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US 9,956,431 B2Granted
Ultrasonic oscillator
AssigneeMurakumo Corporation
InventorTakahiro Watanabe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an ultrasonic oscillator that heats a target using ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic oscillator includes: a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements that oscillates the ultrasonic waves; a retention portion that retains the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements in a state where the ultrasonic oscillation elements are arranged along a concave thereof opposing the heating target; and a controller that controls the ultrasonic oscillation elements so as to oscillate the ultrasonic waves.
Claims13
An ultrasonic oscillator comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements configured to emit ultrasonic waves;
- a retention portion including a deformable and substantially hemispherically-shaped concave portion having a concave surface configured to oppose a heating target, the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements being arranged on the concave surface and forming a first focal spot, a curvature of the concave surface of the deformable concave portion being changed by elastic deformation of the concave portion, and positions of the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements retained on the concave surface of the concave portion being changed by the change to the curvature of the concave surface by the elastic deformation of the concave portion to have a second focal spot for a heating position in the heating target;
- a driver that is connected to the retention portion and configured to elastically deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave portion;
- and
- a controller configured to control the ultrasonic oscillation elements to emit the ultrasonic waves and to control the heating position of the emitted ultrasonic waves by controlling the driver to deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave surface of the concave portion and adjust propagation directions of the emitted ultrasonic waves to have the second focal spot for the heating position.
2 more elements
An ultrasonic oscillator comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements that are configured to emit ultrasonic waves and to sense the emitted ultrasonic waves;
- a retention portion including a deformable and substantially hemispherically-shaped concave portion having a concave surface configured to oppose a heating target, the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements being arranged on the concave surface and forming a first focal spot, a curvature of the concave surface of the deformable concave portion being changed by elastic deformation of the concave portion, and positions of the plurality of ultrasonic oscillation elements retained on the concave surface of the concave portion being changed by the change to the curvature of the concave surface by the elastic deformation of the concave portion to have a second focal spot for a heating position in the heating target;
- a driver that is connected to the retention portion and configured to elastically deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave portion;
- and
- a controller configured to control the ultrasonic oscillation elements to emit the ultrasonic waves and to receive sensing signals output from the ultrasonic oscillation elements and to control the heating position of the emitted ultrasonic waves by controlling the driver to deform the concave portion to change the curvature of the concave surface of the concave portion and adjust propagation directions of the emitted ultrasonic waves to have the second focal spot for the heating position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.