Abstract: A miniature rangefinder includes a housing, a micromachined ultrasonic transducer, and signal processing circuitry. The housing includes a substrate and a lid. The housing has one or more apertures and the micromachined ultrasonic transducer is mounted over an aperture. The micromachined ultrasonic transducer may function as both a transmitter and a receiver. An integrated circuit is configured to drive the transducer to transmit an acoustic signal, detect a return signal, and determine a time of flight between emitting the acoustic signal and detecting the return signal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 25, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 18, 2019
Assignee:
CHIRP MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Inventors:
David Horsley, Andre Guedes, Meng-Hsiung Kiang, Richard J. Przybyla, Stefon Shelton
Abstract: A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) device includes a substrate having an opening therethrough and a membrane attached to the substrate over the opening. A portion of the membrane that overlies the opening is divided into a plurality of cantilevers that are mechanically coupled so that the cantilevers resonate at a common frequency.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 21, 2019
Assignee:
CHIRP MICROSYSTEMS
Inventors:
Andre Guedes, David Horsley, Meng-Hsiung Kiang, Richard Przybyla, Stefon Shelton
Abstract: A package design for a micromachined ultrasound transducer (MUT) utilizing curved geometry to control the presence and frequency of acoustic resonant modes is described. The approach consists of reducing in number and curving the reflecting surfaces present in the package cavity to adjust the acoustic resonant frequencies to locations outside the band of interest. The design includes a cavity characterized by a curved geometry and a MUT mounted to a side of a substrate facing the cavity with a sound emitting portion of the MUT facing an opening in the substrate. The substrate is disposed over an opening of the cavity with the substrate oriented such that the MUT located within the cavity.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 23, 2018
Publication date:
September 20, 2018
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
Stefon Shelton, Andre Guedes, David Horsley
Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitter system includes a digital controller, bandpass pulse-width modulator (BP-PWM) unit, a digital to analog converter (DAC), and an ultrasound transducer. The controller generates pulse width and phase reference signals. The BP-PWM configured receives these signals generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) output characterized by a pulse width and a phase based on the pulse width and phase reference signals. The DAC) receives the PWM output from the BP-PWM unit and generates an output characterized by the pulse width and phase. The ultrasonic transducer receives the output from the DAC and generates an output sound pressure in response to the output from the DAC. An amplitude of the RMS sound pressure depends on the pulse width of the output from the DAC.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 20, 2018
Publication date:
August 30, 2018
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
Mitchell Kline, Richard Przybyla, David Horsley
Abstract: An ultrasound transducer may be driven by a driver circuit having one or more charge pumps and a multi-level inverter. The one or more charge pumps are configured to drive the ultrasound transducer only during output transitions of the inverter.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 20, 2018
Publication date:
August 30, 2018
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
Mitchell Kline, Richard Przybyla, David Horsley
Abstract: A miniature rangefinder includes a housing, a micromachined ultrasonic transducer, and signal processing circuitry. The housing includes a substrate and a lid. The housing has one or more apertures and the micromachined ultrasonic transducer is mounted over an aperture. The micromachined ultrasonic transducer may function as both a transmitter and a receiver. An integrated circuit is configured to drive the transducer to transmit an acoustic signal, detect a return signal, and determine a time of flight between emitting the acoustic signal and detecting the return signal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2017
Publication date:
November 16, 2017
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
David Horsley, Andre Guedes, Meng-Hsiung Kiang, Richard J. Przybyla, Stefon Shelton
Abstract: A miniature rangefinder includes a housing, a micromachined ultrasonic transducer, and signal processing circuitry. The housing includes a substrate and a lid. The housing has one or more apertures and the micromachined ultrasonic transducer is mounted over an aperture. The micromachined ultrasonic transducer may function as both a transmitter and a receiver. An integrated circuit is configured to drive the transducer to transmit an acoustic signal, detect a return signal, and determine a time of flight between emitting the acoustic signal and detecting the return signal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2017
Publication date:
June 29, 2017
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
David Horsley, Andre Guedes, Meng-Hsiung Kiang, Richard J. Przybyla, Stefon Shelton
Abstract: A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) is disclosed. The PMUT consists of a flexural membrane that is piezoelectrically actuated. These membranes are formed on a first substrate that is bonded to a second substrate. The two substrates are separated by an air gap to allow the PMUT to vibrate. Several methods for joining the two substrates are described.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 13, 2017
Publication date:
May 11, 2017
Applicant:
Chirp Microsystems, Inc.
Inventors:
David A. Horsley, Andre Guedes, Meng-Hsiung Kiang, Richard J. Przybyla, Stefon Shelton