Abstract: The invention relates to a shaving device for skin hairs. The device comprises a skin-contacting surface structure (14, 15), a cutter (6) for cutting hairs in a hair-cutting area (16), a shape-changing smart material (7), and a controller for controlling activation of the shape-changing smart material during use of the shaving device. The shape-changing smart material is configured, arranged and effective to adapt the relative position and/or relative orientation between at least part of the skin-contacting surface structure (14) and at least part of the hair-cutting area (16).

Abstract: An electroencephalography (EEG) system includes a support configured to be positioned at least partially around the head of a user, an EEG electrode configured to be supported by the support and to be positioned for contacting skin of the user, an actuator operatively coupled to the EEG electrode and configured to move the electrode in at least two dimensions, including an axial dimension and a lateral dimension to enable the EEG electrode to contact the skin at different locations, and one or more physical processors operatively connected with the EEG electrode and the actuator. The one or more physical processors being programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed cause the one or more physical processors to: obtain an impedance signal from the EEG electrode; and actuate the actuator to move the EEG electrode based on a comparison of the obtained impedance signal with an impedance threshold.

Abstract: A strap-based wearable device for measuring a physiological parameter of a user. A sensor arrangement is used to convey information about the physiological parameter of the user. The tightness of the strap arrangement is controlled automatically in response to the quality of the sensor signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phototherapy system comprising an LED carrier (10) for being arranged on or under a subject (100), a set (12; 24, 26; 36) of LEDs (13; 23, 25; 33, 35), wherein at least a first subset (12; 24; 34) of LEDs (13; 23; 33) of said set is arranged in or at the LED carrier (10), a control unit (15) for controlling one or more LEDs (13; 23; 33) of said first subset (12; 24; 34) to switch between an emission mode, in which an LED emits electromagnetic radiation in the direction of the subject, and a detection mode, in which an LED generates a detection signal in dependence on the electromagnetic radiation incident on the LED, and a position determination unit (16) for determining the position of a subject with respect to the LED carrier based on the detection signals of one or more LEDs (13; 23; 33) of said first subset (12; 24; 34) in the detection mode, wherein the control unit (15) is configured to control one or more LEDs (13; 23, 25; 33, 35) to switch into the emission mode base

Abstract: The invention provides a device (and method) for generating electrical power, comprising an electrical power generator configured to generate an electrical output current using charge induction. A load capacitor is used for storing charge in response to the rectified electrical output current, wherein the load capacitor has a capacitance which increases with voltage. This means the voltage stored on the load capacitor becomes flatter as it is charged and discharged; in a relatively discharged state, the capacitance is reduced giving a relatively larger voltage based on the stored charge, and in a relatively charged state, the capacitance is increased giving a relatively smaller voltage based on the stored charge. This improves initial energy transfer from the generator towards the storage element (non-linear capacitor) and makes the output voltage more flat and easier for practical use.

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: An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.

Abstract: Provided is a combined actuator and sensor device having an electroactive polymer (EAP) structure (22) and a controller for generating drive signals applied to the EAP structure. The controller is adapted to superpose a small high-frequency AC sensing signal (34) on top of a larger actuation drive signal (32), the sensing signal having a frequency which resonates with the mechanical resonance frequency or anti-resonance frequency of the EAP structure. Application of mechanical loads to the device may be identified in changes in the impedance of the EAP structure, caused by damping of the mechanical resonance. In this way the device facilitates simultaneous sensing and actuation. A corresponding method of simultaneous sensing and actuation is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroactive material (preferably electroactive polymer) sensor system, comprising an electroactive material sensor (22) and a control system (28) for performing measurements relating to the impedance of the electroactive material sensor at at least first and second different frequencies. From these measurements a temperature at the sensor and an external pressure or force applied to the sensor can be determined. The sensor can thus be used as a pressure sensor and as a temperature sensor. When used in combination with actuation, an electroactive material actuator with integrated temperature sensing functionality is able to measure the temperature at the exact actuator position, which is always closer than an external thermocouple.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an electroactive or photoactive polymer arrangement having an effective length over which expansion or contraction is induced by actuation. The effective length is greater than the maximum linear physical dimension of the space occupied by the polymer arrangement. In this way, a compact design is provided which can support a large actuation displacement.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an EAP structure which deforms in response to a drive signal applied to the device, a device output being derived from movement of the EAP structure. A delay arrangement is used such that the mechanical output from the device is not generated for a first range or type of applied drive signals, and said device output is generated for a second range or type of applied drive signals. This device is for example particularly suitable for use in a passive matrix system.

