A driver for a circuit with a capacitive load is configured for coupling to a voltage source which provides a DC input voltage, and is configured to generate an output voltage at an output. The driver includes a bidirectional synchronous power converter with a first switch, a second switch, and an inductive device connected to the first and/or second switch. A controller is configured to control the first switch and the second switch. The bidirectional synchronous power converter generates a switching voltage from the input voltage at a switching node and generates the output voltage having an analog voltage waveform with a peak amplitude of at least twice the input voltage. The bidirectional synchronous power converter includes a boost-buck converter configured to generate the analog voltage waveform from the input voltage by transferring increments of energy to the capacitive load in a forward-boost mode and from the load in a reverse-buck mode.

A composite actuator device includes a composite material that is configured to be driven by applying power thereto and that is composed of a silicone; and from 1 to 20 wt % of an iron oxide mixed in the silicone; and a metal plate that is spaced apart from the composite material by a predetermined distance. When the power is applied, the composite actuator is driven toward the metal plate by an electrostatic attractive force. Preferably, the composite actuator device has a resonance frequency of 30.1 Hz.

A single ended n-bit hybrid digital-to-analog converter is configured to receive as an input an analog signal and produce an n-bit digital output. The converter includes a split main sub-digital-to-analog converter capacitor array, a most significant bit capacitor array, and a main capacitor array. A coupling capacitor couples the main array to the split main sub-digital-to-analog convert.

A microelectromechanical actuator for a light beam steering device is provided that includes memory cells coupled to at least one electronic circuitry component and electrode segments coupled to a respective one of the memory cells via the at least one electronic circuitry component. A flexible metal layer having support pillars is on the electrode segments. Flexible beams are attached to the support pillars and a movable electrode attaches to the flexible beams. A mirror is attached to the movable electrode. When one or more of the electrode segments is activated, the mirror is displaced a distance to steer a light beam output from a light source in a direction.

A new tri-electrode topology reduces the control voltage requirement for electrostatic actuators. Conventional parallel plate actuators are dual-electrode systems, formed by the MEMS structure and the drive electrode. By placing a perforated intermediate electrode between these elements, a tri-electrode configuration is formed. This topology enables a low voltage on the intermediate electrode to modulate the electrostatic force of the higher voltage drive electrode, whose voltage remains fixed. Results presented show that in comparison to conventional parallel plate electrostatic actuators, the intermediate electrode's modulating voltage can be as low as 20% of normal, while still providing the full actuation stroke.

In some embodiments, a device, such as a transducer, includes a polymer element disposed between electrodes, and a control circuit configured to apply electrical potentials having the same polarity to the electrodes. A separation distance between the electrodes may be increased by an electrostatic repulsion between the electrodes. Various other devices, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

An example device includes a nanovoided polymer element, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nanovoided polymer element may be located at least in part between the first electrode and the second electrode. In some examples, the nanovoided polymer element may include anisotropic voids. In some examples, anisotropic voids may be elongated along one or more directions. In some examples, the anisotropic voids are configured so that a polymer wall thickness between neighboring voids is generally uniform. Example devices may include a spatially addressable electroactive device, such as an actuator or a sensor, and/or may include an optical element. A nanovoided polymer layer may include one or more polymer components, such as an electroactive polymer.

A form birefringent optical element includes a structured layer and a dielectric environment disposed over the structured layer. At least one of the structured layer and the dielectric environment includes a nanovoided polymer, the nanovoided polymer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Actuation of the nanovoided polymer can be used to reversibly control the form birefringence of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

An optical element includes a nanovoided polymer layer having a first refractive index in an unactuated state and a second refractive index different than the first refractive index in an actuated state. Compression or expansion of the nanovoided polymer layer, for instance, can be used to reversibly control the size and shape of the nanovoids within the polymer layer and hence tune its refractive index over a range of values, e.g., during operation of the optical element. Various other apparatuses, systems, materials, and methods are also disclosed.

Examples include a device including a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface, a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, a second plurality of electrodes disposed on the second surface, and a control circuit configured to apply an electrical potential between one or more of the first plurality of electrodes and one or more of the second plurality of electrodes to induce a physical deformation of the nanovoided polymer element.