Actuator for generating compound curvature

US12421939B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Andrew John Ouderkirk · Kirkland, US
• Spencer Allan Wells · Seattle, US
• Renate Eva Klementine Landig · Seattle, US
• Kenneth Diest · Kirkland, US
• Christopher Stipe · Woodinville, US
• Robin Sharma · Redmond, US
• Jo Anne Etter · Kirkland, US
• Nagi Hosni Elabbasi · Framingham, US
• James Howard Thomas Ransley · Medford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 8, 2021
• Grant date: Sep 23, 2025
• Expiry date: May 5, 2044

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10N30/87
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where a mechanical deformation of the electroactive layer is locally controllable over an area of the actuator. The mechanical deformation of the electroactive layer may be configured to generate compound curvature, e.g., in an optical element co-integrated with the actuator, without buckling the optical element.