32 results about "Electrostrictive polymer" patented technology

Surgical correction of human eye refractive errors such as presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia, and stigmatism by using transcutaneously inductively energized artificial muscle implants to either actively change the axial length and the anterior curvatures of the eye globe. This brings the retina / macula region to coincide with the focal point. The implants use transcutaneously inductively energized scleral constrictor bands equipped with composite artificial muscle structures. The implants can induce enough accommodation of a few diopters, to correct presbyopia, hyperopia, and myopia on demand. In the preferred embodiment, the implant comprises an active sphinctering smart band to encircle the sclera, preferably implanted under the conjunctiva and under the extraocular muscles to uniformly constrict the eye globe, similar to a scleral buckle band for surgical correction of retinal detachment, to induce active temporary myopia (hyperopia) by increasing (decreasing) the active length of the globe. In another embodiment, multiple and specially designed constrictor bands can be used to enable surgeons to correct stigmatism. The composite artificial muscles are either resilient composite shaped memory alloy-silicone rubber implants in the form of endless active scleral bands, electroactive ionic polymeric artificial muscle structures, electrochemically contractile endless bands of ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), thermally contractile liquid crystal elastomer artificial muscle structures, magnetically deployable structures or solenoids or other deployable structures equipped with smart materials such as preferably piezocerams, piezopolymers, electroactive and eletrostrictive polymers, magnetostrictive materials, and electro or magnetorheological materials.

This invention describes a method for a haptic (tactile) feedback to a user of an electronic device having a touch display (screen) by utilizing an electrostrictive polymer as a combined haptic-seal actuator attached to the touch screen. In addition, the combined seal-actuator also makes a shock absorber. The electrostrictive polymer is a suitable material for haptic-seal-shock absorbing actuator because of its robustness and large stroke.

Active-response golf shoes are disclosed. The golf shoes include a plurality of sensors, a controller, and at least one active-response element. The sensor and controller operate to rapidly determine if a golfer is walking or swinging a golf club. Once this determination is made the controller and active-response element rapidly change the shoe's characteristics. If the controller determines that the golfer is walking, the shoe provides a soft and flexible walking platform. If the controller determines that the golfer is swinging, the shoe morphs or changes automatically to provide a stable hitting platform. The controller senses various predetermined conditions such as pressure of the user's foot to determine whether the golfer is walking or swinging. The active-response element is a lateral adjuster having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands;

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology, keyboard, braille display, and audio speakers.

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

Active-response golf shoes are disclosed. The golf shoes include a plurality of sensors, a controller, and at least one active-response element. The sensor and controller operate to rapidly determine if a golfer is walking or swinging a golf club. Once this determination is made the controller and active-response element rapidly change the shoe's characteristics. If the controller determines that the golfer is walking, the shoe provides a soft and flexible walking platform. If the controller determines that the golfer is swinging, the shoe morphs or changes automatically to provide a stable hitting platform. The controller senses various predetermined conditions such as pressure of the user's foot to determine whether the golfer is walking or swinging. The active-response element is a lateral adjuster having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands.

The present invention is a new class of terpolymers for use as high strain electrostrictive polymer films. More particularly, the invention is a class of electrostrictive terpolymers comprising vinylidene fluoride (VDF), trifluoroethylene (TrFE) and at least one monomer having at least one halogen atom side group. The monomer is preferably an ethylene-based monomer and preferably selected to favor gauche-type linkage along the polymer backbone. The halogen atom side group is preferably large enough to move or cause adjacent polymer chains to be farther apart from or away from each other than in the absence of such side group, but not so large that it would inhibit polymer crystallites from forming. The monomer is preferably a chloro-monomer such as chlorofluoroethylene (CFE). The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) is preferably 1-chloro-2-fluoroethylene or 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene. The chlorofluoroethylene (CFE) favors gauche-type linkage which favors high electrostrictive strains.

An electrostrictive polymer actuator comprises an electrostrictive polymer with a tailorable Poisson's ratio. The electrostrictive polymer is electroded on its upper and lower surfaces and bonded to an upper material layer. The assembly is rolled tightly and capped at its ends. In a membrane structure having a membrane, a supporting frame and a plurality of threads connecting the membrane to the frame, an actuator can be integrated into one or more of the plurality of threads. The electrostrictive polymer actuator displaces along its longitudinal axis, thereby affecting movement of the membrane surface.

