US 12,345,838 B2
Method and apparatus for producing an acoustic field
Thomas Andrew Carter, Bristol (GB); Benjamin John Oliver Long, Bristol (GB); and Sriram Subramanian, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to ULTRAHAPTICS IP LTD, Bristol (GB)
Filed by Ultrahaptics IP Ltd, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/188,584.
Application 18/188,584 is a continuation of application No. 18/060,556, filed on Nov. 30, 2022, granted, now 11,624,815.
Application 18/060,556 is a continuation of application No. 16/404,660, filed on May 6, 2019, granted, now 11,543,507, issued on Jan. 3, 2023.
Application 16/404,660 is a continuation of application No. 15/983,864, filed on May 18, 2018, granted, now 10,281,567, issued on May 7, 2019.
Application 15/983,864 is a continuation of application No. 14/889,128, granted, now 9,977,120, issued on May 22, 2018, previously published as PCT/GB2014/051319, filed on Apr. 29, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 1308274 (GB), filed on May 8, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0228857 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 7/539 (2006.01); G01S 15/36 (2006.01); G01S 15/87 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/04815 (2022.01); H04S 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/52004 (2013.01) [G01S 7/52003 (2013.01); G01S 7/539 (2013.01); G01S 15/36 (2013.01); G01S 15/876 (2013.01); G06F 3/015 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/04815 (2013.01); H04S 7/30 (2013.01); G01S 2007/52007 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising: a) producing an acoustic field using an array of real transducers having known relative positions and orientations; b) tracking an object within the acoustic field; c) using at least one point of focused ultrasound, defining a virtual shape that occupies a virtual volume within the acoustic field, wherein the at least one point of focused ultrasound is modeled as being produced by a virtual transducer; and d) positioning the at least one point of focused ultrasound in a region where the object intersects the virtual shape.