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Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7626319 | Three-dimensional electroactive polymer actuated devices Devices employing electroactive polymer actuators are disclosed. Acrylic dielectric material based actuators are optionally provided in which architectures are presented that allow for improved power output as compared with other known acrylic dielectric material ba... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7608989 | Compliant electroactive polymer transducers for sonic applications Described herein are compliant electroactive polymer transducers for use in acoustic applications. A compliant electroactive polymer transducer includes a compliant electroactive polymer at least two electrodes. For sound production, circuitry in electrical communic... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7521847 | High-performance electroactive polymer transducers Transducers employing electroactive polymer films are disclosed. ... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7498729 | Optical device An optical device includes a lens holder that holds a lens and is movable in the optical-axis direction of the lens, and an actuator that moves the lens holder in the optical-axis direction. The actuator includes an actuator element composed of an electroactive poly... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7474041 | System and method for design and fabrication of a high frequency transducer Techniques for fabricating high frequency ultrasound transducers are provided herein. In one embodiment, the fabrication includes depositing a copperclad polyimide film, a layer of epoxy on the copperclad polyimide film, and a polyvinylidene fluoride film on the epo... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7443082 | Piezoelectric polymer composite article and system The subject invention provides composite articles (20, 120) and associated systems (32, 132). A first composite article (20) includes a piezoelectric layer (22) having a piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric layer (22) is sandw... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7443087 | Polymer actuator A polymer actuator comprising a conductive powder compact comprising a conductive polymer and a dopant, an ion donor, a work electrode, and a counter electrode, whereby it contracts or extends when voltage is applied between the work electrode and the counter electr... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7443075 | Entrapment detecting system An entrapment detecting system includes a detection portion provided at an opening/closing apparatus for detecting an acceleration thereof on the basis of an output from a piezoelectric sensor for outputting a voltage corresponding to the acceleration and a control ... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7436099 | Electroactive polymer pre-strain The present invention provides electroactive polymers, transducers and devices that maintain pre-strain in one or more portions of an electroactive polymer. Electroactive polymers described herein may include a pre-strained portion and a stiffened portion configured... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7397166 | Electroactive polymer-actuated peristaltic pump and medical lead incorporating such a pump A peristaltic pump for conveying a fluid comprises a flexible tube having an outer surface and a lumen for carrying the fluid such as a therapeutic agent. The tube has a length defined by opposed ends of the tube, the outer surface of the body carrying a plurality o... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7394181 | Hybrid eletromechanical actuator and actuation system A hybrid electromechanical actuator has two different types of electromechanical elements, one that expands in a transverse direction when electric power is applied thereto and one that contracts in a transverse direction when electric power is applied thereto. The ... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7388321 | Piezoelectric body, electric generator and polymer actuator A piezoelectric body comprising a powder compact 1 formed from conductive powder comprising a conductive polymer and a dopant, and an ion donor 2, to generate an electromotive force by stress change, and an electric generator or a polymer actuator comp... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7382082 | Piezoelectric transducer with gas matrix A piezoelectric transducer defined by two faces comprises a plurality of piezoelectric cylinders. The axial length and composition of the piezoelectric cylinders determines the frequency of the transducer when excited. The axial ends of the piezoelectric cylinders a... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7378783 | Electroactive polymer torsional device The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polyme... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7368862 | Electroactive polymer generators The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electr... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7362032 | Electroactive polymer devices for moving fluid The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, su... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7362035 | Polymer bulk acoustic resonator A polymer bulk acoustic resonator that includes an active semiconductor layer, a first thin film electrode layer applied to the semiconductor layer, a thin film electro-active polymer layer applied to the first thin film electrode layer; and a second thin film elect... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7362040 | Device for opening and closing a mobile element A device for opening and closing an opening (11), in particular in a motor vehicle, by means of a motor-driven, movable part (10), with a control unit (26) and a pinch prevention sensor (14), which is disposed essentially along an edge ( | 04/22/2008 |
