|
|
Patent Number: |
7948151 |
|
|
Case ID: |
0 |
|
|
Patent Title:
|
Electroactive polymer-based artificial neuromuscular unit
|
|
|
Status: |
ACTIVE |
|
|
Status Date: |
11/30/2011 10:46:02 AM |
|
|
Issue Date:
|
5/24/2011 |
|
|
Filed Date:
|
4/9/2009 |
|
|
Serial #:
|
2/421,467 |
|
|
Assignee Name:
|
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
(Washington,
DC)
|
|
|
Inventor(s):
|
Blackburn, Michael R. , McGinnis, Wayne C. |
|
|
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This electroactive polymer-based artificial neuromuscular unit relates generally to the field of structures comprising a plurality of electroactive polymer (EAP) elements. Electrical energy is customarily distributed to individual polymer
strands of a given EAP element by electrical conductors. While masses of polymer strands have been bundled together and activated in concert, no adequate method has existed for the coordination and individual control of sequences of polymer strands in
structures comprising multiple EAP elements. An example of a structure with multiple EAP elements is the braided structure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,193,350 B1.
SUMMARY
The electroactive polymer-based artificial neuromuscular unit, as disclosed herein, comprises: an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator layer; an EAP logic layer coupled to the actuator layer; an EAP energy layer coupled to the logic layer such
that the logic layer is interposed between t . . . . More |
|
|
|
|
An artificial neuromuscular unit (ANMU) comprising: an electroactive
polymer (EAP) actuator layer; an EAP logic layer coupled to the actuator
layer; an EAP energy layer coupled to the logic layer such that the logic
layer is interposed between the energy layer and the actuator layer,
wherein the logic layer is configured to control energy transfer between
the energy layer and the actuator layer; and a sensor element operatively
coupled to the actuator layer and the logic layer, wherein the sensor
element is configured to communicate deflections of the actuator layer to
the logic layer.
|
|
|
|
|
We claim:
1. An artificial neuromuscular unit (ANMU) comprising: an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator layer; an EAP logic layer coupled to the actuator layer; an EAP energy layer coupled to
the logic layer such that the logic layer is interposed between the energy layer and the actuator layer, wherein the logic layer is configured to control energy transfer between the energy layer and the actuator layer; a sensor element operatively
coupled to the actuator layer and the logic layer, wherein the sensor element is configured to communicate deflections of the actuator layer to the logic layer; wherein the energy layer comprises an energy storage component electrically coupled to the
logic layer such that the logic layer is configured to gate energy to and from the energy storage component and the actuator layer; and wherein the energy layer further comprises two energy buses and wherein the sensor element is laterally interposed
between the two energy buses and verticall . . . . More |
|
|
|
|
Print This Page