The invention relates in general to the field of digital cameras, especially small digital cameras. In particularly the invention relates for adjusting an aperture for mobile cameras. The adjustable aperture construction of the invention comprises two electrodes, and an electrical circuit for applying a voltage to the electrodes in order to create an electric field between the electrodes. In addition the construction comprises between the electrodes a center unit with a hole in the middle of it, the center unit being made of an electroactive material, such as dielectric material or electrostrictive polymer. The aperture can be adjusted by deforming the shape of the center unit. The shape of the center unit is advantageously deformed by the electric field created between said electrodes by said electrical circuit.

The present invention relates to one kind of electrostrictive layered nanometer composite polymer material, which is prepared with electrostrictive polymer, layered nanometer inorganic material, organic intercalative agent, cross-linking agent, catalyst and protonating agent, and through curing at 40-120 deg.c to form 10-1000 micron thick film and the subsequent drawing orientation. When 10-100 V / micron electric field is applied in the direction perpendicular to the film plane, one strain in 1-100 % may generate in the direction perpendicular to the electric field direction and the drawing direction, with the deformation being eliminated fast after the electric field is eliminated. The electrostrictive composite polymer material may be applied in electric driver, pump and sensor related to artificial muscle, and compared with available technology, the present invention has the advantages of simple preparation and lower driving voltage.

First and second actuators (10, 11) where plus electrodes (102, 112) and minus electrodes (103, 113) are arranged on tubular electrostrictive polymers (101, 111), are arranged oppositely via a fixing member (14). The fixing member (14) is provided with a blade (15) for inserting the first actuator (10) and then the first and second actuators (10, 11) are driven simultaneously such that one actuator contracts while the other actuator extends, thereby vibrating the blade (15) ultrasonically through the fixing member (14).

The invention provides a terminal and a screen display control method applied to the terminal, and relates to the technical field of terminals. The terminal comprises a flexible display screen, a flexible electrostrictive polymer film which is arranged on the first surface of the flexible display screen, an electrode assembly which is attached to the flexible electrostrictive polymer film, and a controller which is connected with the electrode assembly and is used for providing control voltage for the electrode assembly, wherein the first surface is a surface close to a circuit board of the terminal; and a target thin film area of the flexible electrostrictive polymer thin film is deformed through the control voltage, and a target screen area, corresponding to the target thin film area, onthe flexible display screen is driven to deform. According to the scheme, the flexible electrostrictive polymer film is arranged in the terminal to assist the terminal in deformation of the flexibledisplay screen, so that the user is assisted in controlling sliding operation well, and accurate control over the terminal is achieved.

An electroacoustic transducer has a cup chamber and a diaphragm made of deformable electrostrictive polymer, which is attached to an opening of the chamber. The electroacoustic transducer also has first and second adaptive electrode layers formed on a front surface and a rear surface of the diaphragm, across which audio signal voltage biased by a direct-current biased voltage is applied. The first and second adaptive electrode layers have shapes that are adjustable according to a change in a shape of the diaphragm. To form the diaphragm, the electrostrictive polymer that has been previously formed to have a concave or convex shape is further formed to have a concave or convex shape, thereby generating a difference in air pressure between the front surface and the rear surface of the previously formed electrostrictive polymer.

An electroacoustic transducer has an cup chamber and a diaphragm made of deformable electrostrictive polymer, which is attached to an opening of the chamber. The electroacoustic transducer also has first and second adaptive electrode layers formed on a front surface and a rear surface of the diaphragm, across which audio signal voltage biased by a direct-current biased voltage is applied. The first and second adaptive electrode layers have shapes that are adjustable according to a change in a shape of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is formed to make maximum a difference in air pressure of the front surface and the rear surface of the diaphragm, thereby forming any one of concave and convex shapes thereof.

An electrode line, in particular for an implantable electrostimulation device, which is adapted for insertion into body vessels such as heart chambers or blood vessels, comprising electrodes for the stimulation of body tissue, a longitudinal axis and a distal end, wherein there is provided at least one structural element (2) in the region of the distal end, which has an electrostrictive polymer and which can be connected to a voltage source by way of at least one electrical feed line (3) and which is adapted to change its shape when an electrical voltage is applied.

A mount damper comprises electrode plates placed on a motor side and a support body side respectively, a control unit for adjusting voltage between the electrode plates, and an electrostrictive polymer member for changing a distance between the electrode plates by the voltage therebetween. The electrostrictive polymer member is also an elastic body sandwiched between the electrode plates and has a hardness changeable with a change in the interelectrode distance. A motor is mounted through this mount damper. The control unit adjusts voltage applied between the electrode plates to a value different from a value causing resonance of the motor and the electrostrictive polymer member, thereby absorbing vibration of the motor during rotation thereof, irrespective of a rotation speed. Thus, the mount damper and the image forming apparatus using it can reliably prevent resonance and absorb vibration constantly even if a device selectively uses plural levels of the rotation speed.

