A cylindrical structure including a first cloth including a piezoelectric thread that generates an electric potential from external energy, a second cloth including a piezoelectric thread that generates an electric potential from external energy, and a connection portion connecting the first cloth and the second cloth, wherein the first cloth and the second cloth forms a side face of the cylindrical structure.

A flexoelectricity ultrasonic (UT) transducer imaging system is disclosed comprising a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer, a plurality of flexoelectricity UT transducers, and a multiplexer. The PTFE layer includes a front and back surface and the plurality of flexoelectricity UT transducers is attached to the back surface of the PTFE layer. Each UT transducer has a front-end and back-end and the front-end of each flexoelectricity UT transducer is attached to the back surface of the PTFE layer. The flexoelectricity UT transducers are arranged along the back surface of the PTFE layer as a two-dimensional array and each flexoelectricity UT transducer is configured to vibrate in a normal direction to the back surface of the PTFE layer. The multiplexer in signal communication with each flexoelectricity UT transducer, where the flexoelectricity UT transducers are sandwiched between the multiplexer and the PTFE layer.

An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.

An organic film is patterned without applying a hard mask or photolithography. A hydrophilic solvent-soluble resist is placed and arranged on the organic film using a non-lithography process. The hydrophilic solvent-soluble resist is placed and arranged using a printing or lamination process. The organic film is patterned using a wet etchant that is selective to the organic film but non-selective to the hydrophilic solvent-soluble resist. The hydrophilic solvent-soluble resist protects the underlying organic film from contamination and damage, prevents undercutting, and assists in providing a desired taper profile during patterning.

Processes and machines suitable for producing polymer films, and films produced thereby. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) particles and electrically conductive nanoparticles are combined in a liquid polymer precursor matrix and aligned along nanocolumns in a thickness direction of the polymer precursor matrix by subjecting the PZT and nanoparticles to a uniform electric field, after which the polymer precursor matrix is solidified to form a piezoelectric polymer composite film. The PZT and nanoparticles are subjected to the uniform electric field for a duration sufficient to promote sensitivity and/or energy harvesting properties of the piezoelectric polymer composite film.

A method for forming a dielectric elastomer transducer of the present invention includes: a first electrode layer fixing step of fixing a first electrode layer to a target object; a dielectric elastomer layer fixing step of fixing a dielectric elastomer layer to the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer fixing step of fixing a second electrode layer to the dielectric elastomer layer. This configuration ensures that the dielectric elastomer transducer highly conforms to the target object.

A transducer, a method of manufacturing a transducer, and a transducing device are provided. The transducer includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit includes a first receiving electrode, a first piezoelectric film, and a second receiving electrode which are sequentially stacked, and the receiving unit is configured to convert a first acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal by using a piezoelectric effect of the first piezoelectric film. The transmitting unit is configured to receive a control signal, which is based on the electrical signal, to transmit a second acoustic wave signal.

An object is to provide a piezoelectric film with good piezoelectricity. This object can be achieved by a piezoelectric film comprising a vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer film and having a residual polarization amount of 40 mC/m.sup.2 or more.

A dielectric elastomer transducer A1 includes a plurality of dielectric elastomer elements each including a dielectric elastomer layer 11 and a pair of electrode layers 12 and 13 flanking the dielectric elastomer layer 11. The plurality of dielectric elastomer elements include adjacent dielectric elastomer elements 1. One electrode layer 12 of one of the adjacent dielectric elastomer elements and one electrode layer 12 of the other one of the adjacent dielectric elastomer element have the same potential. Such a configuration ensures more stable use of the dielectric elastomer elements.

A display device includes a display panel, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged on one surface of the display panel, wherein each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements includes a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure applied to a surface opposite to the one surface of the display panel, and a haptic device configured to generate vibration according to a driving voltage.