System and method for non-contact manipulation of objects via ultrasonic levitation are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method for a non-contact manipulation of an object includes: generating ultrasound field by an array of ultrasound transducers; lifting the object off a dispensing device by the ultrasound field; and levitating the object by the ultrasound field.

In a method for transmit beamforming of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a beamforming pattern to apply to a beamforming space of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is defined. The beamforming space includes a plurality of elements, where each element of the beamforming space corresponds to an ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, where the beamforming pattern identifies which ultrasonic transducers within the beamforming space are activated during a transmit operation of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, such that a generated ultrasonic beam is focused for reflecting from an object in contact with a contact surface of a platen overlying the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. The beamforming pattern is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A transmit operation is performed by activating the ultrasonic transducers of the beamforming space according to the beamforming pattern.

A switching driver circuit may have an output stage having an output switch connected between a switching voltage node and an output node. A switch network may control a switching voltage at the switching voltage node so that in one mode the switching voltage node is coupled to a positive voltage and in another mode the switching voltage node is coupled to ground voltage via a first switching path of the switch network. The circuit may also include an n-well switching block operable to, when the first switching voltage node is coupled to a positive voltage, connect the n-well of the first output switch to the switching voltage node, and, when the first switching voltage node is coupled to the ground voltage, connect the n-well of the first output switch to a first ground which is separate to the first switching voltage node and independent of the first switching path.

The present disclosure provides a method, device, and system for delaying signals as well as medical registration equipment, and belongs to the field of communication technologies. The method includes: determining, based on a clock period of each level of delay clock signals, a quantity of clock periods of each level of delay clock signals that are required for delaying a drive signal by a total quantity of delay phases; and delaying the drive signal by the determined quantity of clock periods of each level of delay clock signals sequentially. Therefore, on the premise that a data volume of a to-be-delayed drive signal is fixed, compared with a method for delaying signals by directly using a register, the method according to the present disclosure not only reliably realizes signal delaying, but also effectively reduces a quantity of required registers.

An ultrasonic sensor includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals. A plurality of shift registers is configured to store a beamforming space including a beamforming pattern to apply to the two-dimensional array, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation. An array controller is configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within the two-dimensional array.

In a method for transmit beamforming of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a beamforming pattern to apply to a beamforming space of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is defined. The beamforming space includes a plurality of elements, where each element of the beamforming space corresponds to an ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, where the beamforming pattern identifies which ultrasonic transducers within the beamforming space are activated during a transmit operation of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, and wherein at least some of the ultrasonic transducers that are activated are phase delayed with respect to other ultrasonic transducers that are activated. The beamforming pattern is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A transmit operation is performed by activating the ultrasonic transducers of the beamforming space according to the beamforming pattern.

An acoustic transducer system for ultrasonic imaging may include an array of sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; at least one electromagnetically resonant element with an electromagnetic resonance within the electromagnetic frequency band coupled to each of the sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; at least one electromagnetically resonant element with an electromagnetic resonance within the electromagnetic frequency band coupled to each of the sub wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; an electromagnetic transmission module configured to modify one or more characteristics of transmitted electromagnetic energy to effectuate an acoustic emission by the array of sub-wavelength transducer elements according to an acoustic transmission pattern corresponding to the respective electromagnetic resonance characteristics of at least some of the electromagnetically resonant elements coupled to the sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; and a common port configured to facilitate electromagnetic communication with each of the electromagnetically resonant elements coupled to the sub-wavelength transducer elements.

To provide a photoacoustic probe capable of acquiring subject information for reducing generation of artifacts without increasing the number of wires connected to the outside. Provided is a probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the ultrasonic transducers are divided into a plurality of groups, two adjoining ultrasonic transducers belong to different groups, and the probe includes a group selection unit configured to switch signals of the ultrasonic transducers to be outputtable for each of the groups.

Provided in accordance with the herein described exemplary embodiments are piezo micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) each having a first electrode that includes a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion. The second electrode portion is separately operable from the first electrode portion. A second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode and defines a space between the first electrode and the second electrode. A piezoelectric material is disposed in the space. Also provided are arrays of pMUTs wherein individual pMUTs have first electrode portions operably associated with array rows and second electrode portions operably associated with array columns.

Provided is a method for delaying signals. The method includes: determining a total quantity of delay phases by which a drive signal is to be delayed; determining, based on a clock period of each level of delay clock signals of a plurality of levels of delay clock signals, a quantity of clock periods of each level of delay clock signals that are required for delaying by the total quantity of delay phases, wherein the clock periods of the levels of delay clock signals decrease sequentially from a first level to a last level; and delaying the drive signal by the quantities of clock periods of the levels of delay clock signals sequentially in descending order, and outputting the drive signal after delay.