JP2010096629A - Sensor-actuator and vehicle using this - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor-actuator which makes a pressure sensor function and an actuator function compatible as one device. <P>SOLUTION: The sensor-actuator includes a first electro-conductive body 11 and a second electro-conductive body 12 which are disposed with a space 19 of a distance enabling mutual contact and separation left between. The second electro-conductive body 12 consists of an electro-conductive polymer. The sensor-actuator is made to function as a pressure sensor by measuring by an ammeter 14 a change in the resistance between the first electro-conductive body 11 and the second electro-conductive body 12 arising from the mutual contact, and it is made to function as an actuator by a shrinking action of the electro-conductive polymer caused by electrification of the second electro-conductive body 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor / actuator having both a pressure sensor function and an actuator function, and a vehicle using the same.

  In recent years, functional devices using conductive polymers made of organic materials have been developed.

  One functional device using a conductive polymer is an actuator. For example, there is an actuator having a structure in which a material different from the conductive polymer material is laminated on the surface of the conductive polymer material. This actuator uses the electrochemical redox reaction of the conductive polymer to expand and contract the conductive polymer material, so that the entire laminate is bent due to the difference in the amount of expansion and contraction with the stacked material (patent) Reference 1).

Another functional device is a sensor. As a sensor, there is one that is used as a pressure sensor by covering a woven or non-woven fabric made of a conductive polymer in a fiber with an insulator and reading a resistance change of the woven or non-woven fabric (Patent Document 2).
JP 2006-241613 A JP 2006-153471 A

  However, there has never been a functional device that is lightweight, space-saving, and has both a pressure sensor function and an actuator function.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor / actuator that is lightweight, space-saving, and has both a pressure sensor function and an actuator function as one device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle equipped with this sensor / actuator.

  The sensor / actuator according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is arranged with a space of a distance where the first and second conductors, which are a pair of conductors, can be contacted and separated, and is fixed by an insulator. Yes. And the 2nd conductor which is at least one conductor among a pair of conductors consists of material containing the conductive polymer which shrinks | contracts and expand | swells by flowing electricity.

  In addition, a vehicle of the present invention for solving the above problems is equipped with the above-described sensor / actuator according to the present invention.

  According to the sensor / actuator of the present invention, the pressure sensor function and the actuator function can be provided as one device. Further, since the pressure sensor function and the actuator function are provided in one device, further weight saving and space saving can be achieved.

  Further, according to the vehicle of the present invention, the use of the sensor / actuator according to the present invention can reduce the area and volume for installing the sensor / actuator in the vehicle, and thus the spatial freedom of the entire vehicle can be reduced. The degree is improved. Further, since the sensor / actuator itself is reduced in weight, the vehicle can be reduced in weight accordingly.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The best mode to which the present invention is applied is of two types depending on the difference in the electric circuit configuration. One is a type in which the pressure sensor function and the actuator function are individually operated by one sensor / actuator. This is called the first type. The other is a type in which the pressure sensor function and the actuator function can be operated simultaneously by one sensor / actuator. This is called the second type.

  First, the configuration of the first type sensor / actuator will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a first type sensor / actuator 1.

  In the sensor / actuator 1, a first conductor 11 and a second conductor 12 are supported by an insulator 13 with a predetermined space 19 therebetween in a substantially parallel manner. The predetermined space 19 is in a substantially intermediate portion between the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12, and is a space that allows the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 to contact and be separated from each other. When a force is applied to the two conductors, the two conductors and the insulator 13 are deformed and the space 19 is crushed so that the two conductors come into contact with each other.

  Of these two conductors 11 and 12, the first conductor 11 is formed of an inorganic conductive member, and the second conductor 12 is formed of a material containing a conductive polymer. The conductive polymer is wet and is stretched with moisture in the air when no current is passed. On the other hand, when an electric current is passed, the moisture evaporates and shrinks due to the generation of Joule heat. Note that specific materials of the conductors 11 and 12 will be described later.

  In the description of the embodiment, a portion constituted by the first and second conductors 11 and 12 and the insulator 13 excluding the electric circuit configuration is referred to as a “device”.

  The electric circuit in the first type sensor / actuator 1 is configured such that the sensor circuit (current measuring means) and the actuator circuit (actuated power supply means) can operate independently.

  The sensor circuit passes through the ammeter 14 from the left end of the first conductor 11 shown in the drawing, passes through the sensor power supply 15 and reaches the second conductor 12 via the switch 18a. The right end of the first conductor 11 and the right end of the second conductor 12 are connected by a conducting wire 16. As will be described later, the sensor power supply 15 only needs to be able to detect a change in current caused by the degree of contact between two conductors by the ammeter 14. Therefore, a voltage for one battery such as 1.0 to 1.5 V is sufficient.

  On the other hand, the actuator circuit passes through the ammeter 14 from the left end of the first conductor 11 shown in the figure, passes through the actuator power supply 17, and reaches the second conductor 12 via the switch 18b. It is the same that the right end of the first conductor 11 and the right end of the second conductor 12 are connected by the conducting wire 16. As will be described later, the actuator power source 17 needs to supply a voltage necessary to deform the second conductor 12. Specifically, although it varies depending on the size and material of a device operated as an actuator, it is about 5 to 20 V, for example. The lower limit may be a voltage necessary for operation, and the upper limit may be a voltage that does not break. The amount of operation varies depending on the material and size, but when the voltage is roughly doubled, the contraction rate is about 1.5 times.

  The switches 18a and 18b are interlocking switches that are interlocked with ON and OFF being reversed. That is, when the switch 18a is on, the switch 18b is off, and when the switch 18a is off, the switch 18b is on. The switches 18a and 18b switch between operating as a sensor or operating as an actuator. Here, the reason why the interlock switch is used is to automatically function as a sensor when the actuator is not operated. An independent switch may be provided.

  Next, the configuration of the second type sensor / actuator 2 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the second type sensor / actuator 2. The same members as those of the first type sensor / actuator 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The sensor / actuator 2 has the same device structure as that of the first type except for the electric circuit configuration. Therefore, the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 are supported by the insulator 13 with a predetermined space 19 therebetween in a substantially parallel manner. The predetermined space 19 is substantially in the middle between the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12, and when a force is applied to the two conductors, the two conductors and the insulator 13 are deformed and this space. 19 is crushed and the two conductors come into contact with each other. Further, like the first type, the second conductor 12 is made of a conductive polymer.

  On the other hand, the electric circuit in the second type is different from the first type in that the sensor circuit (current measuring means) and the actuator circuit (actuated power supply means) can be operated simultaneously.

  Therefore, the sensor circuit is connected from the left end of the first conductor 11 to the right end of the second conductor 12 through the ammeter 14 through the sensor power supply 15. Here, similarly to the first type, the sensor power supply 15 only needs to be able to detect the current change caused by the degree of contact between the two conductors and the ammeter 14.

