Electroactive polymer animated devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produce motion of a feature included in an animated device. Electroactive polymer transducers offer customizable shapes and deflections. Combining different ways to configure and constrain a polymer, different ways to arrange active areas on a single polymer, different animated device designs, and different polymer orientations, permits a broad range of animated devices that use an electroactive polymer transducer to produce motion. These animated devices find use in a wide range of animated device applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An animated toy device comprising:
 a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and 
 a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes. 
 
     
     
       2. The toy device of  claim 1  wherein the electroactive polymer is elastically pre-strained. 
     
     
       3. The toy device of  claim 1  wherein the electroactive polymer is a dielectric elastomer. 
     
     
       4. The toy device of  claim 1  wherein the electroactive polymer is molded. 
     
     
       5. The animated toy device of  claim 1  wherein the animated toy device is one of a doll, a puppet, and an animatronic device. 
     
     
       6. The toy animated device of  claim 1  wherein the toy animated device is included in one of an animated display, a set, a prop, and a moving display of an amusement park ride. 
     
     
       7. The toy animated device of  claim 1  wherein the device is configured such that the transducer is used in a sensor configured to detect a parameter included in the device or detect a parameter from the environment around the device. 
     
     
       8. The toy animated device of  claim 7  further comprising a second transducer, the second transducer comprising a second active area, which includes at least two second active area electrodes coupled to a portion of a second electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two second active area electrodes. 
     
     
       9. The toy animated device of  claim 8  wherein the sensor provides one of haptic feedback and force feedback for motion between the first position and the second position for the feature. 
     
     
       10. The toy animated device of  claim 1  wherein the animated toy device is backdrivable between the first position and the second position by overcoming the stiffness of the rolled electroactive polymer during motion between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       11. The toy animated device of  claim 1  wherein motion between the first position and the second position for the feature has human likeness. 
     
     
       12. The toy animated device of  claim 1  wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device. 
     
     
       13. An animated toy device comprising:
 a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and 
 a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes, 
 wherein the device is configured such that the transducer is used in a sensor configured to detect a parameter included in the device or detect a parameter from the environment around the device. 
 
     
     
       14. The toy animated device of  claim 13  wherein the sensor provides one of haptic feedback and force feedback for motion between the first position and the second position for the feature. 
     
     
       15. The toy animated device of  claim 14  wherein the sensor provides position feedback for the feature between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       16. The toy animated device of  claim 14  wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device. 
     
     
       17. The toy animated device of  claim 13  wherein the animated toy device is one of a doll, a puppet, and an animatronic device. 
     
     
       18. An animated toy device comprising:
 a feature capable of motion between a first position and a second position; and 
 a rolled electroactive polymer transducer either included in the feature or coupled to the feature and configured to provide at least a portion of the motion between the first position and the second position for the feature, the transducer comprising an active area, which includes at least two electrodes coupled to a portion of an electroactive polymer, the portion capable of deflection in response to a change in electric field provided by the at least two electrodes, 
 wherein the animated toy animated device is backdrivable between the first position and the second position by overcoming the stiffness of the rolled electroactive polymer during motion between the first position and the second position. 
 
     
     
       19. The toy animated device of  claim 18  wherein the first position and the second position are included in legged locomotive positions of the toy animated device. 
     
     
       20. The toy animated device of  claim 18  wherein the electroactive polymer is a dielectric elastomer.