The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2001
Roy D. Kornbluh, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Ronald E. Pelrine, Boulder, CO (US);
Paul K. Gallagher, San Jose, CA (US);
Joseph S. Eckerle, Redwood City, CA (US);
Donald E. Czyzyk, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Subramanian Venkat Shastri, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Qibing Pei, Fremont, CA (US);
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
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.