The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 16, 1996
Michael W Ferralli, Fairview, PA (US);
Technology Licensing Company, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
The invention comprises a device capable of emitting either acoustic or electromagnetic radiant energy. The device has at least one movable transducing element for producing this energy, and at least one reflector with a smooth concave surface which reflects the energy emitted from the transducing element. The shape of the reflector surface is preferably defined by either a rotated ellipse or a rotated parabola. A reflector surface of either shape is characterized by a continuum of distinct focal points that define a focal curve, such that each distinct focal point of the continuum is a unique focal point of each ellipse or parabola in the continuum forming the reflector surface. The radius of curvature of the parabolic surface of revolution can be extended up to an infinite length, causing the focal curve to appear as a straight line. The movable transducing element may be positioned above the reflector surface to produce energy that is redirected by the reflector surface into a focal region containing the focal curve, causing the focal region to appear as the source of the energy. The radiation pattern, or beamwidth, of this reflected energy will be substantially frequency invariant when the transducer is positioned symmetrically about the axis of revolution. However, the beamwidth can be adjusted by moving the transducer to another location. In addition, a means is provided for absorbing or attenuating that radiation which is not reflected from the reflector surface, in order to eliminate interference between reflected and non-reflected radiation.