Electrostatic jamming devices and methods of making such devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11984823-B2
Application number	US-201917252626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure direct to an electrostatic sheet jamming device formed by a sheet having a conductive layer and a dielectric layer. The jamming device includes a first section of the sheet, the first section being separated from the sheet, and a second section of the sheet, the second section being separated from the sheet. The sheet is non-extensible and flexible. The first section and the second section are slidable relative to each other in a first state. The first section and the second section are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between a conductive layer of the first section and a conductive layer of the second section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising:
a first section of a sheet;
a second section of the sheet,
each of the first section and the second section formed by separating a section from the sheet,
wherein the sheet is non-extensible in at least one axis and flexible,
wherein the sheet has a conductive layer and a dielectric layer,
wherein the first section and the second section are slidable relative to each other in a first state, and
wherein the first section and the second section are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between a conductive layer of the first section and a conductive layer of the second section.

2. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between the first and the second conductive layer.

3. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage is no greater than 100V.

4. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first section and the second section is no greater than 10 micrometers in the first state.

5. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet is packaged in a roll.

6. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein a coefficient of friction of the sheet is less than 0.4.

7. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness less than or equal to 5 micrometers.

8. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet has patterned openings such that it is extensible in at least one axis.

9. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a plurality of protruded features.

10. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric layer has a relative permittivity greater than 3.

11. A method comprising:
retrieving a sheet having a conductive layer and a dielectric layer;
separating a first set of sections from the sheet;
connecting the first set of sections electrically via a first connector;
separating a second set of sections from the sheet;
connecting the second set of sections electrically via a second connector; and
assembling the first set of sections and the second set of sections into a jamming device,
wherein the sheet is non-extensible and flexible,
wherein the first set of sections and the second set of sections are slidable relative to each adjacent pair in a first state,
wherein the first set of sections and the second set of sections are jammed together in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first connector and the second connector.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness less than or equal to 10 micrometers.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness less than or equal to 5 micrometers.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
assembling the first set of sections and the second set of sections with one or more urging elements.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more urging elements comprise at least one of a highly compliant outer layer, a highly compliant inner layer, a fixed clearance limiting element, and a spring element.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Corrigan Thomas R
• Rowe David J
• Tilstra Andrew H

Classifications

• H02N13/00 Primary

  Clutches or holding devices using electrostatic attraction, e.g. using Johnson-Rahbek effect · CPC title

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B27/36

  comprising polyesters · CPC title

• C23C14/0036

  Reactive sputtering · CPC title

• C23C14/205

  by cathodic sputtering · CPC title