Patents by Inventor Qibing Pei
Qibing Pei has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20060113878Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2006Publication date: June 1, 2006Applicant: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald Pelrine, Roy Kornbluh
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Patent number: 7049732Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh
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Patent number: 6940211Abstract: The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei
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Patent number: 6891317Abstract: The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Scott E. Stanford, Neville A. Bonwit, Jonathan R. Heim
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Publication number: 20050033015Abstract: The invention provides conjugated polymers that have good solubility and semiconductivity, and that display high photoluminescent and electroluminescent efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventor: Qibing Pei
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Publication number: 20040263028Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh
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Publication number: 20040232807Abstract: The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei
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Publication number: 20040217671Abstract: The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: SRI International, a California CorporationInventors: Marcus A. Rosenthal, Qibing Pei, Neville A. Bonwit
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Patent number: 6812624Abstract: The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh
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Patent number: 6809462Abstract: The invention provides sensors that comprise a transducer that converts between mechanical energy and electrical energy. The transducer comprises an electroactive polymer in electrical communication with at least two electrodes. When a relatively small voltage difference is applied between the electrodes, deflection of the polymer results in a measurable change in electrical energy for the transducer. The change in electrical energy may correspond to a change in resistance, capacitance, or a combination thereof. Sensing electronics circuits in electrical communication with electrodes detect the electrical energy change.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei, Joseph Stephen Eckerle
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Patent number: 6800722Abstract: The invention provides conjugated polymers that have good solubility and semiconductivity, and that display high photoluminescent and electroluminescent efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: SRI InternationalInventor: Qibing Pei
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Patent number: 6781284Abstract: The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei
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Publication number: 20040124738Abstract: This disclosed generators include one or more transducers that use electroactive polymer films to convert thermally generated mechanical energy to electrical energy. The generators may include one or more transmission mechanisms that convert a portion of thermal energy generated from a heat source such as internal combustion, external combustion, solar energy, geothermal energy or waste heat, to mechanical energy that is used to drive the one or more transducers located in the generator. The energy received by the transducers may be converted to electrical energy by the transducers in conjunction with conditioning electronics located within the generator. One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy conversion device with two chambers each chamber including a diaphragm transducer that may convert thermal energy to electricity using a thermodynamic cycle such as a Stirling gas cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: SRI International, A California CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Joseph Stephen Eckerle, Qibing Pei
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Patent number: 6723828Abstract: The invention provides conjugated polymers that have good solubility and semiconductivity, and that display high photoluminescent and electroluminescent efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: SRI InternationalInventor: Qibing Pei
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Publication number: 20040008853Abstract: The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: SRI International, a California CorporationInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy David Kornbluh, Scott E. Stanford, Qibing Pei, Richard Heydt, Joseph S. Eckerle, Jonathan R. Heim
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Patent number: 6628040Abstract: This disclosed generators include one or more transducers that use electroactive polymer films to convert thermally generated mechanical energy to electrical energy. The generators may include one or more transmission mechanisms that convert a portion of thermal energy generated from a heat source such as internal combustion, external combustion, solar energy, geothermal energy or waste heat, to mechanical energy that is used to drive the one or more transducers located in the generator. The energy received by the transducers may be converted to electrical energy by the transducers in conjunction with conditioning electronics located within the generator. One embodiment of the present invention provides an energy conversion device with two chambers each chamber including a diaphragm transducer that may convert thermal energy to electricity using a thermodynamic cycle such as a Stirling gas cycle.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Joseph Stephen Eckerle, Qibing Pei
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Patent number: 6593687Abstract: An electroluminescent device and a method for producing the electroluminescent device are described. The device is formed from a layered structure comprising a hole-injection electrode layer for injecting holes into an electroluminescent material, an electron-injection electrode layer for injecting electrons into an electroluminescent material and a dielectric layer interposed between the hole-injecting and electron-injecting electrode layers. A cavity extends through at least the dielectric layer and one of the electrode layers and has an interior cavity surface comprising a hole-injection electrode region, an electron-injection electrode region and a dielectric region. An electroluminescent coating material is applied to the interior cavity surface in order to electrically contact the hole-injection and electron-injection electrode regions of the interior cavity surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Seajin Oh
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Patent number: 6586859Abstract: The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Roy D. Kornbluh, Ronald E. Pelrine, Paul K. Gallagher, Joseph S. Eckerle, Donald E. Czyzyk, Subramanian Venkat Shastri, Qibing Pei
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Patent number: 6583533Abstract: The present invention relates to electroactive polymers that are pre-strained to improve conversion from electrical to mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting a pre-strained polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. The pre-strain improves the mechanical response of an electroactive polymer. The present invention also relates to actuators including an electroactive polymer and mechanical coupling to convert deflection of the polymer into mechanical work. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei, Jose P. Joseph
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Publication number: 20030013843Abstract: The invention provides conjugated polymers that have good solubility and semiconductivity, and that display high photoluminescent and electroluminescent efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventor: Qibing Pei