Sri International

Donald E Czyzyk

Ronald E Pelrine

Roy D Kornbluh

Joseph S Eckerle

Harsha Prahlad

Qibing Pei

Scott E Stanford

Paul Gallagher

Sunity Kumar Sharma

Bryan Chavez

Annjoe Wong-Foy

Subramanian Venkat Shastri

Described herein are several solutions that increase transducer lifetime by reducing or preventing tear propagation in a compliant electroactive polymer. One solution couples a compliant tear resistant treatment to a transducer proximate to an edge portion of the electroactive polymer. Another solution uses a tear resistant layer that couples to and covers a large surface area of the transducer. Another suitable tear resistant solution provides added material outside an active area; the added material reduces stress or strain variations in polymer material outside the active area when the electroactive polymer transducer is deflected or pre-strained.

Tear resistant electroactive polymer transducers

The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.

Electroactive polymer animated devices

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Donald E Czyzyk