A method and apparatus for focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control

Abstract

This invention provides a method and apparatus for helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control, belonging to the fields of biology, pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, and semiconductor silicon chip manufacturing. The method utilizes multiple transducers to obtain focused helical acoustic waves, and uses these focused helical acoustic waves to achieve the suspension of matter in three-dimensional space, as well as control the spatial position and movement of the matter. This invention enables the suspension or movement of minute particles in space, achieving contactless operation and improving stability. Based on a special transducer position design, this invention achieves inward helical focusing of helical acoustic wave energy, with outward interference amplitudes canceling each other out, thereby maximizing the utilization of acoustic wave energy and achieving focused acoustic wave energy. This invention utilizes the combination of transducer array spatial position and acoustic wave phase to obtain a ring-shaped helical acoustic wave. This device can serve as a scientific research apparatus for further research into helical acoustic wave technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the fields of biology, pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, and semiconductor silicon chip manufacturing, and specifically relates to a method and device for focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as cell therapy and assisted reproduction, delicate operations such as cell separation, washing, and concentration are frequently required. A key step in these techniques is manipulating cells without damaging them. For this contactless, suspended cell and spatially controlled technique, please refer to the literature "B. Lipkens, et al., Therapeutic Cell Washing, Concentration, and Separation Using Sonophoresis. 2019".

[0003] In fields such as bioengineering, pharmaceutical engineering, and chemical engineering, there is often a desire for effective contact between two substances (parts, colloids, fluids, etc.) to promote their mixing, fusion, or chemical reactions. Acoustic wave levitation confinement technology can provide a pure and pollution-free environment.

[0004] In semiconductor silicon chip manufacturing processes, due to the high surface sensitivity of silicon wafers, traditional contact operations can cause deformation, scratches, or even breakage. Furthermore, contact operations can also lead to fine particle contamination. Therefore, a contactless transfer method is urgently needed in high-precision manufacturing fields such as silicon chip manufacturing.

[0005] Current ultrasonic levitation technology has achieved contactless operation. In particular, the use of vortex acoustic fields with orbital angular momentum (OAM) and helical phase distribution enables the levitation capture and position manipulation of minute objects. There are generally two main methods for generating vortex acoustic fields: one is to use acoustic lenses with specific geometric structures (such as helical acoustic lenses) or acoustic resonators with special structures outside the acoustic transducer. Ordinary irrotational sound waves, when acted upon by these external devices, can generate helical sound waves with a certain orbital angular momentum. The other method is to arrange a series of independent acoustic transducers into an acoustic array, controlling the phase of each transducer through circuitry. This acoustic array, from an overall perspective, can achieve a helical acoustic field with angular momentum. However, current research and applications of helical sound waves mainly focus on the application of helical characteristics, without strictly defining the focusing performance of helical sound waves.

[0006] On the other hand, traditional focused ultrasound utilizes its penetrability and focusability to focus sound wave energy, such as in medicine where the focusing properties of ultrasound are used for non-invasive local treatments. However, this traditional focused ultrasound lacks the helical properties. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems existing in the prior art and provide a method and device for focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control. It designs an array of acoustic waves with a specific geometric structure, utilizing the characteristics of acoustic wave helical angular momentum to achieve helical and focused acoustic wave energy, thereby constraining the spatial position of matter and controlling its motion, achieving contactless operation, and improving stability.

[0008] This invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control, wherein the method utilizes multiple transducers to obtain focused helical acoustic waves, and uses the focused helical acoustic waves to suspend matter in three-dimensional space, as well as control the spatial position and motion of the matter.

[0010] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0011] The transducer includes an acoustic transducer, an ultrasonic transducer, a horn, or a loudspeaker.

[0012] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0013] The operation of obtaining focused helical acoustic waves using multiple transducers includes:

[0014] n transducers are evenly arranged on a circle to form a ring transducer array; the phase difference between two adjacent transducers is set to 2π / n, where n is an even number, and the diameter of the circle containing the center of all transducers is an integer multiple of the wavelength generated by each transducer.

[0015] The two transducer array rings are set opposite each other, and each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to the other one-to-one.

[0016] Activate all transducers to form a focused spiral acoustic wave between the two transducer array rings.

[0017] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0018] The operations for controlling the spatial position and movement of matter include:

[0019] Two mounting plates are set up, and multiple transducer array rings are set on each mounting plate. The transducer array rings on the upper mounting plate are set opposite to the transducer array rings on the lower mounting plate. Each transducer in the two opposite transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates corresponds one-to-one. The two corresponding transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates are considered as a transducer array pair.

[0020] The spatial position and movement of matter are controlled by activating each transducer array pair in sequence.

[0021] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0022] The operations for controlling the spatial position and movement of matter include:

[0023] A ring structure is set up, and multiple transducer array rings are set up on the ring structure and evenly distributed on the circumference; each transducer on two adjacent transducer arrays corresponds one-to-one.

[0024] The spatial position and movement of matter are controlled by activating each transducer array ring in sequence.

[0025] A second aspect of the present invention provides a focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device, the device comprising at least two transducer array rings;

[0026] Each transducer array ring consists of n transducers evenly distributed on the circumference; the phase difference between any two adjacent transducers is 2π / n, where n is an even number; the diameter of the circle containing the centers of all transducers is an integer multiple of the wavelength produced by each transducer.

[0027] The two transducer array rings are arranged in parallel or at an angle, and each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to the other transducer.

[0028] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0029] The focused helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes two transducer array rings;

[0030] Each transducer array ring consists of a regular polygonal ring, with a mounting hole at each vertex of the regular polygonal ring; a transducer is installed in each mounting hole.

[0031] The regular polygonal rings in the two transducer array rings are arranged in parallel, that is, their central axes are on the same straight line, and multiple parallel connecting rods are set between the two regular polygonal rings. One end of each connecting rod is connected to the regular polygonal ring in the first transducer array ring, and the other end is connected to the regular polygonal ring in the other transducer array ring.

[0032] Each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to a single transducer.

[0033] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0034] The focused helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes: two parallel mounting plates and a connecting rod or connecting plate connecting the two mounting plates;

[0035] Multiple identical regular polygons are set on each mounting plate, and each regular polygon shares an edge with its adjacent regular polygons. Mounting holes are set at the two vertices of each edge, and a transducer is installed in each mounting hole. The transducers located at the vertices of the same regular polygon form a transducer array ring.

[0036] Each transducer in the two opposing transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates corresponds to a single transducer.

[0037] A further improvement of the present invention is that:

[0038] The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes: multiple transducer array rings evenly distributed on the circumference;

[0039] Each transducer array ring consists of a regular polygonal ring, with a mounting hole at each vertex of the regular polygonal ring; a transducer is installed in each mounting hole.

[0040] Two adjacent transducer array rings are connected by regular polygons through multiple connecting rods;

[0041] The angle between the planes containing two adjacent transducer array rings is 2π / n.

[0042] A third aspect of the present invention provides an application of a focused helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control method in 3D printing.

[0043] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0044] This invention enables the suspension or movement of minute particles in space, achieving contactless operation and improving stability. Compared to traditional outward-radiating spiral sound waves, this invention focuses spiral sound waves based on a special transducer position design, achieving inward spiral focusing of the spiral sound wave energy, with outward interference amplitudes canceling each other out, thereby maximizing the utilization of sound wave energy and achieving focused sound wave energy.

[0045] This invention utilizes the combination of transducer array spatial position and acoustic wave phase to obtain a ring-shaped spiral acoustic wave. This device can be used as a scientific research apparatus to further study spiral acoustic wave technology. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 A rotating wave is achieved by uniformly distributing eight transducers on a circle according to phases 0, π / 4, π / 2, 3π / 4, π, 5π / 4, 3π / 2, 7π / 4.

[0047] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of coupling into a focused spiral wave state;

[0048] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of orbital angular momentum with an inward spiral.

[0049] Figure 4 Numerical simulation results;

[0050] Figure 5 Sound pressure fluctuation amplitude;

[0051] Figure 6 Three-dimensional numerical simulation results;

[0052] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of two identical annular phase transducer arrays placed in relative positions;

[0053] Figure 8 Wave profiles in various directions from a three-dimensional numerical simulation;

[0054] Figure 9 Wave profile along the YZ center direction;

[0055] Figure 10 Result diagram;

[0056] Figure 11 Numerical simulation on the time axis;

[0057] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of center position suspension control;

[0058] Figure 13a A schematic diagram of the first combined structure of the present invention, in which the mounting plate is a flat plate;

[0059] Figure 13b A schematic diagram of the first combined structure of the present invention, in which the mounting plate is an arc-shaped plate;

[0060] Figure 14 A schematic diagram illustrating movement in various directions achieved by controlling the alternating activation of a pair of ring transducers.

[0061] Figure 15 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the first combined structure of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 16 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the second combined structure of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 17a A transducer array ring with 6 transducers;

[0064] Figure 17b A transducer array ring with eight transducers. Detailed Implementation

[0065] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0066] Previous studies have revealed that sound waves and elastic waves possess an intrinsic property of rotation (see "Long, Y., J. Ren, and H. Chen, Intrinsic spin of elastic waves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018. 115(40): p. 9951-9955."). In addition to the conventional orbital acoustic angular momentum (OAM) along the propagation direction, sound waves also possess a certain rotational acoustic angular momentum (SAM) in the circumferential direction. This is an important scientific discovery. However, specific technological applications based on the theory of rotating waves are still in the exploratory stage. For example, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, under the U.S. Department of Energy, utilize the dynamic rotation of sound waves during transmission, known as "spinning angular momentum (SAM)," to package more channels at a single frequency, significantly increasing the amount of information transmitted and achieving high-speed underwater acoustic communication (see reference "Shi, C., et al., High-speed acoustic communication by multiplexing orbital angular momentum. ProcNatl Acad Sci USA, 2017.114(28):p.7250-7253"). Currently, research and applications of helical waves focus more on outward spinning angular momentum. However, this invention is an innovative application based on the inward spinning angular momentum of a spinning wave.

[0067] As an emerging technology, helical sound waves are currently in a stage of rapid development. This invention helps to manufacture new scientific research experimental devices, especially for experiments in physics and acoustics.

[0068] This invention provides a method for suspending and controlling the motion of matter in space, specifically involving the use of focused helical sound waves to suspend particles, cells, colloids, fluids, and other substances in three-dimensional space, and to control their spatial position and motion. This invention utilizes the characteristics of ultrasonic standing waves, employing ultrasonic transducers or transducer arrays to achieve the suspension or movement of minute particles in space.

[0069] Suspension confinement technology uses mechanical waves (including sound waves and elastic waves) to confine matter to a state of motion in space or to a state of static suspension.

[0070] The spiral wave described in this invention mainly uses mechanical waves, including sound waves, ultrasonic waves, and elastic waves.

[0071] The transducers used in this invention include existing acoustic transducers, ultrasonic transducers, and existing loudspeakers and other devices capable of playing sound. Each transducer is a point sound source, and the sound waves it generates propagate in all directions in the form of spherical waves.

[0072] This invention utilizes a combination of transducers with different phases to achieve focused helical acoustic waves, as detailed below:

[0073] An even number of transducers are arranged in a circular pattern to form a transducer array ring. Specifically, a regular polygonal ring can be used, with mounting holes at each vertex. One transducer is installed in each mounting hole, forming the transducer array ring. Because each transducer is a point sound source, the generated sound waves propagate in all directions as spherical waves, thus generating relative spiral waveforms on both sides of the transducer array ring. By adjusting the phase of each transducer, the combined waveforms form a spiral wavefront in three-dimensional space, thereby enabling control of the spatial position and movement of matter.

[0074] The key to forming a spiral beam lies in the phase difference of each transducer in the transducer array ring and the positional relationship between the transducers. For example... Figure 1 As shown, by uniformly distributing eight transducers on a circle according to phases 0, π / 4, π / 2, 3π / 4, π, 5π / 4, 3π / 2, and 7π / 4 (these eight angle data refer to the phases of the transducers, which are uniformly distributed, meaning the angle between the phases of two adjacent transducers is π / 4; in this embodiment, the position and phase of the transducers on the regular polygonal ring are the same, but if the phase distribution is counterclockwise, the phase and angle of the transducers will not be the same), a rotating wave can be achieved. In three-dimensional space, the waveform moves outward in a spiral wave form along the central axis of the ring. This embodiment uses eight transducers uniformly distributed on the circle, but an even number of transducers such as four, six, or ten can also be used, as long as all transducers are uniformly distributed on the circle. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the phase change of one loop is 2π.

