Patents by Inventor Dennis R. Merkley

Dennis R. Merkley 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).

  • Method and apparatus for stabilizing levitated objects
    Patent number: 5257676
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of stabilizing the motion of a levitated object. The method involves continuously determining the motion of a levitated object, relative to a given point, and deriving the velocity of the object from the determined motion. A continuous, non-contact, corrective force is applied to the object in the opposite direction and proportional to the derived velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Intersonics Incorporated
    Inventors: Dennis R. Merkley, Charles A. Rey, Thomas J. Danley
  • Aero-acoustic levitation device and method
    Patent number: 5096017
    Abstract: An acoustic levitator device for suspending a specimen object under the influence of gravity without contact with a solid surface comprising in combination gas levitation means for directing a concentrated flow of gas along an axis upwardly against the object to provide a force to lift a majority weight of the object, and acoustic levitation means for exerting an acoustic positioning force on said object to restrain movement away from said axis and to hold said object in a given position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Intersonics Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles A. Rey, Dennis R. Merkley
  • Method and apparatus for acoustic levitation
    Patent number: 5036944
    Abstract: An acoustic levitator includes a pair of opposed sound sources which have interfering sound waves producing acoustic energy wells in which an object may be levitated. The phase of one sound source may be changed relative to the other in order to move the object along an axis between the sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Intersonics Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Danley, Dennis R. Merkley, Charles A. Rey
  • Transducer for producing sound of very high intensity
    Patent number: 4757227
    Abstract: A sound transducer having a high impedance relative to air is coupled with mechanical transformers. The output transformer is in the shape of a dish having the center coupled to a piezoelectric transducer, the outer portion of the dish is unsupported and more flexible than the center section at resonance this allows large amplitude movement and a better impedance match to air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Intersonics Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Danley, Dennis R. Merkley, Charles A. Rey