  On the other hand, the actuator circuit is connected from the left end of the second conductor 12 to the right end of the second conductor 12 via the switch 18 via the actuator power supply 17. Similarly to the first type, the actuator power supply 17 supplies a voltage necessary for deforming the second conductor 12.

  In the second type, since the sensor is always operated, no switch is provided in the sensor circuit system. That is, even when operating as an actuator, it can function as a sensor. The applied voltage is the same as that of Type 1 for sensor operation and actuator operation.

  Next, the sensor operation and actuator operation of the sensor / actuator will be described. The first type and second type sensor / actuator 2 have the same sensor operation and actuator operation as devices except for the electric circuit configuration. Therefore, here, first, basic sensor operation and actuator operation will be described, and subsequently, different electrical operations of the first type and the second type will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the movement of the device (first and second conductor portions) during sensor operation.

  In the sensor operation, when no pressure is applied, as shown in FIG. 3A, the two conductors 11 and 12 are separated from each other, so that no electricity flows between them.

  When pressure is applied to the two conductors, as shown in FIG. 3B, the two conductors and the insulator 13 are deformed, the space 19 is crushed, the two conductors come into contact with each other, and the first And between the 2nd conductors 11 and 12 will be in a conduction | electrical_connection state.

  By detecting the conduction state between the first and second conductors 11 and 12 with the ammeter 14, the first and second conductors 11 and 12 can function as a pressure sensor. When the pressure is strongly applied, as shown in FIG. 3C, the contact area of the first and second conductors 11 and 12 in the space portion changes according to the pressure. If this is measured by the ammeter 14 between the first and second conductors 11 and 12 as a difference in the amount of conduction current, the magnitude of the applied pressure can be known.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the actuator operation.

  When a current is passed through the second conductor 12, the moisture contained in the second conductor 12 evaporates due to the generation of Joule heat. Thereby, the conductive polymer that has been stretched in the swollen state contracts. On the other hand, since the first conductor 11 is an inorganic conductive member, there is almost no change in size compared to the second conductor 12 even when a current is passed. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire device is bent when the second conductor 12 contracts.

  Next, the sensor operation due to the difference between the electric circuit of the first type and the second type will be described with respect to the difference in the actuator operation.

  FIG. 5 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the first type of sensor / actuator 1 when the sensor is operating (FIG. 5A) and when the actuator is operating (FIG. 5B). In this figure, the variable resistor R6 shows the difference in conductivity due to the difference in contact area between the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 in the space 19 as a variable resistor. The resistance value decreases as the resistance value ∞ and the contact area increase.

  During the sensor operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the current path when not pressurized (the state of FIG. 3A) is i1 → i2 → i3 → i4 → i5. When the pressure is applied (the state shown in FIG. 3 (b) or (c)), the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are in contact with each other, so that a current path i1 → i6 → i5 is formed. Therefore, in the first type sensor operation, a change in the current value measured by the ammeter 14 is observed due to such a difference in current path.

  In the first type of actuator operation, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the current path i1 → i2 → i3 → i4 → i5 and the current when the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are not in contact with each other. Flows. In the state where the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are in contact with each other, the current path according to the contact area of the first and second conductors 11 and 12 in addition to the current path i1 → i2 → i3 → i4 → i5. A current also flows from i1 to i6 to i5. Therefore, regardless of whether the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are in contact or not in contact, current flows through the entire length of the second conductor 12. The equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 5B shows an equivalent circuit when the actuator is operating with the switch 18b turned on (the switch 18b is omitted in this figure).

  FIG. 6 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the second type sensor / actuator 2 when the sensor is operating (FIG. 6A) and when the actuator is operating (FIG. 6B). In this figure, the variable resistor R6 shows the difference in conductivity due to the difference in contact area between the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 in the space 19 as a variable resistor. The resistance value decreases as the resistance value ∞ and the contact area increase.

  As shown in FIG. 6A during sensor operation, when there is no pressure, there is no portion where the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are in contact, so the resistance value of R6 becomes infinite and a current path is formed. Not. When pressure is applied and the first and second conductors 11 and 12 come into contact with each other, a current path i1 → i6 → i5 is formed, and the current flow is measured by the ammeter 14.

  In the second type of actuator operation, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the current path i4 → i5 regardless of whether the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are in contact with each other. A current flows over the entire length of the conductor 12. Note that the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 6B shows an equivalent circuit when the actuator is operating with the switch 18 turned on (the switch 18 is omitted in this figure).

  Next, preferred dimensions and materials for configuring the devices of the sensor / actuator 1 and 2 will be described.

  First, the conductivity of the first and second conductors 11 and 12 is preferably in the range of about 0.01 to 1000 S / cm. If the conductivity is less than 0.01 S / cm, the resistance value of the entire device when the sensor is operated becomes high, and the measured current value may be extremely small, which may increase the measurement error. . Also, if the electrical conductivity is higher than 1000 S / cm, there is a possibility that a large current flows even when a small area is contacted, and the change in the contact area cannot be measured as a resistance change when the electrical conductivity is high. Because there is.

  The length of the space portion (L in FIGS. 1 and 2) is preferably in the range of about 5 to 25 mm. If it is less than 5 mm, a large amount of deformation is required to bring the conductor into contact when pressure is applied. Therefore, the deformation of the member as the sensor may increase and the deterioration may be accelerated. On the other hand, if it exceeds 25 mm, the conductors may be in contact with each other even if no pressure is applied due to sagging due to their own weight or the like. In consideration of the resistance change due to the contact area, it is more preferable that the thickness be about 10 mm.

  The distance between the first and second conductors 11 and 12 in the space is preferably in the range of about 5 to 50 μm. If the distance is less than 5 μm, the distance between the first and second conductors 11 and 12 is too small, and there is a possibility that the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are always in a contact state. On the other hand, if the width exceeds 50 μm, the amount of deformation required for contact increases, and there is a possibility that a small pressure cannot be detected as a sensor. In addition, the deformation load applied to the member is increased, and there is a possibility that deterioration as a device is accelerated.

  The first conductor 11 is not particularly limited as long as it is a conductive material. Therefore, for example, a metal plate such as copper, aluminum, and stainless steel can be used (however, the thickness needs to be flexible). It is also possible to use a material obtained by kneading and molding an inorganic conductive material such as carbon powder (acetylene black, carbon black, carbon nanotube, etc.) or metal fine particles (gold, silver, copper, etc.) in a resin. Furthermore, these inorganic conductive materials are dispersed in a solvent, formed by the spreading method (casting method), spraying method, etc., and prepared by drying the solvent, on the resin film prepared in advance Gold or carbon deposited or sputtered may also be used. Furthermore, these shapes are not limited to plate shapes, and for example, fibers that are bundled or knitted may be used. In order to obtain a fiber, for example, carbon powder or metal fine particles are mixed using a method of directly forming a yarn, such as melt spinning, wet spinning, electrospinning, or the surface of a general resin fiber is plated with metal. The fiber produced by giving etc. can be used. Such a modified shape of the conductor shape will be described later.