[0075] There is a certain relationship between the number of an even number of transducers evenly distributed on a circle and their phases. Specifically, if there are a total of n (n is an even number) transducers, the phase difference between two adjacent transducers is 2π / n. Figure 17a , Figure 17b The phase distributions with 6 and 8 transducers are shown respectively.

[0076] On a regular polygonal ring, for each pair of transducers located in opposite directions, the phase difference between them is π. The distance between them, i.e., the circumference diameter of the entire transducer array ring (i.e., the circumference where the centers of all transducers are located), should be an integer multiple of the wavelength generated by each transducer (each transducer has the same model and power, and emits the same sound wave frequency and wavelength, but each transducer has a different phase. The sound wave phase can be controlled by a sound wave excitation circuit, which is a general technology and will not be elaborated here). In this way, the mechanical wave energy generated by each transducer can be concentrated within the circumference, and most of it cancels out outside the circumference, thus achieving energy concentration and coupling into a focused spiral sound wave, such as... Figure 2 As shown, wave S1 is the wave generated by a transducer with phase 0, and wave S2 is the wave generated by a transducer with phase π.

[0077] Compared to traditional divergent helical ultrasonic levitation, the helical waves generated inside the phase-modulated transducer array ring possess an inwardly helical rotational angular momentum, such as... Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 In the diagram, the xy coordinates represent the acoustic wave generation plane of the transducer array ring, and the t coordinate represents the time axis. As time progresses, the combined acoustic waves generate acoustic waves with rotational angular momentum. Figure 3 It demonstrates the state of the rotational angular momentum (angular momentum is a vector) of a sound wave over time.

[0078] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram combining space and time. On the time axis, the central axis represents the center to which the rotational angular momentum points. In space, the central axis is also the center of the ring transducer, which allows the sound wave energy to be more concentrated, thereby achieving more stable levitation of the object and more precise spatial position control.

[0079] like Figure 4 As shown, numerical simulation results indicate that after the eight transducers are arranged according to the aforementioned phase and position, the high sound pressure generated in the non-central region B and the low sound pressure generated in the non-central region C exhibit a rotating state within the circumference. Figure 5 As shown, the numerical simulation results further show that, on the time axis, the amplitude of the wave generated in region A along the central axis is significantly smaller than the amplitude of the wave in region B outside the center of the circle, thus enabling spatial confinement of matter.

[0080] like Figure 6 As shown, the three-dimensional numerical simulation results show that the rotating wave generated by the transducer array ring exhibits a spiral progression in three-dimensional space along the circumferential axial direction.

[0081] A basic structure for levitation and position manipulation of objects using transducer array rings, such as... Figure 7As shown, two identical transducer array rings are arranged opposite each other. Specifically, the regular polygonal rings in the two transducer array rings are arranged parallel to each other, that is, their central axes are located on the same straight line, and multiple parallel connecting rods are arranged between the two regular polygonal rings. Figure 7 The connecting rods are represented by dashed lines. One end of each connecting rod connects to a regular polygonal ring in the first transducer array ring, and the other end connects to a regular polygonal ring in the other transducer array ring (for example, two or more connecting rods are set, with the connecting rods parallel to the central axis of the transducer array ring, and the connection between the connecting rod and the regular polygonal ring not affecting the installation of the transducer). Each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds one-to-one. Because each transducer array ring is identical, and the corresponding transducers are arranged oppositely, the propagation directions of the two transducer array rings are opposite. Therefore, the particulate matter between the two parallel transducer array rings will converge towards the center. That is, under the driving force of the undulating pressure on the central axis, the object located between the two transducer array rings will gradually move towards the center, thereby achieving object capture and spatial levitation restraint. By using existing time delay circuits to control the phase changes of each transducer, it is possible to further move the object along the central axis.

