17931458. EMBEDDED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

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EMBEDDED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Qi Wang of Santa Clara CA (US)

Jere C. Harrison of Redwood City CA (US)

Mi Hye Shin of Santa Clara CA (US)

Yunhan Chen of San Jose CA (US)

EMBEDDED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17931458 titled 'EMBEDDED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) that can be embedded into a flexible watch band to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data.

  • MUTs are small devices that can detect touch, gestures, and physiological signals.
  • They can be embedded into a flexible watch band, allowing for continuous monitoring of various signals.
  • The MUTs consist of a piezoelectric material sandwiched between two electrodes, which allows for the generation and detection of ultrasonic waves.
  • The transducer structure is supported by a base material with cavities, enabling motion.
  • Multiplexing circuitry is used to stimulate, configure, and control the MUTs.
  • The size, shape, and arrangement of the transducers can be adjusted to improve ultrasonic transmission.
  • The MUT array can be driven to beamform the transmitted and received ultrasonic waves.
  • The MUT arrays can also generate haptic feedback through the flexible band.

Potential Applications

  • Continuous monitoring of physiological signals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.
  • Gesture recognition for controlling smart devices or interacting with virtual reality environments.
  • Touch detection for user interface interactions on smartwatches or other wearable devices.
  • Data transfer between devices through ultrasonic waves.

Problems Solved

  • Traditional sensors may be bulky and uncomfortable to wear, limiting their use in wearable devices.
  • Existing touch and gesture recognition technologies may not be accurate or responsive enough.
  • Limited options for haptic feedback in wearable devices.

Benefits

  • The embedded MUTs provide a compact and flexible solution for monitoring various signals.
  • The adjustable size, shape, and arrangement of the transducers allow for improved performance.
  • The MUT arrays can generate haptic feedback, enhancing user experience.
  • Ultrasonic waves enable data transfer between devices without the need for physical connections.


Original Abstract Submitted

Examples of the disclosure are directed to micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) which can be embedded into a flexible band of a watch to detect touch, gestures, physiological signals, and transfer data. In some examples, the MUTs can include a piezoelectric material disposed between two electrodes and coupled to a base material having a plurality of cavities, to support motion of the transducer structure. In some examples, the MUTs can be coupled to multiplexing circuitry to stimulate, configure and control the MUTs. In some examples, the size, shape, and arrangement of transducers can be changed to improve characteristics associated with ultrasonic transmission. In some examples, the MUT array can be driven (e.g., by the CMOS circuitry) to beamform the transmitted and/or the received ultrasonic waves. In some examples, the one or more MUT arrays can be configured to generate haptic feedback via the flexible band.

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