An audio system includes a modulated ultrasound audio driver having at least one ultrasound emitter configured to emit an ultrasound signal; at least one acoustic mixer configured to generate an audio signal from the ultrasound signal; and at least one ultrasound receiver configured to detect an ultrasound signal and generate a corresponding electrical signal. A processing unit is configured to process the electrical signal and estimate one or more physical or biometric parameters from the electrical signal. A method for physical or biometric parameter estimation is also disclosed.

An audio system includes a modulated ultrasound audio driver having at least one ultrasound emitter configured to emit an ultrasound signal; at least one acoustic mixer configured to generate an audio signal from the ultrasound signal; and at least one ultrasound receiver configured to detect an ultrasound signal and generate a corresponding electrical signal. A processing unit is configured to process the electrical signal and estimate one or more physical or biometric parameters from the electrical signal. A method for physical or biometric parameter estimation is also disclosed.

An ultrasonic system for treating a submerged surface of a target structure, the system including: an ultrasonic generator for generating electrical energy to drive first and second ultrasonic transducers, the electrical energy including at least two different frequencies including a first and second operation frequency; first ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted as a first array to the target structure, and connectable to the ultrasonic generator and operable to generate a first ultrasound signal from the first operation frequency; and second ultrasonic transducers configured to be mounted as a second array to the target structure, and connectable to the ultrasonic generator and operable to generate a second ultrasound signal from the second operation frequency, wherein the first and second ultrasonic transducers are spaceable from one another to produce guided ultrasonic waveforms through the target structure including heterodyned frequencies from the first ultrasound signal and the second ultrasound signal.

An ultrasound sonotrode (101), the first end of which is adapted to be connected to a mechanical vibrations source, equipped with a working tip (105,205,405,805) at the opposite end of the sonotrode (101), equipped with a body (104) with a cooling jacket (103), sealed at the place of contact with the body (104) of the sonotrode (101) with the use of the first seal (106) and the second seal (107), characterized in that according to the invention the first seal (106) is placed at a distance less than or equal to 20 mm from the node of the standing wave excited in the sonotrode in the working conditions, and the second seal (107,207,407,507,607) is equipped with a resilient element (108,208,408,508,608) and is located at a distance less than or equal to 20 mm from the working tip (105,205 405,805). A method for metal alloying, in which the material is melted on the working tip (105, 205, 405, 805) of the sonotrode excited to mechanical vibrations, according to the invention characterized in that a sonotrode according to the invention is used.

An ultrasound sonotrode (101), the first end of which is adapted to be connected to a mechanical vibrations source, equipped with a working tip (105,205,405,805) at the opposite end of the sonotrode (101), equipped with a body (104) with a cooling jacket (103), sealed at the place of contact with the body (104) of the sonotrode (101) with the use of the first seal (106) and the second seal (107), characterized in that according to the invention the first seal (106) is placed at a distance less than or equal to 20 mm from the node of the standing wave excited in the sonotrode in the working conditions, and the second seal (107,207,407,507,607) is equipped with a resilient element (108,208,408,508,608) and is located at a distance less than or equal to 20 mm from the working tip (105,205 405,805). A method for metal alloying, in which the material is melted on the working tip (105, 205, 405, 805) of the sonotrode excited to mechanical vibrations, according to the invention characterized in that a sonotrode according to the invention is used.

A force generating device includes: a support unit; a link unit rotatably coupled to one side of the support unit; a transfer unit that is coupled to the link unit and transfers wave energy to the outside; and a drive unit that operates the link unit. In particular, the transfer unit is moved on an imaginary sphere by a motion of the link unit, and the transfer unit transfers the wave energy to a center of the imaginary sphere.

An ultrasonic horn includes a generally cylindrical input section having an energy input end, a generally cylindrical output section having an energy output end, and a throat section disposed between the input section and the output section, the throat section being defined by a side wall having a continuous curve and having a diameter tapering down from a diameter generally equal to a diameter of the input section on a side connected to the input section, and tapering down from a diameter generally equal to a diameter of the output section on a side connected to the output section, to a minimum throat diameter. The minimum throat diameter is smaller than the diameter of the output section and the diameter of the output section is smaller than the diameter of the input section. The side wall of the throat section has a constant radius of curvature.

A system for controlling damages in cleaning a semiconductor wafer comprising features of patterned structures, the system comprising: a wafer holder for temporary restraining a semiconductor wafer during a cleaning process; an inlet for delivering a cleaning liquid over a surface of the semiconductor wafer; a sonic generator configured to alternately operate at a first frequency and a first power level for a first predetermined period of time and at a second frequency and a second power level for a second predetermined period of time, to impart sonic energy to the cleaning liquid, the first predetermined period of time and the second predetermined period of time consecutively following one another; and a controller programmed to provide the cleaning parameters, wherein at least one of the cleaning parameters is determined such that a percentage of damaged features as a result of the imparting sonic energy is lower than a predetermined threshold.

There is described a device for connecting a first mechanical waveguide and a second mechanical waveguide, including a first body for receiving the first waveguide, and a second body for receiving the second waveguide. The second body includes a tubular member having a first thread extending on an internal surface thereof, a first tubular screw having a second thread on an external surface corresponding to the first thread, and a third thread extending on an internal surface, with a pitch of the second thread being greater than a pitch of the third thread. The second body also includes a second tubular screw having a fourth thread extending on an external surface corresponding to the third thread with the second tubular screw being threadingly and frictionally engaged with the first tubular screw, a triggering member for rotating the first tubular screw, and an indexer for limiting a rotation of the second tubular screw to at least an initial angular position.

There is described a device for connecting a first mechanical waveguide and a second mechanical waveguide, including a first body for receiving the first waveguide, and a second body for receiving the second waveguide. The second body includes a tubular member having a first thread extending on an internal surface thereof, a first tubular screw having a second thread on an external surface corresponding to the first thread, and a third thread extending on an internal surface, with a pitch of the second thread being greater than a pitch of the third thread. The second body also includes a second tubular screw having a fourth thread extending on an external surface corresponding to the third thread with the second tubular screw being threadingly and frictionally engaged with the first tubular screw, a triggering member for rotating the first tubular screw, and an indexer for limiting a rotation of the second tubular screw to at least an initial angular position.