[0082] Figure 8 The wave profiles in various directions from the three-dimensional numerical simulation are shown. The results show that the spiral wave propagates in opposite directions between two annular phase transducer arrays, centered on the central axis. Figure 8 The four smaller images show the XZ cross-section of the first array ring, the XZ cross-section of the second array ring, the XY horizontal cross-section of the cylinder formed by the two array rings and the connecting rod, and the undulations on the YZ longitudinal cross-section.

[0083] Figure 9 The undulation profile along the YZ center direction was further shown separately. The results are as follows... Figure 10 As shown, between the two annular phase transducer arrays, along the central axis region A (e.g. Figure 9 The fluctuation amplitude (shown by the white dashed line in the image) is much smaller than that of the surrounding non-central region B (as shown by the white dashed line in the image). Figure 9 The black solid line in the diagram shows the amplitude of the wave. This indicates that if an object is longitudinally detached from the central axis in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, it will move towards the central axis under the pressure of the helical wave. This property allows the object to suspend in the direction of the central axis.

[0084] Figure 11 Further numerical simulations over time show that the bound object moves along the "sound pressure trough" ( Figure 11 The light gray portion gradually moves towards the middle of the two transducer array rings (the middle position specifically refers to...). Figure 11In the middle, when Y=60, the area extending along the time axis will converge. This bound object will move towards the center under the spiral wave sound pressure, whether in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the central axis) or the transverse direction (along the central axis). Figure 12 A three-dimensional numerical simulation was used to demonstrate that a square object achieved central position levitation control under the combined action of two helical wavefronts. By varying and controlling the phase (phase difference direction and magnitude) and power (amplitude) of each transducer, the object's motion along the central axis can be further realized.

[0085] Based on the basic shape of the transducer array ring described above, it can be further expanded into more flexible combined applications.

[0086] To control the spatial position and movement of matter, the method of the present invention sets up a two-layer structure, with multiple transducer array rings on each layer; the transducer array rings of the upper layer correspond one-to-one with those of the lower layer, and the transducers in the corresponding two transducer array rings also correspond one-to-one, and the corresponding two transducer array rings are regarded as a transducer array pair; the spatial position and movement of matter are controlled by activating each transducer array pair in sequence.

[0087] The first device provided by the present invention is as follows: Figure 15 As shown, it includes two parallel mounting plates and multiple connecting rods or plates connecting the two mounting plates. For example... Figure 13a and Figure 13b As shown, multiple transducer array rings are arranged on each mounting plate, and two opposite transducer array rings on two mounting plates constitute a configuration. Figure 7 The basic unit shown (to prevent the connecting rods from obstructing particle movement, connecting rods are only installed at the edges of the mounting plate; no further connecting rods are installed within each basic unit, or connecting plates are installed at the edges of two mounting plates to form a box-like structure, as long as the two mounting plates are kept parallel vertically). The transducer array ring can be mounted on the mounting plate using various existing methods.

[0088] Preferably, to facilitate particle movement and increase flexibility, the structure of each mounting plate is as follows: Figure 13a and Figure 13b As shown, multiple identical regular polygons are provided on each mounting plate, and each regular polygon shares a side with its adjacent regular polygons. Mounting holes are provided at the two vertices of each side, and a transducer is installed in each mounting hole. Figure 13a , Figure 13bThe embodiment shown uses regular hexagons, with each hexagon sharing six sides with its six adjacent regular hexagons. A transducer is installed at each of the two vertices of each side; that is, a transducer 104 is installed at each node in Figure 13. Thus, the six transducers located on the same small regular hexagon form a small transducer array ring, and similarly, the six transducers located on the same large regular hexagon also form a large transducer array ring. Figure 14 As shown, large or small transducer array rings can be used as needed. The upper transducer array ring and its corresponding lower transducer array ring form a transducer array pair.

[0089] In addition, the mounting plate can be such as Figure 13a The flat panel shown can also be as follows: Figure 13b The curved plates shown can be set parallel to each other.

[0090] By activating (activation means energizing the transducers and adjusting their phase) the transducer array pairs on the upper and lower mounting plates, vertical spiral sound waves can be generated. In other words, using the upper and lower opposing transducer array rings, sound waves can be used to levitate objects between the two mounting plates.

[0091] Specifically, activating the opposing transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates allows for levitation control of objects. By controlling the alternating activation of the transducer array pairs, movement of the object in various directions can be achieved, such as... Figure 14 As shown, first activate the first pair of transducer arrays 101 opposite each other on the two mounting plates. Figure 14 Only one mounting plate is shown; the other is obscured. To suspend particulate matter, the second pair of transducer arrays 102 on the two mounting plates is activated. Due to the helical wave pull of the second pair of transducer arrays 102, the particulate matter begins to move from the center of the first pair of transducer arrays 101 towards the center of the second pair of transducer arrays 102. Then, the first pair of transducer arrays 101 is deactivated, and the particulate matter has completely moved to the center of the second pair of transducer arrays 102, thus achieving movement. Moving from the center of the first pair of transducer arrays 101 to the center of the second pair of transducer arrays 102 is a one-step movement. To ensure the stability of the movement, it is preferable to move the object gradually, that is, to activate adjacent transducer array pairs sequentially. Figure 14 In the embodiment shown, it takes 5 steps for an object to move from the center of the second pair of transducer arrays 102 to the center of the third pair of transducer arrays 103. Figure 15 The image shows the process of a particle (as shown by the solid circle) moving from the center of the first pair of transducer arrays on the left to the center of the first pair of transducer arrays on the right. The particle after moving into position is shown by the dashed circle.

[0092] In practical use, the minimum number of steps can be determined by experimentation based on the size of the suspended particles.

[0093] Particles between two parallel transducer array rings will converge towards the center. While parallel arrangement of the two transducer array rings is optimal, a similar function can be achieved even if the planes containing the two transducer array rings have an angle (θ = 2π / n). Therefore, a further approach is to create a ring structure with multiple transducer array rings evenly distributed around the circumference; each transducer on an adjacent transducer array corresponds one-to-one; the spatial position and movement of the matter are controlled by sequentially activating each transducer array ring. Correspondingly, the second structure is as follows... Figure 16 As shown, multiple transducer array rings are connected in series to form a "tire" or "donut" shape (i.e., multiple transducer array rings are arranged on a ring and evenly distributed along the ring). By adjusting the phase changes of each group of transducers, the bound object can be suspended and moved within the ring.

[0094] The second type of structure can be used as a scientific experimental device for research, achieving local confinement of particulate matter through a large ring structure. For example, alternating activation of a ring transducer array (a ring pair consisting of 8 transducers) can realize the ring motion and acceleration of non-magnetic particles within a "donut" space.

[0095] like Figure 16 As shown, the large-ring helical acoustic wave generator includes multiple transducer array rings. The regular polygons of two adjacent transducer array rings are connected by multiple connecting rods. After multiple transducer array rings are connected in sequence, they form a large ring. Figure 16 The illustrated embodiment consists of eight transducer array rings (as shown by numbers 1-8) evenly distributed on a circle. Each transducer array ring is composed of eight evenly distributed acoustic transducers. The phase of each transducer is detailed in Table 1. For example, in the fourth transducer array ring, the phase of the transducer above it is 3π / 4, the phase of the transducer to its right is 5π / 4, the phase of the transducer between them is π, the phase of the transducer below it is 7π / 4, the phase of the transducer between the lower and right transducers is 3π / 2, the phase of the transducer between the lower and left transducers is 0, the phase of the left transducer is π / 4, and the phase of the transducer between the left and upper rings is π / 2. The phase of each transducer in each transducer array ring can be found in Table 1 in the same way. Helical sound waves are formed inside each activated transducer array ring. The eight transducers inside the large ring formed by the eight transducer array rings simultaneously form a clockwise increasing phase combination, so a helical sound wave can also be formed inside the large ring.

[0096]

[0097] Table 1

[0098] To drive particulate matter into a circular motion, one transducer array ring is activated at a time. The particulate matter moves away from the ring along its central axis. When a particle reaches an adjacent transducer array ring, that ring is activated, propelling the particulate matter away from the second ring along its central axis. This process is repeated, activating each transducer array ring sequentially to achieve cyclical motion. If two adjacent transducer array rings are activated simultaneously, both rings push the particulate matter between them, eventually causing it to settle between the two rings, thus achieving suspension.

