Electroactive polymer systems
View Patent ↗Electroactive polymer devices are provided. A device includes a membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with a voltage application. The element is covered by the membrane.
1. A device comprising:
a membrane;
a collapsible electroactive polymer element, wherein the element is in an expanded configuration without voltage application and is in a collapsed configuration with the voltage application, wherein the element is covered by the membrane, the electroactive polymer element including:
a first electroactive polymer sub element, and
a second electroactive polymer sub element;
a first sub electrode operatively connected to the first electroactive polymer sub element;
a second sub electrode operatively connected to the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements; and
a third sub electrode operative connected to the second electroactive polymer sub element, wherein a first voltage difference between the first sub electrode and the second sub electrode and a second voltage difference between the second sub electrode and third sub electrode results in movement of a portion of the first and second electroactive polymer sub elements in the same direction.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first voltage difference is a negative portion of the second voltage difference.