# US 2017/0289701 A1 · Ultrasonic transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0289701 A1 - Document ID: US20170289701A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/623,780 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-11 - Inventors: Frank Joseph Pompei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170289701A1 ## CPC - H04R 19/02: Loudspeakers (H04R19/01 takes precedence) - B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type} - H04B 11/00: Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - H04R 19/04: Microphones (H04R19/01 takes precedence) - H04R 2217/03: Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves - H04R 2400/01: Transducers used as a loudspeaker to generate sound aswell as a microphone to detect sound - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Ultrasonic transducers that are capable of generating increased levels of ultrasound, as well as receiving ultrasonic waves with increased sensitivity. The ultrasonic transducers include a back cover, a protective front cover, a backplate, and a vibrator film layer disposed between the backplate and the protective front cover. The backplate includes a plurality of grooves formed on a surface thereof facing the vibrator film layer. Each groove includes upper edges having cross-sectional contours that gradually tend toward the deepest part of the groove to allow a larger area of the backplate to be closer to the vibrator film layer, thereby increasing the resulting electric field, and, consequently, increasing the output power and sensitivity of the ultrasonic transducer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A parametric audio system for generating at least one airborne audio beam, comprising: at least one audio signal source configured to provide at least one audio signal; at least one signal conditioner configured for receiving the at least one audio signal and for nonlinearly processing the audio signal to provide at least one pre-distorted signal; a modulator configured to receive the pre-distorted signal and to convert the pre-distorted signal into ultrasonic frequencies; and at least one ultrasonic transducer configured to receive the converted signal and to project the converted signal through the air along a selected path, thereby inverting distortion in the projected signal and regenerating the audio signal along at least a portion of the selected path with reduced net distortion, wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer includes: a vibrator film layer; and a backplate disposed against the vibrator film layer, wherein the backplate includes a plurality of depressions formed on a surface thereof facing the vibrator film layer, and wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include opposing sides with upper surfaces having cross-sectional contours with substantially equal varying slopes to allow an increased area of the surface of the backplate to be near the vibrator film layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The parametric audio system of claim 1 wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer further includes a channel implemented across the surface of the backplate, intersecting at least some of the plurality of depressions, thereby allowing any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The parametric audio system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions have at least one open end to allow any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The parametric audio system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include an electrically conductive pillar structure extending from the deepest part of the respective depressions toward the vibrator film layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The parametric audio system of claim 1 wherein the backplate has one of a rectangular, hexagonal, and square geometric shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The parametric audio system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include the upper surfaces having cross-sectional contours with varying slopes that gradually tend toward the deepest part of the respective depressions. ### Claim 7 A backplate for use in an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer including a vibrator film layer, comprising: a first surface configured to face the vibrator film layer; and a plurality of depressions formed on the first surface, wherein at least some of the plurality of depressions include opposing sides with upper surfaces having cross-sectional contours with substantially equal varying slopes to allow an increased area of the first surface of the backplate to be near the vibrator film layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7 wherein one or more of the plurality of depressions have one or more walls with one or more radiused, sloped, inclined, or angled portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The backplate of claim 8 wherein one or more of the walls include a shallower sloped, inclined, or angled portion at, near, or toward the upper surfaces of the respective depressions, and a steeper sloped, inclined, or angled portion at, near, or toward the deepest parts of the respective depressions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The backplate of claim 9 wherein at least part of the shallower sloped, inclined, or angled portion of at least one of the walls is approximately parallel to the vibrator film layer at, near, or toward the upper surfaces of the respective depressions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7 further comprising: a channel implemented across the first surface of the backplate, intersecting at least some of the respective depressions, thereby allowing any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7 wherein at least some of the respective depressions have at least one open end to allow any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7 wherein the first surface has one of a rectangular, square, and hexagonal shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7 wherein at least some of the respective depressions have a circular dimple configuration. ### Claim 15 A backplate for use in an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer including a vibrator film layer, comprising: a first surface configured to face the vibrator film layer; a plurality of depressions formed on the first surface; and at least one channel implemented across the first surface of the backplate, intersecting at least some of the respective depressions, thereby allowing any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The backplate of claim 15 wherein the first surface has one of a rectangular, square, and hexagonal shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The backplate of claim 15 wherein at least some of the respective depressions have a circular dimple configuration. ### Claim 18 A backplate for use in an ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer including a vibrator film layer, comprising: a first surface configured to face the vibrator film layer; and a plurality of depressions formed on the first surface, wherein at least some of the respective depressions have at least one open end to allow any air trapped in the respective depressions to be released. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The backplate of claim 18 wherein the first surface has one of a rectangular, square, and hexagonal shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The backplate of claim 18 wherein at least some of the respective depressions have a circular dimple configuration.