# US 9,437,184 B1 · Elemental artificial cell for acoustic lens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,184 B1 - Document ID: US9437184B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/727,412 - Filed: 2015-06-01 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-01 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Inventors: Dwight W. Swett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437184B1 ## CPC - G10K 11/30: using refraction, e.g. acoustic lenses - G01V 1/40: specially adapted for well-logging - G01V 2001/526: {Mounting of transducers} - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract A cell for manipulating an acoustic wave includes a plurality of spokes radiating from a hub and a plurality of concentrically arranged leaves. Each leaf is supported by at least one spoke and is formed by a plurality of circumferentially distributed fingers. Each finger is connected to at least one spoke. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cell for manipulating and directing an acoustic wave, comprising: a hub; a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, wherein each spoke has a plurality of junctures; and a plurality of fingers circumferentially distributed around the hub, wherein and at least one finger of the plurality of fingers is connected at each juncture, wherein the plurality of fingers have a planar surface bounded by a plurality of edges, the plurality of fingers being oriented to cause the acoustic wave to enter the plurality of fingers via at least one of the plurality of edges and travel along an axis that is parallel to the planar surface, wherein the hub is formed of a plurality of structurally independent sections, wherein each section has a set of the plurality of spokes, and wherein each set of the plurality of spokes are structurally independent to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fingers are further distributed to form a plurality of concentric leaves. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cell of claim 2, wherein each spoke includes a plurality of necked portions, each necked portion being immediately adjacent to each juncture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cell of claim 2, wherein the leaves are shaped as one of: (i) a circle, and (ii) a polygon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fingers includes an enlarged portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein the hub and the plurality of spokes are aligned along a plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein a thickness of at least two fingers of the plurality of fingers varies non-linearly along the plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of fingers branch in opposing directions along each spoke. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein an enlarged portion is formed at a distal end of each finger of the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein each finger includes at least one radially oriented projection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cell of claim 1, wherein: the hub, the plurality of spokes, and the plurality of fingers are divided to form a plurality of structurally independent cell segments; the plurality of fingers are radially staggered to nest between one another; and the hub, the plurality of spokes, and the plurality of fingers all lie along the same plane. ### Claim 12 An acoustic tool, comprising: a transducer configured to generate and detect an acoustic wave; a lens spaced-apart from the acoustic source; the lens having a planar surface bounded by a plurality of edges, wherein the acoustic wave enters the lens via at least one of the plurality of edges and travels along a axis that is parallel to the planar surface; the lens including at least one lens element having: a hub; a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, wherein each spoke includes a plurality of fingers, the plurality of fingers being circumferentially distributed around the hub, wherein the hub and the plurality of spokes are planar members arranged parallel to the planar surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tool of claim 12, wherein the lens includes a plurality of co-planar lens elements. ### Claim 14 A method for manipulating an acoustic wave, comprising: positioning a lens to receive the acoustic wave, the lens including: a hub; a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, wherein each spoke has a plurality of junctures; and a plurality of fingers circumferentially distributed around the hub, wherein and at least one finger of the plurality of fingers is connected at each juncture, wherein the plurality of fingers have a planar surface bounded by a plurality of edges, the plurality of fingers being oriented to cause the acoustic wave to enter the plurality of fingers via at least one of the plurality of edges and travel along an axis that is parallel to the planar surface; positioning a transducer to generate the acoustical wave principally into a first edge of the lens; receiving the acoustic wave principally into the first edge of the lens; conveying the acoustic wave through the lens in a direction parallel to a face of the lens; and directing the acoustic wave from a second edge of the lens that is on a side opposite to the lens. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a second acoustic signal at the transducer from the cell principally in a direction parallel to the planar surface of the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the hub is formed of a plurality of structurally independent sections, wherein each section has a set of the plurality of spokes, and wherein each set of the plurality of spokes are structurally independent to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the hub and the plurality of spokes are aligned along a plane and wherein a thickness of at least two fingers of the plurality of fingers varies non-linearly along the plane. ### Claim 18 An acoustic tool, comprising: a transducer configured to generate and detect an acoustic wave; and a cell including: a hub; a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, wherein each spoke has a plurality of junctures; and a plurality of fingers circumferentially distributed around the hub, wherein and at least one finger of the plurality of fingers is connected at each juncture, wherein the plurality of fingers have a planar surface bounded by a plurality of edges, the plurality of fingers being oriented to cause the acoustic wave to enter the plurality of fingers via at least one of the plurality of edges and travel along an axis that is parallel to the planar surface, wherein the transducer generates the acoustic signal to the cell principally in a direction parallel to the planar surface of the plurality of fingers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The acoustic tool of claim 18, wherein the transducer receives the acoustic signal from the cell principally in a direction parallel to the planar surface of the plurality of fingers.