# US 8,787,115 B1 · Acoustics for power and communication in small devices

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- Number: US 8,787,115 B1
- Document ID: US8787115B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/656,126
- Filed: 2012-10-19
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-10-19
- Applicants: Tad Hogg; Robert A. Freitas, Jr.
- Inventors: Tad Hogg; Robert A. Freitas, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787115B1

## CPC

- G01S 1/72: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- H04B 1/1027: {assessing signal quality or detecting noise/interference for the received signal}
- H04B 11/00: Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 whereby the acoustic waves are used for supplying power to a micro-device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more frequencies are chosen to optimize power transmission and data transmission simultaneously.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the micro-device is located in the near field of a transmitter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the micro-device is located in the far field of a transmitter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 whereby the acoustic waves are used for communicating with the micro-device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein thermal noise is considered when choosing the one or more frequencies.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein noise created by other micro-devices is considered when choosing the one or more frequencies.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for using the acoustic waves for supplying power to the micro-device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for choosing the one or more frequencies are further based on power transmission optimization and data transmission optimization simultaneously.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the micro-device is located in the near field of a transmitter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the micro-device is located in the far field of a transmitter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for using the acoustic waves for communicating with the micro-device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein thermal noise is considered when choosing the one or more frequencies.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein noise created by other micro-devices is considered when choosing the one or more frequencies.