A cylindrical acoustic tweezer device

Abstract

A cylindrical acoustic tweezer device belongs to the field of ultrasonic array suspension and manipulation. It mainly includes a cylindrical support, an ultrasonic transducer array, two PCB drive boards and two ArduinoMega development boards. The ultrasonic transducer array has a total of 128 transducers, which are installed on the inner side of the cylindrical support. Each two ultrasonic transducers correspond to a drive unit, and all the drive units are integrated in the PCB drive board and connected with a direct current stabilized power supply. In the device, the host computer calculates the phase of the ultrasonic transducer required to generate the desired standing wave sound field according to the position of the suspended object, and then transmits the phase data to the ArduinoMega development board. The ArduinoMega development board sends corresponding pulses, which are amplified by the PCB drive board and applied to the transducer to generate a standing wave sound field. If two suspended objects are to be gradually moved closer to each other along the horizontal axis, the host computer calculates the transducer phase required to generate the corresponding sound field and transmits it to the two ArduinoMega boards, so that the two columns of standing waves in the sound field gradually approach, thereby driving the suspended objects to approach.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an acoustic tweezers device, belonging to the field of ultrasonic array suspension and manipulation. Background Technology

[0002] Acoustic levitation utilizes ultrasonic standing waves to suspend objects of a certain mass and volume at standing wave nodes. Because there is no mechanical contact, the influence of the container wall effect is minimized, and compared to levitation methods such as optical tweezers, it causes less damage to the structure of the suspended object. Therefore, acoustic levitation devices have broad application prospects in materials preparation and biological research. Currently, research on ultrasonic array levitation of objects mostly focuses on the stable levitation of objects. Its characteristics include high density and strong levitation stability, but it is difficult to precisely control the movement of objects, especially controlling multiple objects to move in different directions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide an array levitation device for controlling the relative movement of two objects in the horizontal direction. Our solution is as follows:

[0004] A cylindrical acoustic tweezers device mainly includes a cylindrical support, an ultrasonic transducer array, a PCB driver board, and an Arduino Mega development board. A computer is required as a host computer to control the Arduino development board to emit pulses of different phases. The ultrasonic transducer array is mounted inside the cylindrical support, with each transducer having a rated frequency of 40kHz and facing the axis of the cylinder. Two pins protrude from small holes at the bottom of the grooves in the cylindrical support where the transducers are placed, and are connected to the PCB driver board via wires. The PCB driver board is mounted on the Arduino development board, and the two are connected by pin headers and pin sockets. The host computer calculates the ultrasonic transducer phase that generates the corresponding sound field based on the user-input position of the suspended object, and transmits the phase data to the Arduino Mega development board, which outputs the corresponding pulses. After being amplified by the driver board, the pulses are received by the transducers, emitting sound waves of different phases to form a standing wave sound field. When the user changes the position of the suspended object, the host computer calculates the transducer phase data for the desired sound field and transmits it to the Arduino Mega development board, thereby changing the sound field generated by the transducers and achieving the purpose of moving the object.

[0005] The cylindrical support of this device consists of two arc-shaped supports and two circular hoops that fix the arc-shaped supports. The two arc-shaped supports are positioned vertically opposite each other, and the cuboid protrusions on the arc-shaped edges of the two supports are inserted into corresponding positions in the circular hoops. Each circular hoop has two retaining rings. After the M6 ​​screw passes through the retaining rings, an M6 nut clamps the retaining rings in the middle. The M6 ​​screw extends towards the aluminum base and is fixed to the base with an M6 nut.

[0006] The ultrasonic transducer array of this device consists of 128 ultrasonic transducers, divided into two groups, which are respectively installed in the inner grooves of two arc-shaped supports.

[0007] This device consists of two PCB driver boards, connected by pin headers and connectors. Each driver board comprises 32 driver units, each corresponding to two ultrasonic transducers, including one IX4427 field-effect transistor and two decoupling capacitors. The decoupling capacitors are rated at 0.1μF and 10μF respectively. These two decoupling capacitors are connected in parallel and then in series with a DC regulated power supply. Pin 7 of the IX4427 is used for power supply, pin 3 is grounded, pins 2 and 4 are connected to the signal output pins of the Arduino Mega development board, and pins 6 and 8 are connected to the signal input pins of the two ultrasonic transducers, respectively. The other pin of each ultrasonic transducer is grounded.

