Patents by Inventor Bart Dirkx

Bart Dirkx 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).

  • CAMERA DIAPHRAGM AND LENS POSITIONING SYSTEM EMPLOYING A DIELECTRICAL POLYMER ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20090161239
    Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator (10) is disclosed for use in various applications including camera diaphragms and lenses. The actuator (10) converts electrical energy to mechanical energy and comprises, in one embodiment, at least two flexible electrodes (15, 25); a transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) having a substantially constant thickness, the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) arranged in a manner which causes the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) to compress in a first direction orthogonal to the thickness in response to an electric field applied to the polymer; and a frame coupled to the at least two electrodes (15, 25) and the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20), the outer frame substantially preventing expansion in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to an electric field applied to the polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Boudewijn Verhaar, Bart Dirkx, Michael Bauer, Funda Sahin Nomaler