Acoustic beam levitation
US5500493A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 1994 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01J2219/1942
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system is described that uses acoustic energy to position an object, which simplifies the application of forces in defined directions to the object and which enables the application of large forces to the object. The system includes transducers (21-24, FIG. 1) that direct separate acoustic beams (31-34) at the object (12), with the system constructed so the beams do not create standing wave patterns. A plurality of beams whose phases at the object are not closely controlled, are directed at different surface areas of the object so the beams do not substantially overlap at the object and create possible canceling effects. A very large force is applied to the bottom (124 FIG. 8) of an object lying in a gravity environment, by directing a plurality of beams (141-145) at the same area at the bottom of the object, and with the beams being controlled so they are substantially in phase at the object area. This plurality of beams can also replace one or all of the transducers (21-24, FIG. 1) to provide much stronger forces to position and manipulate the object. The wavelength (B, FIG. 2) of the acoustic energy in each beam is preferably much less than one-tenth the diameter (C) of the ob…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.