Patents by Inventor Douglas W. Houle

Douglas W. Houle 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).

  • Patent number: 9742049
    Abstract: Gravoltaic cell devices and methods are disclosed for producing robust electrochemical gravoltaic cells that convert a gravitational force into electrical energy. The cells includes a reaction vessel and a first stationary homogeneous volume of dissociated aqueous cations and a second stationary homogeneous aqueous volume of dissociated aqueous reactant cations, both volumes being disposed within the reaction vessel, and providing bulk solvent and anions a stationary bulk volume of a homogeneous mixture of solvent and dissociated anions collectively disposed homogeneously throughout the two layers of dissociated aqueous cations. The cell also includes an anode junction providing electrochemically active dissimilar anode/cation chemical species junction. The cell also includes a cathode junction providing a gravity-sustained electrochemically passive similar cathode/cation chemical species junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Douglas W. Houle
  • Publication number: 20160359212
    Abstract: Gravoltaic cell devices and methods are disclosed for producing robust electrochemical gravoltaic cells that convert a gravitational force into electrical energy. The cells includes a reaction vessel and a first stationary homogeneous volume of dissociated aqueous cations and a second stationary homogeneous aqueous volume of dissociated aqueous reactant cations, both volumes being disposed within the reaction vessel, and providing bulk solvent and anions a stationary bulk volume of a homogeneous mixture of solvent and dissociated anions collectively disposed homogeneously throughout the two layers of dissociated aqueous cations. The cell also includes an anode junction providing electrochemically active dissimilar anode/cation chemical species junction. The cell also includes a cathode junction providing a gravity-sustained electrochemically passive similar cathode/cation chemical species junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas W. Houle
  • Publication number: 20140342218
    Abstract: A gravoltaic cell converts a gravitational force into electrical energy. The cell includes a reaction vessel and a first stationary homogeneous phase of dissociated aqueous cations and a second stationary homogeneous aqueous phase of dissociated aqueous reactant cations, both phases being disposed within the reaction vessel, and providing bulk solvent and anions a stationary bulk volume of a homogeneous mixture of solvent and dissociated anions collectively disposed homogeneously throughout the two layers of dissociated aqueous cations. The cell also includes an anode junction providing electrochemically active dissimilar anode/cation species junction. The cell also includes a cathode junction providing a gravity-sustained electrochemically passive similar cathode/cation species junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas W. Houle
  • Publication number: 20100209762
    Abstract: The gravoltaic cell converts a gravitational force into electrical energy. The gravoltaic cell comprises a container, an electrolytic mixture of at least two electrolytes disposed in the container, an upper and lower electrode, and an external electrical load connected across the two said electrodes for dissipating said electrical energy. The electrolytic mixture comprises a denser and a less dense portion. The upper electrode contacts the greater distribution of the less dense electrolytic portion, and the lower electrode contacts the greater distribution of the denser electrolytic portion. A state of electrochemical non-equilibrium exists between the upper and lower electrodes. The electrochemical non-equilibrium has a greater distribution of the less dense portion of the electrolytic mixture near a higher volume of the container, and a greater distribution of the denser portion of the electrolytic mixture near a lower volume of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas W. Houle
  • Publication number: 20080044038
    Abstract: The stereophonic sound system attenuates the audio power level delivered to the auxiliary speakers relative to the audio power level delivered to the main speakers so that the radiated sound pressure level from the auxiliary speakers is less than the radiated sound pressure level from the main speakers; blocks the tow frequency audio power from being delivered to the auxiliary speakers; and shapes the radiated dispersion pattern by controlling the phase relationship between the auxiliary speakers and the main speakers. This system widens the stereophonic sweet spot, eliminates soundstage shift, corrects off-axis response, and improves off-axis phantom image specificity, thus improving stereophonic realism over and above the present art. Stereophonic “realism” is a subjective assessment of the degree to which the sound from an audio system approaches that of live music.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Douglas W. Houle