A system for maintaining coherence of ultrasound waves emitted by multiple transducer arrays includes multiple retention arms, each for receiving one of the transducer arrays; a connecting frame for receiving and mechanically retaining the arms in fixed angular relation to each other; and a processor configured to determine relative locations of the transducer arrays with respect to one another and the connecting frame; determine a location of the connecting frame relative to an anatomic region of interest; determine a spatial arrangement of the transducer elements in each transducer array with respect to the anatomic region of interest; and adjust a transmission configuration of the transducer elements in the transducer arrays to achieve a desired focusing property with respect to the anatomic region of interest while maintaining coherence therebetween.

A vibrating piezoelectric atomizer comprising: a piezoelectric tube having a length, a first end defining an opening and a second end, the second end of the piezoelectric transducer tubular body is connected to a horn; the horn is dimensioned to be half wavelength resonator; the horn is folded and located alongside the piezoelectric tube; a metallic disk is connected to the horn near the first end of the piezoelectric tube, whereby by applying an alternating voltage across electrodes of the piezoelectric tube, the piezoelectric tube is excited into a resonant vibration when frequency of excitation equals to half wavelength resonant frequency of the piezoelectric tube's length and vibrates in synchronism and is communicated to the metallic disk to atomize a liquid.

An ultrasonic signal detecting circuit, an ultrasonic signal detecting method, and a display panel. The ultrasonic signal detecting circuit includes a control sub-circuit and a sensing sub-circuit. The sensing sub-circuit detects an ultrasonic echo signal, and generates a piezoelectric signal, which includes a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal, according to the ultrasonic echo signal, the voltage value of one of the first and second sub-signals are higher than the value of a reference voltage signal, and that of the other one of the first and second sub signals are lower than the reference voltage signal. The control sub-circuit is electrically connected to the sensing sub-circuit. Under control of the first sub-signal a first power supply end and an output end of the control sub-circuit are fumed on; and under control of the second sub-signal, the first power supply end and the output end of the control sub-circuit are turned on.

A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The haptic actuator is disposed within an enclosed cavity formed by a casing. A pressure within the enclosed cavity is varied in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device may alternatively be a connector component formed from a shrinkable material that is configured to longitudinally shrink to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.

The present invention reduces noise generated by a phase change in an ultrasonic wave focusing apparatus that changes an ultrasonic wave focal point within a space by changing the phase of vibration of a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. When inputted position coordinates within a three-dimensional space are changed, the ultrasonic wave focusing apparatus calculates a target time lag Tnew that allows ultrasonic waves outputted from the ultrasonic transducers to form a focal point at the changed position coordinates X1, Y1, Z1. The ultrasonic wave focusing apparatus then examines the ultrasonic transducers to locate a particular ultrasonic transducer that outputs an ultrasonic wave whose time lag Ttmp differs from the target time lag Tnew, and changes the phase of the outputted ultrasonic wave to a target phase in multiple steps (steps 140 and 150).

A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The haptic actuator is disposed within an enclosed cavity formed by a casing. A pressure within the enclosed cavity is varied in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device may alternatively be a connector component formed from a shrinkable material that is configured to longitudinally shrink to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.

A haptic actuator assembly includes a haptic actuator configured to output displacement along a perpendicular axis and a pre-load device. The pre-load device is disposed adjacent to the haptic actuator and configured to generate a compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis to oppose expansion of the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis. The pre-load device includes a casing and at least a first spring component. The casing includes a cover and a base spaced apart from and extending parallel to the cover. The haptic actuator is disposed between the cover and the base, and the first spring component is configured to exert a force in order to create the compressive load on the haptic actuator along the perpendicular axis.

The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device that can include a heating chamber in communication with a heating element, and an ultrasonic transducer in communication with the heating chamber and for transmitting ultrasonic sound waves. The disclosed technology includes an ultrasonic transducer system that includes an assembly configured to attach to a fluid heating device, and an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the assembly. The disclosed technology also includes a method for ultrasonic cleaning within a fluid heating device that can include a controller configured to receive flow data from a flow sensor; based on the flow data, determine that fluid is flowing through a heating chamber; and output instructions for an ultrasonic transducer to output ultrasonic sound waves.

A method of generating haptic effects on a haptic-enabled device having a control unit and a haptic output device is provided. The method comprises receiving a haptic track that describes a time-varying magnitude envelope for driving the haptic output device to generate a haptic effect. The method further comprises generating a periodic drive signal with a time-varying frequency that is based on magnitude values of the time-varying magnitude envelope described in the haptic track. The method further comprises outputting the periodic drive signal to the haptic output device, to cause the haptic output device to generate the haptic effect based on the periodic drive signal.

A haptic stimulator includes a multilayer sheet with a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer layer adapted to mechanically deform upon application of voltage, the multilayer sheet secured to a substrate, and a source of electrical stimulation coupled to drive electrodes on the polymer layer with an AC signal to vibrate the polymer layer. In particular embodiments, the polymer contains polyvinylidene fluoride, and electrodes are patterned to control local electric fields. Another haptic stimulator has first and second electrodes with an air gap and an insulating sheet between first and second electrodes, with an AC voltage driver connecting to the electrodes. In a method of providing haptic stimulation to skin an alternating current supply drives first and second electrodes, the electrodes disposed upon either a piezoelectric or electroactive polymer sheet, vibrating the polymer layer by driving the electrodes; and coupling vibrations of the polymer layer to the sensate skin.