# US 10,373,485 B2 · Systems, methods, and computer readable storage devices for controlling an appearance of a surface using sound waves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,485 B2 - Document ID: US10373485B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/161,584 - Filed: 2018-10-16 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-21 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: James H. Pratt; Ari Craine; Garrett Stettler; Marc Andrew Sullivan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373485B2 ## CPC - G08C 23/02: using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves - H04L 12/2818: {from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007)} - H04L 12/4625: {Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge} - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An ultrasonic source controlled by a controller to cause the ultrasonic source to emit one or more sound pulses in a direction of a surface in order to obtain one or more reflected sound pulses that are used to determine one or more properties of the surface. The ultrasonic source receives one or more control signals based on the one or more properties of the surface that are determined. Further, the ultrasonic source emits one or more ultrasonic sound waves in the direction of the surface based upon the one or more control signals. The one or more ultrasonic sound waves exert a force which causes visible particles to move to modify an opacity of the surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a controller; and an ultrasonic source controlled by the controller to cause the ultrasonic source to perform operations comprising: emitting one or more sound pulses in a direction of a surface in order to obtain one or more reflected sound pulses that are used to determine one or more properties of the surface; receiving one or more control signals, based on the one or more properties of the surface that are determined; and emitting one or more ultrasonic sound waves in the direction of the surface based upon the one or more control signals, wherein the one or more ultrasonic sound waves exert a force which causes visible particles to move to modify an opacity of the surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to reduce the opacity of the surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to increase the opacity of the surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the operations further comprising: varying at least one of a frequency, an amplitude, and a phase of the one or more ultrasonic sound waves that are emitted, depending upon a mass of the visible particles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the ultrasonic source in response to an alarm condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the ultrasonic source in response to a temporal condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a particle movement solution that, based on the one or more properties of the surface, is based upon a predetermined particle movement plan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the ultrasonic source based on one or more user preferences with respect to one or more commodities associated with the surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties of the surface that are determined include a location of the surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties of the surface that are determined include one or more dimensions of the surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, the operations further comprising: emitting one or more additional sound pulses in the direction of the surface; and receiving one or more additional reflected sound pulses, wherein the one or more additional reflected sound pulses are used to determine whether a sound pattern of the one or more additional reflected sound pulses matches a predetermined sound pattern that corresponds to the opacity of the surface. ### Claim 12 A method, comprising: emitting, by an ultrasonic source, one or more sound pulses towards a surface to obtain one or more reflected sound pulses which are used to determine one or more properties of the surface; receiving, by the ultrasonic source, one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are based on the one or more properties of the surface that are determined; and emitting, by the ultrasonic source, one or more ultrasonic sound waves towards the surface based on the one or more control signals, wherein the one or more ultrasonic sound waves exert a force which causes visible particles to move to modify an opacity of the surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to reduce opacity of the surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to increase opacity of the surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting one or more additional sound pulses to the surface after the visible particles are moved; receiving one or more additional reflected sound pulses from the surface based on the one or more additional sound pulses that are transmitted; and determining whether the opacity of the surface corresponds to a predetermined appearance based on the one or more additional reflected sound pulses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic source is controlled in response to an alarm condition. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising: emitting one or more sound pulses towards a surface to obtain one or more reflected sound pulses which are used to determine one or more properties of the surface; receiving one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are based on the one or more properties of the surface that are determined; and emitting one or more ultrasonic sound waves towards the surface based on the one or more control signals, wherein the one or more ultrasonic sound waves exert a force which causes visible particles to move to modify an opacity of the surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to reduce the opacity of the surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the force causes the visible particles to float and move in a predetermined pattern to increase the opacity of the surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise: transmitting one or more additional sound pulses to the surface after the visible particles are moved; and determining whether the opacity of the surface corresponds to a predetermined appearance based on one or more additional reflected sound pulses received from the surface based on the one or more additional sound pulses transmitted after the visible particles are moved.