Systems and methods for controlling highly nonlinear acoustic waves or pulses
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorChiara DARAIO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for creating sound bullets are described. Such sound bullets are created by controlling and/or redirecting highly nonlinear acoustic waves or pulses propagating through an array of actuators. The controlling and/or redirecting of the acoustic waves or pulses is achieved though methods such as applying pre-compressive forces to the array of actuators or by selection of size, shape and/or material of the actuators.
Claims31
A system for controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the system comprising:
- a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators, the actuators being made of different materials such that a first row of the array of actuators is made of a first material and at least a second row of the array of actuators is made of a second material different from the first material.
A system for controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the system comprising:
- a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- and
- a plurality of regulator screws, each regulator screw associated with a first end of a respective row of actuators, the plurality of regulator screws configured to controllably pre-compress each respective row of actuators to which the regulator screws are connected with, such that a first row of the actuators is pre-compressed to a compression different from the compression of at least one other row of the actuators.
A system for controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the system comprising:
- a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- and
- a plurality of hinged levers, each hinged lever connected with a first end of a respective row of actuators.
A system for controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the system comprising:
- a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- and
- a plurality of micro- or nano-positioning devices, each micro- or nano-positioning device connected with a first end of a respective row of actuators.
A system for controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the system comprising:
- a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric devices, each piezoelectric device connected with a first end of a respective row of actuators.
A method of controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the method comprising:
- providing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- providing a plurality of regulator screws, each regulator screw associated with a first end of a respective row of actuators;
- and
- pre-compressing each row of the actuators such that a first row of the actuators is pre-compressed to a compression different from at least one other row of the actuators, the pre-compressing being performed by screwing in or screwing out the plurality of the regulator screws, wherein differences in compression of each of the rows of actuators control and/or redirect the acoustic waves or pulses.
A method of controlling and/or redirecting acoustic waves or pulses, the method comprising:
- providing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- providing a plurality of hinged levers, each hinged lever connected with a first end of a respective row of actuators;
- and
- pre-compressing each row of the actuators such that a first row of the actuators is pre-compressed with the hinged lever to a compression different from at least one other row of the actuators, wherein differences in compression of each of the rows of actuators control and/or redirect the acoustic waves or pulses.
A method of controlling and/or redirection acoustic waves or pulses, the method comprising:
- providing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional array of rows of actuators, each row comprising a plurality of independently tuned highly nonlinear actuators;
- and
- providing acoustic waves or pulses to a first end of the rows of the actuators, the input acoustic waves or pulses propagating to a first row of the actuators at a different time from the acoustic waves or pulses propagating to at least one other row of the actuators, thereby controlling and/or redirecting the acoustic waves or pulses exiting from a second end of the rows of the actuators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.