Low voltage electrostatic jamming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12132419-B2
Application number	US-202217932471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure an electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising a first sheet having a first conductive layer, a first dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the first conductive layer, and a second sheet comprising a second conductive layer and disposed proximate to the first dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first sheet and the second sheet are non-extensible and flexible, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are slidable relative to each other in a first state. The first sheet and the second sheet are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. In some embodiments, the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising:
a first set of sheets, each sheet comprising two dielectric layers and two first conductive layers disposed between the two dielectric layers, with a core layer being disposed between the two first conductive layers, wherein at least one sheet of the first set of sheets includes a core layer;
a second set of sheets, each sheet comprising a second conductive layer;
a set of dielectric layers; and
a first connector electrically conductively connected to first conductive layers of at least part of the first set of sheets;
a second connector electrically conductively connected to second conductive layers of at least part of the second set of sheets;
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are interdigitated,
wherein each of the adjacent pair of the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets has one of the set of dielectric layers disposed in between,
wherein each of the set of dielectric layers has a thickness less than or equal to 10 micrometers,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are slidable relative to each other in a first state,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first connector and the second connector, and
wherein the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between adjacent conductive layers of one of the first set of sheets and one of the second set of sheets.

2. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between an adjacent pair of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer in the first state is no greater than 10 micrometers.

3. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage is less than 100V.

4. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets is patterned such that it is extensible in at least one axis.

5. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets has a plurality of protruded features.

6. An electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising:
a first set of sheets, each sheet of the first set of sheets comprising two first dielectric layers, two first conductive layers are disposed between the two first dielectric layers, and a core layer is disposed between the two first conductive layers, wherein at least one sheet of the first set of sheets includes a core layer;
a second set of sheets, each sheet of the second set of sheets comprising two second dielectric layers, two second conductive layers disposed between the two second dielectric layers, and a core layer disposed between the two second conductive layers;
a set of dielectric layers;
a first connector electrically conductively connected to first conductive layers of at least part of the first set of sheets; and
a second connector electrically conductively connected to second conductive layers of at least part of the second set of sheets;
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are interdigitated,
wherein each of the adjacent pair of the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets has one of the set of dielectric layers disposed in between,
wherein each of the set of dielectric layers has a thickness less than or equal to 10 micrometers,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are slidable relative to each other in a first state,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first connector and the second connector, and
wherein the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between adjacent conductive layers of one of the first set of sheets and one of the second set of sheets.

7. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 6 , wherein a distance between an adjacent pair of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer in the first state is no greater than 10 micrometers.

8. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 6 , wherein the applied voltage is less than 100V.

9. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets is patterned such that it is extensible in at least one axis.

10. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets has a plurality of protruded features.

11. An electrostatic sheet jamming device comprising:
a first set of sheets, each sheet of the first set of sheets comprising a first core layer and a first dielectric layer;
a second set of sheets, each seet of the second set of sheets comprising two second dielectric layers, two second conductive layers disposed between the two second dielectric layers, and a second core layer disposed between the two second conductive layers, wherein each respective second conductive layer being adjacent to a respective second core layer and a respective second dielectric layer in each sheet of the second set of sheets;
a set of dielectric layers;
a first connector electrically conductively connected to first conductive layers of at least part of the first set of sheets; and
a second connector electrically conductively connected to second conductive layers of at least part of the second set of sheets,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are interdigitated,
wherein each of the adjacent pair of the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets has one of the set of dielectric layers disposed in between,
wherein each of the set of dielectric layers has a thickness less than or equal to 10 micrometers,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are slidable relative to each other in a first state,
wherein the first set of sheets and the second set of sheets are jammed with each other in a second state when a voltage is applied between the first connector and the second connector, and
wherein the applied voltage is less than or equal to a break-down voltage of air at a distance between adjacent conductive layers of one of the first set of sheets and one of the second set of sheets.

12. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 11 , wherein a distance between an adjacent pair of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer in the first state is no greater than 10 micrometers.

13. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 11 , wherein the applied voltage is less than 100V.

14. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets is patterned such that it is extensible in at least one axis.

15. The electrostatic sheet jamming device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first set of sheets has a plurality of protruded features.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02N13/00

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• H02N1/006 Primary

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• A61F2005/0158

  with locking means · CPC title

• A61F5/0102

  specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations · CPC title

• A61F2002/5066

  Muscles · CPC title