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:
Sep. 28, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2008
Ronald E. Pelrine, Longmont, CO (US);
Roy D. Kornbluh, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Harsha Prahlad, Cupertino, CA (US);
Sunity K. Sharma, Fremont, CA (US);
Bryan Chavez, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Donald E. Czyzyk, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Annjoe Wong-foy, San Francisco, CA (US);
Scott E. Stanford, Mountain View, CA (US);
Ronald E. Pelrine, Longmont, CO (US);
Roy D. Kornbluh, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Harsha Prahlad, Cupertino, CA (US);
Sunity K. Sharma, Fremont, CA (US);
Bryan Chavez, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Donald E. Czyzyk, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Annjoe Wong-Foy, San Francisco, CA (US);
Scott E. Stanford, Mountain View, CA (US);
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
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.