Patents by Inventor Joseph O. Norris
Joseph O. Norris 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).
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Patent number: 8199931Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing a parametric output of a parametric loudspeaker system. The method can include the operation of providing multiple ultrasonic frequency emission zones that output signals in a frequency band. The phase relationships of the ultrasonic frequency emission zones can be correlated and controlled to increase phase coherence between each ultrasonic frequency emission zone to maximize parametric output. Correlating and controlling the phase relationships can include offsetting a frequency of a carrier signal applied to each emission zone from a resonant frequency of each emission zone in view of a rate of change of phase of each emission zone in a vicinity of each resonant frequency. Ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic frequency emission zones can be generated, using the correlated phase relationship to increase the parametric output.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Elwood G. Norris, Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
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Patent number: 7729498Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system using improved modulators to compensate for the non-linearity of the parametric process in air when driving the air at saturation levels and below saturation levels. The parametric loudspeaker uses a pre-processed single sideband modulator that offers ideal linearity as characterized by square root pre-processed double sideband modulators but with a lower carrier frequency and without the wide bandwidth requirements. By eliminating some or all of the lower sideband the carrier frequency can be reduced without producing sideband frequencies in the audible range. Lower operational frequencies result in greater translation efficiency and greater output capability before reaching the saturation limit of air. A pre-processor minimizes the effects of saturation limits for double sideband, truncated double sideband or single sideband processing to achieve superior output.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, III, Joseph O. Norris
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Patent number: 7376236Abstract: A speaker device for emitting subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic compression waves comprising a generally hollow drum, a rigid emitter plate attached to the drum, and a plurality of apertures formed within the plate which are covered by a thin piezoelectric film disposed across the emitter plate. A pressure source is coupled to the drum for developing a biasing pressure with respect to the thin film at the apertures to distend the film into an arcuate emitter configuration capable of constricting and extending in response to variations in the applied electrical input at the piezoelectric film to thereby create a compression wave in a surrounding environment. Parametric ultrasonic frequency input is supplied to the piezoelectric film to propagate multiple ultrasonic frequencies having a difference component corresponding to the desired subsonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III, Alan Robert Selfridge, Pierre Khuri-Yakub
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Patent number: 7343017Abstract: A method and system for generating parametric output directly from a prerecorded and error corrected parametric signal for playback in a parametric loudspeaker system. The method includes the step of retrieving a pre-encoded audio signal from an electronically readable storage medium. In addition, an ultrasonic carrier signal has at least one sideband which represents the pre-encoded audio signal. The next step is playing back the pre-encoded audio signal through an ultrasonic amplifier and emitter.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
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Patent number: 7162042Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system using improved modulators to compensate for the non-linearity of the parametric process in air when driving the air at saturation levels and below saturation levels. The parametric loudspeaker uses a pre-processed single sideband modulator that offers ideal linearity as characterized by square root pre-processed double sideband modulators but with a lower carrier frequency and without the wide bandwidth requirements. By eliminating some or all of the lower sideband the carrier frequency can be reduced without producing sideband frequencies in the audible range. Lower operational frequencies result in greater translation efficiency and greater output capability before reaching the saturation limit of air. A pre-processor minimizes the effects of saturation limits for double sideband, truncated double sideband or single sideband processing to achieve superior output.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, III, Joseph O. Norris
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Patent number: 6850623Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker which uses multiple piezoelectric bimorph transducers. These multiple piezoelectric bimorphs have a resonant frequency which varies from unit to unit. The phase response at and near the resonant frequency changes at a very high rate with slight changes in frequency. The associated modulator electronics have a primary carrier frequency that is optimized for maximum parametric output. This is achieved by aligning the carrier frequency with the flattest portions of the phase curve for maximum phase coordination among the multiple devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: Elwood G. Norris, Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
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Publication number: 20030185405Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system using improved modulators to compensate for the non-linearity of the parametric process in air when driving the air at saturation levels and below saturation levels. The parametric loudspeaker uses a pre-processed single sideband modulator that offers ideal linearity as characterized by square root pre-processed double sideband modulators but with a lower carrier frequency and without the wide bandwidth requirements. By eliminating some or all of the lower sideband the carrier frequency can be reduced without producing sideband frequencies in the audible range. Lower operational frequencies result in greater translation efficiency and greater output capability before reaching the saturation limit of air. A pre-processor minimizes the effects of saturation limits for double sideband, truncated double sideband or single sideband processing to achieve superior output.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, Joseph O. Norris
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Patent number: 6584205Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system using improved modulators to compensate for the non-linearity of the parametric process in air when driving the air at saturation levels and below saturation levels. The parametric loudspeaker uses a pre-processed single sideband modulator that offers ideal linearity as characterized by square root pre-processed double sideband modulators but with a lower carrier frequency and without the wide bandwidth requirements. By eliminating some or all of the lower sideband the carrier frequency can be reduced without producing sideband frequencies in the audible range. Lower operational frequencies result in greater translation efficiency and greater output capability before reaching the saturation limit of air. A pre-processor minimizes the effects of saturation limits for double sideband, truncated double sideband or single sideband processing to achieve superior output.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: James J. Croft, III, Michael E. Spencer, Joseph O. Norris
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Publication number: 20020111795Abstract: A method and system for generating parametric output directly from a prerecorded and error corrected parametric signal for playback in a parametric loudspeaker system. The method includes the step of retrieving a pre-encoded audio signal from an electronically readable storage medium. In addition, an ultrasonic carrier signal has at least one sideband which represents the pre-encoded audio signal. The next step is playing back the pre-encoded audio signal through an ultrasonic amplifier and emitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft