ACTUATOR DEVICE AND METHOD
FIG12 schematically illustrates a further example actuator member comprising soft magnetic particles
This is illustrated schematically in FIG12 which shows an example actuator member 12 having a plurality of dispersed soft magnetic particles 82. Upon application of an electric field between the electrodes 26, the actuator member is induced to contract in thickness, thereby resulting in the actuated state shown in the right-hand image of FIG12. As shown, the inter-spatial gap d between the particles is significantly reduced. The actuator device of FIG12 further comprises a controller (not shown) to which the magnetic sensor (and optionally the magnetic field generation means) is operatively coupled. The controller may be configured to control the sensor to monitor the magnetic permeability of the actuator member or to monitor the magnetic field strength across the actuator member. Based on a measured magnetic field strength, the controller may be configured to calculate a change in, or an absolute value of, the magnetic permeability across the actuator member.
schematic
12
member
16
thickness
10
carrier layer within approximately printing. Layer thicknesses between
26
electrodes
82
d
['1. An actuator device, comprising: an actuator member (12), comprising an electroactive material being adapted to deform in response to application of an electrical stimulus; and particles (42) of a hard magnetic material dispersed within the electroactive material, and ordered such that at least a section of the actuator member exhibits a magnetization in a given direction; a magnetic field generation means (22) operable to generate a magnetic field (32) of a controllable field strength pattern for application across at least a section of the actuator member; an electrical stimulus generation means;  characterised by a controller (30) operable to control the magnetic field generation means and the electrical stimulus generation means in a coordinated manner to thereby realize one or more deformation patterns in the actuator member.']