Methods and apparatus for shape control

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 10337536
APP PUB NO 20180010621A1
SERIAL NO

15686854

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Abstract

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In exemplary implementations of this invention, a shape controller controls the shape of a bladder as the bladder inflates. The shape controller includes a first set of regions and a second set of regions. The second set of regions is more flexible than the first set of regions. The shape controller is embedded within, or adjacent to, a wall of the bladder. When the bladder is inflated, the overall shape of the bladder bends in areas adjacent to the more flexible regions of the shape controller. For example, the shape controller may comprise paper and the more flexible regions may comprise creases in the paper. Or, for example, the more flexible regions may comprise notches or indentations. In some implementations of this invention, a multi-state shape display changes shape as it inflates, with additional bumps forming as pressure in the display increases.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY77 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE CAMBRIDGE MA 02139

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Follmer, Sean San Francisco, US 9 142
Ishii, Hiroshi Cambridge, US 343 5139
Niiyama, Ryuma Tokyo, JP 3 43
Ou, Jifei Cambridge, US 19 140
Yao, Lining Pittsburgh, US 21 1469

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