Electrostatic jamming devices and methods of making such devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021257940-A1
Application number	US-201917252626-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 19, 2021
Grant date	—

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 formed by a sheet having a conductive layer and a dielectric layer, comprising:
a first section of the sheet, the first section being separated from the sheet, a second section of the sheet, the second section being separated from the sheet, wherein the sheet is non-extensible and flexible, 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 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 jamming device of claim 1 , wherein the applied voltage is no greater than 100V.

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

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

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

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

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

10 . The 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 Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02N1/006 Primary

  of the gap-closing type (H02N1/004 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B27/36

  comprising polyesters · CPC title

• H02N13/00 Primary

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

• C23C14/0036

  Reactive sputtering · CPC title

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title