US 12,283,900 B2
Flexible actuator for curved surface and control method thereof
Kyoung Jin Chang, Suwon-si (KR); Dong Chul Park, Anyang-si (KR); Ki Uk Kyung, Daejeon (KR); Hyun Woo Kim, Daejeon (KR); Min Ki Kim, Daejeon (KR); Jong Seok Nam, Daejeon (KR); and Ji Hyeong Ma, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, Seoul (KR); KIA CORPORATION, Seoul (KR); and KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR); and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon (KR)
Filed on Oct. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/967,082.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0164716 (KR), filed on Nov. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0163700 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. H02N 1/00 (2006.01); H10N 30/20 (2023.01); H10N 30/857 (2023.01)
CPC H02N 1/002 (2013.01) 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible actuator for curved surfaces, the flexible actuator comprising:
a substrate layer having a curved shape;
an electroactive polymer composite film covering the substrate layer and having a curved shape, wherein peripheral portions of the electroactive polymer composite film are joined with peripheral portions of the substrate layer, and the electroactive polymer composite film includes an electroactive polymer layer and a flexible electrode layer;
an electrode disposed between the substrate layer and the electroactive polymer composite film; and
a dielectric fluid injected between the electroactive polymer composite film and the electrode,
wherein the electroactive polymer composite film and the electrode are configured so that a distance between center portions of the electroactive polymer composite film and the electrode is smaller than a distance between the peripheral portions of the electroactive polymer composite film and peripheral portions of the electrode.