Inspired by biological hearing systems, this invention provides an ultrasensitive, low-noise, miniaturized optomechanical acoustic particle velocity sensor that detects weak velocity signals in confined spaces. By directly sensing acoustic particle velocity rather than pressure, it measures vector components of sound fields, enabling enhanced localization capability and improved rejection of environmental noise in complex acoustic environments.
Background: Existing acoustic systems predominantly rely on pressure sensing, which measures sound as a scalar quantity and therefore limits performance in applications where vector information is essential. As a result, these systems often struggle to accurately characterize sound fields, localize sound sources, or distinguish target signals from background noise in complex acoustic environments.
Technology Overview: This optomechanical acoustic particle velocity sensor measures acoustic particle velocity by detecting motion of a microscale mechanical structure induced by viscous forces suspended in a fluid medium. The structure incorporates reflective or optically interactive features that enable precise motion detection using a laser optical transduction system. Motion of the structure caused by the surrounding medium is transduced optically, enabling high-sensitivity, low-noise acoustic measurements. The velocity sensor can operate individually or in spatially distributed arrays to enable multi-point directional and enhanced acoustic sensing.
Advantages: • Direct vector acoustic sensing by measuring acoustic particle velocity rather than pressure. • Ultrahigh sensitivity and ultralow noise enabled by the combination of a highly responsive bio-inspired mechanical structure and high-sensitivity optical transduction. • Compact, scalable, and array-compatible architecture suitable for miniaturization, multi-axis sensing, and spatially distributed acoustic measurements. • Immunity to electromagnetic interference through optical readout, making the sensor well-suited for use in electrically noisy environments
Applications: • Scientific and Research Applications • Medical and Health Diagnostics • Environmental Monitoring and Source Localization • Industrial and Structural Monitoring • Robotics, Consumer Electronics, and Human–Machine Interaction
Intellectual Property Summary: • United States 11/26/2025 Status: Filed • United States 63/928,837 12/2/2025 Status: Filed
Stage of Development: Prototype - Two-dimensional cantilever mesh sensors using fiber-based optical interferometric transduction to experimentally test acoustic particle velocity sensing with supporting analytical modeling.
Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing.
Licensing Potential: Applications span scientific research, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, industrial sensing, and consumer technologies where enhanced acoustic localization and noise rejection offer significant performance advantages.
Additional Information: Information available upon request.
Inventors: Jian Zhou, Ronald Neal Miles, Wanyin Zheng, Wei Sun, Xiangyu Wei, David A.Czaplewski
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