[0008] This device has two Arduino Mega development boards, corresponding to the PCB driver board. One Arduino Mega development board is connected to the host computer via a USB port, and the other receives phase data from the first Arduino Mega development board through the PCB driver board installed on it.

[0009] Compared with other acoustic levitation devices, this device has the following characteristics:

[0010] This device operates under DC 17-35V, requiring a low power supply voltage. The host computer continuously calculates the ultrasonic transducer phase needed to create the standing wave sound field based on the position of the levitated object and transmits the corresponding data to the Arduino Mega development board. This allows the levitated object to be moved by altering the standing wave sound field. The device can control two levitated objects to move closer to each other along the device's horizontal axis. All field-effect transistors are integrated on the PCB driver board and connected to the ultrasonic transducer array via DuPont wires, facilitating disassembly and maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device and an ultrasonic transducer array installation.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an arc-shaped support for a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device with a circular hoop.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the drive unit of a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection of a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The following describes a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 The following components are shown in a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device: an aluminum base 1, an M6 screw 2, an arc-shaped support 3, a circular hoop 4, and an ultrasonic transducer array 5. The M6 ​​screw 2 is vertically inserted into the threaded hole of the aluminum base 1 and secured with a nut. Figure 2 The image shows the arc-shaped support 3, in which the ultrasonic transducer will be mounted in the groove 6 of the arc-shaped support 3. (See appendix.) Figure 3 The circular hoop 4 is equipped with fixing rings 9 and several hollow positions 8 corresponding to the cuboid protrusions 7. When the two arc-shaped supports are inserted into the hollow positions 8 in the circular hoop 4 through the cuboid protrusions 7 on the edge to form a large cylinder, the cylindrical surface of the transducer faces the axis of the large cylinder of the device. The fixing rings 9 of the circular hoop 4 pass through the M6 ​​screw 2. The vertical positions of the four fixing rings 9 on the M6 ​​screw 2 are adjusted to make the axis of the large cylinder horizontal and fixed with nuts.

[0018] The ultrasonic transducer array 5 contains a total of 128 ultrasonic transducers. These 128 transducers are divided into two groups, each installed in a groove 6 inside one of the upper or lower arc-shaped supports 3. During installation, the two leads of the ultrasonic transducer protrude through small holes at the bottom of the groove 6 of the arc-shaped support 3. The diameter of the ultrasonic transducer is 10mm, and the inner diameter of the groove 6 must match it; the two leads of the transducer are 5mm apart, with a lead diameter of 0.7mm, and the inner diameter of the small holes at the bottom of the groove 6 must also match this. Each ultrasonic transducer is independent, facilitating replacement and maintenance.

[0019] The present invention discloses a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device comprising two PCB driver boards, each PCB driver board containing 32 such devices. Figure 4 The driving unit shown is a field-effect transistor (FET) IX4427. The FET IX4427 operates within a voltage range of 4.5-35V, meeting the requirements for transducer levitation of objects. The FET IX4427 includes the following pins and connections: pins 1 and 5 are NC pins and are not connected to any other leads; pin 7 is the V... cc Pin 1 is connected in series with the DC regulated power supply; pin 3 is the GND pin, grounded; pin 2 is the INA pin, pin 4 is the INB pin, both signal input pins, connected to the output pins of the Arduino Mega development board; pin 6 is the OUTA pin, pin 8 is the OUTB pin, both signal output pins, corresponding to the inputs of the INA and INB pins respectively, and pins 6 and 8 are both connected to the ultrasonic transducer. The 0.1μF and 10μF decoupling capacitors in the driver unit are connected in parallel and directly in series after the DC regulated power supply. These two decoupling capacitors also need to be grounded.

