming device and method based on the electrorheological fluid are used for board drawing forming.

Electrorheological fluids and methods include changes in liquid-like materials that can flow like milk and subsequently form solid-like structures under applied electric fields; e.g., about 1 kV / mm. Such fluids can be used in various ways as smart suspensions, including uses in automotive, defense, and civil engineering applications. Electrorheological fluids and methods include one or more polar molecule substituted polyhedral silsesquioxanes (e.g., sulfonated polyhedral silsesquioxanes) and one or more oils (e.g., silicone oil), where the fluid can be subjected to an electric field.