TY - JOUR
T1 - Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers
AU - Torras, N.
AU - Zinoviev, K. E.
AU - Camargo, C. J.
AU - Campo, Eva M.
AU - Campanella, H.
AU - Esteve, J.
AU - Marshall, J. E.
AU - Terentjev, E. M.
AU - Omastová, M.
AU - Krupa, I.
AU - Teplický, P.
AU - Mamojka, B.
AU - Bruns, P.
AU - Roeder, B.
AU - Vallribera, M.
AU - Malet, R.
AU - Zuffanelli, S.
AU - Soler, V.
AU - Roig, J.
AU - Walker, N.
AU - Wenn, D.
AU - Vossen, F.
AU - Crompvoets, F. M.H.
PY - 2014/2/1
Y1 - 2014/2/1
N2 - Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.
AB - Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.
KW - Liquid crystal elastomer
KW - Opto-mechanical actuator
KW - Tactile display
KW - Visually impaired
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894636152&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012
DO - 10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012
M3 - Article
SN - 0924-4247
VL - 208
SP - 104
EP - 112
JO - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
JF - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
ER -