Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Electrical device making
Reexamination Certificate
2011-04-12
2011-04-12
Kim, Paul D (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Electrical device making
C029S025350, C029S592100, C029S594000, C029S602100, C264S291000, C264S479000, C310S311000, C310S328000, C310S330000, C310S339000, C310S800000, C427S058000, C427S171000, C427S379000, C427S384000, C427S552000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07921541
ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3816774 (1974-06-01), Ohnuki et al.
patent: 4088915 (1978-05-01), Kodama
patent: 4342936 (1982-08-01), Marcus et al.
patent: 4346505 (1982-08-01), Lemonon et al.
patent: 4384394 (1983-05-01), Lemonon
patent: 4400634 (1983-08-01), Micheron
patent: 4518555 (1985-05-01), Ravinet
patent: 4843275 (1989-06-01), Radice
patent: 4885783 (1989-12-01), Whitehead et al.
patent: 5452878 (1995-09-01), Gravesen et al.
patent: 5589725 (1996-12-01), Haertling
patent: 5632841 (1997-05-01), Hellbaum et al.
patent: 5977685 (1999-11-01), Kurita et al.
patent: 6048622 (2000-04-01), Hagood, IV et al.
patent: 6060811 (2000-05-01), Fox et al.
patent: 6156842 (2000-12-01), Hoenig et al.
patent: 6388043 (2002-05-01), Langer et al.
patent: 6471185 (2002-10-01), Lewin
patent: 6545384 (2003-04-01), Pelrine et al.
patent: 6583533 (2003-06-01), Kornbluh et al.
patent: 6593155 (2003-07-01), Mohler
patent: 6646077 (2003-11-01), Lyons
patent: 6664718 (2003-12-01), Pelrine
patent: 6768246 (2004-07-01), Pelrine
patent: 6781284 (2004-08-01), Pelrine
patent: 6809462 (2004-10-01), Pelrine
patent: 6812624 (2004-11-01), Pei
patent: 6882086 (2005-04-01), Kornbluh
patent: 6891317 (2005-05-01), Pei et al.
patent: 6911764 (2005-06-01), Pelrine et al.
patent: 7034432 (2006-04-01), Pelrine et al.
patent: 7368862 (2008-05-01), Pelrine et al.
patent: 7761981 (2010-07-01), Rosenthal et al.
patent: 2002/0013545 (2002-01-01), Soltanpour et al.
patent: 2002/0050769 (2002-05-01), Pelrine
patent: 2001-286162 (2001-10-01), None
patent: WO 99/37921 (1999-07-01), None
patent: WO 01/06575 (2001-01-01), None
patent: WO 01/06579 (2001-01-01), None
patent: WO 01/59852 (2001-08-01), None
patent: WO 02/37660 (2002-05-01), None
patent: WO 02/37892 (2002-05-01), None
patent: WO 03/056274 (2003-07-01), None
patent: WO 03/056287 (2003-07-01), None
patent: WO 2004/027970 (2004-04-01), None
patent: WO 2004/053782 (2004-06-01), None
patent: WO 2004/074797 (2004-09-01), None
patent: WO 2004/009363 (2004-11-01), None
Australian Office Action dated Oct. 31, 2008 from Australian Application No. 2004316255.
Supplementary European Search Report dated Nov. 12, 2008 from European Application No. 04821599.0.
Ajluni, Cheryl, “Pressure Sensors Strive to Stay on Top, New Silicon Micromachining Techniques and Designs Promise Higher Performance”,Electronic Design—Advanced Technology Series, Oct. 3, 1994, pp. 67-74.
Bar-Cohen, Yoseph, JPL,WorldWide ElectroActive Polymers, EAP(Artificial Muscles)Newsletter, vol. 1, No. 1, Jun. 1999.
Cheng et al., “Transverse Strain Responses in The Electrostrictive Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride- Trifluorethylene) Copolymer,”Appl. Phys. Lett. vol. 74, No. 13, pp. 1901-1903, Mar. 29, 1999.
Kornbluh, R., Pelrine R., Eckerie, J., Joseph, J., “Electrostrictive Polymer Artificial Muscle Actuators”, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Leuven, Belgium, 1998.
Ktech's PVDF Sensors, http://www.ktech.com/pvdh.hrm, Jun. 6, 2001, pp. 1-5.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, and G. Kofod, “High Strain Actuator Materials Based on Dielectric Elastomers,” submitted toAdvanced Materials(May 2000).
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, and J. Joseph, FY 1996Final Report on Artificial Muscle for Small Robots, ITAD-7228, FR-97-058, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, 1997.
Robert Puers, “Capacitive sensors: when and how to use them,” Sensors and Actuators A, 37-38 (1993) 93-105.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, and J. Joseph, FY 1997Final Report on Artificial Muscle for Small Robots, ITAD-1612-FR-98-041, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, 1998.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, and J. Joseph, FY 1998Final Report on Artificial Muscle for Small Robots, ITAD-3482-FR-99-36, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, 1999.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, and J. Joseph, FY 1999Final Report on Artificial Muscle for Small Robots, ITAD-10162-FR-00-27, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, 2000.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, J. Joseph, Q. Pei, and S. Chiba, “Recent Progress in Artificial Muscle Micro Actuators”, SRI International, Tokyo, 1999 MITI/NEEDOIMNIC, 1999.
Pelrine, R., R. Kornbluh, Q. Pei, and J. Joseph, “High Speed Electrically Actuated Elastomers with Over 100% Strain,”Science, vol. 287, No. 5454, pp. 1-21, 2000.
Treloar, L.R.G, “Mechanics of Rubber Elasticity,”J Polymer Science, Polymer Symposium, No. 48, pp. 107-123, 1974.
U.S. Appl. No. 09/619,848, entitled: “Electroactive Polymer Generators” by inventors Pelrine et al., filed Jul. 20, 2000.
Uchino, K., “Electrostrictive Actuators: Materials and Applications”,Ceramic Bulletin, 65(4), pp. 647-652, 1986.
Winters, J., “Muscle as an Actuator for Intelligent Robots”, Robotics Research: Trans. Robotics International of SME, Scottsdale, AZ (Aug. 18-21, 1986).
Zhenyi, M., J.I. Scheinbeim, J.W. Lee, and B.A. Newman. 1994. “High Field Electrostrictive Response of Polymers,”Journal of Polymer Sciences, Part B—Polymer Physics, vol. 32, pp. 2721-2731, 1994.
Office Action dated Jan. 16, 2008 in U.S. Appl. No. 10/928,921.
Notice of Allowance dated Jul. 18, 2008 in U.S. Appl. No. 10/928,921.
Puers et al, “A Capacitive Pressure Sensor with Low Impedance Output and Active Suppression of Parasitic Effects,” Sensors and Actuators, A21-A23 (1990) 108-114.
Pei Qibing
Pelrine Ronald E.
Rosenthal Marcus
Cheung Noland J.
Kim Paul D
Mrozinski, Jr. John E.
SRI - International
LandOfFree
Method for forming an electroactive polymer transducer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for forming an electroactive polymer transducer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for forming an electroactive polymer transducer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2671890