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Patent US5449909A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5449909A
Expired / Lapsed
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Tunnel effect wave energy detection
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1993-10-25
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2013-10-25
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for measuring gravitational and inertial forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on an object or fluid in space provide an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and that object or fluid in space and vary that gap with any selected one of such forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on that object or fluid. These methods and apparatus sense a corresponding variation in an electric property of that gap and determine the latter force, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy in response to that corresponding variation, and thereby sense or measure such parameters as acceleration, position, particle mass, velocity, magnetic field strength, presence or direction, or wave or radiant energy intensity, presence or direction.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Kaiser
- 👤 Steven B. Waltman
- 👤 Thomas W. Kenny
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/13; G01P15/131; G01P15/0894; G01P15/125; G01P15/132; G01P15/133; G01P2015/0805; G01P2015/0822; G01P2015/0825; G01P2015/0828; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/852
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of measuring inertial forces acting on an object in space, comprising in combination the steps of: providing an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and said object in space; impacting wave energy on said object; varying said gap with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting wave energy and sensing corresponding variations in an electrical property of said gap; and determining said inertial forces for detection of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of measuring inertial forces acting on an object in space, comprising in combination the steps of: providing an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and said object in space; impacting wave energy on said object; varying said gap with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting wave energy and sensing corresponding variations in an electrical property of said gap; and determining said inertial forces for detection of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of: determining a parameter of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said wave energy is acoustic energy impacted on said object; and said gap is varied with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting acoustic energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, including the step of: determining a parameter of said acoustic energy from the corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for measuring inertial forces acting on an object in space, comprising in combination: means for providing an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and said object in space; means for impacting wave energy on said object; means for varying said gap with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting wave energy and sensing corresponding variations in an electrical property of said gap; and means for determining said inertial forces for detection of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for measuring inertial forces acting on an object in space, comprising in combination: means for providing an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and said object in space; means for impacting wave energy on said object; means for varying said gap with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting wave energy and sensing corresponding variations in an electrical property of said gap; and means for determining said inertial forces for detection of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including: means for determining a parameter of said wave energy from said corresponding variations in said electrical property.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said wave energy is acoustic energy impacted on said object; and said means for varying said gap include means for varying said gap with inertial forces acting on said object from said impacting acoustic energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, including: means for determining a parameter of said acoustic energy from the corresponding variations in said electrical property.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |