Development of multi-functional minute ER device with liquid ciystal and suspension type ER fluid

本文对多功能分钟内窥镜的研制进行了以下两点的探讨。首先，为了在不增加称重传感器等额外装置的情况下获得设备流量或运动控制的参考数据，我们尝试对液晶ER装置进行修改，使其具有流量传感功能。用图像分析方法研究了液晶在带条纹电极和偏振片的内质网通道中的流动。通过对电场作用下条纹条纹所产生的亮度变化曲线的分析，得到了一些参数，这些参数对计算流量是有用的。例如，通过数字傅里叶变换分析得到的亮度剖面参数、亮度的幅值或平均值与剪切速率（流量）有很好的关系。评价误差约为3%，具有较好的实际应用价值。其次，测试了用于悬浮型ER流体的ER转换通道，即使在一分钟装置中也能获得足够的ER效果。此外，液晶的内质网通道与悬浮液型的内质网通道耦合，得到了适用于大流量范围的内质网。我们已经阐明了悬浮型电流变流体的电流变效应在转换通道中得到改善，高电流变效应是由电极上产生的颗粒层引起的。我们还获得了阀效应，并通过液晶电流通道与悬浮型电流通道的耦合获得了改进的高剪切速率电流效应。

Following two points have been investigated for the development of multi-functional minute ER device.First, in order to obtain a referential data for the flow or motion control of the device without an extra device such as a load-cell, we have tried to modify an ER device of liquid crystal to have a sensing function of the flow rate. Image analysis is applied to the flow of liquid crystal in an ER channels with stripe-patterned electrode and polarizers. We have found some parameters obtained with the analysis of change in brightness profile generated with the stripe pattern under electric fields are useful to evaluate flow rate. For example, a parameter obtained with digital Fourier transfer analysis of the brightness profile, amplitude or average in brightness have good relationships with shear rate (flow rate). The evaluation error is about 3% and we conclude this method is useful for the practical applications.Second, an ER conversing channel for a suspension type ER fluid has been tested to obtain enough ER effect even in a minute device. Moreover, an ER channel of liquid crystal was*coupled with that of suspension type to obtain an ER that is useful for a wide flow rate range. We have clarify that ER effect ofa suspension type ER fluid is improved in a conversing channel and the high ER effect is caused with a particle layers generated on the electrodes. We also obtained both a valve effect and improved high shear rate ER effect are obtained by a coupling of liquid crystal ER channel with that of suspension type.