  Next, the second conductor 12 is a fiber (wire) made of a conductive polymer or a conductive fiber (wire) containing a conductive polymer. As the conductive polymer to be used, one that exhibits conductivity and contracts when energized at several V to several tens V (the upper limit is a voltage at which the conductive polymer is not destroyed) is used. This expansion and contraction occurs by desorption of water by energization.

  Examples of the conductive polymer include acetylene type having a basic skeleton of Formula 1, a 5-membered heterocyclic ring system, phenylene type having a basic skeleton of Formula 5, and aniline type having a basic skeleton of Formula 6. Examples thereof include the polymers shown and copolymers thereof.

  As the complex 5-membered ring system, a pyrrole polymer having a skeleton of Chemical Formula 2, a thiophene polymer having a basic skeleton of Chemical Formula 3, and an isothianaphthene polymer having a basic skeleton of Chemical Formula 4 are more preferable. Specifically, for example, as a monomer, 3-alkylpyrrole such as 3-methylpyrrole, 3-ethylpyrrole and 3-dodecylpyrrole; 3,4 such as 3,4-dimethylpyrrole and 3-methyl-4-dodecylpyrrole N-alkylpyrrole such as N-methylpyrrole and N-dodecylpyrrole; N-alkyl-3-alkylpyrrole such as N-methyl-3-methylpyrrole and N-ethyl-3-dodecylpyrrole; Examples include pyrrole polymers, thiophene polymers, and isothianaphthene polymers obtained by polymerizing carboxypyrrole. In addition, only one kind of each of the conductive polymers may be used alone for the conductive wire, or a plurality of the conductive polymers may be used in combination.

  PEDTOT / PSS doped with poly-4-styrenesulfonate on a polymer obtained by polymerizing one monomer selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline, and poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene among the conductive polymers. And at least one selected from conductive polymers selected from the group consisting of polyparaphenylene vinylene and / or derivatives thereof.

  Furthermore, poly 4-styrene sulfonate (PS-doped PEDOT / PSS (Bayer, Baytron P (registered trademark)), phenylene PPV, pyrrole polypyrrole, etc. are particularly preferable for PEDOT of thiophene conductive polymer. Can be mentioned.

  1000-100000 are preferable, as for the molecular weight (weight average molecular weight) of these conductive polymers, 10000-50000 are more preferable, and 20000-30000 are especially preferable.

  If the molecular weight of the conductive polymer is less than 1000, load detection errors are likely to be caused due to a decrease in conductivity, and if it exceeds 100,000, the softness as a fiber (wire) is impaired.

  As the second conductor, in addition to the conductive polymer itself formed into a fiber (wire), a conductive fiber (wire) containing a conductive polymer can also be used. In that case, the content of the conductive polymer is preferably 50 to 100% by mass, and preferably 90 to 100% by mass with respect to the conductive fiber.

  Further, in these conductive polymers, further conductivity can be imparted by adding a dopant. Examples of dopants used include halide ions such as chloride ions and bromide ions, perchlorate ions, tetrafluoroborate ions, hexafluoroarsenate ions, sulfate ions, nitrate ions, thiocyanate ions, and hexafluoride ions. Silicate ion, phosphate ion, phenyl phosphate ion, phosphate ion such as hexafluorophosphate ion, trifluoroacetate ion, tosylate ion, ethylbenzenesulfonate ion, alkylbenzenesulfonate ion such as dodecylbenzenesulfonate ion, methylsulfone Alkyl sulfonate ions such as acid ions and ethyl sulfonate ions, polyacrylic acid ions, polyvinyl sulfonic acid ions, polystyrene sulfonic acid ions, poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) ions Among ions, at least one ion is used. Among them, polystyrene sulfonate ions are preferable because high conductivity can be easily adjusted.

  The amount of dopant added is not particularly limited as long as it has an effect on conductivity, but is usually 3 to 50 parts by mass, preferably 10 to 30 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the conductive polymer. is there.

  Among the conductive polymers exhibiting these performances, polypyrrole, polyaniline, poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene doped with poly 4-styrene sulfonate, PEDTOT / PSS and polyparaphenylene vinylene, and / or these It is preferable to include at least one selected from the derivatives of

  The second conductor 12 is formed using a conductive polymer as described above into a film (flat plate) shape, a warrior shape, or the like.

  When forming into a film shape, for example, a chemical polymerization method, an electrolytic polymerization method, a soluble precursor method, a matrix (template) polymerization method, and a conductive polymer dispersion solution dispersed in water or an organic solvent is spread (cast method) ) And then the dispersion is evaporated and dried.

  Moreover, when using it forming in a fiber, as a material which is easy to obtain as a fiber, for example, PEDOT / PSS (Bayer, Baytron P AG (Payt) in which poly 4-styrene sulfonate PSS is doped to PEDOT of a thiophene-based conductive polymer ( Registered trademark)), phenylene PPV, pyrrole polypyrrole, and the like.

  These materials can be easily fiberized by a method such as wet spinning or electrospinning among conductive polymers, and satisfy the above-described conductivity.

  For example, thiophene, pyrrole, and aniline systems can be manufactured by wet spinning. For example, an aqueous dispersion of PEDOT / PSS (Bayer Baytron P AG (registered trademark)) is extruded from acetone into a cylinder. Conductive polymer fibers can be easily obtained. Such a spinning method itself is usually used in the production of chemical fibers and is not described in detail because it is different from the subject of the present invention.

  In addition, for example, in the phenylene system, polyparaphenylene, polyparaphenylene vinylene, polyfluorene, and the like are types that conduct using a π bond on a benzene ring and a π bond on a straight chain connected to the benzene ring. Can be made into fibers by an electrospinning method. The electrospinning method itself may be a known method that is usually used in chemical fiber production.

  Next, the insulator is made of an insulating polymer material other than the conductive polymer. For example, the resin used for the insulator includes polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate containing a copolymer component, polybutylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, etc. alone or mixed, and single coating agents such as vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, and these Copolymers or the like can also be used.

  Such an insulator can be easily formed by directly forming on the polymer material that is the second conductor 12 and removing the exposed portion of the second conductor 12. Thereby, strength and durability can be improved, and stable sensing and actuating behavior can be brought about.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, when the second conductor 12 has a film shape (plate shape), the entire surface of the second conductor 12 is first covered with an insulator. For this purpose, an insulating film is formed by a casting method or a spray method using a coating solution as an insulator. Thereafter, the portion of the insulator to be brought into contact with the first insulator and the portion to be the space 19 is removed by etching or the like.

