Abstract: A flow control device comprises a laminate structure of an electroactive material layer and a non-actuatable layer. An array of orifices is formed in one of the layers wherein the orifices are open in one of the rest state and actuated state and the orifices are closed in the other of the rest state and actuated state. Actuation of the electroactive material layer causes orifices to open and close so that flow control function may be implemented.

Abstract: An ultrasound device is for treatment or imaging of material such as biological tissue, and comprises a transducer arrangement and an acoustic coupling component positioned between the transducer arrangement and the material. The acoustic coupling component comprises an electroactive material actuator which uses an electroactive material composite. It may for example be controlled to implement frequency tuning of the acoustic coupling component. In this way, the acoustic coupling can be optimized for different frequencies of operation.

Abstract: An actuator device is provided having a controllable stiffness profile, wherein an actuator member (12) comprises an electroactive polymer material (16) having light absorbing filler elements (20) embedded therein. The filler elements are adapted to absorb and convert incident light (26) to heat energy to therefore heat surrounding sections of the electroactive material. By selectively controlling an intensity level or spectral composition of a light source (24) directed at the actuator member, a specific degree and spread of heating can be achieved across the member and, as a result, a specific desired stiffness or flexibility profile can be realised across the actuator member.

Abstract: Based in the field of breastfeeding, a breast pump apparatus (100) for expressing breast milk is disclosed. The breast pump apparatus (100) comprises a container unit (110) for receiving expressed breast milk, and a pump unit (120) including a pump body (130) and a pumping device (140) for applying negative pressure to a pump volume defined by the pump body (130). The pump body (130) comprises an inlet portion (132) adapted to be received on a female breast and an outlet portion (134) adapted to channel expressed milk to the container unit (110). The pump body (130) comprises an actuator element (200, 300, 400) comprising an active material capable of deforming upon application of a control signal to it, wherein deformation of the actuator element modifies at least one of a shape and size of the pump volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for performing ultrasound and pressure measurements, wherein furthermore a related transducer unit and a related processor unit are concerned. Particularly a system is provided to measure blood pressure and flow in combination with a simple imaging modality, based on a single EAP sensor-actuator. A key aspect of embodiments in this regard is the electronics to switch between the different modalities.

Abstract: An ultrasound device comprises a transducer arrangement and an acoustically transmissive window over said arrangement, said window comprising an elastomer layer having conductive particles dispersed in the elastomer, the elastomer layer having a pressure-sensitive conductivity. An electroactive material actuator is provided for biasing the transducer arrangement towards the transmissive window. The electroactive material actuator is controlled in dependence on a measured pressure-sensitive conductivity. In this way, a feedback system is provided for controlling a contact pressure. The device can be implemented with low cost and with low power consumption.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles (42) for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer structure and a driver for providing an actuation drive signal. In one aspect a first drive signal with an overdrive voltage is used to change the charge of the electroactive polymer structure needed for switching the structure from one to another actuation state. When or after the electroactive polymer structure actuation is near or at the another actuation state, a drive voltage is used to bring to and hold the electroactive polymer structure at the actuated state. This temporary overdrive scheme improves the speed response without damaging the electroactive polymer structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a shape change device (20) utilising a plurality of particles (28) of electroactive polymer material embedded within a compliant material matrix (24) and adapted to deform in response to application of an electrical stimulus. A resultant shape-change of the compliant matrix enables realisation of a particular deformation profile across a surface of the compliant material. Particles are stimulated in plural groups by one or more arrangements of electrodes (34). Shapes, sizes, dimensionalities and locations of stimulated EAP particle regions may be selectively chosen to initiate a particular response in the material, and produce a particular desired deformation profile across the material surface.

Abstract: A flow sensor comprises an electroactive material device. A driver controls the electroactive material device to deliver heat locally to the flowing medium for which the flow is to be sensed. Temperature sensing signals are obtained and these are used to derive a flow measurement. The way the heat is dissipated relates to the flow, and it is measurable based on the temperature sensing signals. The temperature sensing involves measuring an electrical characteristic which comprises an impedance or an impedance phase angle of the electroactive material device at at least a first frequency and at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The influences of temperature and pressure can in this way be decoupled so that the temperature can be measured at any pressure.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator comprises an electroactive polymer structure and a driver for providing an actuation drive signal. In one aspect a first drive level is used to charge the electroactive polymer structure from a non-actuated state to an actuated state. When or after the electroactive polymer structure reaches the actuated state, a lower second drive level is used to hold the electroactive polymer structure at the actuated state. This temporary overdrive scheme improves the speed response without damaging the electroactive polymer structure. In another aspect, a driving method makes use of several different level segments over time which compensate for the delayed actuation response of the EAP actuator.

