US4843275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air buoyant piezoelectric polymeric film microphone
Assignee: Arkema Inc
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Filing: 1988-01-19
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2008-01-19
Abstract
Abstract Piezoelectric polymer film, when conformably adhered to inner or outer surfaces of an inflated balloon, functions as a microphone when the pressure of sound waves causes the film to vibrate and generate an electrical signal. The film may be in the form of an helical strip, individual strips electrically serially connected, or may itself form the inflatable material. A receiving device is electrically coupled with the electrodes formed on the piezoelectric film for processing the electrical signals generated by the vibrating piezoelectric polymer film.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter F. Radice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/02; H04R17/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: a piezoelectric polymer film having electrodes disposed on opposing sides thereof; air buoyant inflatable means with said film attached thereto for supporting said film in an air buoyant position, said inflatable means is filled with a gas which is lighter in weight than air; and receiving means electrically coupled with the electrodes of said film for processing the electrical signal generated by said film when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: a piezoelectric polymer film having electrodes disposed on opposing sides thereof; air buoyant inflatable means with said film attached thereto for supporting said film in an air buoyant position, said inflatable means is filled with a gas which is lighter in weight than air; and receiving means electrically coupled with the electrodes of said film for processing the electrical signal generated by said film when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric polymer film is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene, and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air buoyant inflatable means is a balloon having outer surfaces with said film conformably adhering to said outer surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said film comprises a helical strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said air buoyant inflatable means is a balloon having inner surfaces with said film conformably adhering to said inner surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said film comprises a helical strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said film is a bimorph having grounded outer electrodes to shield against electromagnetic interference signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said film is folded such that one of said electrodes is in a face-to-face relationship and the other of said electrodes is grounded to shield against electromagnetic interference signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said film comprises individual strips thereof in a spaced distribution around said air buoyant inflatable means, said electrodes on said film comprising an outer electrode and inner electrode, and each of said individual strips having electrical connecting means for electrically coupling adjacent outer electrodes and adjacent inner electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises: an amplifying means for amplifying the generated electrical signal; and means electrically coupled to the output of said amplifying means for producing amplified sound waves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises: a recording means for recording said electrical signal on a recordable medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises: frequency selective means responsive to said electrical signal for detecting when the frequency of said electrical signal is within a preselected range and for generating an output signal in response thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises: means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said receiving means further comprises: indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: air buoyant inflatable means for housing gas and inflated with a gas which is lighter in weight than air, said air buoyant inflatable means comprises a piezoelectric polymer film having an outer electrode disposed over an outer surface of said film and an inner electrode disposed over an inner surface of said film; and receiving means electrically coupled with the electrodes of said film for processing the electrical signal generated by said film when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: air buoyant inflatable means for housing gas and inflated with a gas which is lighter in weight than air, said air buoyant inflatable means comprises a piezoelectric polymer film having an outer electrode disposed over an outer surface of said film and an inner electrode disposed over an inner surface of said film; and receiving means electrically coupled with the electrodes of said film for processing the electrical signal generated by said film when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves according to claim 15 wherein said piezoelectric polymer film is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said piezoelectric polymer film is a bimorph with the electrodes forming the outer and inner surfaces of said inflatable means grounded to shield against electromagnetic interference signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said receiving means comprises: an amplifying means for amplifying the generated electrical signal; and means electrically coupled to the output of said amplifying means for producing amplified sound waves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said receiving means comprises: a recording means for recording said electrical signal on a recordable medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said receiving means comprises: frequency selective means response to said electrical signal for detecting when the frequency of said electrical signal is within a preselected range and for generating an output signal in response thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said receiving means comprises: means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said receiving means further comprises: indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: an inflatable means for housing gas; a piezoelectric polymer film having electrodes on opposing sides thereof attached to said inflatable means, said piezoelectric polymer film generating an electrical signal when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves; means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform; and indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
104 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: an inflatable means for housing gas; a piezoelectric polymer film having electrodes on opposing sides thereof attached to said inflatable means, said piezoelectric polymer film generating an electrical signal when said film is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves; means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform; and indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: inflatable means for housing gas comprising a piezoelectric polymer film having an outer electrode disposed over an outer surface of said film and an inner electrode disposed over an inner surface of said film, said film generating an electrical signal when it is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves; means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform; and indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for receiving sound waves, comprising: inflatable means for housing gas comprising a piezoelectric polymer film having an outer electrode disposed over an outer surface of said film and an inner electrode disposed over an inner surface of said film, said film generating an electrical signal when it is caused to vibrate by the pressure of the received sound waves; means electrically coupled with said electrodes for producing an output signal when the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to a reference waveform; and indicating means responsive to said output signal for indicating that the waveform of the electrical signal generated by said film corresponds to the reference waveform.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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