Focal Point Determination Based on Nonlinear Mixing of Sound Beams

• Main Authors: Vatankhah, Ehsan, Hall, Neal Allen, Williams, Randall Paul
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.04.2022
• Subjects: ACOUSTICS; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING,NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; SURGERY; TESTING

Systems, methods, and mechanisms for sound beam focal point determination within an acoustic medium may include propagating a first sound beam to intersect a second sound beam, where the second sound beam converges at a focal point. The first and second sound beams may originate from known locations. A direction of the first sound beam within the acoustic medium may be adjusted to produce a maximum amplitude of signals generated from nonlinear mixing of the first sound beam and the second sound beam, where the maximum amplitude may correspond to the intersection of the first sound beam with the focal point of the second sound beam. A location of the intersection may be determined, at least in some instances, based on the known locations, the adjusted direction of the first sound beam, and a direction of the second sound beam.