Carbon nanotube transducers on propeller blades for sound control
First Claim
1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
- a first motor configured to rotate a propeller such that the propeller generates a lifting force;
the propeller including;
a hub that is coupled to the first motor so that the first motor can rotate the propeller; and
a propeller blade extending from the hub, the propeller blade including an upper surface and a lower surface;
a propeller duct positioned around the propeller;
a plurality of carbon nanotube transducers formed as a mesh material and positioned over an exit of the propeller duct; and
a sound controller in communication with the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to provide a signal to the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to cause the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to activate, wherein the signal causes the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to generate an anti-sound that interferes with a sound generated by a rotation of the propeller blade.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to controlling, reducing, and/or altering sound generated by an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), while the aerial vehicle is airborne. For example, one or more transducers, such as piezoelectric thin-film transducers, or carbon nanotube transducers may be applied or incorporated into or on the surface of propeller blades that are used to aerially navigate the aerial vehicle. As the propeller blade rotates and generates sound, the transducers may be activated to generate one or more anti-sounds that cancel, reduce, or otherwise modify the sound generated by the rotation of the propeller blade. The anti-sound combines with the sound and causes interference such that the combined, or net-effect, is an overall cancellation, reduction, or other modification of the sound.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial vehicle comprising:
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a first motor configured to rotate a propeller such that the propeller generates a lifting force; the propeller including; a hub that is coupled to the first motor so that the first motor can rotate the propeller; and a propeller blade extending from the hub, the propeller blade including an upper surface and a lower surface; a propeller duct positioned around the propeller; a plurality of carbon nanotube transducers formed as a mesh material and positioned over an exit of the propeller duct; and a sound controller in communication with the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to provide a signal to the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to cause the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to activate, wherein the signal causes the plurality of carbon nanotube transducers to generate an anti-sound that interferes with a sound generated by a rotation of the propeller blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An aerial vehicle, comprising:
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a motor; a propeller coupled to and rotated by the motor, the propeller including a surface area having an upper side, a lower side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge; a propeller duct positioned around the propeller; a carbon nanotube transducer formed in a mesh material and positioned over at least a portion of at least one of an entrance or an exit of the propeller duct; and a sound controller in communication with the carbon nanotube transducer to provide a signal to the carbon nanotube transducer to cause the carbon nanotube transducer to activate, wherein the signal causes the carbon nanotube transducer to generate an anti-sound that interferes with a sound generated by a rotation of the propeller. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for altering a sound generated by a rotation of a propeller blade, the method comprising:
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determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the propeller blade; obtaining from a memory, an indication of a sound anticipated to be generated by the propeller blade when rotating at the RPM; determining an anti-sound that will cause interference with the sound; and sending a signal to a carbon nanotube transducer included in a mesh material that is positioned over at least a portion of at least one of an entrance or an exit of a propeller duct around the propeller blade to cause the carbon nanotube transducer to generate the anti-sound such that the anti-sound causes interference with the sound. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification