Airborne acoustic imaging sensor

Abstract

The application discloses an air acoustic imaging sensor, comprising: a deflection device, comprising a mounting seat, a first deformation member and a fixed seat, two ends of the first deformation member being connected with the mounting seat and the fixed seat respectively; an air acoustic imaging sensing device, being installed on the fixed seat; and a driving device, being installed on the deflection device, the driving device being used for driving the first deformation member to deform, so that the air acoustic imaging sensing device installed on the fixed seat deflects. The air acoustic imaging sensor of the embodiment of the application drives the first deformation member to deform through the driving device, so that the air acoustic imaging sensing device installed on the fixed seat deflects, thereby achieving the function of adjusting the deflection angle of the air acoustic imaging sensing device. The air acoustic imaging sensor realizes dynamic scanning imaging. Compared with the existing structure of driving the transducer to deflect, the air acoustic imaging sensor of the application has the advantages of small overall volume, high integration, small space range occupied in the movement process and low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ultrasonic imaging technology, and in particular to an airborne acoustic imaging sensor. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasonic imaging is characterized by its low susceptibility to ambient light, ease of data acquisition and processing, and lack of radiation, making it suitable for applications such as biomedical imaging, ultrasound low-resolution navigation, and human posture sensing. Current imaging devices often employ multi-element ultrasonic systems, resulting in large ultrasonic sensing units. Furthermore, in mechanical scanning methods (e.g., using gear transmission), the complex structure driving the transducer deflection also contributes to the overall large size of the imaging sensor.

[0003] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the overall background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an airborne acoustic imaging sensor that is capable of...

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of the present invention provide an airborne acoustic imaging sensor, comprising:

[0006] The deflection device includes a mounting base, a first deformable element, and a fixed base, wherein both ends of the first deformable element are connected to the mounting base and the fixed base, respectively.

[0007] An airborne acoustic imaging sensor is mounted on the fixed base;

[0008] A driving device, mounted on the deflection device, is used to drive the first deformable member to deform so that the fixed base is deflected.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the driving device includes a first driving member mounted on the fixed base and a second driving member mounted on the mounting base; one of the first driving member and the second driving member is an electromagnetic component, and the other is a magnetic component; or both the first driving member and the second driving member are electromagnetic components.

[0010] The first driving member and the second driving member cooperate to drive the first deformable member to deform, so that the fixed seat deflects along the first direction.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the mounting base includes an outer support structure, an inner support structure, and a second deformation member for connecting the outer support structure and the inner support structure. The second driving member is mounted on the inner support structure. The driving device further includes a third driving member mounted on the outer support structure. The third driving member is an electromagnetic component or a magnetic component.

[0012] The second and third driving members cooperate to drive the second deformable member to deform, so that the fixed seat deflects along the second direction.

[0013] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than 0°.

[0014] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the deflection device includes two first deformation members disposed opposite to each other on the fixed base, the two first deformation members being columnar and located on the same straight line.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first deformable member includes a main body portion and a deformable portion covering the main body portion, wherein the deformable portion is made of a deformable material;

[0016] One of the deformable part and the main body part is connected to the fixed base, and the other is connected to the mounting base.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the airborne acoustic imaging sensing device includes a main platform mounted on the fixed base and an ultrasonic sensing unit mounted on the main platform, the ultrasonic sensing unit being used to receive and / or transmit ultrasonic signals.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the main platform includes a stacked deformation layer and a connecting layer, the deformation layer being connected to the fixed base, and the ultrasonic sensing unit being mounted on the connecting layer;

[0019] The deformation layer is made of at least two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. When the temperature changes, the deformation layer deforms, causing the connecting layer to deflect.

[0020] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the ultrasonic sensing unit is a capacitive micro-ultrasonic transducer or a piezoelectric micro-ultrasonic transducer.

[0021] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the airborne acoustic imaging sensing device further includes an excitation mechanism for exciting the ultrasonic sensing unit to emit ultrasonic waves.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the air acoustic imaging sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention drives the first deformable member to deform through a driving device, so as to deflect the fixed base, thereby achieving the function of adjusting the deflection angle of the air acoustic imaging sensor. The air acoustic imaging sensor realizes dynamic scanning imaging. Compared with the existing structure of driving transducer deflection, the air acoustic imaging sensor of the present invention has the advantages of small overall size, high integration, small space occupied during movement, and low cost. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an airborne acoustic imaging sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a bottom view of an airborne acoustic imaging sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of an airborne acoustic imaging sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the main platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the first deformable member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an airborne acoustic imaging sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0030] 1. Deflection device; 11. Mounting base; 111. External support structure; 112. Internal support structure; 113. Second deformation component; 12. First deformation component; 121. Main body; 122. Deformation part; 13. Fixing base; 2. Airborne acoustic imaging sensor; 21. Main platform; 211. Deformation layer; 212. Connecting layer; 22. Ultrasonic sensing unit; 3. Driving device; 31. First driving component; 32. Second driving component; 33. Third driving component. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it should be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments.

[0032] Unless otherwise expressly stated, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" or its variations such as "including" or "comprises" shall be understood to include the stated elements or components without excluding other elements or other components.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an airborne acoustic imaging sensor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a deflection device 1, an airborne acoustic imaging sensing device 2, and a driving device 3. The deflection device 1 includes a mounting base 11, a first deformable element 12, and a fixed base 13. The two ends of the first deformable element 12 are respectively connected to the mounting base 11 and the fixed base 13. The airborne acoustic imaging sensing device 2 is mounted on the fixed base 13. The driving device 3 is mounted on the deflection device 1 and is used to drive the first deformable element 12 to deform so that the device mounted on the fixed base 13 deflects.

[0034] Understandably, by replacing the traditional deflection transmission structure with the deformation of the first deformable element 12, the size of the airborne acoustic imaging sensor can be reduced, solving the problem of the large size of the traditional deflection transmission structure. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor can be mounted on other structures or machines via the mounting base 11.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first deformable element 12 can be made of a deformable material, such as rubber, an elastic material with shape memory (e.g., a nickel-titanium alloy), or other materials that can recover after deformation. The deformation of the first deformable element 12 can be torsional.

[0036] In another specific embodiment, the first deformable member 12 includes a main body 121 and a deformable part 122 covering the main body 121. The deformable part 122 is made of a deformable material. The deformable material can be, for example, rubber, or a shape-memory elastic material (such as a nickel-titanium alloy), a material that can recover its shape after deformation. One of the deformable part 122 and the main body 121 is connected to the fixing base 13, and the other is connected to the mounting base 11. The main body 121 can be made of a rigid material, such as plastic or metal. The main body 121 serves to enhance the overall support strength of the first deformable member 12 and to guide and restrict the deformation direction of the deformable part 122.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the driving device 3 includes a first driving member 31 mounted on the fixed base 13 and a second driving member 32 mounted on the mounting base 11; one of the first driving member 31 and the second driving member 32 is an electromagnetic component, and the other is a magnetic component; or both the first driving member 31 and the second driving member 32 are electromagnetic components; wherein, the first driving member 31 and the second driving member 32 cooperate to drive the first deformable member 12 to deform, so that the fixed base 13 deflects along the first direction. Figure 2 In the middle, the first driving component 31 is an electromagnetic component ( Figure 2 The first direction can be considered as an electromagnetic coil, and the second driving component 32 can be a magnetic component or an electromagnetic assembly. Figure 2 In the X direction,

[0038] It should be noted that the magnetic component can be a magnet, such as a sheet or block magnet; the electromagnetic component can be an electromagnet or a current-carrying coil, etc., and the electromagnetic component can generate a magnetic field after being energized. Since the first driving component 31 is mounted on the fixed base 13 and the second driving component 32 is mounted on the mounting base 11, and the fixed base 13 and the mounting base 11 are connected by the first deformable component 12, after being energized, the magnetic fields generated by the first driving component 31 and the second driving component 32 interact, thereby causing the first deformable component 12 to deform. When the first deformable component 12 is rod-shaped, its deformation is a torsion along its extension direction, thereby controlling the deflection of the fixed base 13 and the airborne acoustic imaging sensor 2 on it. Since the overall volume of the airborne acoustic imaging sensor of the present invention is small, the force required for the deflection of the fixed base 13 and the airborne acoustic imaging sensor 2 on it is small, and the force required for the deflection can be fully met by the interaction between the electromagnetic component and the magnetic component.

[0039] In other embodiments, the driving device 3 may also be of other structures, such as driving the first deformable member 12 to deform by means of light energy, heat energy, etc.

[0040] In another specific implementation, such as Figure 3 As shown, the mounting base 11 may include an outer support structure 111, an inner support structure 112, and a second deformation member 113 for connecting the outer support structure 111 and the inner support structure 112. The second driving member 32 is mounted on the inner support structure 112. The driving device 3 also includes a third driving member 33 mounted on the outer support structure 111. The third driving member 33 is an electromagnetic component or a magnetic component. The second driving member 32 and the third driving member 33 cooperate to drive the second deformation member 113 to deform, so that the fixed base 13 deflects along the second direction.

[0041] The second deformable member 113 and the first deformable member 12 may have the same or similar structure and material. The first deformable member 12 and / or the second deformable member 113 may have a beam-shaped, column-shaped, interdigitated, or bent structure.

[0042] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the first direction is the X direction, the second direction is the Y direction, and the angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than 0°. With this setting, when the first driving component 31, the second driving component 32, and the third driving component 33 are all electromagnetic components, the deflection angle of the fixed base 13 and the air acoustic imaging sensor 2 on it can be controlled by whether it is energized, the magnitude of the current, and the direction of the current. This allows the air acoustic imaging sensor to perform multi-angle and large-range detection and realize dynamic scanning imaging.

[0043] In this embodiment, the deflection of the fixed base 13 along the first or second direction can be considered as a rotational motion about the straight line containing the first or second direction as an axis.

[0044] In one specific embodiment, the deflection device 1 includes two first deformation members 12 disposed opposite to each other on the fixed base 13. The two first deformation members 12 are columnar and located on the same straight line. The two first deformation members 12 can enhance the connection strength between the fixed base 13 and the mounting base 11.

[0045] In one specific embodiment, the airborne acoustic imaging sensor 2 includes a main platform 21 mounted on a fixed base 13 and an ultrasonic sensing unit 22 mounted on the main platform 21. The ultrasonic sensing unit 22 is used to receive and / or transmit ultrasonic signals.

[0046] In one specific implementation, such as Figure 4 As shown, the main platform 21 includes a stacked deformation layer 211 and a connecting layer 212. The deformation layer 211 is connected to the fixing base 13, and the ultrasonic sensing unit 22 is mounted on the connecting layer 212. The deformation layer 211 is made of at least two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion (as shown in the figure, the deformation layer 211 is represented by two different shaded areas, indicating two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion). When the temperature changes, the deformation layer 211 deforms, causing the connecting layer 212 to deflect. Specifically, the two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion can be two metallic materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0047] Specifically, the ultrasonic sensing unit 22 is a capacitive micro-ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) or a piezoelectric micro-ultrasonic transducer (CMUT). For example... Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the airborne acoustic imaging sensor 2 includes only one ultrasonic sensing unit 22, that is, only one ultrasonic detection channel. This configuration can further reduce the size of the airborne acoustic imaging sensor.

[0048] In other implementations, such as Figure 6 As shown, the ultrasonic sensing unit 22 consists of multiple arrayed capacitive micro-ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) or piezoelectric micro-ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs).

[0049] Furthermore, the airborne acoustic imaging sensing device 2 also includes an excitation mechanism (not shown in the figure) for exciting the ultrasonic sensing unit 22 to emit ultrasonic waves. Specifically, the excitation mechanism can be an MCU (STM32) used to control and excite the PMUT to emit ultrasonic waves. When the PMUT is excited, it immediately performs ultrasonic acquisition, thereby realizing the process of ultrasonic scanning imaging.

[0050] In summary, the airborne acoustic imaging sensor of the present invention has the advantages of having a small number of channels, small overall size, easy control of angle deflection, and high degree of integration. It can also perform multi-angle and large-area detection to achieve dynamic scanning imaging.

[0051] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention is for illustrative and explanatory purposes. These descriptions are not intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many changes and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the specific principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to implement and utilize various different exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as various different choices and variations. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An airborne acoustic imaging sensor, characterized in that, include: The deflection device includes a mounting base, a first deformable element, and a fixed base, wherein both ends of the first deformable element are connected to the mounting base and the fixed base, respectively. An airborne acoustic imaging sensor is mounted on the fixed base; A driving device is mounted on the deflection device, the driving device being used to drive the first deformable member to deform so that the fixed base is deflected. The driving device includes a first driving component mounted on the fixed base and a second driving component mounted on the mounting base; one of the first driving component and the second driving component is an electromagnetic component, and the other is a magnetic component; or both the first driving component and the second driving component are electromagnetic components. Wherein, the first driving member and the second driving member cooperate to drive the first deformable member to deform so that the fixed seat deflects along the first direction; The mounting base includes an outer support structure, an inner support structure, and a second deformation member for connecting the outer support structure and the inner support structure. The second driving member is mounted on the inner support structure. The driving device also includes a third driving member mounted on the outer support structure. The third driving member is an electromagnetic component or a magnetic component. The second and third driving members cooperate to drive the second deformable member to deform, so that the fixed seat deflects along the second direction.

2. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than 0°.

3. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The deflection device includes two first deformation members disposed opposite to each other on the fixed base. The two first deformation members are columnar and located on the same straight line.

4. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first deformable component includes a main body and a deformable portion covering the main body, wherein the deformable portion is made of a deformable material; One of the deformable part and the main body part is connected to the fixed base, and the other is connected to the mounting base.

5. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The airborne acoustic imaging sensor includes a main platform mounted on the fixed base and an ultrasonic sensing unit mounted on the main platform. The ultrasonic sensing unit is used to receive and / or transmit ultrasonic signals.

6. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The main platform includes a stacked deformation layer and a connecting layer. The deformation layer is connected to the fixed base, and the ultrasonic sensing unit is mounted on the connecting layer. The deformation layer is made of at least two materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. When the temperature changes, the deformation layer deforms, causing the connecting layer to deflect.

7. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ultrasonic sensing unit is a capacitive micro-ultrasonic transducer or a piezoelectric micro-ultrasonic transducer.

8. The airborne acoustic imaging sensor as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The airborne acoustic imaging sensing device also includes an excitation mechanism for exciting the ultrasonic sensing unit to emit ultrasonic waves.

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