Lintec of America, Inc.

Sergey Li

Marcio Dias Lima

Randy B Allen

Marilu Guerrero

Raquel Ovalle-Robles

Jaeah Lee

Anthony Hingeley

Polymer and nanotube-based actuators that include a thermochromic coating is disclosed. The actuators include a thermochromic material applied to a surface of the core fiber or the conductive element. Upon heating the actuator, the thermochromic coating undergoes a color transition to indicate a pre-determined temperature correlated to a rated critical temperature, important temperature of the actuator components, or a level of actuation.

Thermochromic actuators

An apparatus and method of manufacturing an apparatus that includes a rectangular frame, a first load bearing conductive support bisecting the rectangular frame lengthwise, and two artificial muscle actuators disposed on the same sides of the rectangular frame as the first load bearing conductive support on opposite sides of the first load bearing conductive support is disclosed. The apparatus includes a non-conductive platform, where the width of the frame is sufficiently wide to prevent the non-conductive platform from touching the sides of the frame when rotated about the axis of the load bearing support. The apparatus includes a device disposed in the center of the non-conductive platform. Individual actuation of the artificial muscle actuators rotates the non-conductive platform about the axis of the first load bearing conductive support.

Camera sweeper

Methods and a device for the continuous manufacturing of artificial muscle actuator device fibers are disclosed. The method includes: threading an untwisted fiber along the axis of a tube and inside the tube that includes a heating means to raise the localized temperature of a cross-section of the tube to a predetermined temperature; providing a tension on the untwisted fiber; and twisting the untwisted fiber while the fiber is within the tube.

Manufacturing of artificial muscle actuators

Methods, system, and apparatus for producing an actuator device are disclosed. The method may include twisting a muscle fiber; coiling the twisted muscle fiber about a mandrel; securing the muscle fiber onto the mandrel using a securing means; heating the muscle fiber to a predetermined temperature using a heating means; and removing the coiled muscle fiber from the mandrel. The twisting, coiling, securing, heating, and removing is a process that is continued until the muscle fiber is a desired length.

Continuous production of muscle fibers

An actuating device and a method for manufacturing an actuating device, where the method includes wrapping a conductive wire () around a polymer fiber () at a set tension, and heating the polymer fiber and wire to a temperature that exceeds the glass transition temperature of the polymer fiber for a predetermined amount of time to partially embed the conductive wire into the polymer fiber. The method also includes cooling the polymer fiber and wire to below the glass transition temperature resulting in a wired polymer fiber wherein at least part of the conductive wire is embedded in the polymer fiber.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Sergey Li