1845 results about "Transductor" patented technology

A field transducer (30) for determining position or orientation in a medical instrument locating system is placed at an arbitrary position or orientation with respect to a feature (62) of the instrument (46). The transducer (30) may be attached at a arbitrary location on the instrument (46), or the instrument (400, 404) may be bent as desired by the user. A transform relating position or orientation of feature of the instrument to position or orientation of the tranducer is obtained in a caliration cycle. A field transducer may be part of a disposable unit which is irrevocably altered when used with an instrument so that the unit cannot be reused.

A mechanically formed vortex transducer is described. The transducer has a plurality of piezoelectric elements suspended in an epoxy and heat molded into a desired shape. An irregularity in the transducer shape provides for a mechanically induced vortex focal field without the need for electronic steering or lens focusing. A system and methods of making the same are also described.

A disk drive includes a disk having a recording surface, a head stack assembly that includes a body portion, an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion and a head gimbal assembly supported at the actuator arm. The head gimbal assembly includes a suspension having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the actuator arm, a slider coupled to the second end of the suspension, the slider comprising a transducer for reading from and writing to the recording surface. A gimbal is coupled to the second end of the suspension and to the slider. An array of diodes is attached to the suspension to protect the transducer from electrostatic discharge or electrical overstress events.

A method and system define a magnetoresistive junction in a magnetic recording transducer. The method and system include performing a first mill at a first angle from a normal to the surface of the magnetic recording transducer. A second mill is performed at a second angle from the normal to the surface. The second angle is larger than the first angle. A third mill is performed at a third angle from the normal to the surface. The third angle is not larger than the first angle.

A magnetic recording device includes a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS), a leading side, and a trailing side and a head residing on the slider. The head has a first magnetic transducer and a first heater for heating an area proximal to the first magnetic transducer. A first shield (S1) comprising a first material is on the leading side of the first magnetic transducer and a second shield (S2) comprising the first material is on the trailing side of the first magnetic transducer. A first pole (P1) comprising the first material is on the trailing side of the second shield (S2), and the first pole (P1) is between 0.6 micron and 2.0 micron thick; and the second shield (S2) is less than 0.6 micron thick. A hard disk drive includes the magnetic recording device.

A method and system for fabricating a magnetic transducer is described. The transducer has device and field regions, and a magnetoresistive stack. Hard mask layer and wet-etchable layers are provided on the magnetoresistive stack and hard mask layer, respectively. A hard mask and a wet-etchable mask are formed from the hard mask and the wet-etchable layers, respectively. The hard and wet-etchable masks each includes a sensor portion and a line frame. The sensor portion covers part of the magnetoresistive stack corresponding to a magnetoresistive structure. The line frame covers a part of the magnetoresistive stack in the device region. The magnetoresistive structure is defined in a track width direction. Hard bias material(s) are then provided. Part of the hard bias material(s) is adjacent to the magnetoresistive structure in the track width direction. The wet-etchable sensor portion and line frame, and hard bias material(s) thereon, are removed.

The invention relates to an acoustic micro-electrical-mechanical-system (MEMS) transducer formed on a single die based on a semiconductor material and having front and back surface parts opposed to each other. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such an acoustic MEMS transducer. The acoustic MEMS transducer comprises a cavity formed in the die to thereby provide a back volume with an upper portion facing an opening of the cavity and a lower portion facing a bottom of the cavity. A back plate and a diaphragm are arranged substantially parallel with an air gap there between and extending at least partly across the opening of the cavity, with the back plate and diaphragm being integrally formed with the front surface part of the die. The bottom of the cavity is bounded by the die. The diaphragm may be arranged above the back plate and at least partly extending across the back plate. It is preferred that the backside openings are formed in the die with the openings extending from the back surface part of the die to the cavity bottom. Part of or all of the backside openings may be acoustically sealed by a sealing material.

An apparatus and method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device by deriving the electrical energy from motion of the device. In one embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes a novel kinetic electrical power generator (KEPG) consisting of an inventive oscillating weight having an internal cavity with a freely movable acceleration element disposed therein, resulting in improved acceleration and oscillation capabilities and lower motion threshold for the weight, a system for converting the weight's oscillating motion into rotational motion, and an electromechanical transducer system for generating electrical energy from the rotational motion. The novel KEPG includes components for modifying the electrical energy for storing and / or feeding the modified electrical energy to the electrical device. Optional components may be included for using the modified electrical energy to recharge one or more rechargeable batteries used in an electric device. Alternate advantageous embodiments of the inventive apparatus include, but are not limited to: a KEPG with multiple inventive oscillating weights to increase velocity and frequency of desirable rotational motion, and a KEPG system utilizing multiple electrically coupled KEPG sub-systems.

