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US 8,787,115 B1Granted
Acoustics for power and communication in small devices
OwnerTad Hogg, Robert A. Freitas, Jr.inventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides devices and methods for using acoustics to communicate between a macro-scale transceiver and a micro-device or between multiple micro-devices. The micro-devices may passively scatter sound from a transceiver or actively generate sound. Acoustic waves can also provide power to a micro-device.
Claims16
A method for coupling acoustic waves to a micro-device comprising:
- a) computing an efficiency for each of a plurality of frequencies, at least one of which is above is above 1 MHz, for transmission of the acoustic waves through a medium situating the micro-device;
- b) choosing one or more frequencies based on the computed efficiency of the one or more frequencies;
- c) transmitting the acoustic waves to the micro-device at the chosen one or more frequencies;
- wherein the micro-device is between 10 nanometers and 200 micrometers in size in its smallest dimension and is configured to couple to the acoustic waves at the chosen one or more frequencies.
1 more element
An apparatus for coupling acoustic waves to a micro-device comprising:
- a) a micro-device between 10 nanometers and 200 micrometers in size in its smallest dimension;
- b) a means for computing an efficiency for each of a plurality of frequencies, at least one of which is above is above 1 MHz, for transmission of the acoustic waves through a medium situating the micro-device;
- c) a means for choosing one or more frequencies based on the computed efficiency of the one or more frequencies;
- and
- d) a means for transmitting the acoustic waves to the micro-device at the chosen one or more frequencies;
- wherein the micro-device is configured to couple to the acoustic waves.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.