Abstract: One or more systems and/or methods for identifying a positional state of a mobile device are provided. An output audio pulse may be generated from a speaker of a mobile device. An input audio pulse, corresponding to the output audio pulse, may be detected utilizing a microphone of the mobile device. The output audio pulse and the input audio pulse may be evaluated to determine a positional feature associated with the mobile device. The positional feature may be evaluated using a classifier to identify a positional state of the mobile device (e.g., the mobile device may be laying on a table, inside a user's jacket pocket, within a vehicle, etc.). In an example, an operating characteristic of the mobile device may be adjusted based on the positional state of the mobile device (e.g., a ringer volume may be increased, a content recommendation may be displayed, etc.).

Abstract: A method for determining a distance between a device and an object, the method comprising: emitting an acoustic reference signal from a speaker of the device; receiving an acoustic input signal at a microphone of the device, the acoustic input signal including a measurement portion including a reflection of the acoustic reference signal off the object; cross correlating at least the measurement portion with the emitted acoustic reference signal to provide a cross correlated signal; receiving information relating to the object; extracting a section of the cross correlated signal corresponding to reflection of the acoustic reference signal by the object, based on the received information; analyzing the extracted section of the cross correlated signal to determine a time of flight between emitting the acoustic reference signal and receiving the reflection; and determining the distance between the device and the object based on the determined time of flight and known characteristics of the acoustic reference sign

Abstract: An ultrasound system (100) includes an ultrasound transducer array and a component (108) with electronics (110) embedded in a material (112) with at least one redistribution layer (114) electrically coupled to the embedded electronics, wherein the at least one redistribution layer electrically couples the ultrasound transducer array and the electronics.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating accurate 3-dimensional images of objects immersed in liquids including optically opaque liquids which may also have significant sound attenuation, is described. Sound pulses are caused to impinge on the object, and the time-of-flight of the reflected sound is used to create a 3-dimensional image of the object in almost real-time. The apparatus is capable of creating images of objects immersed in fluids that are optically opaque and have high sound attenuation at resolutions less than about 1 mm. The apparatus may include a piezoelectric transducer for generating the acoustic pulses; a high-density polyethylene compound acoustic lens, a 2-dimensional segmented piezoelectric detecting array positioned behind the lens for receiving acoustic pulses reflected by the object, the electric output of which is directed to digital signal processing electronics for generating the image.

Abstract: Maximum and minimum horizontal stresses, and horizontal to overburden stress ratio, are estimated using radial profiles of shear moduli. Inversion enables estimation of maximum and minimum horizontal stresses using radial profiles of three shear moduli associated with an orthogonal set of axes defined by the three principal stress directions. Differences in the far-field shear moduli are inverted together with two difference equations obtained from the radial profiles of the dipole shear moduli C44 and C55, and borehole stresses in the near-wellbore region. The horizontal to overburden stress ratio is estimated using differences in the compressional, dipole shear, and Stoneley shear slownesses at two depths in the same lithology interval where the formation exhibits azimuthal isotropy in cross-dipole dispersions, implying that horizontal stresses are nearly the same at all azimuths.

Abstract: An object information acquisition apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of transducer elements each configured to transmit an acoustic wave to an object, to receive reflected waves reflected from inside the object, and to convert the reflected waves into a time-series reception signal; and a processor configured to perform frequency domain interferometry combined with adaptive signal processing by using the reception signals output from the plurality of transducer elements and a reference signal so as to obtain acoustic characteristics at a plurality of positions located inside the object. The processor is configured to switch the reference signal to another reference signal at least once in accordance with a target position located inside the object while performing the frequency domain interferometry so as to obtain the acoustic characteristics at the plurality of positions located inside the object.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes a base in which a base layer of a vibrating film is formed in every opening that is disposed in an array; an interconnect layer, which is a conductor, formed on the base layer; an insulating film that is formed on the interconnect layer, and forms a laminated structure with respect to the base layer; a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are separated from the interconnect layer by the insulating film, the piezoelectric elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode that sandwich a piezoelectric film on the insulating film; and a through conductor that passes through the insulating film, and connects at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to the conductor constituting the interconnect layer.

Abstract: Injectable acoustic tags and a process of making are described for tracking host animals in up to three dimensions. The injectable acoustic tags reduce adverse biological effects and have a reduced cost of manufacture compared with conventional surgically implanted tags. The injectable tags are powered by a single power source with a lifetime of greater than 30 days. The injectable tags have an enhanced acoustic signal transmission range that enhances detection probability for tracking of host animals.