An apparatus comprising a capacitive transducer, for example a MEMS microphone. A first voltage generator is connected to receive a first voltage (VDD*) and generate a second voltage (VCP) for biasing the capacitive transducer. A control circuit is adapted to, in use, control the first voltage (VDD*) based on a calibration value, wherein a different calibration value would lead to a different first voltage level and the calibration value is set such that an input signal of known amplitude produces an output signal of predetermined amplitude.

The invention is a magnetic transducer with separated read and write heads for perpendicular recording. The write head has a trailing shield that extends from the return pole piece toward the main pole piece to form the write gap at the air-bearing surface. One embodiment of the trailing shield is a two part structure with a pedestal and a much smaller tip that confronts the main pole piece at the gap. In one embodiment a sink of non-magnetic, electrically conductive material is disposed in the separation gap between the read head and the flux bearing pole piece. The sink is preferably made of copper and does not extend to the ABS.

A method for lysing fat cells using a multi-element, phased array piezoelectric transducer, the method comprising: providing a multi-element, phased array piezoelectric transducer comprising a single unitary piece of piezoelectric material having a plurality of electrode elements being formed as a segmented conductive layer on at least one surface of the piezoelectric material, each segment of the conductive layer being associated with an individual transducer element; positioning the transducer over a body of a patient, in proximity to a target volume containing fat cells; causing at least some of the transducer elements to emit ultrasound energy by exciting their associated electrode elements with high frequency voltages, the ultrasound energy having a power density at the target volume which is higher than a cavitation threshold; and spatially steering the ultrasound energy across the target volume by controlling the excitation of electrode elements in the time domain, thereby inducing cavitation in fat cells contained in the target volume.

The current invention provides methods of fabricating a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) that includes oxidizing a substrate to form an oxide layer on a surface of the substrate having an oxidation-enabling material, depositing and patterning an oxidation-blocking layer to form a post region and a cavity region on the substrate surface and remove the oxidation-blocking layer and oxide layer at the post region. The invention further includes thermally oxidizing the substrate to grow one or more oxide posts from the post region, where the post defines the vertical critical dimension of the device, and bonding a membrane layer onto the post to form a membrane of the device. A maximum allowed second oxidation thickness t2 can be determined, that is partially based on a desired step height and a device size, and a first oxidation thickness t1 can be determined that is partially based on the determined thickness t2.

A system for monitoring an electrical power system includes one or more transducer units, each of which has a current measuring device and a voltage measuring device coupled to a respective one of the phase conductors of the power system, and a transducer wireless communications device. The transducer wireless communications device of each transducer unit transmits the measured current data and voltage data to a base unit. The base unit generates one or more electrical parameters relating to the power system using the received current data and voltage data. Also, a method of monitoring a power system including generating current and voltage data for each phase conductor at a first location, wirelessly transmitting the current and voltage data to a second location, and generating at the second location electrical parameters relating to the power system using the current and voltage data for each phase conductor.

A vibrotactile transducer provides a point-like vibrational stimulus to the body of a user in response to an electrical input. The apparatus includes a housing held in contact with the skin and a moving mechanical contactor protruding through in an opening in said housing and preloaded into skin. The contactor is attached to a torroidal moving magnet assembly suspended by springs in a magnetic circuit assembly consisting of a housing containing a pair of electrical coils. The mass of the magnet / contactor assembly and the compliance of the spring are chosen so that the electromechanical resonance of the motional masses, when loaded by a typical skin site on the human body, are in a frequency band where the human body is most sensitive to vibrational stimuli. By varying the drive signal to the vibrotactile transducer and activating one or more transducer at specific location on the body using an appropriate choice of signal characteristics and / or modulation, different information can be provided to a user in a intuitive, body referenced manner.

An ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) has a mobile generator module (20) and a high-pressure water hose (40) for delivering high-pressure water from the mobile generator module (20) to a hand-held gun (50) with a trigger and an ultrasonic nozzle (60). An ultrasonic generator in the mobile generator module (20) transmits high-frequency electrical pulses to a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer (62) which vibrates to modulate a high-pressure waterjet flowing through the nozzle (60). The waterjet exiting the ultrasonic nozzle (60) is pulsed into mini slugs of water, each of which imparts a waterhammer pressure on a target surface. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) may be used to cut and de-burr materials, to clean and de-coat surfaces, and to break rocks. The ultrasonic waterjet apparatus (10) performs these tasks with much greater efficiency than conventional continuous-flow waterjet systems because of the repetitive waterhammer effect. A nozzle with multiple exit orifices or a rotating nozzle (76) may be provided in lieu of a nozzle with a single exit orifice to render cleaning and de-coating large surfaces more efficient. A water dump valve (27) and controlling solenoid are located in the mobile generator module (20) rather than the gun (50) to make the gun lighter and more ergonomic.

The present invention relates to the design of piezoelectric transducer subassemblies and systems primarily intended for medical and dental applications. The invention also provides transducer subassemblies and systems with improved performance and a capability to operate more efficiently in torsional or a combined longitudinal-torsional mode of vibration. The invention enables the size and weight of torsional mode transducers to be reduced. Additionally, the electrical characteristics of these transducer systems are improved, thus enabling the transducer end effector to deliver more power to the operative site.

Electro dynamic transducers can fail due to either excessive voice coil excursion, causing mechanical clipping, or by overheating of the voice coil causing degradation of the materials. The disclosed invention relates to protection against excess voice coil temperature in such transducers. The current through the transducer voice coil and the voltage across its terminals, are measured. The resistive part of the impedance of the transducer is then estimated based on the measurements of current and voltage. When the resistive impedance for the given type of transducer is well known at one temperature it is then possible to calculate the temperature when the resistive impedance changes. The estimated voice coil temperature is then fed to a signal attenuator or controller, which attenuates the output signal to the transducer.

An electronic lock incorporating one or more shape memory metal wire segment as its electromechanical transducer. An electronic control circuit injects electrical current into the shape memory metal wire, causing it to heat up and contract. A gate is positioned by the action of the shape memory metal wire(s) to either allow or block the movement of a locking bolt that affect locking or unlocking. Millions of operational cycles are achieved by limiting the stretching of the shape memory metal wire at low temperature to small percentages of its total length. The design lends itself to miniaturization, with commensurate reduction in power consumption, that is useful to the evolution of future electronic locks.

A transmit pulser includes an H-bridge of four transistors. First and second transistors of the H-bridge connect with a first electrode of a transducer element, and third and fourth transistors of the H-bridge connect with a second electrode of the transducer element. A differential receive amplifier connects with the first and third transistors. First and second diode clamps connect with the first and third transistors, respectively, and the inputs to the differential receive amplifier. The second and fourth transistors connect to a same power or voltage source, imposing a same voltage in either a forward or a reverse direction. By using matched transistor pairs (e.g. first and third matched pair and second and fourth matched pair), symmetrical transmit waveforms are generated. Symmetrical transmit waveforms allow for using phase inversion or phase differences between transmit waveforms for imaging, such as for harmonic imaging of tissue. The spectral content of symmetrical waveforms is narrower or includes less harmonic information.

A system and method are provided for attracting a magnetically responsive substance inserted in a subject's body towards a target area within the body to treat the area. The system generally comprises a medical device having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one magnetic element disposed at the distal end of the medical device for orienting the distal end in a desired direction to place an aperture against the opposite wall of the vessel. The system further includes a voltage that may be applied to a coil that is disposed on the side of the medical device and proximally spaced from the magnetic element. A voltage is applied to the coil to attract the magnetically responsive substances inserted into the body around the coil. A high frequency alternating current voltage is applied to an adjacent transducer to ultrasonically disperse the collected magnetically responsive substances into the surrounding target tissue.

A Wearable Trigger Electronic Music System that can be adopted for simulating any kind of music, anywhere, any time. As for example one can create all the benefits of the percussion instrument such as a drum kit but without the cost and burden of a drum kit. Same also applies to string, wind and other types of instruments of any nation, any culture, any motif, any era any age etc. The system includes all its constituent components including sensors, transducers, electronics, music module, pre-amps and amplifiers, wired or wireless to connections for intra and inter modules including final enjoyment by wired or wireless headphones or speakers. Also delineated is the process of creating music for the DIY enthusiast.

