An actuator assembly includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive polymer layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive polymer layer includes a non-vertical (e.g., sloped) sidewall with respect to a major surface of at least one of the electrodes. The electroactive polymer layer may be characterized by a non-axisymmetric shape with respect to an axis that is oriented orthogonal to an electrode major surface.

According to one embodiment, a flexible substrate includes a line portion including a support plate including a first surface, a flexible insulating base located on the first surface and a wiring layer disposed on the insulating base, a piezoelectric material covering the line portion, a protective member located on the piezoelectric material and an island-shaped first electrode provided on the insulating base.

A thin-film transistor may include an amorphous semiconductor channel layer, an organic material piezoelectric stress gate layer formed adjacent to the amorphous semiconductor channel layer, a source electrode coupled to the organic material piezoelectric stress gate layer, a drain electrode coupled to the organic material piezoelectric stress gate layer and a gate electrode coupled to the organic material piezoelectric stress gate layer. In some embodiments, the amorphous semiconductor channel layer may be amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide. In some embodiments, the organic material piezoelectric stress gate layer may be organic polyvinylidene fluoride. In some embodiments, the amorphous semiconductor channel layer may be formed on a flexible substrate.

An object of the present invention is to improve the piezoelectricity of a PVT having the VDF ratio of 82 to 90% represented by a copolymer, in which copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFe is 85 versus 15 (this is written as PVT85/15, and which is excellent in resistance to deformation, and heat resistance, etc. And therefore, it is also to obtain a piezoelectric film having piezoelectricity exceeding a PVT of less than 82 mol % of VDF represented by a PVT75/25, which conventionally shows the highest piezoelectricity, and a method of producing the same. A piezoelectric film is made of a mixture of two kinds (for example, a first copolymer is PVT85/15 and a second copolymer is PVT75/25) having different polymerization ratios of vinylidene fluoride VDF and trifluoroethylene TrFE.

A sensing film includes a base layer, a piezoelectric layer formed on the base layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. The first and second electrodes are spaced apart and electrically insulated from each other. The first electrode includes a first connecting portion and a number of first extending portions coupled to the first connecting portion. The second electrode includes a second connecting portion and a number of second extending portions coupled to the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are spaced apart and face each other. The first extending portions extend from a side of the first connecting portion toward the second connecting portion. The second extending portions extend from a side of the second connecting portion toward the first connecting portion. The first extending portions and the second extending portions are alternately arranged.

Use of an elastomeric film in the form of a gel, wherein said gel is a non-conductive hydrogel or organogel, as a dielectric electroactive polymer.

VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymers having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000,000 g/mol and a melt temperature less than about 240° C. The VDF copolymer contains at least about 50 mol % VDF monomer and may include an amount of at least one other monomer. The VDF copolymer may be used to form a membrane that has a node and fibril structure. The membrane has a percent porosity of at least 25%. A VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymer membrane may be formed by lubricating the VDF copolymer, subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the VDF copolymer to form a preform material, and expanding the preform material at a temperature below the melting temperature of the VDF copolymer. Dense VDF copolymer articles, filled VDF copolymer membranes, and VDF copolymer fibers are also provided.

The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to optical systems. The optical systems may include a proximal lens that may transmit light toward an eye of a user. The optical systems may also include a distal lens that may, in combination with the proximal lens, correct for at least a portion of a refractive error of the eye of the user. The optical systems may further include a selective transmission interface. The selective transmission interface may couple the proximal lens to the distal lens, transmits light having a selected property, and does not transmit light that does not have the selected property. The optical system can also include an accommodative lens, such as a liquid lens. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A method for producing a porous piezoelectric polymer film with a dense surface, includes depositing a polymer solution onto a substrate to form a polymer film including a solvent; evaporating a portion of the solvent to form the dense surface away from the substrate; forming water droplets in interior of the polymer film; and substantially evaporating the water droplets and remaining solvent to form porous interior. A piezoelectric composition includes a piezoelectric material with a porous interior and a dense surface for interfacing with an electrode. A piezoelectric device includes a first electrode; a porous piezoelectric film with a dense surface and porous interior, wherein the porous piezoelectric film is deposited on the first electrode and the dense surface is away from the first electrode; and a second electrode deposited on the dense surface for, together with the first electrode, providing an electrical interface for the porous piezoelectric film.

A transducer device, including an electroactive polymer transducer, which has at least two electrode layers which are situated in parallel to one another and which are connected to one another by inserting an elastic intermediate layer in each case, and including a circuit having electronic components for the purpose of generating an electrical voltage applied to the electrode layers of the polymer transducer, the circuit increasing an input voltage to a voltage which is increased with regard to the input voltage.