Piezopolymer actuators
US4879698A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1988 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S310/80
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Piezopolymer actuator, wound in a bifilar fashion on two pins, is operated in a compressive mode without buckling. In addition to constraining motion of the winding along the surface of the pins, the pins also provide wide area electrical contacts with conductive electrodes on the surfaces of the piezopolymer strip. The electrodes consist of a thin film of metallization coated with graphite. Graphite coating heals microcracks in metallization, adds body to the piezopolymer strip, and lubricates winding-pin interfaces. Modular linear arrays of actuators are readily built from a single strip of piezopolymer. Linear array modules are in turn clamped together to form a two-dimensional array. Typical application is a tactile array for the blind.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.