The invention provides a terminal and a screen control method applied to the terminal, and relates to the technical field of terminals. The terminal comprises a flexible display screen; a flexible electrostrictive polymer film arranged on the first surface of the flexible display screen, and the first surface being close to one surface of the terminal circuit board; an electrode assembly attachedto the flexible electrostrictive polymer film; and a controller connected with the electrode assembly and used for providing control voltage for the electrode assembly, so that a target thin film areaof the flexible electrostrictive polymer thin film is deformed through the control voltage, and a target screen area, corresponding to the target thin film area, on the flexible display screen is driven to deform. According to the scheme, the flexible electrostrictive polymer film is arranged in the terminal, the terminal is assisted in deformation of the flexible display screen, and the problemthat a user holds the terminal by hand and the terminal is prone to sliding off can be avoided.

A mount damper comprises electrode plates placed on a motor side and a support body side respectively, a control unit for adjusting voltage between the electrode plates, and an electrostrictive polymer member for changing a distance between the electrode plates by the voltage therebetween. The electrostrictive polymer member is also an elastic body sandwiched between the electrode plates and has a hardness changeable with a change in the interelectrode distance. A motor is mounted through this mount damper. The control unit adjusts voltage applied between the electrode plates to a value different from a value causing resonance of the motor and the electrostrictive polymer member, thereby absorbing vibration of the motor during rotation thereof, irrespective of a rotation speed. Thus, the mount damper and the image forming apparatus using it can reliably prevent resonance and absorb vibration constantly even if a device selectively uses plural levels of the rotation speed.

The present invention provides a terminal and a screen control method applied to the terminal, and relates to the technical field of terminals. The terminal includes: a flexible display screen; a flexible electrostrictive polymer film arranged on the first surface of the flexible display screen, the first surface being the side close to the terminal circuit board; pasted on the flexible electrostrictive polymer film An electrode assembly on a stretchable polymer film; a controller connected to the electrode assembly, the controller is used to provide a control voltage to the electrode assembly, and through the control voltage, the flexible electrostrictive polymer film The target film area deforms, and drives the target screen area corresponding to the target film area on the flexible display screen to deform. In the above solution, by arranging a flexible electrostrictive polymer film in the terminal to assist the terminal in deforming the flexible display screen, the problem of the terminal slipping easily caused by the user holding the terminal can be avoided.

The invention relates to an analysis method of protein refolding in electrical contraction polymer. The invention utilizes the crosslink network of electrical contraction polymer to insulate modifiedprotein molecule and removes modifier and contracts polymer at electric field, to loosen the polymer packing modified protein, therefore, modifier protein can fold without interfered and coiled by other proteins, and without the generation of inclusion body. The inventive analysis method builds a model of external molecule mate, for protein folding dynamic research.

A localized multimodal haptic system includes one or more electromechanical polymer (EMP) transducers, each including an EMP layer, such as an electrostrictive polymer active layer. In some applications the EMP transducer may perform an actuator function or a sensor function, or both. The EMP polymer layer has a first surface and a second surface on which one or more electrodes are provided. The EMP layer of the EMP actuator may be 5 microns thick or less. The EMP transducers may provide local haptic response to a local a stimulus. In one application, a touch sensor may be associated with each EMP transducer, such that the haptic event at the touch sensor may be responded to by activating only the associated EMP transducer. Furthermore, the EMP transducer may act as its own touch sensor. A variety of haptic responses may be made available. The EMP transducers may be used in various other applications, such as providing complex surface morphology and audio speakers.

An ultrasonic treatment device comprises an actuator (10) where a plus electrode (12) and a minus electrode (13) are arranged on a tubular electrostrictive polymer (11) which is driven to expand and contract when a voltage is applied between the electrodes (12, 13). A voltage is supplied in a predetermined period to the plus electrode (12) and the minus electrode (13) of the actuator (10) and theelectrostrictive polymer (11) is driven to expand and contract, thereby vibrating the blade (16) ultrasonically.

An electroacoustic transducer has a cup chamber and a diaphragm made of deformable electrostrictive polymer, which is attached to an opening of the chamber. The electroacoustic transducer also has first and second adaptive electrode layers formed on a front surface and a rear surface of the diaphragm, across which audio signal voltage biased by a direct-current biased voltage is applied. The first and second adaptive electrode layers have shapes that are adjustable according to a change in a shape of the diaphragm. To form the diaphragm, the electrostrictive polymer that has been previously formed to have a concave or convex shape is further formed to have a concave or convex shape, thereby generating a difference in air pressure between the front surface and the rear surface of the previously formed electrostrictive polymer.