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).

  • Patent number: 8199931
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Elwood G. Norris, Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
  • Patent number: 7729498
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, III, Joseph O. Norris
  • Patent number: 7376236
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III, Alan Robert Selfridge, Pierre Khuri-Yakub
  • Patent number: 7343017
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
  • Patent number: 7162042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, III, Joseph O. Norris
  • Patent number: 6850623
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Elwood G. Norris, Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft, III
  • Publication number: 20030185405
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Michael E. Spencer, James J. Croft, Joseph O. Norris
  • Patent number: 6584205
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: American Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Croft, III, Michael E. Spencer, Joseph O. Norris
  • Publication number: 20020111795
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph O. Norris, James J. Croft