Patents by Inventor John G. Linvill

John G. Linvill 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: 4491760
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer for the generation of an electric signal in response to a force or motion applied to the tactile surface thereof. The electromechanical transducer comprises a stack of planar sheets of a piezoelectric polymer material, each sheet having two opposed broad flat faces and at least one tactile surface at one longitudinal end, separate electrodes covering portions of each flat face of the sheets in predetermined patterns, terminals electrically connected to said electrodes for passage of said electric signal and means for detecting and amplifying the electric signal generated in response to a force or motion applied to the tactile surface of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Stanford University
    Inventor: John G. Linvill
  • Patent number: 4379697
    Abstract: A tactile stimulator is disclosed which comprises a stack of planar sheets of a piezoelectric polymer material, which in the preferred embodiment is PVF.sub.2. Each sheet has two opposed broad flat faces and at least one tactile surface at one longitudinal end. Separate electrodes cover portions of each flat face of the sheets in predetermined patterns. The electrodes from sheet to sheet are mirror images of the corresponding electrode patterns of the next adjacent sheet. Each of the sheets is polarized in the direction of its tactile end such that upon application of a voltage across the electrodes of that sheet, the sheet will longitudinally extend its tactile surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1983
    Assignee: Stanford University
    Inventor: John G. Linvill