Deformable membrane assemblies
US9810923B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 2012 |
| Grant date | Nov 7, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B3/14
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a deformable membrane assembly 1 comprising an elastic membrane 8 that is held under tension around its edge by a bendable membrane supporting member 2,10, 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 controllers 24 acting on the supporting member 2, 10 to control the bending of the supporting member in response to loading through tension in the membrane. The bending stiffness of the membrane-supporting member 2, 10 varies round its extent to control the profile of the edge of the membrane 8; etc. upon actuation. A variety of different types of bending controllers are disclosed which permit out-of-plane bending of the supporting member 2, 10 but 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 member 2, 10 in order to control the strain in the membrane 8 upon actuation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.