Abstract: Acoustic tags and a process for fabrication are disclosed for identifying and tracking various hosts including inanimate and animate objects in up to three dimensions. The acoustic tags may be powered by a single power source. Tags can have an operation lifetime of up to 90 days or longer at a transmission rate of 3 seconds. The acoustic tags have an enhanced signal range that enhances detection probability when tracking the hosts.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a transmission processing unit that performs processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave at a given transmission angle, a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of an ultrasonic echo with respect to the transmitted ultrasonic wave in first to Nth (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) ultrasonic transducers; and a processing unit that performs processing with respect to first to Nth reception signals corresponding to the first to Nth ultrasonic transducers. The processing unit performs first phasing processing when a signal processing target point exists in a plane wave propagation region, and performs second phasing processing when the signal processing target point exists in a spherical wave propagation region, as phasing processing with respect to each of the reception signals of the first to Nth reception signals.

Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic sensor with a housing and at least an ultrasonic converter comprising a surface for emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, whereby ultrasonic waves are emitted towards an object at different points in time, whereby the ultrasonic waves being reflected from the object are received by the surface and whereby a signal 1, 2 is generated by the received ultrasonic waves is characterized in that the relative position of the surface with respect to the object is modified in such a way that the relative position is different at consecutive points in time and that the signals 1, 2 of two consecutive points in time are subtracted from each other. Further an ultrasonic sensor for carrying out the method is described.

Abstract: A coupling device is provided for a sensor unit having at least one sensor located within a housing. The coupling device includes at least one supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is configured for maintaining the sensor unit in a stable position, with the coupling device either resting on or being buried into the ground, and at least one rod, arranged in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to a peripheral surface of the supporting portion and linked to the supporting portion. The coupling device further includes a fastener for connecting the sensor unit to the coupling device. The supporting portion maintains the sensor unit in a stable position when resting on the ground, while the rod provides an additional stiffness to the housing.

Abstract: Presentation of video on a flat mobile computing device is enhanced by a support which orients the computing device at an angle of inclination suitable for viewing of video. An acoustic device generates enhanced audio output to accompany the video in response to input from the computing device. The acoustic device and support may be included in a single device. The support may be implemented in an accessory such as a protective cover for the acoustic device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an echolocation module configured to determine a distance to the object based on the received sound signal reflected from an object. The echolocation module determines surroundings based on the determined distance. A processor is configured to modify one or more attributes of the apparatus based on the determined surroundings.

Abstract: Embodiments related to addition of a variable mass load to the shell of a marine vibrator to compensate for air spring effects. An embodiment provides a marine vibrator, comprising: an outer shell; a driver disposed at least partially within the outer shell and coupled thereto; and a mass load coupled to an exterior surface of the outer shell; wherein the marine vibrator has a resonance frequency selectable based at least in part on the mass load.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for estimating a sound source position in a space with high accuracy using a microphone installed on a robot moving in the space. A mobile robot includes a self-position estimation unit configure to estimate the self-position of the mobile robot, a sound source information obtaining unit configured to obtain direction information of an observed sound source, and a sound source position estimation unit configured to estimate the position of the sound source based on the estimated self-position and the direction information of the sound source.

Abstract: A transducer includes at least one element including a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a pair of electrodes disposed with a gap therebetween and a vibrating membrane including one of the electrodes, and the vibrating membrane is vibratably supported. First and second cells of the plurality of cells in the element have the gaps that communicate with each other, and the first cell and a third cell in the element have the gaps that do not communicate with each other.

Abstract: A sound direction estimation device includes a transfer function storage unit configured to store transfer functions of sound sources in correlation with directions of the sound sources, a calculation unit configured to calculate the number of classes to be searched and a search interval for each class based on a desired search range and a desired spatial resolution for searching for the directions of the sound sources, and a sound source localization unit configured to search the search range for every search interval using the transfer function, to estimate the direction of the sound source based on the search result, to update the search range and the search interval based on the estimated direction of the sound source until the number of classes calculated by the calculation unit is reached, and to estimate the direction of the sound source.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a marine seismic survey of a subsurface. The method includes deploying under water, from a deploying vessel, an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV); recording with seismic sensors located on the AUV seismic waves generated by an acoustic source array; instructing the AUV to surface at a certain depth relative to the water surface; recovering the AUV by bringing the AUV on a recovery vessel; and transferring recorded seismic data to the recovery vessel.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer system includes at least one transducer element, a diaphragm, and at least one resonance body, the ultrasonic transducer system being configured for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals, the resonance body being coupled at an end face to the diaphragm and the at least one transducer element being coupled to a lateral surface of the resonance body so that the at least one transducer element and the resonance body have a shared interface. Also described is a method for the manufacture and to a motor vehicle having an ultrasonic transducer system of this type, the diaphragm of the ultrasonic transducer system being formed by an outer skin of a bumper, a side mirror, or a door section, and the transducer element(s) and resonance bodies being situated concealed behind the outer skin.