Systems and methods for acoustic mode conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10600402-B2
Application number	US-201715599342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	May 18, 2017
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with mode conversion for ultrasound and acoustic radiation devices. A mode converting structure (holographic metamaterial) is formed with a distribution of acoustic material properties selected to convert an acoustic pressure pattern from a first mode to a second mode to attain a target radiation pattern that is different from the input radiation pattern. A solution to a holographic equation provides a sufficiently accurate approximation of a distribution of acoustic material properties to form a mode converting device. One or more optimization algorithms can be used to improve the efficiency of the mode conversion and generation of the acoustic mode converter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a mode converting structure with a volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties configured to be positioned relative to an acoustic radiation (AR) device to modify an acoustic field profile of the AR device from an input mode to an output mode for a finite frequency range,
wherein the mode converting structure is divided into a plurality of sub-wavelength voxels,
wherein each voxel has a maximum dimension that is less than half of a wavelength of a frequency within the finite frequency range, and
wherein each voxel is assigned one of a plurality of acoustic material properties to approximate the distribution of acoustic material properties of the mode converting structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties comprises a volumetric distribution of material properties including components of linear elasticity tensor and dynamic density tensor in a selected coordinate system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each voxel is assigned an acoustic material property to modify the acoustic field profile to achieve a target far-field radiation pattern.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the acoustic material property includes a combination of components of linear elasticity tensor and dynamic density tensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each voxel is assigned an acoustic material property to modify the acoustic field profile to achieve a target near-field radiation pattern.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the acoustic material property includes a combination of components of linear elasticity tensor and dynamic density tensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of unique acoustic material properties is assigned to a corresponding subset of voxels by forming each voxel of the subset of voxels from a material having a unique bulk modulus, such that each of the voxels in the subset of voxels has a unique acoustic material property based on the unique bulk modulus of the material from which the voxel is formed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of unique acoustic material properties is assigned to a corresponding subset of voxels by forming each voxel of the subset of voxels from a material having a unique elastic modulus, such that each of the voxels in the subset of voxels has a unique acoustic material property based on the unique elastic modulus of the material from which the voxel is formed.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of unique acoustic material properties is assigned to a corresponding subset of voxels by forming each voxel of the subset of voxels from a material having a unique density, such that each of the voxels in the subset of voxels has a unique acoustic material property based on the unique density of the material from which the voxel is formed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of unique acoustic material properties are assigned to a corresponding subset of voxels by forming each voxel of the subset of voxels from a material having a unique acoustic characteristic, such that each of the voxels in the subset of voxels has a unique acoustic material property based on the unique acoustically-relevant quality of the material from which the voxel is formed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an acoustic transducer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an acoustic transmitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an acoustic receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an ultrasound transducer.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an infrasound transducer.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an audible acoustic radiation device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises a vibration device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises a sonic radiation device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AR device comprises an optical radiation antenna configured to convert between acoustic vibration and electric current.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric distribution is approximately homogeneous in one spatial dimension in a coordinate system, such that the volumetric distribution of the mode converting structure is effectively two-dimensional.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to be positioned on an end of an acoustic transmission line of the AR device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties comprises a first subset of voxels formed from a first material having a first acoustic characteristic and a second subset of voxels formed from a second material having a second acoustic characteristic that is different from the first acoustic characteristic.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, at standard ambient temperature pressure (SATP), the volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties comprises a first subset of voxels formed from a first, solid material having a first acoustic characteristic and a second subset of voxels formed from a second, liquid material having a second acoustic characteristic that is different from the first acoustic characteristic.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties is selected to form a corresponding volumetric distribution of primary acoustic refractive indices that corresponds to a holographic solution.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric distribution of acoustic material properties is selected using an optimization algorithm in which the acoustic material properties are treated as optimizable variables.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to decrease the directivity in at least one direction.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to decrease the power level of at least one sidelobe.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to decrease the power radiated into a specific solid angle.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to change the direction of a strongest sidelobe.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to change the direction of a sidelobe closest to a boresight.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to decrease radiation in an approximately opposite direction of a main lobe direction.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to decrease radiation in a backward half space defined as the direction between approximately 180 and 270 degrees relative to the boresight.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to increase the uniformity of the radiation profile of the AR device in the near-field.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mode converting structure is configured to create a null in the near-field of the AR devic

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Urzhumov Yaroslav A

Classifications

• G10K11/24 Primary

  for conducting sound through solid bodies, e.g. wires · CPC title

• G01S15/897

  using application of holographic techniques · CPC title

• G10K11/341 Primary

  Circuits therefor · CPC title

• G03H3/00

  Holographic processes or apparatus using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves for obtaining holograms; Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from them (G03H1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/34 Primary

  by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/402)} · CPC title