[0099] A further application of the device of this invention is in the field of 3D printing. Currently, suspended 3D printing has been achieved. Using this invention, 360-degree operation without any physical printing platform can be achieved, breaking through the limitations of shape and enabling the overall 3D printing of more complex parts. Furthermore, this invention allows multiple 3D printers to work simultaneously in different directions, enabling the printing of various functional products and significantly improving printing speed.

[0100] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0101] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0102] Finally, it should be noted that the above technical solution is only one embodiment of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, based on the application methods and principles disclosed in the present invention, it is easy to make various types of improvements or modifications, and not limited to the methods described in the above specific embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the methods described above are only preferred and have no limiting significance.

Claims

1. A method for focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control, characterized in that: The method utilizes multiple transducers to obtain focused spiral sound waves, and uses the focused spiral sound waves to suspend matter in three-dimensional space, as well as control the spatial position and movement of matter. The operation of obtaining focused spiral acoustic waves using multiple transducers includes: n transducers are evenly arranged on a circle to form a ring transducer array; the phase difference between two adjacent transducers is set to 2π / n, where n is an even number, and the diameter of the circle containing the center of all transducers is an integer multiple of the wavelength generated by each transducer. The two transducer array rings are set opposite each other, and each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to the other one-to-one. Activate all transducers to form a focused spiral acoustic wave between the two transducer array rings.

2. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transducer includes an acoustic transducer, an ultrasonic transducer, a horn, or a loudspeaker.

3. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operations for controlling the spatial position and movement of matter include: Two mounting plates are set up, and multiple transducer array rings are set on each mounting plate. The transducer array rings on the upper mounting plate are set opposite to the transducer array rings on the lower mounting plate. Each transducer in the two opposite transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates corresponds one-to-one. The two corresponding transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates are considered as a transducer array pair. The spatial position and movement of matter are controlled by activating each transducer array pair in sequence.

4. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operations for controlling the spatial position and movement of matter include: A ring structure is set up, and multiple transducer array rings are set up on the ring structure and evenly distributed on the circumference; each transducer on two adjacent transducer arrays corresponds one-to-one. The spatial position and movement of matter are controlled by activating each transducer array ring in sequence.

5. A focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device, characterized in that: The device includes at least two transducer array rings; Each transducer array ring consists of n transducers evenly distributed on the circumference; the phase difference between any two adjacent transducers is 2π / n, where n is an even number; the diameter of the circle containing the centers of all transducers is an integer multiple of the wavelength produced by each transducer. The two transducer array rings are arranged in parallel or at an angle, and each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to the other transducer.

6. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The focused helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes two transducer array rings; Each transducer array ring consists of a regular polygonal ring, with a mounting hole at each vertex of the regular polygonal ring; a transducer is installed in each mounting hole. The regular polygonal rings in the two transducer array rings are arranged in parallel, that is, their central axes are on the same straight line, and multiple parallel connecting rods are set between the two regular polygonal rings. One end of each connecting rod is connected to the regular polygonal ring in the first transducer array ring, and the other end is connected to the regular polygonal ring in the other transducer array ring. Each transducer in the two transducer array rings corresponds to a single transducer.

7. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The focused helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes: two parallel mounting plates and a connecting rod or connecting plate connecting the two mounting plates; Multiple identical regular polygons are set on each mounting plate, and each regular polygon shares an edge with its adjacent regular polygons. Mounting holes are set at the two vertices of each edge, and a transducer is installed in each mounting hole. The transducers located at the vertices of the same regular polygon form a transducer array ring. Each transducer in the two opposing transducer array rings on the upper and lower mounting plates corresponds to a single transducer.

8. The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control device includes: multiple transducer array rings evenly distributed on the circumference; Each transducer array ring consists of a regular polygonal ring, with a mounting hole at each vertex of the regular polygonal ring; a transducer is installed in each mounting hole. Two adjacent transducer array rings are connected by regular polygons through multiple connecting rods; The angle between the planes containing two adjacent transducer array rings is 2π / n.

9. The application of the focusing helical acoustic wave suspension constraint and motion control method as described in any one of claims 1-4 in 3D printing.

Images