Abstract: This relates to system architectures, apparatus and methods for acoustic touch detection (touch sensing) and exemplary applications of the system architectures, apparatus and methods. In some examples, the acoustic touch sensing techniques described herein can be used on a glass surface of a display or touch screen. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be configured to be insensitive to contact on the device surface by water, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that are likely to become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: An input device outfitted with one or more ultrasonic transducers can determine the location of one or more objects in contact with the input device. For example, the input device can include one or more transducers disposed in a ring around the circumference of the input device or in an array of rings along the length of the input device. The ultrasonic transducers can be used to detect the position of the one or more touching objects in at least one dimension, for example. In some examples, the one or more ultrasonic transducers can produce directional ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: A polarizer disposed between a transducer and a surface in which acoustic waves propagate can be used to filter out certain types of acoustic energy. For example, the polarizer can be used with a shear-polarized transducer to pass shear waves and filter out compressional waves that may interact with water, thereby improving water rejection. In some examples, the polarizer can include one or more layers of piezoelectric material with a poling direction different than (e.g., orthogonal to) the poling direction of the transducer. Energy of compressional waves may be extracted by one or more external electric circuits. In some examples, the polarizer can be a magneto-elastic polarizer. In some examples, the polarizer can be a mechanical polarizer.

Abstract: This relates to system architectures, apparatus and methods for acoustic touch detection (touch sensing) and exemplary applications of the system architectures, apparatus and methods. In some examples, the acoustic touch sensing techniques described herein can be used on a glass surface of a display or touch screen. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be configured to be insensitive to contact on the device surface by water, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that are likely to become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.

Abstract: Acoustic transducers can be formed form piezoelectric materials including one or more curved (non-linear) segments. The piezoelectric material can be shear poled such that a poling direction of the piezoelectric material can follow the curvature of the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material can also have a unidirectional poling direction. In some examples, the piezoelectric material can be a closed ring with a circular or partially circular shape. A shear poling process for a piezoelectric material with curves can include shear poling segments of the piezoelectric material with one or more sets of poling electrodes. The poling electrodes of a respective one of the one or more sets of poling electrodes can be coupled to the same side of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.

Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.

Abstract: The disclosure features systems for providing auditory signals to a subject. The systems include a sensor front-end circuit configured to be connected to an acoustic sensor and to convert analog signals received from the acoustic sensor to digital electric signals. The systems further include a sound processor circuit configured to be connected to the sensor front-end circuit and receive the electric signals provided by the sensor front end circuit. The sound processor includes multiple filters that spectrally decompose the received electrical signals into multiple spectral channels during operation of the system. The multiple spectral channels include at least a low frequency channel and a high frequency channel and the sound processor circuit is configured to operate the low frequency channel at a sample rate lower than a sample rate of the high frequency channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to one or more intermediate layers located on a surface of a cover material of an acoustic touch screen. In some examples, the one or more layers can include one or more intermediate layers. The one or more intermediate layers can include a first layer including a plurality of features and a second layer located between the first layer and the cover material. In a touch condition, the touch object can apply a force to the top surface of the acoustic touch sensor. The applied force can create one or more local bends causing the plurality of features to move closer to the cover material and causing one or more surface discontinuities in the cover material. The acoustic waves can undergo reflections (e.g., causing the signal to be attenuated) due to the discontinuities located in the path of the wave propagation.

Abstract: An input device outfitted with one or more ultrasonic transducers can determine the location of one or more objects in contact with the input device. For example, the input device can include one or more transducers disposed in a ring around the circumference of the input device or in an array of rings along the length of the input device. The ultrasonic transducers can be used to detect the position of the one or more touching objects in at least one dimension, for example. In some examples, the one or more ultrasonic transducers can produce directional ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure features systems for providing auditory signals to a subject. The systems include a sensor front-end circuit configured to be connected to an acoustic sensor and to convert analog signals received from the acoustic sensor to digital electric signals. The systems further include a sound processor circuit configured to be connected to the sensor front-end circuit and receive the electric signals provided by the sensor front end circuit. The sound processor includes multiple filters that spectrally decompose the received electrical signals into multiple spectral channels during operation of the system. The multiple spectral channels include at least a low frequency channel and a high frequency channel and the sound processor circuit is configured to operate the low frequency channel at a sample rate lower than a sample rate of the high frequency channel.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system can include an array of transducers in acoustic communication with a substrate configured to receive a subject for imaging. The transducers can independently or cooperatively send an acoustic pulse into the substrate toward the subject. In many examples, a number of adjacently-positioned transducers are activated substantially simultaneously so as to generate a plane wave into the substrate. After the plane wave has had an opportunity to propagate through the substrate, reflect from the top surface, and propagate through the substrate again, the electrical signals can be obtained from the transducers and an image of the subject can be assembled. In many embodiments, the plurality of transducers can be driven and read in groups such as non-intersecting (disjoint) sets or subarrays.

Abstract: Acoustic touch detection (touch sensing) system architectures and methods can be used to detect an object touching a surface. Position of an object touching a surface can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) bounding box techniques, or acoustic image reconstruction techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers, such as piezoelectric transducers, to transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and/or through the thickness of an electronic device. Location of the object can be determined, for example, based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the wave and the detection of the reflected wave. An object in contact with the surface can interact with the transmitted wave causing attenuation, redirection and/or reflection of at least a portion of the transmitted wave. Portions of the transmitted wave energy after interaction with the object can be measured to determine the touch location of the object on the surface of the device.

Abstract: An acoustic imaging system includes multiple transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of substrate. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure features systems for providing auditory signals to a subject. The systems include a sensor front-end circuit configured to be connected to an acoustic sensor and to convert analog signals received from the acoustic sensor to digital electric signals. The systems further include a sound processor circuit configured to be connected to the sensor front-end circuit and receive the electric signals provided by the sensor front end circuit. The sound processor includes multiple filters that spectrally decompose the received electrical signals into multiple spectral channels during operation of the system. The multiple spectral channels include at least a low frequency channel and a high frequency channel and the sound processor circuit is configured to operate the low frequency channel at a sample rate lower than a sample rate of the high frequency channel.