Patents by Inventor Philip G. Harper

Philip G. Harper 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).

  • Finding the direction of a sound
    Patent number: 4935908
    Abstract: An arrangement for finding the direction of a sound in a medium has a thin shell structure having a circular symmetry. The structure can flex in response to incident sound energy from the medium to perturb the form of the structure. A membrane of a piezo-electric material with an anisotropic piezo-electric response to distortion is arranged to be distorted by the perturbation of the thin shell structure. The response of the membrane to this perturbation permits the direction of the incident sound to be indicated. The membrane can be of polyvinylidene difluoride with anisotropic properties. The membrane may be formed into a "dome" for example by fluid pressure inside a hemispherical shell closed by the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Martyn D. Bull, Philip G. Harper, Stuart I. Jardine, David M. Treherne
  • Finding the direction of a sound
    Patent number: 4581727
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the direction of a sound. A thin shell structure is permitted to flex in response to incident sound and perturb the form of the shell. The perturbation is detected and from this the direction of the sound can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: National Research Development Corp.
    Inventors: Philip G. Harper, Stuart I. Jardine, Andrew J. Quinn, David M. Treherne