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. 04, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2002
Gareth Mckevitt, Cambridge, GB;
Anthony Hooley, Cambridge, GB;
David Henry Pearce, Birmingham, GB;
Ursula Ruth Lenel, Cambridge, GB;
Mark Richard Shepherd, Hertfordshire, GB;
Gareth McKevitt, Cambridge, GB;
Anthony Hooley, Cambridge, GB;
David Henry Pearce, Birmingham, GB;
Ursula Ruth Lenel, Cambridge, GB;
Mark Richard Shepherd, Hertfordshire, GB;
1...Limited, Cambridge, GB;
Abstract
Various sensors use an electro-active device () electrically connected to a detector circuit. The electro-active device () comprises an electro-active structure in the form of a continuous electro-active member () curving in a helix around a minor axis () which is in itself curved for example in a helix around a major axis (). On activation by relative displacement of the ends () of the device (), the electro-active structure twists around the minor axis due to the fact that the minor axis () is curved. The continuous member () has a bender construction of a plurality of layers () and () including at least one layer of electro-active material so that concomitantly with the twisting the continuous member () bends generating an electrical signal detected by the detector circuit. The electro-active device () is advantageous as a sensing element in a sensor because it has a large displacement, high sensitivity and low compliance.