CONTROLLABLE POLYMER ACTUATOR

摘要

A controllable polymer actuator (1) comprising a dielectric elastomeric film (2); a first (3) and a second (4) deformable electrode arranged on opposite sides of the dielectric elastomeric film such that application of a voltage between the electrodes causes an active portion (7) of the controllable polymer actuator to change topography. The controllable polymer actuator (1) further comprises a deformation controlling layer (5, 6) connected to the dielectric elastomeric film. The deformation controlling layer at least locally has a higher stiffness than the dielectric elastomeric film, and exhibits a spatially varying stiffness across the active portion (7). This may enable surface topographies that could not at all be achieved using previously known controllable polymer actuators and/or may enable a certain surface topography to be achieved with a simpler electrode pattern and/or fewer individually controllable electrodes.

主权项

1. A controllable polymer actuator comprising:
a dielectric elastomeric film, a first deformable electrode on a first side of the dielectric elastomeric film, and a second deformable electrode on a second side of the dielectric elastomeric film, at least partly opposite the first deformable electrode, wherein the first and second deformable electrodes are arranged such that application of a voltage between the first and second deformable electrodes causes an active portion of the controllable polymer actuator to change topography, wherein the controllable polymer actuator further comprises:a deformation controlling layer connected to the dielectric elastomeric film,
wherein the deformation controlling layer at least locally has a higher stiffness than the dielectric elastomeric film, wherein the deformation controlling layer exhibits a spatially varying stiffness across the active portion in a stiffness pattern configured to control a curvature of the active portion when a voltage is applied between the first and second deformable electrodes, and wherein the controllable polymer actuator is optically transparent such that the controllable polymer actuator is switchable between optical states through application of the voltage between the electrodes.