| Title | Understanding efficiency limits of dielectric elastomer driver circuitry |
| Publication Type | Conference Paper |
| Year of Publication | 2013 |
| Authors | Lo, H.C., Calius E.P., and Anderson I. |
| Conference Name | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
| Date Published | 2013 |
| Keywords | Actuators, Circuit parameter, Conducting polymers, Dielectric elastomers, Efficiency, Efficiency limits, Elastomers, electric resistance, Electrical energy, Electroactive polymer actuators, Electrode resistance, Electronic equipment, Mode of operations, Output resistance, Plastics, Power conditioning |
| Abstract | Dielectric elastomers (DEs) can theoretically operate at efficiencies greater than that of electromagnetics. This is due to their unique mode of operation which involves charging and discharging a capacitive load at a few kilovolts (typically 1kV-4kV). Efficient recovery of the electrical energy stored in the capacitance of the DE is essential in achieving favourable efficiencies as actuators or generators. This is not a trivial problem because the DE acts as a voltage source with a low capacity and a large output resistance. These properties are not ideal for a power source, and will reduce the performance of any power conditioning circuit utilizing inductors or transformers. This paper briefly explores how circuit parameters affect the performance of a simple inductor circuit used to transfer energy from a DE to another capacitor. These parameters must be taken into account when designing the driving circuitry to maximize performance. © 2013 SPIE. |
| URL | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84878679008&partnerID=40&md5=dd4a1aa9af168d239bec52b725b0dd85 |
| DOI | 10.1117/12.2010336 |
