Other

Zeon Corporation

Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.

Kureha Elastomer Co., Ltd.

Mikio Waki

Seiki Chiba

Mitsuaki Ito

Makoto Sawada

Mitsugu Uejima

Makoto Takeshita

Yoshinori Tanaka

Kuniyoshi Okamoto

Kazuya Nagase

Naoaki Tsurumi

Shinji Ozawa

Keisuke Oguma

Syo Kurita

Kazuhiro Oishi

Masakatsu Hotta

Masahiro Ishikawa

Hironobu Kondo

Noriyuki Oya

Makoto Takasugi

Keiji Osugi

Nobuhiro Miyagi

A dielectric elastomer transducer Aincludes a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The electrode layerscontain ground carbon particles derived from carbon nanotubes. This configuration ensures both stretchability and electrical conductivity.

Dielectric elastomer transducer and method for producing dielectric elastomer transducer

A dielectric elastomer transducer includes a dielectric elastomer layer, a pair of electrode layers sandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer, and a support that supports the dielectric elastomer layer. The dielectric elastomer layer includes a movable region separated from the support and a fixed region supported by the support. A pair of conduction paths are established that are configured to conduct electricity to the electrode layers via power cables and power supply points at which core wires of the power cables are electrically connected, respectively. The power supply points are separated from the movable region of the dielectric elastomer layer.

Dielectric elastomer transducer including a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers sandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer

A dielectric elastomer vibration system includes a dielectric elastomer vibrator with a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers, and a power supply device producing a potential difference across the electrode layers. The vibrator exhibits various modes or regions of relationship between potential difference and deformation induced by the potential difference: a high-response region in which a relatively large deformation is induced; a low-response region of lower-potential difference in which a relatively small deformation is induced; and a low-response region of higher-potential difference in which a relatively small deformation is induced or in which a break point of the dielectric elastomer layer is included. The power supply device produces the potential difference by applying across the electrode layers a vibration signal voltage, which is generated by combining an AC voltage with a bias DC voltage corresponding to a potential difference falling in the high-response region.

Dielectric elastomer vibration system and power supply device

The antenna device Aincludes an antennaconfigured to transmit and/or receive radio waves, and a dielectric elastomer drive elementincluding a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The dielectric elastomer drive element is capable of changing an antenna characteristic of the antenna. With such a configuration, the antenna device can be made smaller and lighter while improving its antenna characteristics.

Antenna device

A dielectric elastomer drive system Aincludes: a dielectric elastomer drive unitprovided with a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layersflanking the dielectric elastomer layer; a power supply unitconfigured to apply voltage to the dielectric elastomer drive unit; and a charge removal unitconfigured to remove the charge stored in the dielectric elastomer drive unit. The configuration contributes to improving responsiveness.

Dielectric elastomer drive system and dielectric elastomer drive method

A dielectric elastomer power generation system A1 includes a dielectric elastomer power generation elementhaving a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layerThe dielectric elastomer power generation system A1 further includes a piezoelectric elementand a multi-stage voltage multiplier/rectifier circuitthat boosts and rectifies the voltage generated by the piezoelectric elementand applies the resulting voltage as an initial voltage to the dielectric elastomer power generation elementThis configuration enables the system to be constructed at a lower cost and increase the amount of power generation.

Dielectric elastomer power generation system

A dielectric elastomer transducer according to the present invention includes a dielectric elastomer layer, and a pair of electrode layers sandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The electrode layers contain a binder and carbon black. The carbon black has a particle size distribution as measured by dynamic light scattering in which not less than 95% falls in a range of 0.15 to 8.0 μm. The carbon black has a particle size as measured by laser scattering ranging from 0.4 to 50 μm. The particle size distribution of the carbon black as measured by dynamic light scattering has a first peak that falls in a first range of 0.15 to 1.0 μm and a second peak that falls in a second range of 1.0 μm to 8.0 μm. This structure achieves both stretchability and electrical conductivity of the electrode layers.

Dielectric elastomer transducer

A high frequency filter Ahas frequency characteristics such that the amount of attenuation for an input electrical signal is smaller in a first frequency band fthan in a second frequency band f. The high frequency filter Ais provided with a dielectric elastomer transducerthat includes a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The frequency characteristics are variable by the dielectric elastomer transducer. This configuration provides a high frequency filter having frequency characteristics that are variable and suitable for a lightweight and compact configuration.