Abstract: The invention involves providing a reset signal before and or after one or more actuation signals to an electroactive polymer structure of an actuator. The reset signal can cause relaxation of defects such as e.g. trapped charge, dipoles and/or others in the EAP or EAP structure so that upon a subsequent activation using a drive signal, the initial actuation state is defined to be more constant than without use of the reset signal. Hence the actuation 5 output of a device employing the invention is more reproducible. The invention is applicable to actuator devices that have an electroactive polymer structure including an EAP material, where the structure is capable of providing a mechanical actuation upon subjection of at least part of the EAP material to an electrical drive signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface analysis device for application to a receiving surface to enable analysis of at least one measure of an elasticity of said surface across multiple different linear stretches or sections of the surface. The device includes a two-dimensional arrangement of actuators and sensors, comprising at least one actuating element, at least one sensing element, and at least one further sensing or actuating element. Selected sets of two or more of these elements are activated together by a controller, each set including at least one actuator and one sensor, to thereby obtain a measure of elasticity between each actuator and sensor pair in the set. Elasticity measures are obtained based on stimulating a deformation in the receiving surface at the actuator site, and measuring a resultant pressure and/or force exerted by the receiving surface at a further displaced point. Sensors may monitor a change in the exerted pressure and/or force for example.

Abstract: A thermally and electrically controllable miniaturised actuator comprises a bi-layer structure formed of a shape-memory alloy layer coupled with an electro-active polymer layer. A heating means is provided for thermal stimulation of the shape-memory alloy layer, this layer transitioning from an initial shape at a first temperature to a second, pre-determined, shape at a second temperature. Application of an electric field to the electro-active polymer layer stimulates this layer to deform in response, with a stress which may exceed that of the alloy layer, when the latter layer is in a low-temperature phase. Actuation methods are further provided, which include stimulating the polymer layer to deform in an opposite ‘direction’ to the deformation of the alloy layer, thus allowing the actuator to be ‘reset’ in between strokes. Methods of producing an actuator are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for soldering a chip (1a) to a substrate (3). A chip carrier (8) is provided between a flash lamp (5) and the substrate (3). The chip (1a) is attached to the chip carrier (8) on a side of the chip carrier (8) facing the substrate (3). A solder material (2) is disposed between the chip (1a) and the substrate (3). The flash lamp (5) generates a light pulse (6) for heating the chip (1a). The heating of the chip (1a) causes the chip (1a) to be released from the chip carrier (8) towards the substrate (3). The solder material (2) is at least partially melted by contact with the heated chip (1a) for attaching the chip (1a) to the substrate (3).

Abstract: The invention provides a health device for automatically administering skin pressure-based therapies to a user. The device comprises one or more actuator members, each comprising a smart shape-changing material of a class which is disposed to change shape in response to a change in temperature or to the application of an electrical stimulus. The actuator members are controlled by a controller to apply pressure to one or more points on a user's skin.

Abstract: A heat sensitive actuator utilizes a bilayer of shape memory material, each layer thermally stimulated to change shape at a different temperature, to generate two-way actuation functionality. The second layer—with higher phase-change temperature—brings up greater intrinsic force in its high temperature phase than the first, and in this way is able to be used to reset the actuator to its initial shape after being deformed by the first layer at a lower temperature.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an electroactive polymer actuator (116) and a control circuit for driving the electroactive polymer actuator. The control circuit comprises a voltage boosting circuit including at least a capacitor (114; C11, C12, C13). An electroactive polymer layer (110) forms the electroactive polymer actuator in an active region (112) as well as a dielectric layer of the capacitor in a passive region (111). This provides integration of components to enable cost reductions and miniaturization.

Abstract: An actuator device has an electroactive polymer actuator (35) and an integrated piezoelectric transformer (30). At least the secondary side (34) of the transformer shares a piezoelectric electroactive polymer layer (36) with the electroactive polymer actuator, so that lower external voltages can be applied to the device. A diode (46) is connected between the secondary side of the transformer and the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising a passive matrix array of electroactive sensor elements arranged in rows and columns. In one example, each sensor element generates a binary sensor signal such that a total signal at each row and at each column enables any pattern of external inputs to be determined. This provides a first way to determine a pattern of sensor elements which are sensing an input using a passive matrix addressing scheme. In another example, each sensor element generates a sensor signal with a different frequency characteristic. This provides another way to enable any pattern of external inputs to be determined.