| 7352111 | Electroactive polymer pumping system An electroactive polymer pump having an electroactive polymer mass forming a channel between an inlet and an outlet and an electrical distribution system in operational connection with the electroactive polymer mass for selectively energizing sections of the electro... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7342350 | Handheld device having ultrasonic transducer for axial transmission of acoustic signals A handheld stylus having an elongated housing, a writing and drawing implement disposed within the housing and including a tip extending through an opening at an end of the housing where ultrasonic waves radiate therefrom and are used for determining a position of t... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7327067 | Actuator modules A lightweight, compact, and flexible organic actuator module that is stably operated in a gas such as air and safely handled has a structure in which an organic actuator and a counter electrode immersed in electrolyte solution together with the gas are stored and se... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7317275 | Harmonic propulsion and harmonic controller A device and method for propelling objects using periodic or harmonic vibrations is described. The device comprises a flexible substrate or surface and a source of vibrational energy that is applied to the substrate or surface. Specific embodiments include a device ... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7315109 | Actuators and fluid delivery systems using such actuators An actuator includes a non-magnetic, electroactive material that is suitable to impart force upon application of an electric current, a power supply to provide an electric current to the electroactive material and a controller in operative connection with the power ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7301493 | Meta-materials based upon surface coupling phenomena to achieve one-way mirror for various electro-magnetic signals A one-way reflective sensor shield with an increased bandwidth meta-materials coating is provided which substantially reduces or eliminates deleterious electronic signatures and backscattering. The one-way reflective sensor shield with meta-materials coating operate... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7259503 | Electroactive polymers The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electr... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7259495 | Conductive polymer actuator Two conductive polymer films, one of which swells and the other of which shrinks by an oxidation-reduction reaction, are connected to a link mechanism for reciprocally converting shrinkage-directional displacements of one film to swell-directional displacements of t... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7242134 | Electromechanical actuator and methods of providing same An electromechanical actuator comprising an inherently conducting polymer and a conductor for conducing voltage along the polymer from a first end region thereof. The conductor is adapted for axially extending and contracting with axial expansion and contraction of ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7233097 | Rolled electroactive polymers The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7224106 | Electroactive polymers The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electr... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7211937 | Electroactive polymer animated devices The present invention relates to animated devices that include one or more electroactive polymer transducers. When actuated by electrical energy, an electroactive polymer produces mechanical deflection in one or more directions. This deflection may be used to produc... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7202586 | Electrical contact member There is provided an electrical contact member where wear can be reduced. The electrical contact member is characterized by one or both of conductive metal particles and conductive metal fibers, at least outer circumferential surfaces of which have been modified wit... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7199508 | Coaxial flexible piezoelectric cable polarizer, polarizing method, defect detector, and defect detecting method The invention provides a defect inspecting apparatus and a defect detecting method for specifying a position of a defect before polarization when the defect is included in a coaxial flexible piezoelectric member. Further, when a piezoelectric tube is moved in polari... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7199501 | Electroactive polymers The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electr... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7166953 | Electroactive polymer rotary clutch motors The present invention relates to mechanical-electrical power conversion systems. The systems comprise one or more electroactive polymers that convert between electrical and mechanical energy. When a voltage is applied to electrodes contacting an electroactive polyme... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7081701 | Curved shape actuator device composed of electro active layer and fiber composite layers The piezo-composite curved actuator of the present invention includes a piezoelectric layer 10, a lightweight fiber-reinforced lower composite layer 20 with a high GTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) and a low modulus, which is placed under the piez... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7075213 | Variable ratio transmission elements for motor drive shafts A motor transmission element includes an axle, an expandable circumferential component and multiple rolled electroactive polymer (EAP) devices. The circumferential component is located at a contact radius from the axle for connection to a different rotating body and... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7071596 | Dielectric motors with electrically conducting rotating drive shafts and vehicles using same A motor includes a support framework and a mechanical movement component moveably mounted to the support framework. An electroactive polymer device having a pair of input electrodes is configured to deform upon application of an electric potential difference across ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7064473 | Actuator film material, actuator film and actuator using the same Provided is an actuator manufactured using a material obtained by mixing a film material featuring stable motion and high speed of response and used for ion conductive polymer actuators with conductive fine particles. According to the present invention, an actuator ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7049732 | Electroactive polymers The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electr... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7038357 | Stretched rolled electroactive polymer transducers and method of producing same A transducer is designed and fabricated using stretched rolled electroactive polymers. The invention includes the design, fabrication, and integration of a stretched rolled actuator system with corresponding sensing, control and power subsystems. The invention prese... | 05/02/2006 |