Hypersonic transducer

• US 7,482,729 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Biegelsen, David K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US11/959,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20080093952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 310/309, 310/322, 310/328, 310/334, 381/77, 381/97
• US Class Current: 310/309
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/325 using transmission of coded signals, e.g. of phase-shift keyed [PSK] signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves

Abstract

This invention provides methods and apparatus for focusing a hypersonic beam to control both a direction and depth of audible information delivery. Signals that are delivered to each of a plurality of hypersonic transducer elements are adjusted in phase so that transmitted hypersonic signals are focused at a focal point anywhere in space. The focal point of a focused hypersonic beam may be used to scan a space of interest when used in a receive mode in a pinging process. When objects are detected, a focused hypersonic beam may be used to deliver audible information substantially only to a neighborhood of the detected object.

Claims

1. A hypersonic transducer that forms a focused hypersonic beam, comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of adhesive standoffs formed over the first surface of the substrate;

a thick film having a first electrode bonded to a bottom surface of the thick film, the first electrode disposed on the adhesive standoffs;

a second electrode disposed in a position opposing the first electrode; and

a plurality of electric components disposed on the second surface of the substrate, the electric components connected to the first and second electrodes for driving the first and second electrodes to generate a focused hypersonic beam.

2. The hypersonic transducer of claim 1, wherein:

the thick film is formed from a ferroelectric/piezoelectric material;

the second electrode is bonded to a top surface of the thick film; and

the first electrode comprising a plurality of transducer element electrodes not directly connected to each other, each of the transducer element electrodes corresponding to one of the standoffs.

3. The hypersonic transducer of claim 2, wherein:

the adhesive standoffs are formed to have closed perimeters, the standoffs, the transducer element electrodes and the first surface of the substrate enclosing a space, the space being one of filled with a foam, substantially emptied of gas by setting a pressure using a hole formed in the substrate and connected to a space adjacent to the second surface of the substrate, the thick film and the first and second electrodes bonded to the thick film having one of concavities extending toward the second surface of the substrate and convexities extending away from the second surface of the substrate.

4. The hypersonic transducer of claim 2, further comprising:

a second thick film bonded to the second electrode; and

a third electrode bonded to a top surface of the second thick film, wherein;

the third electrode comprising a plurality of second transducer element electrodes, each of the second transducer element electrodes opposes one of the transducer element electrodes that is bonded to the bottom surface of the thick film,

the first and third electrodes being driven at opposite polarities for forming the focused hypersonic beams.

5. The hypersonic transducer of claim 1, wherein:

the thick film is formed of non-ferroelectric/piezoelectric materials;

the second electrode bonded to the first surface of the substrate and comprising a plurality of transducer element electrodes not directly connected to each other, the first and second electrodes connected to the components for transmitting the focused hypersonic beams.

6. The hypersonic transducer of claim 5, wherein:

the adhesive standoffs are formed to have closed perimeters, the standoffs, the transducer element electrodes and the first surface of the substrate enclosing a space, the space being one of filled with a foam, set to a pressure different than ambient pressure using a hold formed in the substrate and connected to an air space adjacent to the second surface of the substrate, the thick film and the first and second electrodes bonded to the thick film having concavities extending toward the space.

7. A hypersonic transducer, comprising:

means for mounting a thick film having a first electrode bonded to a bottom surface of the thick film over a first surface of a substrate;

a plurality of transducer element electrodes formed on the first surface of the substrate; and

means for driving the first electrode and the transducer element electrodes for generating a focused hypersonic beam.