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:
Dec. 26, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 19, 2004
Gareth Knowles, Williamsport, PA (US);
Eli Hughes, State College, PA (US);
Gareth Knowles, Williamsport, PA (US);
Eli Hughes, State College, PA (US);
QorTek, Inc., Williamsport, PA (US);
Abstract
A sensor with sound navigation and ranging applications is presented. The invention includes a pressure conduction composite sandwiched between electrically conductive elements so as to sense pressure associated with an acoustic wave via a change in conductance within the composite. One electrically conductive element is rigid and includes the hull of a vessel or wall of a sea-based device. The pressure conduction composite is composed of a non-conductive matrix having a conductive fill at or near the percolation threshold of the material system. The pressure conduction composite is highly resistive in its uncompressed state. However, resistance decreases with increasing compression. In preferred embodiments, sensors are arranged in an array architecture including planar and conformal configurations. The present invention has immediate application in submarines, ships, and sonobuoys.