High frequency filter

A method is provided for manufacturing a dielectric elastomer transducer including a dielectric elastomer layer and electrode layers sandwiching the elastomer layer. The elastomer layer when stretched exhibits a stress-strain curve having: a low strain and high elasticity region; a low elasticity region; and a high strain region. The method includes: a pre-stretching process to reduce hysteresis in elastic behavior of the elastomer layer by stretching the elastomer layer one or more times under a load as heavy as a first load before the electrodes are provided, each stretching causing the elastomer layer to undergo a tension falling in the low elasticity region; and a dielectric elastomer layer fixing process including applying a second load smaller than the first load to the elastomer layer so as to fix the elastomer layer to a support member under a second tension smaller than the first tension.

Method for manufacturing dielectric elastomer transducer

A dielectric elastomer driving sensor system includes: a dielectric elastomer transducer portion including a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers that sandwich the dielectric elastomer layer, where the pair of electrode layers include a driving region and a sensor region that are partitioned from each other; a power supply unit that applies a voltage to the driving region; a detection unit that detects a change in capacitance in the sensor region; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit and the detection unit. With this configuration, both the driving function and the sensor function can be performed.

Dielectric elastomer drive sensor system and sheet

Provided are: a power generator including a dielectric elastomer element with an elastomer layer and electrodes sandwiching the layer; an intermediate power storage including a specific number of capacitors to receive output power from the power generator; a storage unit to receive output power from the intermediate power storage; and a controller for setting control by switching a mode between an input mode and an output mode. In the input mode, some number of the capacitors of the intermediate power storage are connected to the power generator such that a series number is an input series number of less than or equal to the specific number. In the output mode, some number of the capacitors are connected to the storage unit such that the series number is an output series number which is smaller than the input series number.

A dielectric elastomer sensor system Ais provided with an oscillation circuitincluding a dielectric elastomer sensor elementhaving a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer, and with a determination circuitconfigured to determine a change in a capacitance of the dielectric elastomer sensor element, based on an output signal from the oscillation circuit. The dielectric elastomer sensor elementchanges in capacitance due to deformation caused by external forces of at least two mutually different directions. Such a configuration enables provision of a multifunctional dielectric elastomer sensor system and dielectric elastomer sensor element.

Dielectric elastomer sensor system and dielectric elastomer sensor element

A dielectric elastomer transducer includes a dielectric elastomer function element having a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers between which the dielectric elastomer function element is interposed, and further includes a supporting body that supports the dielectric elastomer function element. Each of the electrode layers has one or more application regions. The dielectric elastomer function element has one or more function portions on which the application regions of the electrode layers are overlapped. The function portion is spaced away from the supporting body. With such a configuration, it is possible to avoid damaging the electrode layer and acquire a sufficient amount of expansion.

Dielectric elastomer transducer and dielectric elastomer driving device

A dielectric elastomer driving mechanism includes a driver, a follower, and a power transmitter. The driver includes a dielectric elastomer driving element made up of a dielectric elastomer layer and two electrode layers sandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer. The driver also includes a tension maintaining element maintaining, in a no-voltage state, the dielectric elastomer driving element in a state in which tension occurs, and includes an output portion capable of moving along with the expanding or contracting of the dielectric elastomer driving element. The follower includes a following element actuating in accordance with a driving force inputted. The power transmitter is connected to the output portion of the driver for transmitting a driving force of the driver to the follower.

Dielectric elastomer driving mechanism

A dielectric elastomer motor includes an artificial muscle and a conversion mechanism cooperating with the artificial muscle. The artificial muscle includes a dielectric elastomer film or layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. First and second electrodes are attached to the first surface and the second surface of the dielectric elastomer film, respectively. First and second bases are attached to the dielectric elastomer so as to be spaced apart from each other. The first base and the second base are capable of reciprocation relative to each other upon change in size of the dielectric elastomer. The conversion mechanism converts the reciprocation of the bases to pivotal or rotational movement. The dielectric elastomer receives voltage application with a predetermined timing via the first and the second electrodes.

Growing community of inventors

Sakura, Japan

Mikio Waki