The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 14, 2012
Adlens Ltd., Oxford, GB;
Robert Edward Stevens, Oxford, GB;
Alex Edginton, Oxford, GB;
Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Oxford, GB;
Daniel Paul Rhodes, Oxford, GB;
Dijon Pietropinto, Oxford, GB;
Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Oxford, GB;
Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Melbourn, GB;
Peter Lee Crossley, Melbourn, GB;
Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Melbourn, GB;
Edwin James Stone, Melbourn, GB;
Adlens Ltd., Oxford, GB;
Abstract
The present invention provides a deformable membrane assemblycomprising an elastic membranethat is held under tension around its edge by a bendable membrane supporting member, a body of fluid in contact with one face of the membrane, the pressure of the fluid being controllable for adjusting the shape of the membrane, and one or more bending controllersacting on the supporting memberto control the bending of the supporting member in response to loading through tension in the membrane. The bending stiffness of the membrane-supporting membervaries round its extent to control the profile of the edge of the membrane; etc. upon actuation. A variety of different types of bending controllers are disclosed which permit out-of-plane bending of the supporting memberbut prevent or control in-plane bending or deformation of the supporting member. In some embodiments, the bending controllers permit a degree of controlled in-plane bending of the supporting memberin order to control the strain in the membraneupon actuation.