Acoustic Incident Angle Estimation Using Virtual Resonators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for determining the incident angle of acoustic waves face challenges in achieving a compact design due to the need for spaced transducers, which can lead to strong resonance disturbing the sound being sensed.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising N transducers and N coupled analog circuits that solve a set of N coupled differential equations modeling virtual coupled acoustic resonators, eliminating the need for physical resonators and thus avoiding strong resonance, allowing for a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transducers are spaced far apart to determine incident angle, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical/acoustic approach of using physically spaced transducers with an electrical circuit model. The coupled analog circuits with integrators and summing junctions simulate the acoustic wave propagation and phase differences that would normally require physically separated transducers, thereby achieving incident angle measurement without large physical spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an electrical copy of the acoustic field behavior through analog circuits. The coupled differential equations model the acoustic wave interactions, and the electrical circuits replicate this behavior, allowing the system to measure incident angle as if the transducers were spaced apart, while actually using compact integrated circuits.
2Volume of moving object
If transducers are placed within physical acoustic resonators to improve amplitude sensitivity and compactness, then device size is reduced, but strong resonance disturbs the sound being sensed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates physical acoustic resonators by substituting them with electrical circuit resonators. The analog circuits with integrators and feedback paths create electrical resonance that mirrors acoustic resonance behavior without producing actual acoustic disturbances, thus maintaining compactness while avoiding resonance interference with the sound being measured.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrical signals as an intermediary between the acoustic wave and the measurement process. Instead of directly using physical resonators that interact with and disturb the acoustic field, the system uses transducers to convert acoustic signals to electrical signals, which are then processed by analog circuits that simulate resonator behavior without acoustic disturbance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining the incident angle of an acoustic wave are presented herein. One embodiment receives an acoustic wave at N transducers, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2; solves a set of N coupled differential equations modeling a set of N virtual coupled acoustic resonators using N coupled analog circuits, wherein each of the N coupled analog circuits receives an output signal from a unique one of the N transducers and outputs a voltage signal; and analyzes the N voltage signals output by the N coupled analog circuits to produce an estimate of the incident angle of the acoustic wave.