A method and apparatus is provided to analyze a dual wall structure having at least one hollow core therein and having the same unknown material sound velocities in walls and in post as well. A transducer is located in at least two different positions with respect to the structure, whereby the transducer propagates an ultrasonic wave toward the dual wall structure. A portion of the ultrasonic wave is reflected back to the transducer. One wave traverses a portion of the dual wall structure that has a core filled with a medium having a known material acoustic property. A second wave traverses a portion of the post that has an unknown material sound velocity. From time of flight measurements of the above mentioned waves, the wall thickness and core shift, if any, can be determined.

A beta-type free-piston Stirling cycle engine or cooler is drivingly coupled to a linear alternator or linear motor and has an improved balancing system to minimize vibration without the need for a separate vibration balancing unit. The stator of the linear motor or alternator is mounted to the interior of the casing through an interposed spring to provide an oscillating system permitting the stator to reciprocate and flex the spring during operation of the Stirling machine and coupled transducer. The natural frequency of oscillation, ωs, of the stator is maintained essentially equal to ωpωp1-αpkpand the natural frequency of oscillation of the piston, ∩p, is maintained essentially equal to the operating frequency, ωo of the coupled Stirling machine and alternator or motor. For applications in which variations of the average temperature and / or the average pressure of the working gas cause more than insubstantial variations of the piston resonant frequency ωp, various alternative means for compensating for those changes in order to maintain vibration balancing are also disclosed.

The disclosed transducer includes a housing, a diaphragm, an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first baffle. The housing defines an interior volume. The diaphragm is disposed in the housing and divides the interior volume into a first chamber and a second chamber. The diaphragm flexes in response to pressure differentials in the first and second chambers. The inner conductor is disposed in the first chamber. The outer conductor is disposed in the first chamber around the inner conductor. The first baffle is disposed in the second chamber and defines an inner region, a middle region, and an outer region. The inner region underlies the inner conductor. The middle region underlies the outer conductor. The outer region underlies neither the inner conductor nor the outer conductor. The first baffle defines apertures in at least two of the inner, middle, and outer regions.

Fabrication methods for capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTS) with independent and precise gap and post thickness control are provided. The fabrication methods are based on local oxidation or local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) to grow oxide posts. The process steps enable low surface roughness to be maintained to allow for direct wafer bonding of the membrane. In addition, methods for fabricating a step in a substrate are provided with reduced or minimal over-etch time by utilizing the nonlinearity of oxide growth. The fabrication methods of the present invention produce CMUTs with unmatched uniformity, low parasitic capacitance, and high breakdown voltage.

An electrical power generation system includes a transducer that generates electrical energy under dynamic mechanical loading. A buffer is mechanically coupled to the transducer and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a structure. The buffer facilitates the transducer to operate within a predetermined mechanical loading range to allow the system to provide electrical energy. An electricity generator module includes a transducer that generates electrical energy under dynamic motion conditions. A circuit coupled to the electrically transducer converts the electrical energy into usable electricity at a circuit output. A planar housing encloses the transducer and circuit and (i) allows the transducer to be exposed to the dynamic motion conditions and (ii) provides electrical contacts that facilitate delivery of the useable electricity for external circuitry.

An apparatus and method for transmitting data and power through a metal barrier using ultrasonic waves, having ultrasonic transmission channels through the barrier formed by coupling ultrasonic transducers on opposite sides of the barrier. A power transmitter sends power over a channel and forward and reverse data transmitters send forward and reverse data signals by orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing OFDM over a separate channel. The data signals are made up of plural sub-carriers at plural different sub-carrier frequencies with none of the sub-carriers of the forward transmission signal being at a power harmonic frequency.

A wearable ultrasound device and method of using the device includes a power controller with a power source and at least one integrated circuit that delivers electrical power to an applicator. The applicator is electrically coupled to the power controller and a surface of the applicator transmits ultrasound to a wearer for a given duration. The applicator includes radio frequency (RF) drive electronics, an ultrasound transducer coupled to the drive electronics, a monitoring apparatus that includes a thermal cutoff coupled to the drive electronics, where the monitoring apparatus monitors a temperature of the applicator surface and the thermal cutoff turns off the applicator, if the temperature exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and a coupling bandage coupled to the applicator, where the bandage positions the surface of the applicator proximate to a wearer at a location on the body of a wearer.