Patents by Inventor Ronald E. Pelrine
Ronald E. Pelrine 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: 20110154641Abstract: Described herein are transducers and their 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 provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: SRI InternationalInventors: RONALD E. PELRINE, Roy D. Kornbluh, Oibing Pei, Seajin Oh, Jose P. Joseph
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Publication number: 20110110010Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Roy D. Kornbluh, Patrick D. Lincoln, Scott Stanford
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Patent number: 7923064Abstract: Described herein are transducers and their 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 provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei, Seajin Oh, Jose P. Joseph
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Patent number: 7921541Abstract: The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Marcus Rosenthal
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Patent number: 7911115Abstract: The present invention relates to polymers, transducers and devices that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be used to do mechanical work. Similarly, when the electroactive polymer deflects, an electric field is produced in the polymer. This electric field may be used to produce electrical energy. An active area is a portion of a polymer having sufficient electrostatic force to enable deflection of the portion and/or sufficient deflection to enable a change in electrostatic force. The present invention relates to transducers and devices including multiple active areas. The invention also relates to methods for actuating one or more active areas.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Qibing Pei, Joseph S. Eckerle
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Patent number: 7898159Abstract: Described herein are compliant electroactive polymer transducers for use in acoustic applications. A compliant electroactive polymer transducer includes a compliant electroactive polymer at least two electrodes. For sound production, circuitry in electrical communication with the transducer electrodes is configured to apply a driving signal that causes the electroactive polymer to deflect in the acoustic range.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Richard P. Heydt, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Neville A. Bonwit, Joseph S. Eckerle
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Patent number: 7895985Abstract: Combustion devices described herein comprise a compliant combustion chamber wall or segment. The compliant segment deforms during combustion in the combustion chamber. Some devices may include a compliant wall configured to stretch responsive to pressure generated by combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber. A coupling portion translates deformation of the compliant segment or wall into mechanical output. One or more ports are configured to inlet an oxygen source and fuel into the combustion chamber and to outlet exhaust gases from the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Scott E. Stanford, Harsha Prahlad, Seajin Oh, Jonathan Heim, Roy D. Kornbluh
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Patent number: 7872850Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Roy D. Kornbluh, Patrick D. Lincoln, Scott Stanford
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Publication number: 20100271746Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Joseph S. Eckerle, Roy D. Kornbluh, Scott Stanford
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Patent number: 7804227Abstract: Described herein are several solutions that increase transducer lifetime by reducing or preventing tear propagation in a compliant electroactive polymer. One solution couples a compliant tear resistant treatment to a transducer proximate to an edge portion of the electroactive polymer. Another solution uses a tear resistant layer that couples to and covers a large surface area of the transducer. Another suitable tear resistant solution provides added material outside an active area; the added material reduces stress or strain variations in polymer material outside the active area when the electroactive polymer transducer is deflected or pre-strained.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Harsha Prahlad, Sunity K. Sharma, Bryan Chavez, Donald E. Czyzyk, Annjoe Wong-Foy, Scott E. Stanford
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Patent number: 7785656Abstract: The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured to maintain pre-strain in the pre-strained portion. One fabrication technique applies pre-strain to a partially cured electroactive polymer. The partially cured polymer is then further cured to stiffen and maintain the pre-strain. In another fabrication technique, a support layer is coupled to the polymer that maintains pre-strain in a portion of an electroactive polymer. Another embodiment of the invention cures a polymer precursor to maintain pre-strain in an electroactive polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Qibing Pei, Ronald E. Pelrine, Marcus Rosenthal
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Patent number: 7787646Abstract: The present invention provides electroactive polymer transducers that produce out-of-plane deflections. The transducers form a set of surface features based on deflection of an electroactive polymer. The set of surface features may include elevated polymer surface features and/or depressed electrode surface features. Actuation of an active area may produce the polymer deflection that creates one or more surface features. A passive layer may operably connect to a polymer. The passive layer may comprise a thicker and softer material to amplify polymer thickness changes and increase surface feature visibility.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Harsha Prahlad
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Publication number: 20100213928Abstract: A piston rod position sensing system includes a cylinder and a piston rod arranged in the cylinder for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer is formed on the piston rod to provide a recording medium. A magnetic pattern is recorded in the magnetically hard layer. The magnetic pattern includes tracks recorded in the magnetically hard layer lengthwise of the piston rod. Each track comprises magnetically written regions used to identify a current position of the piston rod. The sensing system also includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors in greater number than the plurality of tracks. Each magnetic field sensor senses the magnetically written regions of one or more of the tracks while the piston rod is moving with respect to the cylinder and generates signals used for detecting rotation of the piston rod in response to the sensed magnetically written regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Thomas P. Low, C. Bruce Clark, Ronald E. Pelrine, Joseph S. Eckerle, Chris Smith, Glovanni Zangarl
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Patent number: 7773363Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Joseph S. Eckerle, Roy D. Kornbluh, Scott Stanford
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Publication number: 20100176322Abstract: The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. 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 change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Jonathan R. HEIM, Ronald E. PELRINE, Roy David KORNBLUH, Joseph S. ECKERLE, Marcus ROSENTHAL, Richard P. HEYDT
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Patent number: 7737685Abstract: Described is a piston rod position-sensing system having a cylinder and piston rod arranged in the cylinder for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer is formed on the piston rod to provide a recording medium. The magnetically hard layer is made of a cobalt-phosphorous (Co—P)-based alloy. A magnetic pattern is recorded in the magnetically hard layer. A magnetic field sensor located in the cylinder senses the recorded magnetic pattern while the piston rod is moving with respect to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Thomas P. Low, C. Bruce Clark, Ronald E. Pelrine, Joseph S. Eckerle, Chris Smith, Giovanni Zangari
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Patent number: 7705521Abstract: The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polymer, the polymer deflects. This deflection may be converted into rotation of a power shaft included in a motor. Repeated deflection of the polymer may then produce continuous rotation of the power shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy D. Kornbluh, Jonathan Heim
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Patent number: 7703742Abstract: The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. 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 change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: SRI InternationalInventors: Jonathan R. Heim, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy David Kornbluh, Joseph S. Eckerle, Marcus A. Rosenthal, Richard P. Heydt
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Publication number: 20100059298Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Harsha Prahlad, Roy D. Kornbluh, Patrick D. Lincoln, Scott Stanford
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Publication number: 20100027187Abstract: Described herein is electroadhesion technology that permits controllable adherence between two objects. Electroadhesion uses electrostatic forces of attraction produced by an electrostatic adhesion voltage, which is applied using electrodes in an electroadhesive device. The electrostatic adhesion voltage produces an electric field and electrostatic adherence forces. When the electroadhesive device and electrodes are positioned near a surface of an object such as a vertical wall, the electrostatic adherence forces hold the electroadhesive device in position relative to the surface and object. This can be used to increase traction or maintain the position of the electroadhesive device relative to a surface. Electric control of the electrostatic adhesion voltage permits the adhesion to be controllably and readily turned on and off.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONALInventors: Ronald E. PELRINE, Harsha PRAHLAD, Joseph S. ECKERLE, Roy D. KORNBLUH, Scott STANFORD