  In addition, by using a screen printing method or the like, the portion to which the insulator is attached and the portion to be exposed may be printed on the second insulator as a predetermined pattern.

  On the other hand, when the conductor is a fiber, it may take a core-sheath type, side-by-side type, sea-island type cross-sectional shape, etc. in addition to a simple single-component fiber. The device structure when the core-sheath type is used will be described later.

  FIG. 7 thru | or FIG. 13 is explanatory drawing which shows a fiber form.

  As the fiber form, for example, one made of a uniform single conductive polymer 101 as shown in FIG. 7 can be used. In addition, for example, a core-sheath structure comprising a conductive polymer 102 at the core portion and a non-conductive polymer 103 as its outer skin as shown in cross section as shown in FIG. 8, and a conductive polymer 102 as shown in FIG. And a side-by-side structure composed of non-conductive polymer 103, a sea-island (multi-core) structure in which a plurality of conductive polymers 102 are covered with non-conductive polymer 103 as shown in FIG. 10, and as shown in FIGS. In addition, it can be formed into various shapes such as a deformed cross-sectional shape with a single conductive polymer 101 having a non-circular cross-section, and a hollow structure made of a conductive polymer 105 having a hollow portion 104 as shown in FIG. . The shape of these fibers can be used as one means of functionalization when the sensor and actuator according to the first embodiment are mounted. For example, it is used to change the texture of the fiber itself in a natural shape, to increase the surface area of the fiber, and to reduce weight and heat insulation. Such a variety of fiber shapes can achieve both high functionality and sensing and actuate functions during device mounting.

  The diameter of the fiber and the thickness of the film are generally about 30 μm to 500 μm per one or one sheet, but the stability of the resistance change value due to the stabilization of the contact of the conductor at the exposed insulator, More preferable from the viewpoint.

  A more preferable fiber form is a core-sheath type (see FIG. 8). Here, the core-sheath type indicates that the components forming the core-sheath shape with respect to the cross-sectional area are different. Here, the number of cores is not limited to one, and the same effect can be obtained with a multi-core (sea-island structure).

  The core-sheath type conductive polymer fiber is an insulator whose main component is a resin component that is not a conductive polymer as a sheath component in a continuous process, for example, in a core conductive fiber obtained by wet spinning or electric field polymerization. It can manufacture by apply | coating. In the case of wet spinning, a core-sheath type fiber can be produced by pulling up from a single liquid phase by using a core-sheath-type discharge nozzle.

  The coated sheath of the core-sheath type fiber thus obtained is eluted by etching or the like, and an exposed portion corresponding to the space 19 in contact with the first conductor 11 is provided. For example, when an insulator is formed using a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate (Nisshin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., sorbine), these insulator coatings can be eluted by using acetone, cyclohexanone, or the like.

  Next, a modification in the first embodiment will be described.

  The devices of the first type and the second type of sensor / actuator 1 and 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are those in which the first and second conductors 11 and 12 are both in the form of a film (flat plate). . However, as already described, the shape of the conductor can be a fiber form in addition to a film form. Therefore, here, various device forms including the case where the fiber form is used will be described.

  14 to 16 are schematic views showing other device configurations. Here, device configurations other than those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The devices shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 may take any of the first type and the second type described above as an electric circuit. Therefore, the electric circuit is omitted in the drawing.

  First, the form shown in FIG. 14 is such that the first conductor 11 is fibrous and the second conductor 12 is a film (flat plate).

  Next, in the form shown in FIG. 15, the first conductor 11 is a film (flat plate) and the second conductor 12 is a fiber.

  Next, in the form shown in FIG. 16, both the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 are made into a fiber shape.

  In these forms, since at least one of the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 is fibrous, the contact portion between the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 is linear. That is, the width of the other conductor is wider than the width of one conductor. For this reason, when used as a pressure center, the amount of contact corresponding to the pressure applied by the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 changes linearly. The pressure can be measured finely and step by step. In addition, the form which made the width | variety of the other conductor wider than the width | variety of such one conductor may make both differ as a film (flat plate) form, and only the width may differ.

  In addition, by using these various combinations, for example, when used for a car seat or the like (details will be described later), the conductive member located on the surface side may be formed into a film or a fiber. It is possible to produce various appearances and textures.

<Application to vehicles>
Here, the example which used the sensor actuator 1 of Embodiment 1 mentioned above for the vehicle seat is demonstrated.

  FIGS. 17 and 18 are explanatory views for explaining a configuration when the sensor / actuator 1 or 2 according to the first embodiment is used in a vehicle seat.

  First, as shown in FIG. 17, a sensor / actuator unit 100 in which a plurality of sensors / actuators 1 or 2 are continuously arranged is manufactured. As shown in FIG. 18, this is installed on the backrest portion of the seat 200. In the drawing, the sensor / actuator unit 100 is drawn so as to protrude from the backrest of the seat 200 and exposed, but this is exaggerated for explaining such a configuration. Therefore, in actuality, the sensor / actuator unit 100 may be disposed so as to be substantially integrated with the sheet surface, and the surface of the sensor / actuator unit 100 may be covered with a sheet material.

  In recent years, various functions are mounted on vehicle seats. For example, in order to improve the ride comfort of the passenger, there is a function of changing the seat shape by electric drive. One of them is a lumbar support that supports the passenger's waist and back by deforming the seat back.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the sensor / actuator 1 or 2 of the present embodiment is installed on the backrest of the seat 200 in this way, so that the pressure applied by the passenger is detected, and the seat 200 according to the pressure is detected. The shape (eg lumbar support) can be changed by the actuator function of sensor actuator 1 or 2. The actuator operation amount can be changed for each sensor actuator 1 or 2 according to the pressure measured by each of the plurality of sensor actuators 1 or 2.

  The operation of the sensor / actuator unit 100 is slightly different between the first type and the second type. In the case of the first type of sensor / actuator 1, for example, first, the pressure is applied to the seat 200 by switching the switch so as to measure the pressure as a pressure sensor. Thereafter, the actuator is operated so as to deform the sensor / actuator 1 at a predetermined position from the measured pressure level by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the second type sensor / actuator 2 is used, the pressure applied to the seat 200 as a pressure sensor is measured, and the sensor / actuator 2 at a predetermined position is determined in advance based on the measured pressure. The actuator is operated so as to be deformed by a predetermined amount.

