Items with wire actuators
US11180873B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2020 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/96062
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An item such as a fabric-based item or other item may have one or more actuators. An actuator may have a conductive strand of material. A control circuit may supply a current to the conductive strand that induces a length change in the conductive strand due to ohmic heating and associated thermal expansion effects. The control circuit may be used to activate the actuator in response to user input that is supplied to an associated input device such as a switch, capacitive sensor, force sensor, light-based sensor, or other input component. The fabric-based item may include fabric such as woven fabric or knit fabric. Strands of conductive material may serve as signals paths for supplying current to conductive strands in actuators. Magnetic-field-based actuators may be formed by coiling conductive strands around tubular support structures such as piping in fabric-based items.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.