Title:
ELECTRO-ACTIVE DEVICES
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2001047041
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an electro-active device having an electro-active structure extending along a minor axis (36) which is curved, for example in a helix around a major axis (37). The electro-active structure comprises successive electro-active portions (35) extending around said minor axis and arranged with electrodes to bend, when activated, around the minor axis (36) such that bending of the successive portions (35) is concomitant with rotation of the electro-active structure about the minor axis (36) adding incrementally along the minor axis (36). The electro-active structure generates displacement out of the local plane in which the minor axis is curved. The electro-active structure may be a continuous electro-active tape-like member (35) extending along and curving around the minor axis (36), for example helically to form a helix. Alternatively, the electro-active structure may be a plurality of discrete elements (211) connected together. The electro-active portions preferably have a bender structure formed from a plurality of layers. The device may be used as a driver, a sensor or a generator.
Inventors:
HOOLEY ANTHONY (GB)
PEARCE DAVID HENRY (GB)
LENEL URSULA RUTH (GB)
MCKEVITT GARETH (GB)
SHEPHERD MARK RICHARD (GB)
PEARCE DAVID HENRY (GB)
LENEL URSULA RUTH (GB)
MCKEVITT GARETH (GB)
SHEPHERD MARK RICHARD (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2000/004949
Publication Date:
December 27, 2001
Filing Date:
December 21, 2000
Export Citation:
Assignee:
1 LTD (GB)
HOOLEY ANTHONY (GB)
PEARCE DAVID HENRY (GB)
LENEL URSULA RUTH (GB)
MCKEVITT GARETH (GB)
SHEPHERD MARK RICHARD (GB)
HOOLEY ANTHONY (GB)
PEARCE DAVID HENRY (GB)
LENEL URSULA RUTH (GB)
MCKEVITT GARETH (GB)
SHEPHERD MARK RICHARD (GB)
International Classes:
H01L41/08; H01L41/09; H02N2/00; H02N2/18; H04R17/00; (IPC1-7): H01L41/09
Foreign References:
| US5526601A | 1996-06-18 | |||
| US3816774A | 1974-06-11 | |||
| GB2329514A | 1999-03-24 | |||
| DE1945448A1 | 1971-03-11 | |||
| US4601539A | 1986-07-22 |
Other References:
DANCILA D S ET AL: "Large displacement piezoelectric actuator configurations", ADAPTIVE STRUCTURES AND MATERIAL SYSTEMS 1998. ASME INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING CONGRESS AND EXPOSITION, ANAHEIM, CA, USA, 15 November 1998 (1998-11-15) - 20 November 1998 (1998-11-20), ASME, New York, NY, USA, pages 83 - 87, XP001004521, ISBN: 0-7918-1603-6
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