  FIGS. 17 and 18 show a form in which a plurality of sensors / actuators 1 or 2 are connected in the lateral direction, but this is merely an example of the case where the sensor / actuator unit 100 is installed on the seat 200. Therefore, the sensor / actuator 1 or 2 may be arranged in the vertical direction. Furthermore, a plurality of units may be installed on one sheet 200, such as a unit arranged in the horizontal direction and a unit arranged in the vertical direction. The arrangement of the units and the arrangement of the sensors / actuators 1 or 2 in the units may be appropriately set according to the shape of the sheet 200 and the shape to be deformed there.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  By combining the inorganic conductive member and the conductive polymer, both functions of the pressure sensor and the actuator can be executed by one device. In addition, as in the first type, the electrical circuit is wired so as to always flow through the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12, and the pressure sensor operation and the actuator operation can be switched and used by switching the switch. . On the other hand, the pressure sensor operation and the actuator operation can be performed simultaneously by separately wiring the electric circuit for the pressure sensor operation and the actuator operation as in the second type.

  Also, by processing into various device forms, not only functions as pressure sensors and actuators, but also produces various decorative effects as products that change the appearance and change the texture according to the usage and location Can do.

  Further, by providing this sensor / actuator on the vehicle seat, it becomes possible to sense the pressure in a limited space such as the seat and change the shape accordingly.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, a conductive polymer is used for both the first conductor and the second conductor. Also in the second embodiment, there are first and second types of different electric circuits.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the first type sensor / actuator 3 in the second embodiment. FIG. 20 is a schematic view for explaining the configuration of the second type sensor / actuator 4 in the second embodiment.

  Also in the second embodiment, the difference between the first type and the second type is an electric circuit, and the configuration of this electric circuit is the same as that of the first embodiment, so that the description thereof is omitted. Further, the difference in operation between the first type and the second type is the same as that in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The device configuration excluding the electric circuit of the second embodiment is the same for both the first type and the second type. Both the first conductor 21 and the second conductor 22 are films made of a conductive polymer. The conductive polymer is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

  And one conductor, the 1st conductor 21 in a figure, compared with the 2nd conductor 22, more area is covered with the insulating member. That is, the first conductor 21 has an insulating member 13 for maintaining a predetermined space 19 between the first conductor 21 and a surface opposite to the surface facing the second conductor 22 (in the figure, the first conductor 21 The upper surface of one conductor 21 is covered with a covering insulating member 23.

  Thereby, the 1st conductor 21 and the 2nd conductor 22 can differ in the desorption amount of the water | moisture content at the time of supplying with electricity. This difference affects actuator operation. In other words, since the first conductor 21 is often covered with the insulating member, the amount of water drained by energization is less than that of the second conductor 22 that is often exposed from the insulating member. For this reason, a swelling rate difference arises between the 1st conductor 21 and the 2nd conductor 22, and as shown in FIG. 21, it bends to the 2nd conductor 22 side.

  Here, it is preferable that the exposed portion of the first conductor 21: the covered portion = 10: 1 or more. This is because when the exposed portion: covered portion is less than 10: 1, the exposed portion becomes too much, and it becomes difficult to make a difference in the swelling rate with the second conductor 22 and it is difficult to bend.

  Since the pressure sensor functions in the same manner as in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The magnitude of the voltage applied to the actuator operation requires a voltage that causes desorption of water, which is also 5 to 30 V, for example, as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, as a pressure sensor, it is 1.0-1.5V, for example.

  In the second embodiment, the conductive polymer used as the first conductor 21 and the second conductor 22 may be the same as that of the first embodiment in terms of its material and form.

  Further, also in the second embodiment, various device forms can be obtained by using a fibrous conductor in addition to FIGS. 19 and 20.

  22-24 is drawing which shows the device form except an electric circuit in this Embodiment 2. FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 22, the first conductor 21 has a film (flat plate) shape, and the second conductor 22 has a fiber shape.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the first conductor 21 has a fibrous shape, and the second conductor 22 has a film (flat plate) shape.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 24, both the 1st conductor 21 and the 2nd conductor 22 are made into the fiber form.

  Here, what is shown in FIG. 24 is a sheath-type insulator 24 that covers a portion other than the exposed portion as an insulator along the circumferential direction of the fiber in the case where the first conductor 21 is in a fibrous form. It is assumed that it was provided. Such a form is good to cover with the insulator 24 except the exposed part used as the space 19, for example in fibrous conductive polymer. Alternatively, the fibrous conductive polymer may be temporarily covered with the insulator 24 over the whole, and the insulator 24 may be removed only at the exposed portion that becomes the space 19. Note that, also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 23, the first conductor 21 may similarly be a sheath-type insulator 24.

  In the sensor / actuator 3 or 4 of the second embodiment, the seat shape of the vehicle can be easily changed according to the pressure applied to the seat by installing the vehicle seat as in the first embodiment.

  The second embodiment configured as described above has the effects of the first embodiment described above, and further has the following effects.

  Since both the first conductor 21 and the second conductor 22 are made of a conductive polymer, the device portion can be manufactured using the same material. In addition, by using a fiber (wire) using a conductive polymer, various textures and flexibility can be imparted as compared with the first embodiment. Therefore, when used for the vehicle seat 200, it is possible to perform processing in consideration of sitting comfort, touch and the like as compared with the first embodiment.

  Next, the result of actually creating a device based on the above-described first and second embodiments and operating as a pressure sensor and an actuator will be described.

(Example 1 (device form FIG. 1, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 11: A conductive film (about 30 μm) obtained by sputtering a carbon powder on a polyvinyl chloride film (PVC) was produced.

  (2) Second conductor 12: Conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS (Bayer, Baytron PAG (registered trademark)) aqueous dispersion is cast into a Teflon petri dish and dried at 70 ° C. for 15 hours to obtain a film thickness of about A 30 μm PEDOT / PSS film was produced (PEDOT / PSS films were produced in the same manner in the following examples).

  (3) Device preparation: On the PEDOT / PSS film prepared in (2) above, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name; sorbine) is used as an insulator 13 in cyclohexanone at 20 wt%. The dissolved coating solution was applied and dried for 12 hours. Then, a device structure having a three-layer structure as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by applying a little cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 as a paste, applying the conductive film (1) on the insulator 13 and drying it. Was made. This structure was cut into a strip of 200 μm × 10 cm, and the insulator 13 was eluted at 10 mm intervals and 10 mm at both ends to obtain an exposed portion where each conductor could come into contact with each other to obtain a device.

  (4) Electric circuit: Conductive wires (CU-111107 manufactured by Niraco Co., Ltd., fiber diameter 0.05 mm) are used as electrodes on portions exposed at both ends of each conductor, and silver paste (Dotite D-500 manufactured by Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.) is used. The first type of sensor / actuator 1 was produced by connecting them.

(Example 2 (device form FIG. 2, electric circuit second type))
The sensor / actuator 2 was manufactured by wiring the electrical circuit so as to be the second type shown in FIG. 2 with the same material and the same device structure as in Example 1.

(Example 3 (device form FIG. 14, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 11: A conductive film (PVC + carbon) having a film thickness of about 30 μm was used.

