Low voltage driven dielectric membrane actuators integrated into fast switching electronic circuit boards

Abstract

In high-tech companies operating worldwide innovation is the key driver for long-term market success. Hence, innovative engineering technologies not only provide technological challenges but also investment risks for decision makers who want to tread new paths in product development. As an important example, the typically required high operating voltage and the need for high voltage power supplies constitute physical, economic and psychological restrictions for the application of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA). Therefore, based on the view of product integration we aimed to limit the applied voltage below 600 V. To achieve this goal, we developed membrane actuators made of dielectric elastomers, which can be driven by lower voltages provided by low-cost power supplies. In detail, a particular device was developed with specially designed compression fittings clamping the DEA-film which enabling a simple electric contact between the actuator and the circuit board. The prefabricated actuator module was integrated in a fast switching, low-cost electronic circuit board. The power supply generates up to 550 V with a slew rate of a few microseconds, whereas the whole circuit has the geometrical dimension of a credit card. A plunger connected to the DEA-film moves out of plane when the actuator is activated. With the use of permanent magnets, interacting with the plunger, the system can be enhanced to meet industrial requirements in force and stroke. The resulting 'embedded' system offers a platform for further applications in different industrial segments and applications for instance in automation with valves, grippers or micro pumps in process automation and life sciences.

Multilayer dielectric elastomer actuators: processing and characterization in an out-of-plane actuator configuration

“…Using these various elastomer materials and the stretchable electrodes, a wide variety of dielectric elastomer actuators [10], sensors [11] and generators [12] have been developed. In the area of actuators, various conceptual approaches such as film actuators, roll actuators [13], bending actuators [14], stack actuators [15], minimum surface energy actuators [16] and cone or out-of-plane actuators [17][18][19] are being investigated. According to the different conceptual approaches, film actuators, for example, realize large stretches of up to e.g.…”

“…for the adjustment of optical components or targeted variation of diffractive optical elements [22], as loudspeakers [23], in microfluidics, in valves for applications in automation [24] or more generally in various areas of soft robotics [25]. In addition to the material and actuator development, investigations are also being carried out into the use of the actuators at reduced operating voltages of, for example, below 600 V [19], the encapsulation of actuators [26] and the optimization of the control electronics including energy recovery [27].…”

Enhanced Actuation Performance of Polymeric Composites by Simultaneously Incorporating Covalent-Bond-Functionalized Dielectric Nanoparticles and Polar Plasticizer

“…However, DEAs require high applied driving voltages, which are dangerous for the human body and equipment [ 9 ]. Moreover, the high operating voltages increase the construction cost and appearance size of the voltage source [ 10 ]. Therefore, preparing DEAs with large actuated strains at low driving voltages is highly desirable.…”

Piezoelectric and Electromechanical Characteristics of Porous Poly(Ethylene-co-Vinyl Acetate) Copolymer Films for Smart Sensors and Mechanical Energy Harvesting Applications

“…Starting with a polymer film with embedded air cells, internal charging of air can be carried out through electrical ionization [38]. When a large electric field is applied across the film, gas molecules in the cells become ionized and opposite charges are accelerated and implanted on each side of the cells, depending on the applied electric field direction [39][40][41]. Such artificially embedded dipoles respond externally to an applied electrical field or mechanical force similar to piezoelectric material [42].…”