A sensor cover for a sensor system configured to remove weather-induced soiling for the unimpaired use of a sensor within the sensor system is disclosed. The sensor cover includes at least one sensor section and at least one base body extending over the sensor. At least one electrode section is provided on the base body. The sensor cover includes at least one piezoactive actuator for generating sound waves in the sensor cover, with the piezoactive actuator arranged at the electrode section of the base body. Additionally disclosed is a sensor system incorporating the sensor cover and a motor vehicle equipped with the sensor system.

A combination air cannon and sonic horn for dislodging accumulated bulk material comprises an air cannon, a sonic horn, and a shared portion. The air cannon is configured to store pressurized gas and to periodically abruptly discharge the pressurized gas through a gas outlet. The sonic horn is configured to generate sound waves that that are emitted from the gas outlet. The outlet is formed on a nozzle having a unique configuration. The outlet can be oriented such that blasts of air from the air cannon pass over the accumulated bulk material and lift the bulk material into suspension via Bernoulli's law.

A cleaning or grooming system that uses acoustic pressure shock waves can remove barnacles, algae, biofilms and other undesired materials from the hulls of ships, propellers, rudders, inlet ports for cooling of nuclear submarines, outlet ports, sonar housings, protective grills and other structures that are submerged in salt or fresh water environments.

A system and method are disclosed for using a sonic frequency to induce a vibration useful for clearing dust accumulation from microelectronics, such as a laptop computer. A speaker driver may be mounted onto a support structure for a heat exchanger (220). At an advantageous time, such as boot up, a sonic frequency may be driven onto the speaker (250), thus inducing vibration in the heat exchanger (220) and helping to clear dust accumulation. In some cases, a resonant frequency may be used to optimize the amount of vibration per unit power delivery.

The present application relates to a method for disposing of excess material of a photolithographic mask, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) enlarging a surface of the excess material; (b) displacing the enlarged excess material on the photolithographic mask using at least one first probe of a scanning probe microscope; and (c) removing the displaced enlarged excess material from the photolithographic mask.

A system and method are disclosed for removal of unwanted material from additively manufactured parts by application of vibratory and/or acoustic energy. The system and method include a vibratory platform located in a chamber. Additively manufactured parts having unwanted material adhered thereto are placed on the vibratory platform. The platform is caused to vibrate thereby causing the unwanted material to detach from the parts. The system and method may also include the application of acoustic energy to cause unwanted material to detach from the parts. Advantageously, the unwanted material removed from the additively manufactured object can be recycled.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water treatment and/or desalination.

A self-cleaning sensor guard is provided. The guard may comprise an acoustic duster housing, a dust guard, a proximity sensor, a phase-enabled controller, and an ultrasonic cleaning source. The dust guard may be positioned to impede passage of ambient particulates into the acoustic duster housing. The proximity sensor may be positioned to generate a dust detection signal that is indicative of the presence of particulates on the dust guard. The ultrasonic cleaning source may be oriented to direct multi-phase and multi-frequency ultrasonic cleaning waves towards the dust guard. The phase-enabled controller may be programmed to drive the ultrasonic cleaning source, at least partially in response to the dust detection signal, by superimposing a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal.

A system to clear debris from a vehicle sensor includes a vehicle having a sound system arranged to output sound outside of the vehicle, a sensor mounted on the vehicle and a control system. The control system is coupled to the sound system and includes a processor, and memory communicated with the processor and including one or more programs or instructions that actuate the sound system and are operable to vary the frequency of an output from the audible source, wherein the sound system is arranged to cause vibrations of the sensor.

A hearing device comprises a controller, audio circuitry coupled to the controller, and an acoustic transducer coupled to the audio circuitry. The acoustic transducer is fluidically coupled to an acoustic pathway between the acoustic transducer and an exterior surface of the hearing device. The controller is configured to activate the acoustic transducer to cause vibration in the hearing device and generate positive pressure within the acoustic pathway sufficient to clear liquid from the acoustic pathway.