Electrorheological Tunable Member for Adjustable Tactile Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tactile devices have a fixed sensing range due to the inherent properties of dielectric polymers like PDMS, making them inflexible and costly to adapt for different applications, as changing the sensing range requires replacing the sensing member and cannot be adjusted post-manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A tunable device comprising a deformable dielectric unit with a receiving space and a tunable member, including insulating fluid and dielectric particles, which can be aligned by an electric field to change its properties, such as stiffness, allowing for adjustable sensitivity and sensing range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional tactile device uses a dielectric polymer sensing member with fixed properties, then the device structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the sensing range and sensitivity cannot be adjusted after manufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing range adjustabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing member incorporates dielectric particles dispersed in an insulating fluid, allowing the material properties to dynamically change in response to external electric fields. This enables real-time adjustment of stiffness and sensing range without structural modifications or component replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the sensing member by using dielectric particles with different properties (size, concentration, material composition) that can be aligned by electric fields. This allows continuous adjustment of mechanical and electrical parameters such as stiffness, damping coefficient, and sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sensing range of a conventional tactile device is changed by adjusting the degree of crosslinking of PDMS, then the stiffness is adjustable, but the sensing member must be replaced with a modified dielectric polymer requiring remanufacturing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestiffness adjustabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Dielectric particles with specific properties are pre-selected and dispersed in the insulating fluid during manufacturing, but the final material properties are determined later by applying appropriate electric fields. This preliminary preparation allows flexible adjustment without remanufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical crosslinking process with an electric field-based control mechanism. Instead of permanently modifying the polymer structure through chemical crosslinking, the desired mechanical properties are achieved by aligning dielectric particles using electric fields, substituting a permanent mechanical modification with a reversible electrical control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional transducers are designed with fixed structural parameters, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but the sensitivity and performance cannot be adjusted for different applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance adjustabilityVSAvoidremanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transducer incorporates dielectric particles that can dynamically reconfigure under electric fields, allowing the sensing characteristics to be adjusted in real-time. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for time-consuming remanufacturing processes when different performance levels are required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables flexible adjustment of sensitivity and sensing range without the need for replacing components, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing the device's adaptability to various applications by aligning dielectric particles with an electric field, thereby increasing the device's sensitivity and range.

Implementation Method 1

applying an electric field between the first and second electrodes such that the dielectric particles are aligned along the electric field to change a property of the tunable member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric particle alignment in electric field: Electrorheological Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10972098B2Tunable device including tunable member responsible to electric field applied thereto, transducer including the tunable device, and method of changing one of stiffness and damping coefficient of tuning the tunable device

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A tunable device includes a deformable dielectric unit formed with a receiving space, and a tunable member received in the receiving space and responsible to an electric field applied to the tunable member. A transducer is also provided, and includes at least one of the tunable device and one of a driver unit, a sensing unit and the combination thereof in signal transmission with the tunable device. A method of tuning the tunable device is also provided.