[0020] like Figure 5 The host computer calculates the ultrasonic transducer phase required to generate the standing wave sound field based on the user-input position of the suspended object. The phase data is transmitted to an Arduino Mega development board directly connected to the host computer's USB port. The phase data of the 64 ultrasonic transducers controlled by the Arduino Mega development board is retained. The phase data of the 64 ultrasonic transducers controlled by another Arduino Mega development board can be transmitted via the TX-RX pin pair connected between the two PCB driver boards. Square wave pulses of different phases emitted from the pins of the two Arduino Mega development boards are transmitted to the PCB driver board, amplified by the driver unit, and then applied to the ultrasonic transducers. The standing wave sound field formed by the ultrasonic transducer array 5 suspends the object. When two suspended objects (such as polystyrene spheres) are placed along the horizontal axis of the large cylinder of this device, the resulting sound field includes two columns of standing waves. To manipulate the two suspended objects to gradually approach each other along the horizontal axis, the host computer calculates the transducer phase required to generate the corresponding sound field based on the positions of the two suspended objects after they gradually approach each other. This phase data is transmitted to two Arduino Mega development boards, causing the two standing waves in the sound field to gradually approach each other, thereby causing the two suspended objects to gradually approach each other as well.

[0021] In this device, the host computer continuously calculates the corresponding ultrasonic transducer phase based on the adjustment of the suspended object's position and transmits it to the Arduino Mega development board. This causes the standing wave in the sound field used to suspend the object to be continuously adjusted, driving the suspended object to move closer or further away from each other along the horizontal axis of the cylinder. The ultrasonic transducer array 5, the PCB driver board, and the Arduino Mega development board can be separated into three independent parts. The transducers and field-effect transistors are also relatively easy to replace, which is beneficial for device maintenance.

[0022] The above description is an example of a cylindrical acoustic tweezers device. Any modifications, additions, or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the above description should fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A cylindrical acoustic tweezers device, comprising: The system includes a cylindrical support, an ultrasonic transducer array, a PCB driver board, and an Arduino Mega development board. The ultrasonic transducer array is installed in a groove inside the cylindrical support, with the cylindrical surface of the transducer facing the horizontal axis of the large cylinder formed by the cylindrical support. Every two transducers are connected to a driver unit, and all driver units are integrated on two PCB driver boards. Correspondingly, there are also two Arduino Mega development boards, with one PCB driver board connected to the other, and the two PCB driver boards are connected to each other. Each PCB driver board integrates 32 driver units, and each driver unit contains a field-effect transistor and two decoupling capacitors. The field-effect transistor used is IX4427, and the capacitance values ​​of the two decoupling capacitors are 0.1μF and 10μF, respectively; Pins 1 and 5 of the IX4427 field-effect transistor are not connected to any leads; pin 7 is connected in series with the DC regulated power supply; pin 3 is grounded; pins 2 and 4 are both signal input pins and are connected to the output pins of the Arduino Mega development board; pins 6 and 8 are both signal output pins and are connected to the ultrasonic transducer. Two suspended objects are placed along the horizontal axis of a cylindrical support, forming a sound field consisting of two standing waves. To manipulate the two suspended objects to gradually move closer to each other along the horizontal axis, the host computer calculates and generates the transducer phase required for the corresponding sound field based on the positions of the two suspended objects after they gradually move closer. This phase data is then transmitted to two Arduino Mega development boards, causing the two standing waves in the sound field to gradually move closer, thereby causing the two suspended objects to gradually move closer as well.

2. The cylindrical acoustic tweezers device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cylindrical support consists of two arc-shaped brackets and two circular hoops. The fixing rings on the circular hoops are supported and fixed by an aluminum base with screws.

3. The cylindrical acoustic tweezers device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ultrasonic transducer array consists of 128 ultrasonic transducers, divided into two groups, which are installed in the inner grooves of two arc-shaped supports.

4. The cylindrical acoustic tweezers device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Arduino Mega development board receives phase data from the host computer, generates pulses of different phases, which are amplified by the PCB driver board and applied to the ultrasonic transducer.

5. The cylindrical acoustic tweezers device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The host computer changes the standing wave sound field of the ultrasonic transducer by altering the phase data, thereby moving the suspended object inside the large cylinder formed by the cylindrical support.

6. A cylindrical acoustic tweezers device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: After receiving data from the host computer, the Arduino Mega development board, which is directly connected to the host computer, will transmit the phase data belonging to the other Arduino Mega development board through the TX-RX pin pair between the two PCB driver boards.

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