Abstract: A dielectric actuator including an enclosure forming a cavity having a dielectric fluid therein, the enclosure having a base, a flexible membrane and a reversibly-stretchable membrane, and a pair of electrodes, one electrode of the pair of electrodes arranged at the flexible membrane, the other electrode arranged at the base, the pair of electrodes arranged to generate an electric field to an area of the cavity that is filled with the dielectric fluid, wherein when the electric field is generated between the pair of electrodes, an electrostatic pressure in the dielectric fluid causes the flexible membrane to move towards the base, reducing an initial volume of the area of the cavity, increases a pressure of the dielectric fluid inside the cavity, and causes the reversibly-stretchable membrane to bump out to an expanded state.

Abstract: A dielectric actuator including an enclosure forming a cavity having a dielectric fluid therein, the enclosure having a base, a flexible membrane and a reversibly-stretchable membrane, and a pair of electrodes, one electrode of the pair of electrodes arranged at the flexible membrane, the other electrode arranged at the base, the pair of electrodes arranged to generate an electric field to an area of the cavity that is filled with the dielectric fluid, wherein when the electric field is generated between the pair of electrodes, an electrostatic pressure in the dielectric fluid causes the flexible membrane to move towards the base, reducing an initial volume of the area of the cavity, increases a pressure of the dielectric fluid inside the cavity, and causes the reversibly-stretchable membrane to bump out to an expanded state.

Abstract: A haptic interface with at least two degrees of freedom including at least one element for interacting with a user, at least two passive brakes each extending along an axis, each of the brakes being capable of exerting a resistive force about its axis, the forces being controllable, measurement means for measuring a position of the element for interacting with a user, detection means for detecting the force applied on the element for interacting with the user, a control unit capable of sending commands to the brakes depending on information on the position of the element for interacting with the user and on the force applied on the element for interacting with the user, such that said passive brakes generate resistive forces according to at least one given haptic pattern.

Abstract: A defrosting device includes an actuator including: a stationary portion and a movable portion configured to alternately move away from and move towards the stationary portion, and an intermediate element including a loading portion configured to be pushed by the movable portion of the actuator when the movable portion of the actuator moves away from the stationary portion, and a movement transmission portion configured to move according to the movement of the loading portion and to push a part to be defrosted to deform the part to be defrosted. The movable portion of the actuator and the loading portion of the intermediate element are not connected to one another, such that the loading portion of the intermediate element cannot pull the movable portion of the actuator to move same away from the stationary portion.

Abstract: A haptic device with ultrasonic actuation, including: a support, a user-interaction element movable at least in rotation and/or translation relative to the support, a first contact surface that moves as one with the interaction element, a second contact surface that moves as one with the support, resonators, and a control unit that excites the resonators at at least one resonance frequency, generating a vibration mode in a plane and an ultrasonic lubrication phenomenon between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

Abstract: A haptic device with ultrasonic actuation, including: a support, a user-interaction element movable at least in rotation and/or translation relative to the support, a first contact surface that moves as one with the interaction element, a second contact surface that moves as one with the support, resonators, and a control unit that excites the resonators at at least one resonance frequency, generating a vibration mode in a plane and an ultrasonic lubrication phenomenon between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

Abstract: A haptic interface with at least two degrees of freedom, comprising: at least one element (4) for interacting with a user, at least two passive brakes (6, 8) each extending along an axis (X, Y), each of the brakes (6, 8) being capable of exerting a resistive force about its axis (X, Y), the forces being controllable, measurement means (14, 16) for measuring a position of the element (4) for interacting with a user, detection means (11, 13) for detecting the force applied on the element (4) for interacting with the user, a control unit (UC) capable of sending commands to the brakes depending on information on the position of the element for interacting with the user and on the force applied on the element (4) for interacting with the user, such that said passive brakes (6, 8) generate resistive forces according to at least one given haptic pattern.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising a rotor (18) having an at least partly spherical shape and two actuators (2, 2?) each comprising an element of plate-shaped piezoelectric material comprising at least one contact edge (4, 4?) in contact with the rotor (18), said actuators (2, 2?) also comprising on one of their faces electrodes intended to bias piezoelectric materials in a bending mode and in a longitudinal mode. The contact edges (4, 4?) are concave and are formed by an arc of circle the radius of which substantially corresponds to the radius of the surface of the rotor (18), said arcs of circle angularly extending at a determined angle such that the bending mode and the longitudinal mode in which the piezoelectric material is biased are at the same frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor comprising a rotor (18) having an at least partly spherical shape and two actuators (2, 2?) each comprising an element of plate-shaped piezoelectric material comprising at least one contact edge (4, 4?) in contact with the rotor (18), said actuators (2, 2?) also comprising on one of their faces electrodes intended to bias piezoelectric materials in a bending mode and in a longitudinal mode. The contact edges (4, 4?) are concave and are formed by an arc of circle the radius of which substantially corresponds to the radius of the surface of the rotor (18), said arcs of circle angularly extending at a determined angle such that the bending mode and the longitudinal mode in which the piezoelectric material is biased are at the same frequency.