  (2) Second conductor 12: Conductive polymer fibers were produced as follows using a wet spinning method.

  Conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS (Bayer, Baytron P AG (registered trademark)) aqueous dispersion, which is a raw material of the conductive polymer fiber, is placed on the tip of a microsyringe (manufactured by Ito Seisakusho, MS-GLL250) with an inner diameter of 300 μm. X Four syringes provided with 15 outlets were prepared, for a total of 150 μL / min. The raw materials were extruded into acetone at a speed of 5 mm and rolled up in an air winder together in the liquid phase. As a result, conductive fibers having a diameter of about 150 μm were obtained. The conductivity of the obtained conductive polymer fiber was measured in accordance with JIS K 7194 (resistivity test method by conductive probe 4-probe method), and the reciprocal of the obtained resistivity (Ω · cm) ( When calculated as (S / cm), it was about 100 S / cm.

  (3) Device production: Coating solution obtained by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as insulator 13 on the conductive film of (1) above. Was applied and dried for 12 hours. A device having the three-layer structure shown in FIG. 14 was produced by applying a little cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 as a paste and pasting and drying the conductive polymer fiber (2).

  (4) Electrical circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was prepared in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electrical circuit.

(Example 4 (device form FIG. 14, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring an electric circuit of the same material and device structure as in Example 3 (FIG. 14) so as to be of the second type.

(Example 5 (device form FIG. 15, electric circuit first type))
(1) 1st conductor 11: The composite material which disperse | distributed 5 wt% of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) was produced using the melt spinning apparatus. The melt spinning apparatus was manufactured with a die temperature of 250 ° C., a discharge port diameter of 1 mm, a discharge amount of 8 cc / min, a winding speed of 2000 m / min, and 1000 m / min, and conductive fibers having a diameter of 100 μm were obtained.

  (2) Second conductor 12: A conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a film thickness of about 30 μm was used.

  (3) Device preparation: On the PEDOT / PSS film of (2), 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) was dissolved in cyclohexanone as the insulator 13. The coating solution was applied and dried for 12 hours. A device having the three-layer structure shown in FIG. 15 was produced by applying a small amount of cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 as a paste, pasting the conductive fiber (1) thereon and drying.

  (4) Electrical circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was prepared in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electrical circuit.

(Example 6 (device form FIG. 15, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit as the second type using the same material and the same device structure as in Example 5 (FIG. 15).

(Example 7 (device form FIG. 16, electric circuit 1st type))
(1) First conductor 11: A vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (made by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as an insulator 13 was dissolved in 20% by weight in cyclohexanone on a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet. The coating liquid was applied and dried for 12 hours, and then peeled off from the Teflon sheet. Subsequently, cyclohexanone was applied on one side of the insulator film as a paste, and conductive fibers (PBT + CNT) were attached as the first conductor 11 thereon, and dried.

  (2) Second conductor 12 and device fabrication: Apply cyclohexanone to the opposite side of the surface of the insulator 13 of (1) where the conductive fiber is pasted, and then paste the conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS on it. A device having a three-layer structure shown in FIG. 16 was produced by drying.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 8 (device form FIG. 16, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit to be the second type using the same material and the same device structure as in Example 7 (FIG. 16).

(Example 9 (device form FIG. 19, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 21: A conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a film thickness of about 30 μm was used.

  (2) Production of second conductor 22 and device: (1) PEDOT / PSS film with vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as insulator 13 as cyclohexanone A coating solution in which 20 wt% was dissolved (hereinafter the coating solution is the same) was applied and dried for 12 hours.

  A little cyclohexanone is applied on the insulator 13 as glue, and the same PEDOT / PSS film as in (1) is pasted and dried to further insulate on the PEDOT / PSS film of (1) as the first conductor 21. By applying the same coating liquid as the body 23 and drying it for 12 hours, a device having the four-layer structure shown in FIG. 19 was produced.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 10 (device form FIG. 20, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was manufactured by wiring an electric circuit of the same material and device structure as in Example 9 (FIG. 20) so as to be of the second type.

(Example 11 (device form FIG. 22, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 21: A coating solution obtained by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (made by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as insulator 13 on a Teflon sheet is applied. After drying for 12 hours, it was peeled off from the Teflon sheet. Subsequently, cyclohexanone was applied a little on the insulator 13 as a paste, and a PEDOT / PSS film having a thickness of about 30 μm was pasted and dried. Furthermore, the same coating liquid as the insulator 23 was applied to the surface opposite to the surface to which the insulator 13 of the PEDOT / PSS film was attached, and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) Fabrication of second conductor 22 and device: Cyclohexanone was applied to insulator 13 of (1) as a paste, and conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS was applied and dried, and the four-layer structure shown in FIG. The resulting device was fabricated.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 12 (device configuration FIG. 22, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit as the second type using the same material and device structure as in Example 11 (FIG. 22).

(Example 13 (device form FIG. 23, electric circuit first type))
(1) 1st conductor 21: Conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS was produced.

  (2) Second conductor 22 and device fabrication: vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer as insulator 13 on a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a film thickness of about 30 μm (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., product) A coating solution in which 20% by weight of sorbine) was dissolved in cyclohexanone was applied and dried for 12 hours. Subsequently, cyclohexanone was applied a little as a paste, and the conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS of (1) was applied and dried. Thereafter, the coating liquid was applied as the insulator 23 to the conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS of the first conductor 21 and dried for 12 hours.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 14 (device form FIG. 23, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring an electric circuit of the same material and device structure as in Example 13 (FIG. 23) so as to be of the second type.

(Example 15 (device form FIG. 24, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 21: In a coating solution in which conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS is dissolved in 50% by weight of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) in cyclohexanone. The conductive polymer fiber was impregnated and then dried for 12 hours. As a result, the PEDOT / PSS fiber was coated so that it was a core and the insulator 24 was a sheath.

  (2) Second conductor 22 and device fabrication: Cyclohexanone was applied a little as a glue on the sheath-type insulator 24 of (2), and PEDOT / PSS fibers were pasted and dried. Thus, the device shown in FIG. 24 was produced.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 16 (device form FIG. 24, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electric circuit to be the second type using the same material and device structure as in Example 15 (FIG. 24).

(Example 17 (device form FIG. 19, electric circuit first type))
(1) A vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (made by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: Solvine) as an insulator 13 on a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a film thickness of about 30 μm to be the second conductor 22 ) Was applied in a solution of 20 wt% in cyclohexanone and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) Apply a little cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 of (1) above as a glue, apply and dry a conductive film (PVC + carbon) to be the first conductor 21, and further apply a coating solution as the insulator 23. The device having the four-layer structure shown in FIG. 19 was produced by applying and drying for 12 hours.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 18 (device form FIG. 20, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit to be the second type using the same material and the same device structure as in Example 17 (FIG. 20).

