Patents by Inventor Derek Paul Forbes Bean
Derek Paul Forbes Bean has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11709379Abstract: A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ADLENS LTDInventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Jacoby, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, William Guest, Jon Nisper, Tom Worsley, Ashutosh Kumar, Richard Wilhelm Janse Van Rensburg, Peter Lee Crossley, Rita Stella
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Publication number: 20210055574Abstract: A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: ADLENS LTDInventors: Robert Edward STEVENS, Thomas Jacoby, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, William Guest, Jon Nisper, Tom Worsley, Ashutosh Kumar, Richard Wilhelm Janse Van Rensburg, Peter Lee Crossley, Rita Stella
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Patent number: 10866432Abstract: A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: ADLENS LTDInventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Jacoby, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, William Guest, Jon Nisper, Tom Worsley, Ashutosh Kumar, Richard Wilhelm Janse Van Rensburg, Peter Lee Crossley, Rita Stella
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Patent number: 10823981Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: ADLENS LTD.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Publication number: 20200089024Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Publication number: 20190258084Abstract: A method of assembling an adjustable fluid-filled lens assembly comprising biaxially tensioning an elastomeric membrane to a surface tension of greater than 180 N/m, typically greater than 1000 N/m; thermally conditioning the tensioned membrane, e.g., for one hour at a temperature of about 80° C., to accelerate relaxation of the membrane; mounting the membrane to a peripheral support structure whilst maintaining the tension in the membrane; assembling the mounted membrane with one or more other components to form an enclosure with the membrane forming one wall of the enclosure; and thereafter filling the enclosure with a fluid. The membrane may be formed from an aromatic polyurethane, and the fluid may be a phenylated siloxane. In some embodiments, the membrane is able to hold a substantially constant surface tension of at least 180 N/m for a period of at least 12 months.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicants: ADLENS LTD, ADLENS LTDInventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Thomas Jacoby, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, William Guest, Jon Nisper, Tom Worsley, Ashutosh Kumar, Richard Wilhelm Janse Van Rensburg, Peter Lee Crossley, Rita Stella
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Publication number: 20180101028Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that we arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Patent number: 9810923Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Adlens Ltd.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Patent number: 9791720Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Adlens Ltd.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Publication number: 20170269378Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Patent number: 9709824Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprising a fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a bendable supporting ring, a support for the envelope and at least three ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points for adjusting the shape of the membrane, with the ring bending to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. A control point is provided at or proximate each point on the ring where the profile of the ring that is needed to produce the predefined form of the membrane exhibits a turning point in the direction of the force applied at the control point between two adjacent points where the profile of the ring exhibits an inflection point or a turning point in the opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Adlens Ltd.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristram Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Publication number: 20150309334Abstract: A deformable membrane assembly comprises an at least partially flexible fluid-filled envelope, one wall of which is formed by an elastic membrane that is held around its edge by a resiliently bendable supporting ring, a fixed support for the envelope and selectively operable means for causing relative movement between the supporting ring and the support for adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the envelope, thereby to cause the membrane to deform. The bending stiffness of the ring varies round the ring such that upon deformation of the membrane the ring bends variably to control the shape of the membrane to a predefined form. The moving means comprise a plurality of ring-engaging members that are arranged to apply a force to the ring at spaced control points.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Adlens Ltd.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristam Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone
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Publication number: 20150055084Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2012Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: Adlens Ltd.Inventors: Robert Edward Stevens, Alex Edginton, Benjamin Thomas Tristam Holland, Daniel Paul Rhodes, Dijon Pietropinto, Derek Paul Forbes Bean, Roger Brian Minchin Clarke, Peter Lee Crossley, Richard Leefe Douglas Murray, Edwin James Stone