Abstract: A fluidic device comprises a channel, a gate, and one or more additional elements. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The gate includes a chamber with an adjustable volume that affects fluid flow within the channel by displacing a wall of the channel toward an opposite wall of the channel based in part on fluid pressure within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure. A high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a first flow rate of the fluid. A low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size and a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate. The additional elements are configured to reduce the threshold pressure past which the chamber decreases the cross-sectional area of the channel.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanovoided composite polymer includes forming a resin-containing layer over a substrate, the resin-containing layer including a polymer-forming phase and a sacrificial phase, curing the polymer-forming phase to form a polymer matrix containing the sacrificial phase, and removing the sacrificial phase selectively with respect to the polymer matrix to form a nanovoided composite polymer including the polymer matrix and nanovoids dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. The nanovoids may be randomly or regularly dispersed throughout the matrix. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that utilize electroactive devices in connection with haptic devices (e.g., haptic touch sensors or haptic feedback elements). In some examples, a haptic feedback system may include an array of electroactive devices, each electroactive device including 1) a first electrode, 2) a second electrode, and 3) an electroactive polymer element disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electroactive polymer element may include a nanovoided polymer material that is mechanically deformable in response to an electric field generated by a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The system may also include control circuitry electronically coupled to the array and configured to apply a voltage to at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include a fluidic channel connecting an inlet port and an outlet port. The apparatus may further include a gate transmission element configured to limit fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port. Still further, the apparatus may include a primary gate terminal connected to a second fluidic inlet port, where pressure or force at the primary gate may at least partially control movement of the gate transmission element. The apparatus may also include a secondary gate terminal connected to the second fluidic inlet port. Pressure or force at the secondary gate may at least partially control movement of the gate transmission element. Various other associated methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed method of manufacturing may include positioning a membrane on top of a channeled layer where the channeled layer includes a shim portion that is dimensioned to limit the amount of compression appliable to the membrane. The membrane may be positioned at a juncture in the channeled layer. The method may next include positioning a transmission housing layer membrane and the channeled layer. The method may also include fastening the channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer together. The channeled layer, the membrane, and the transmission housing layer may be held together with at least one fastening member. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a first fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive a fluidic input and provide a first stage fluidic output, and a second fluidic amplifier stage, configured to receive the first stage fluidic output and provide a second stage fluidic output. The first fluidic amplifier stage may include a fluidic valve, for example having a source, a gate, and a drain. The fluidic input may be connected to the gate of the fluidic valve through a fluid channel, and a fluid flow between the source and the drain of the fluidic valve may be controlled by the fluidic input. An example device may be configured to provide a fluidic output, wherein the fluidic output is based on the fluidic input, and the fluidic output may be provided to a fluidic load such as an actuator.

Abstract: A fluidic device comprises a channel, a gate, and one or more additional elements. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from a source to a drain. The gate includes a chamber with an adjustable volume that affects fluid flow within the channel by displacing a wall of the channel toward an opposite wall of the channel based in part on fluid pressure within the chamber exceeding a threshold pressure. A high pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a first flow rate of the fluid. A low pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size and a second flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate. The additional elements are configured to reduce the threshold pressure past which the chamber decreases the cross-sectional area of the channel.

Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic devices comprise a gate, a channel, and an obstruction. The gate comprises at least one chamber whose volume increases with fluid pressure. A high-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a first chamber size and a low-pressure state of the gate corresponds to a second chamber size that is smaller than the first chamber size. The obstruction controls a rate of fluid flow within the channel based on the fluid pressure in the gate. The obstruction induces at most a first flow rate of fluid in the channel in accordance with the low-pressure state of the gate, and at least a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with the high-pressure state of the gate.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device, such as a transducer, includes a polymer element disposed between electrodes, and a control circuit configured to apply electrical potentials having the same polarity to the electrodes. A separation distance between the electrodes may be increased by an electrostatic repulsion between the electrodes. Various other devices, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device, such as an electroactive device, may include primary electrode and a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode. An electroactive polymer element may include a composite polymer material and is disposed between and abuts each of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. A phase change or other deformable medium such as a liquid, a gas, or a liquid-gas mixture may be disposed as inclusions within the polymer material. The device can be actuated by the application of a voltage between the electrodes and the attendant formation of a Maxwell stress, exposing the deformable medium to a source of radiation, changing a pressure of the deformable medium, or changing a temperature of the deformable medium, e.g., about a phase transformation temperature of the phase change medium.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method includes (1) applying a first voltage and a first current to an electroactive device that includes a nanovoided electroactive polymer, (2) measuring a second voltage and a second current associated with the electroactive device, (3) determining at least one of a position or a force output associated with the electroactive device, the position or the force based on the second voltage and the second current, and (4) applying a third voltage and a third current to the electroactive device based on the at least one of the position or the force output. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluidic-device valve may include a valve guide having a guide wall surrounding a central axis. The guide wall may include a first guide section, a second guide section, and an interior surface that defines a valve cavity extending longitudinally along the central axis from the first guide section to the second guide section. The valve may also include a valve member having a ferromagnetic material disposed within the valve cavity, and the valve member may extend longitudinally along the central axis. The valve member may also have a first plug section and a second plug section and may define a fluid conduit between the first plug section and the second plug section. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device includes a scanned projector for projecting a beam of light, and a diffraction grating for dispersing the light at a plurality of angles into a waveguide, wherein at least a portion of the diffraction grating includes a nanovoided polymer. Manipulation of the nanovoid topology, such as through capacitive actuation, can be used to reversibly control the effective refractive index of the nanovoided polymer and hence the grating efficiency. The switchable grating can be used to control the amount of diffraction of an incident beam of light through the grating thereby decreasing optical loss. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluidic device controls fluid flow in channel from a source to a drain. In some embodiments, the fluidic device comprises a channel and a gate. The channel is configured to transport a fluid from the source to the drain. The gate controls a rate of fluid flow in the channel in accordance with the fluid pressure within the gate. Specifically, the gate is configured to induce a first flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a low pressure state of the gate, and a second flow rate of the fluid in the channel in accordance with a high pressure state of the gate. In certain embodiments, the first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate. In alternative embodiments, the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an electrode precursor material may be flowed into a manifold extrusion die having first and second manifold inlet openings. Further, an electroactive polymer precursor material may be flowed into the manifold extrusion die via a third manifold inlet opening such that the electroactive polymer precursor material is layered between alternating layers of the electrode precursor material from the first and second manifold inlet openings. Moreover, the electrode precursor material and the electroactive polymer precursor material may be extruded through a manifold outlet opening of the manifold extrusion die. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electroactive device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electroactive element disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electroactive element may include a plurality of voids distributed within the electroactive element. The electroactive device may have a non-uniform electroactive response based at least in part on a non-uniform distribution of voids within the electroactive element. The non-uniform electroactive response may include a non-uniform sensor response or a non-uniform actuation response. Various other methods, systems, apparatuses, and materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluidic-device valve having a valve guide with a guide wall surrounding a central axis. The guide wall may include a first guide section, a second guide section, and an interior surface that defines a valve cavity extending longitudinally along the central axis. The valve may also include a valve member disposed within the valve cavity, and the valve member may extend longitudinally along the central axis between a first end and a second end of the valve member. The valve member may be movable within the valve cavity in a first axial direction along the central axis to position a fluid conduit defined by the valve member at a first location by increasing a pressure applied to the second end of the valve member by a pressure source coupled to the second guide section. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device may include a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer element disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. The electroactive polymer element may include a nanovoided polymer material whereby resistance to deformation of the electroactive polymer element is non-linear with respect to an amount of deformation of the electroactive polymer element. Various other devices, method, and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a fluidic device using a layered construction strategy may include (1) forming a first component for the fluidic device out of a first material, (2) forming a second component for the fluidic device out of a second material that is different than the first material, and (3) after forming the first and second components, forming the fluidic device by assembling a variety of components including the first component and the second component.