(Example 19 (device form FIG. 22, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 21: A coating solution obtained by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (made by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as insulator 13 on a Teflon sheet is applied. After drying for 12 hours, it was peeled off from the Teflon sheet. On this vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer layer, cyclohexanone was applied a little as a paste, and a conductive film (PVC + carbon) was applied and dried. Thereafter, a coating solution was further applied as an insulator 23 and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) Second conductor 22 and device fabrication: Four-layer device shown in FIG. 22 by applying cyclohexanone to insulator 13, pasting conductive polymer fiber PEDOT / PSS to be second conductor 22, and drying. Was made.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 20 (device form FIG. 22, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit to be the second type using the same material and the same device structure as in Example 19 (FIG. 22).

(Example 21 (device form FIG. 23, electric circuit first type))
(1) Second conductor 22: a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer that is an insulator 13 on a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a film thickness of about 30 μm (trade name; Solvine, manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) ) Was applied in a cyclohexanone solution of 20 wt% and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) First conductor 21 and device fabrication: Cyclohexanone was slightly applied on the insulator 13 of (1) as a paste, and conductive fibers (PBT + CNT) were pasted and dried. Thereafter, a coating solution was further applied to the conductive fibers as the insulator 23 and dried for 12 hours to produce the four-layer device shown in FIG.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 22 (device form FIG. 23, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring an electric circuit of the same material and device structure as in Example 21 so as to be of the second type (FIG. 23).

(Example 23 (device form FIG. 24, electric circuit first type))
(1) First conductor 21: After impregnating conductive fiber (PBT + CNT) with vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) in a coating solution in which 50 wt% is dissolved in cyclohexanone. And dried for 12 hours. As a result, the coating was performed so that the conductive fiber was a core and the insulator 24 was a sheath type.

  (2) Second conductor 22 and device fabrication: Cyclohexanone was applied a little on the sheath type insulator 23 of (1) as a paste, and PEDOT / PSS fibers were attached. Thus, the device shown in FIG. 24 was produced.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was produced in which a central portion and exposed portions at both ends were formed and electrodes were attached to form a first type electric circuit.

(Example 24 (device form FIG. 24, electric circuit second type))
A sensor / actuator structure was fabricated by wiring the electrical circuit as the second type using the same material and device structure as in Example 23 (FIG. 24).

(Example 25 (device form FIG. 2, electric circuit second type))
(1) First conductor 11: Polyaniline aqueous dispersion (Panipol, Panipol W), which is a conductive polymer, is cast on a Teflon petri dish and dried at 70 ° C. for 15 hours to form a polyaniline film having a thickness of about 30 μm. Produced. A coating solution prepared by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as an insulator 13 on cyclohexanone was applied onto the polyaniline film and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) Second conductor 12 and device fabrication: Apply a little cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 of (1) as a glue, apply a conductive film (PVC + carbon) on it, and dry it to obtain FIG. The three-layer device shown in 1 was produced.

  (3) Electric circuit: As in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was formed as a second type electric circuit by forming an exposed portion at the center and both ends and attaching electrodes.

(Example 26 (device form FIG. 2, electric circuit second type))
(1) First conductor 11: Polypyrrole aqueous dispersion (Sigma Aldrich Japan, product number 48255-2), which is a conductive polymer, is cast into a Teflon petri dish and dried at 70 ° C. for 15 hours. A polyaniline film of about 30 μm was prepared. Subsequently, a coating solution prepared by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as an insulator 13 in cyclohexanone was applied onto the polyaniline film and dried for 12 hours.

  (2) Second conductor 12 and device fabrication: Apply a little cyclohexanone on the insulator 13 of (1) as a glue, apply a conductive film (PVC + carbon) on it, and dry it to obtain FIG. The three-layer device shown in 1 was produced.

  (3) Electric circuit: In the same manner as in Example 1, a sensor / actuator structure was formed as a second type electric circuit by forming an exposed portion at the center and both ends and attaching electrodes.

(Comparative Example 1)
As Comparative Example 1, a device structure was prepared in which two non-conductive films were supported by an insulator 13 in the same manner as the structure shown in FIG.

  That is, a coating solution prepared by dissolving 20 wt% of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine) as an insulator 13 on a PET film having a thickness of 30 μm was applied. Let dry for hours. Subsequently, cyclohexanone was applied a little on the insulator 13 as a paste, and a PET film having a thickness of 30 μm was further applied and dried.

  Then, an electrode was attached in the same manner as in Embodiment 1, and a device of Comparative Example 1 having a second type electric circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 2 was produced.

(Comparative Example 2)
As Comparative Example 2, a device structure was prepared in which two conductive films were supported by an insulator 13 in the same manner as the structure shown in FIG.

  Coating in which vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., trade name: sorbine), which is an insulator 13, is dissolved in cyclohexanone on a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a thickness of about 30 μm in cyclohexanone. The liquid was applied and dried for 12 hours. Subsequently, cyclohexanone was applied a little as a paste, and a conductive polymer PEDOT / PSS film having a thickness of about 30 μm was attached.

  Then, electrodes were attached in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a device of Comparative Example 2 having a second type electric circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 2 was produced.

(Evaluation test)
Sensor Test FIG. 25 is a view for explaining a test apparatus configuration for testing a sensor and an actuator function.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the test body (the sensor / actuator structure of each of the examples and comparative examples described above) is placed on the indented portion of the test table, and is applied with tension in a slightly slackened state, and both ends are fixed with tape. Keep it fixed. A flat base is installed at the bottom of the space where the specimen is sensitive (exposed from the insulator). From the top, a φ17mm tip is measured with a load cell on the specimen using a round rubber indenter. While pressing with a force of 0 to 0.5N. At this time, a voltage of 1 V is applied to the test body in advance, and the current value is measured with an ammeter and converted into a resistance value. Taking into account the resistance variation width between 0 and 0.5 N, the number of non-overlapping ranges can be secured as an index of load resolution.

Actuate Test FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram for explaining the actuate test. The test apparatus itself is the same as that shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the sag in the state in which the specimen is slack is expressed as amplitude, and the ratio of the maximum amplitude (after energization / before energization) in the range before energization and after energization (5 to 20V). It was assumed to be actuate performance. Note that when the ratio is 1, it indicates that it has been displaced to a state that is nearly parallel to the ground, and when it is 1 or more, it indicates that it has been displaced to an upwardly convex state.

  However, the following attention was paid to the evaluation.

  In the case of the first type electric circuit, there is a possibility that the actuating operation may occur at the same time due to voltage application when functioning as a pressure sensor. Therefore, at the time of sensor evaluation, the rubber indenter was pressed with a load cell so as not to be actuated, and 1 to 4 V considered to cause no actual actuating operation was applied.

  On the other hand, the actuator evaluation was performed by applying 5 to 20 V without pressing the rubber indenter.