Abstract: An actuation device comprises at least one electroactive polymer (EAP) layer (52) attached to a carrier (50) and a mechanical structure (56, 58) which defines at least two stable states. The EAP layer is adapted, when driven, to interact with the mechanical structure to switch between the at least two stable states, wherein the mechanical structure retains the electroactive polymer layer in the selected stable state in a non-driven state. In this way, two or more stable states for the device are defined, which can be retained when the EAP is no longer driven.

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: A bending actuator device or sensor device for sensing bending comprises a stack of electroactive polymer units. The adjacent electroactive polymer units in the stack are slidable relatively to each other. This means that, for an actuator for example, an increased actuation force is enabled without requiring increased driving voltage, and it also avoids the problems of stress build up by allowing sliding between the units.

Abstract: An oral cleaning device comprises a body which carries a set of projections. An actuator device is associated with one or more of the projections in the form of an electroactive polymer structure for adjusting a position of the associated one or more projections. This enables dynamic control of the cleaning function.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an electroactive polymer (30) and a controller (34) for delivering a drive signal to the electroactive polymer to make it deform. The controller is adapted to generate a signal which comprises an AC component for introducing a vibration (40, 42) of the electroactive polymer. This vibration is used to reduce friction between the electroactive polymer and an adjacent component (32). The AC component may be superposed on a low frequency AC or DC drive level.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of a 3D printed object (100), wherein the method comprises (i) a 3D printing stage, the 3D printing stage comprising 3D printing a 3D printable material (110) to provide the 3D printed object (100), wherein the 3D printing stage further comprises forming during 3D printing a channel (200) in the 3D printed object (100) under construction, wherein the method further comprises (ii) a filling stage comprising filling the channel (200) with a flowable material (140), wherein the flowable material (140) comprises a functional material (140a), wherein the functional material (140a) has one or more of electrically conductive properties, thermally conductive properties, light transmissive properties, and magnetic properties, and immobilizing said functional material (140a).

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter of a subject, wherein the physiological parameter sensor is adapted to be worn by the subject; an actuator comprising an electro-active polymer material, EAP, portion for adjusting the position of the physiological parameter sensor relative to the subject; a feedback sensor for measuring movement of the physiological parameter sensor and/or the subject; a controller configured to process the measurements of the feedback sensor and to adjust the position of the actuator based on information from the feedback sensor.

Abstract: A device (100A) for treating skin (S) comprises a skin treatment member, a skin contacting surface (10), a mounting member (104) for mounting the skin treatment member (110) and the skin contacting surface (107), and friction controlling means (124, 126, 134) configured and arranged to control friction between the skin contacting surface (107) and the skin (S) to be treated, in at least one controlled friction area (122) of the skin contacting surface (107), during use when the skin contacting surface (107) is moved over the skin (S). In particular, the friction controlling means (124, 126, 134) are adapted to introduce a slip motion of the controlled friction area (122) relative to the mounting member (104) in a direction corresponding to a local direction of extension of the skin contacting surface (107).

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaving device for skin hairs. The device comprises a skin-contacting surface structure (14, 15), a cutter (6) for cutting hairs in a hair-cutting area (16), a shape-changing smart material (7), and a controller for controlling activation of the shape-changing smart material during use of the shaving device. The shape-changing smart material is configured, arranged and effective to adapt the relative position and/or relative orientation between at least part of the skin-contacting surface structure (14) and at least part of the hair-cutting area (16).