The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.

Present teachings relate to a method for proximity detection on an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first measurement using a first sensor; calculating, using a processing unit, a first distance value from the first measurement; the first distance value being indicative of the distance between a user and the electronic device; in response to the first distance value, through the processing unit, adapting an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”), such that predefined SAR requirements due to exposure of emitted energy from the electronic device are met. The present teaching further relate to an electronic device comprising a measurement system configured to control an energy level on the electronic device, said energy level being related to the Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”). The present teachings also relate to a computer software product for implementing any method steps disclosed herein.

The invention relates to a method for operating a distance sensor (4) of a vehicle (1), in which method a plurality of successive measurement cycles are carried out in an operating mode, wherein, in each measurement cycle, a transmission signal is transmitted, a reception signal (Rx1 to Rx8) is determined on the basis of the transmission signal reflected in a surrounding region (9) of the vehicle (1), the object (8) is classified, and the transmission signal is selected from a plurality of predefined transmission signals in accordance with how the object (8) is classified, wherein the transmission signal is selected in accordance with an assignment rule determined in a learning mode, said assignment rule describing an assignment of the plurality of predefined transmission signals to classes of objects (8), wherein, in each measurement cycle, the object (8) is classified on the basis of the reception signal (Rx1 to Rx8) and the transmission signal is selected in accordance with how the object (8) is classified for subsequent measurement cycles.

Disclosed are a control method and a control device for an ultrasonic receiving device. The control method includes: determining a target receiver of the ultrasonic receiving device, where the ultrasonic receiving device includes at least two ultrasonic receivers, and the target receiver is one of the at least two ultrasonic receivers on the ultrasonic receiving device that is the nearest to an ultrasonic transmitting device; and controlling a state of each of the at least two ultrasonic receivers on the ultrasonic receiving device based on the determined target receiver. Thus, the ultrasonic ranging error is reduced, and the accuracy of measurement is improved.

Techniques for presence-detection devices to emission levels of ultrasonic signals that are used to detect movement in an environment. The presence-detection devices may detect movement of a person by emitting the ultrasonic signals into an environment, and characterizing the change in the frequency, or the Doppler shift, of the reflections of the ultrasonic signals off the person caused by the movement of the person relative to the presence-detection devices. However, presence-detection devices that continuously emit ultrasonic signals may experience reduced battery life, increased likelihood of overheating, etc. To reduce these negative effects, the presence-detection devices may reduce the emission levels of ultrasonic signals. For instance, once motion is detected, the presence-detection devices may, for a period of time, stop emitting ultrasonic signals or reduce the power level at which the ultrasonic signals are emitted. Accordingly, the presence-detection devices can reduce emission levels of ultrasonic signals while still detecting motion.

A plurality of control points (10) are defined which each have a known spatial relationship relative to an array of transducers. An amplitude is assigned to each control point (12). A matrix (16) is produced containing elements which represent, for each of the control points, the effect that producing a modeled acoustic field having the assigned amplitude with a particular phase at the control point has on the consequential amplitude and phase of the modeled acoustic field at the other control points (14). Eigenvectors of the matrix (18) are determined, each eigenvector representing a set of phases and relative amplitudes of the modeled acoustic field at the control points. One of the sets (20) is selected and the transducer array is operated to cause one or more of the transducers to output an acoustic wave each having an initial amplitude and phase such that the phases and amplitudes of the resultant acoustic field at the control points correspond to the phases and relative amplitudes of the selected set (22, 24).

The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for the modulation of an acoustic field for providing tactile sensations. A method of creating haptic feedback using ultrasound is provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of ultrasound waves with a common focal point using a phased array of ultrasound transducers, the common focal point being a haptic feedback point, and modulating the generation of the ultrasound waves using a waveform selected to produce little or no audible sound at the haptic feedback point.

In an embodiment, an acoustic projector includes an acoustic transmit transducer capable of producing a sound pressure radiation in response to a driver signal received from a transmit source, an acoustic receive transducer capable of producing a source level signal in response to receiving at least a portion of the sound pressure radiation, and a controller configured to monitor the source level signal and report the source level signal monitored.

In accordance with an embodiment, an ultrasound transmitter device includes a transformer comprising a secondary winding configured to be coupled to a piezoelectric transducer; a plurality of transistors coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and to a ground terminal via a sense resistor; an amplifier having an output coupled to control nodes of the plurality of transistors, a first input coupled to the sense resistor, and second input coupled to a reference resistor; a switching circuit configured to alternately couple control nodes of the plurality of transistors to an output of amplifier and to a reference node via complementary pulse signals, wherein the switching circuit is configured to turn on and turn off the plurality of transistors and operate the plurality of transistors in a push-pull manner; and a digital-to-analog converter having an output coupled to the reference resistor.