  In the case of the second type electric circuit, the sensor test and the actuate test can be performed separately. Therefore, 1 to 4 V was applied to the sensor circuit during the sensor test, and 5 to 20 V was separately applied to the actuate circuit during the actuator test.

(Test results)
Tables 1 to 3 show the test results of Examples and Comparative Examples. Actuate evaluation represents the result when a voltage of 10 V is applied.

  From Tables 1 and 2, the displacement (amplitude) was greater when the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 were exposed from the insulator 13.

  In the form of Embodiment 2 from Table 2, the displacement (amplitude) was larger when the first conductor 21 was not a conductive polymer, that is, a material that was not deformed by energization was used. This is probably because the difference in the swelling rate between the surface side of the first conductor 21 and the surface side of the second conductor 22 is increased.

  Moreover, there was not much difference in displacement (amplitude) between the first type and the second type from each table.

  Moreover, the pressure sensor function was recognized in all the Examples. The resistance value due to the difference in pressure (the value obtained by dividing the applied voltage by the current value by the ammeter) was found to change depending on the pressure applied in the range of about 1700-2300Ω.

  On the other hand, from Table 3, Comparative Example 1 showed neither a pressure sensor function nor an actuator function, and Comparative Example 2 showed a pressure sensor function but did not show an actuator function.

  As described above, according to the embodiments and examples to which the present invention is applied, the following effects can be obtained.

  With a very simple configuration in which at least one of the pair of conductors is made of a material containing a conductive polymer and the pair of conductors are arranged in parallel, both functions of the pressure sensor and the actuator can be achieved with a single device. Be able to run. Further, since the pressure sensor function and the actuator function are provided in one device as described above, further weight saving and space saving can be achieved.

  As a more specific configuration, the first conductor is made of an inorganic conductive member and the second conductor is made of a material containing a conductive polymer as in the first embodiment. Since the size hardly changes even when applied (except for the expansion and contraction due to Joule heat), the actuator can be operated largely.

  In addition, as in the second embodiment, the first conductor and the second conductor are both formed of a material containing a conductive polymer, so that a film or fiber using the conductive polymer depending on the intended use or place. (Wire material) can be used to impart various textures and flexibility.

  In addition, in both Embodiments 1 and 2, various combinations of conductors are possible. Specifically, both conductors are in the form of a film (flat plate), one conductor is a fiber (wire), the other is a film, and the width of the other conductor is wider than the width of one conductor. Both are fiber-shaped. In particular, by making the width of the other conductor wider than the width of one conductor, the contact amount corresponding to the pressure applied by the first conductor 11 and the second conductor 12 changes linearly. Therefore, the pressure can be measured finely and stepwise.

  In addition, the conductive polymer used as the conductor is, in particular, a polymer obtained by doping polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyparaphenylene vinylene, poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene with poly-4-styrenesulfonate, and derivatives thereof. At least one conductive polymer selected from the group is preferred, and these conductive polymers have good conductivity as a sensor and have wettability necessary for operating the actuator.

  In addition, since both Embodiments 1 and 2 are provided as an electric circuit, a type 1 in which the pressure sensor function and the actuator function are operated independently and a type 2 in which the pressure sensor function and the actuator function are simultaneously operated are provided. Various developments are possible depending on the situation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a first type sensor / actuator of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a second type sensor / actuator of the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a motion of the device (1st and 2nd conductor part) at the time of a sensor operation | movement. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an actuator operation | movement. FIG. 2 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the first type of sensor / actuator when the sensor is operating (FIG. (A)) and when the actuator is operating (FIG. (B)). The second type sensor / actuator 2 is an electrical equivalent circuit diagram when the sensor is operating (FIG. (A)) and when the actuator is operating (FIG. (B)). It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the fiber form using a conductive polymer. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another device configuration of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another device configuration of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another device configuration of the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure at the time of using the sensor actuator for Embodiment 1 for the vehicle seat. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure at the time of using the sensor actuator for Embodiment 1 for the vehicle seat. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a first type sensor / actuator 3 in Embodiment 2. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a second type sensor / actuator 3 in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an actuator operation | movement. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another device form of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another device form of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another device form of the second embodiment. It is drawing for demonstrating the structure of the test apparatus for testing a sensor and an actuator function. It is the schematic for demonstrating an actuate test.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3, 4 sensor actuator
11, 21 first conductor,
12, 22 Second conductor,
13, 23, 24 insulator,
14 Ammeter,
15 Power supply for sensor,
17 Power supply for actuator,
18, 18a, 18b switch,
19 Space,
23 Insulation member for coating,
100 sensor / actuator unit,
200 sheets.

Claims (10)

A first conductor;
A second conductor made of a material containing a conductive polymer that contracts and expands when electricity is passed;
An insulator that fixes the first conductor and the second conductor with a space that can be contacted and separated; and
A sensor / actuator characterized by comprising:   The sensor / actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is made of an inorganic conductive member. The first conductor is made of a material containing the conductive polymer,
The first conductor has an exposed portion including a portion in contact with the second conductor in the space, and the other portion is covered with an insulator.
The second conductor includes a portion in contact with the first conductor in the space, has an exposed portion larger than a surface area of the exposed portion of the first conductor, and the other portion is covered with an insulator. The sensor actuator according to claim 1.   2. The sensor / actuator according to claim 1, wherein, of the first conductor and the second conductor, the width of the other conductor is wider than the width of the one conductor.   5. The sensor / actuator according to claim 4, wherein one of the first conductor and the second conductor has a linear shape, and the other conductor has a flat plate shape.   The conductive polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyparaphenylene vinylene, a polymer in which poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene is doped with poly 4-styrene sulfonate, and derivatives thereof. The sensor / actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor / actuator is composed of two conductive polymers. Furthermore, when the first conductor and the second conductor are in contact with each other, current measuring means for measuring a current flowing through at least the contact portion;
Actuate power supply means for supplying power for contracting or expanding at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor made of the conductive polymer;
The sensor / actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by comprising: The current measuring means includes a sensor power supply and an ammeter connected in series to the sensor power supply, and the first conductor and the second conductor are connected to the sensor power supply and the ammeter. Connected in series,
Actuate power supply means has an actuator power supply, and the first conductor and the second conductor are connected in series to the actuator power supply,
8. The sensor actuator according to claim 7, further comprising a switch for switching between said current measuring means and actuated power supply means. The current measuring means includes a sensor power supply and an ammeter connected in series to the sensor power supply, and the first conductor and the second conductor are connected to the sensor power supply and the ammeter. Connected in series via the space,
8. The sensor / actuator according to claim 7, wherein the actuated power supply means includes a power source for the actuator, and constitutes a circuit in which only the second conductor is connected in series to the power source for the actuator.   A vehicle comprising the sensor / actuator according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

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