公开(公告)号：US20210262452A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-26

申请号：US17244254

申请日：2021-04-29

Applicant: LINTEC OF AMERICA, INC.

Inventor： Marcio Dias LIMA ,  Yang YANG ,  Luis PLATA ,  Marilu GUERRERO ,  Franklin LE ,  Randy ALLEN

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16K31/44 ,  H02N11/00 ,  H01H85/04

Abstract: A hinge-type actuator device in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first and second paddle, a first and second artificial muscle actuator segment, and a plurality of contacts, where the first and second artificial muscle actuator segments are actuated via the contacts, actuation of the first artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to open the hinge-type actuator, and actuation of the second artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to dose the hinge-type actuator.

公开(公告)号：US11085426B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16466131

申请日：2017-12-07

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Marcio Dias Lima ,  Yang Yang ,  Luis Plata ,  Marilu Guerrero ,  Franklin Le ,  Randy Allen

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16K31/44 ,  H02N11/00 ,  H01H85/04 ,  H01B1/18 ,  A61F2/50

Abstract: An actuator includes a plurality of artificial muscle fibers and at least one conducting material. The at least one conducting material electrically stimulates the plurality of artificial muscle fibers during activation of the actuator. An actuator device includes at least one artificial muscle fiber and at least one high-strength creep-resistant fiber.

公开(公告)号：US11084724B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-10

申请号：US16190329

申请日：2018-11-14

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Chi Huynh

IPC: C01B32/00 ,  C01B32/168 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  B82Y40/00 ,  B32B5/12 ,  B32B37/26 ,  B32B37/00

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate—nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

公开(公告)号：US10982739B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US16097555

申请日：2017-04-28

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Marcio Dias Lima ,  Luis Plata ,  Yang Yang

IPC: F16H19/06 ,  A61F2/30 ,  F03G7/06 ,  H02N11/00 ,  D01F6/00 ,  H02N10/00

Abstract: An actuator device that includes a first actuating segment of an artificial muscle fiber, where one end of the first actuating segment is connected to a first terminal and the other end of the first actuating segment is connected to a second terminal. The device also includes a second actuating segment of an artificial muscle fiber, where one end of the second actuating segment is connected to a third terminal and the other end of the second actuating segment is connected to a fourth terminal. The device also includes a paddle disposed on both the first and second actuating segments and a heating provision disposed on the first and second actuating segments. The heating provision independently provides energy in the form of heat to the first and second actuating segments, and the actuator device moves rotates the paddle to a desired position through activating the first or second actuating segments.

公开(公告)号：US20210071649A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US16970539

申请日：2019-02-15

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Marcio Dias Lima

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  D01H7/02

Abstract: An actuator and method of manufacturing an actuator that includes a core fiber with polymers aligned along the length of the core fiber, and a wire that is wound around and fixed to the core fiber. The winding of the wire is engineered based on the torsional actuation. Upon heating the core fiber, the wire impedes radial expansion of the core fiber and converts the radial expansion into a torsional actuation.

公开(公告)号：US20210017674A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-21

申请号：US16929505

申请日：2020-07-15

Applicant: Lintec Of America, Inc.

Inventor： Emmanuel Aykara ,  Nicklas Keller

IPC: D01F9/12 ,  C08K7/02 ,  C01G31/00 ,  C01G41/00 ,  C01G23/00 ,  D02G3/02 ,  B32B27/12 ,  B32B9/00 ,  B32B5/12 ,  C01B32/168

Abstract: A filtered nanofiber film can be used as an intervening layer between the nanofiber structure (e.g., a drawn nanofiber sheet and/or a nanofiber forest) and a final substrate. Filtered nanofiber films can adhere to other types of nanofiber structures (e.g., drawn nanofiber sheets and/or nanofiber forests) and also exhibit adhesion to non-nanofiber surfaces. Thus, when used as an intervening layer between another type of nanofiber structure and a final substrate, a filtered film can increase adhesion therebetween. Filtered nanofiber films can also be used as a releasable protective film to prevent contamination of a confronting major surface of the nanofiber structure.

公开(公告)号：US10894718B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-19

申请号：US15956269

申请日：2018-04-18

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Chi Huynh

IPC: C01B32/168 ,  D02J1/04 ,  B82Y40/00 ,  B82Y30/00

Abstract: A nanofiber forest is described that has been processed to increase a number of nanofibers per unit area (referred to as “areal density” or, equivalently, “density”) compared to the nanofiber forest in its as-synthesized state. This increase in areal density is accomplished by physically manipulating a deformable substrate on which the nanofiber forest is disposed. At a high level, this physical manipulation begins by transferring the nanofiber forest from a growth substrate to a deformable substrate. A surface area of the deformable substrate is reduced relative to a surface area of the substrate when the nanofiber forest was attached. This reduction in area causes the nanofibers in the forest to move closer to one another, thus increasing the number of nanofibers per unit area.

公开(公告)号：US20200282551A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-10

申请号：US16810132

申请日：2020-03-05

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Marcio Dias Lima ,  Calvin Truong ,  Essence Beasley

IPC: B25J9/10 ,  F03G7/06

Abstract: A muscle sleeve includes: a sleeve-formed fabric; a plurality of first actuating muscles disposed next to each other and in parallel with each other on a first side of the sleeve-formed fabric; a plurality of second actuating muscles disposed next to each other and in parallel with each other on a second side of the sleeve-formed fabric; a plurality of fasteners that secure ends of the first and second actuating muscles to the fabric; and a crimp secured to the fabric.

公开(公告)号：US10590539B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-17

申请号：US15903420

申请日：2018-02-23

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Chi Huynh ,  Masaharu Ito

IPC: C23C16/56 ,  C23C16/44 ,  C01B32/15 ,  C23C16/40

Abstract: A nanofiber structure is described that is composed of a substrate and a layer of oriented nanofibers. Nanofibers of the layer can be oriented in a common direction. An angle of the common direction can be selected so that nanofibers of the sheet are oriented at an angle with respect to an underlying substrate even if the underlying substrate is not planar. The angle can be used to adapt the sheets to demands as a thermal interface material.

公开(公告)号：US20200000572A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-02

申请号：US16488970

申请日：2018-02-27

Applicant: Lintec of America, Inc.

Inventor： Marcio Dias Lima ,  Sergey Li

IPC: A61F2/08 ,  F03G7/06 ,  D02J13/00 ,  D01F8/12 ,  D01F8/18 ,  D02J1/18

Abstract: Methods and a device for the continuous manufacturing of artificial muscle actuator device fibers are disclosed. The method includes: threading an untwisted fiber along the axis of a tube and inside the tube that includes a heating means to raise the localized temperature of a cross-section of the tube to a predetermined temperature; providing a tension on the untwisted fiber; and twisting the untwisted fiber while the fiber is within the tube.