Shared Voltage Boost Circuit for Electroactive Polymer Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high voltage driver circuits for electro-active polymer (EAP) devices require significant physical space due to non-linear scaling with drive voltage, and existing solutions for multiple EAP devices involve separate driver circuits that are bulky and inefficient in terms of space usage.
Innovation Solution
A shared voltage boost circuit and multiple partial voltage boost circuits are used to drive multiple EAP devices, allowing each device to receive its full-scale drive voltage while minimizing overall circuit size by using lower voltage components that combine to achieve the necessary delta voltage for maximum displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate high voltage driver circuits are used for each EAP device, then each device can achieve full-scale displacement, but the physical space required for housing the driver circuits increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple driver circuits into a shared architecture where a single high-voltage driver circuit serves multiple EAP devices. The driver circuit includes a voltage boost circuit that can be selectively connected to different EAP device terminals, allowing one driver to control multiple devices instead of requiring separate dedicated drivers for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage boost circuit is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple EAP devices. It can be selectively connected to different terminals of different EAP devices through switching circuitry, enabling a single driver circuit to perform the function of multiple dedicated drivers while maintaining the capability to achieve full-scale displacement for each device.
2Ease of operation
If the drive voltage is increased to achieve greater displacement, then the EAP device produces more strain, but the driver circuit size increases non-linearly due to electrical isolation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage application by introducing a common terminal that is shared across multiple EAP devices. Instead of requiring each device to have its own complete high-voltage driver circuit, the common terminal allows voltage to be applied shared across devices, reducing the complexity and size of individual driver circuits while maintaining the ability to achieve high displacement outputs.
3Area of stationary object
If a single shared voltage boost circuit is used for multiple EAP devices, then the physical space required is reduced, but the circuit complexity increases due to additional switching and control circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common terminal as an intermediary element that simplifies the connection between the voltage boost circuit and multiple EAP devices. This common terminal serves as a shared connection point that reduces the need for complex switching arrangements while still enabling a single driver circuit to control multiple devices. The intermediary approach balances space savings with manageable circuit complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the physical space required for driver circuitry while maintaining the ability to achieve the desired displacement, as the shared and partial voltage boost circuits work together to produce the full-scale voltage needed by each EAP device, even when operating below the full-scale drive capability.
Implementation Method 1
the driver circuit for an EAP device is a voltage boost circuit that produces the high drive voltage from a relatively low voltage dc input source
Implementation Method 2
An EAP device or actuator has a layer of EAP material (such as a dielectric elastomer) that is sandwiched by a pair of compliant electrodes. When a sufficient voltage is applied to the compliant electrodes, the input electrical energy is transformed into mechanical work, for example, as an electromechanical thickness and/or planar strain.
Implementation Method 3
the input electrical energy is transformed into mechanical work, for example, as an electromechanical thickness and/or planar strain
Data Source
AI summary
A driver circuit for electro-active polymer (EAP) device has a shared, voltage boost circuit that is coupled to drive a common terminal of first and second EAP devices to a given voltage. A first voltage boost circuit is coupled to drive a respective terminal of the first EAP device to an opposite polarity voltage, while a second voltage boost circuit is coupled to drive a respective terminal of the second EAP device to an opposite polarity voltage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.