TRANSDUCER DEVICE

To provide a transducer device which is capable of, when functioning as an actuator, inhibiting the deformation amount of a dielectric layer thereof from being deviated from an intended value due to the surrounding environment of the dielectric layer, without taking any time and effort.SOLUTION: The device includes a first conductive rubber layer 2 and a second conductive rubber layer 3 between which a dielectric elastomer layer 1 is disposed, and a third conductive rubber layer 5 and a fourth conductive rubber layer 6 between a measurement portion 1a formed continuously from the first conductive rubber layer is disposed. The device further includes a control unit 8 that deforms the dielectric elastomer layer 1 in the thickness direction by applying voltage corresponding to a command value Vt to the first conductive rubber layer 2 and the second conductive rubber layer 3. The control unit 8 measures the capacitance Cs of the measurement portion 1a via the third conductive rubber layer 5 and the fourth conductive rubber layer 6, obtains the specific dielectric constant εr of the measurement portion 1a on the basis of the measured capacitance Cs, and uses, as the specific dielectric constant εr of the dielectric elastomer layer 1, the specific dielectric constant εr for calculating the command value Vt.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1 【課題】アクチュエータとして機能させたときの同誘電層の変形量が誘電層の周辺環境によって意図した値からずれることを、手間をかけることなく抑制できるトランスデューサー装置を提供する。【解決手段】同装置は、誘電エラストマ層１を挟む第１導電ゴム層２及び第２導電ゴム層３と、第１導電ゴム層から連続するように形成されている計測用部位１ａを挟む第３導電ゴム層５及び第４導電ゴム層６と、を備える。同装置は、指令値Ｖｔに対応した電圧を第１導電ゴム層２及び第２導電ゴム層３に対し印加することによって誘電エラストマ層１を厚さ方向に変形させる制御部８も備える。制御部８は、第３導電ゴム層５及び第４導電ゴム層６を介して計測用部位１ａの静電容量Ｃｓを測定し、その測定された静電容量Ｃｓに基づいて計測用部位１ａの比誘電率εｒを求め、その比誘電率εｒを誘電エラストマ層１の比誘電率εｒとして上記指令値Ｖｔの算出に用いる。【選択図】図１