Patents by Inventor Michael C. Heilemann

Michael C. Heilemann 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 for rendering localized vibrations on panels
    Patent number: 10966042
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system composed of a flexible panel with an affixed array of force actuators, a signal processing system, and interface electronic circuits is described. The system described is capable of creating a pattern of standing bending waves at any location on the panel and the instantaneous amplitude, velocity, or acceleration of the standing waves can be controlled by an audio signal to create localized acoustic sources at the selected locations in the plane of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventors: Michael C. Heilemann, Mark F. Bocko
  • METHOD FOR RENDERING LOCALIZED VIBRATIONS ON PANELS
    Publication number: 20200196082
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system composed of a flexible panel with an affixed array of force actuators, a signal processing system, and interface electronic circuits is described. The system described is capable of creating a pattern of standing bending waves at any location on the panel and the instantaneous amplitude, velocity, or acceleration of the standing waves can be controlled by an audio signal to create localized acoustic sources at the selected locations in the plane of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Michael C. Heilemann, Mark F. Bocko
  • METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICES FOR SELECTIVE MODAL CONTROL FOR VIBRATING STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20200120427
    Abstract: A method, system and devices to selectively control modal vibrations in an elastic panel with a number of force actuators distributed throughout the surface of the elastic panel to excite/depress the response of one or more vibrational resonant modes included in a prescribed subset. The force actuators are disposed such that prescribed modal excitation/depression may be realized when the actuators are driven by a common source signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michael C. Heilemann, Mark Frederick BOCKO, David Allan ANDERSON
  • METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORCE CONCENTRATION TO ENHANCE SOUND FROM FLAT PANEL LOUDSPEAKERS
    Publication number: 20200120426
    Abstract: A mechanical coupling device and methods of use for concentrating dynamic force transmitted from a dynamic force actuator to a panel. The device comprises a concentrator surface that is coupled to an elastic panel. The concentrator surface is a continuous region with a surface area that may be smaller, larger, or the same surface area as a region in contact with a dynamic force actuator. The concentrator surface transmits a dynamic force to a region of the panel coupled to the concentrator surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michael C. Heilemann, Mark Frederick Bocko