See the acoustics lab at http://microphonium.blogspot.com

Some U.S. Patents by W1XYZ - - an asterisk * indicates inventions which rely upon or stem directly from experience with Ham Radio technology.

6700550 *Optical antenna array for harmonic generation, mixing, and signal amplification 3 (this is about a real antenna for light that is only a couple of hundred nanometers long, and tuned to a low SWR!)

6626940 *Medical device activation system

6594471 *Radiative focal area antenna transmission coupling arrangement (hands free car kits)

6585655 *Medical Imaging Device (looking inside the heart for blockages)

6572553 *Medical Imaging Device

6405073 *Miniature Spectrometer System and Method (a throwaway spectrometer that you can put into a body cavity)

6394949 Large Area Thermal Ablation (of cancer of the esophagus)

6371915 *One-Twelfth Wavelength Impedence Matching Transformer (works with sound AND rf)

6364840 *Acoustic imaging catheter and the like #6

6364831 *Endofluorescence imaging module for an endoscope 2

6324418 *Portable tissue spectroscopy apparatus and method

6313762 Keyboard with keys for moving cursor (why mouse it?)

6289229 *Readable probe array for in vivo use

6258401 *Optical antenna array for harmonic generation, mixing and signal amplification 2

6238348 *Miniature Spectrometer System and Method

6185443 Visible Display for an Interventional Device

6165127 *Acoustic Imaging Catheter and the Like (#5)

6119031 *Miniature spectrometer

6112106 *Antenna transmission coupling arrangement

6074349 *Acoustic imaging and Doppler catheter and guidewires

6064343 *Antenna Coupling Arrangement (use your cellphone on the plane)

6038060 *Optical Antenna Array for harmonic generation, mixing and signal amplification

6052071 Keyboard with keys for moving cursor

6004279 *Medical guidewire

6004269 *Catheters for imaging, sensing electrical potentials, and ablating tissue

5984861 *Endofluorescence imaging module for an endoscope

5932035 Drive shaft for acoustic imaging catheters

5840031 *Catheters for imaging, sensing electrical potentials, and ablating tissue

5742241 Flexible data entry panel (roll it up and toss when done)

5715825 *Acoustic imaging catheter and the like (#4)

5711014 *Antenna transmission coupling arrangement

5691716 Keyboard with keys for moving cursor

5666112 Key for flexible keyboard

5655537 *Acoustic imaging and doppler catheters and guidewires

5648771 Wrist rest bag for flexible keyboard

5642109 Flexible inflatable multi-chamber signal generator

5630837 *Acoustic ablation

5588432 *Catheters for imaging

5546948 *Ultrasound imaging guidewire

5544660 *Acoustic imaging catheter and method of operation

5524630 *Acoustic imaging catheter and the like (#3)

5493702 *Antenna transmission coupling arrangement

5464016 *Medical acoustic imaging catheter and guidewire

5459461 Inflatable keyboard (Warning - do not over inflate!)

5454373 *Medical acoustic imaging

5437282 Drive shaft for acoustic imaging catheters

5421338 *Acoustic imaging catheter and the like (#2)

5368035 *Ultrasound imaging guidewire

5131397 *Imaging system for producing ultrasonic images

5002059 Tip filled ultrasound catheter (as opposed to back filled?)

4951677 *Acoustic imaging catheter and the like (#1)

There are dozens more issued in the US, Europe and Japan but not listed here.

To look at these patents in detail, go to WWW.USPTO.GOV, click on "Patents", and enter the numbers. You can get complete downloads (TIFF format) of U.S. patents for free. The European patent site now has downloadable free pdfs online. You may have to download a free viewer from the USPTO to see what they have. Listed are UHF, microwave and optical antenna full text and image patents that are derived directly from my experience with Ham Radio.

Thanks to Dave, W1CBI, for finding "Calling W-1-X-Y-Z : Jimmy Kean and the Radio Spies" published in the 1930's and pictured above. I don't look like Jimmy Kean.

Ham radio can be a great technical and social education that will benefit you in many ways, such as in business. Most hams quickly learn to "make a transmission" that is at least two or three minutes long, and often over ten minutes. The ability to go on and on, and hold the stage, or keep talking over others in political and business settings is very advantageous. Hams should be aware that this side benefit may not always be an advantage, and attempt to include actual content in their long transmissions.

Hams should demonstrate their value to society and make good use of the finite spectrum. Many of the inventions above would not have been possible without the experience gained by our unique, low-cost access to regulated spectrum space.