IP Library › Granted Patent US 12700390
Granted Patent B2
US 12700390 · App. 18/468,815 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Systems and methods for directing flexural waves

Inventors: Tomohiro Miwa (Toyota, JP); Miki Nakahara (Toyota, JP); Xiaoshi Su (Ann Arbor, MI); Debasish Banerjee (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
G10K11/172
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12700390
App. No.
18/468,815
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are systems for directing flexural waves acting upon a structure. In one example, a system includes a beam and a pair of scatterers disposed on the beam and configured to induce a flexural wave on the beam when actuated at a frequency. The system is configured to direct a direction of travel of the flexural wave acting on the beam based on the width of the beam, the distance between the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers, and/or a phase difference between the actuation of the pair of scatterers.

Claims (21)

1 . A system comprising:

a beam;

a pair of scatterers disposed on the beam and configured to induce a flexural wave on the beam when actuated at a frequency;

wherein the system is configured to direct a direction of travel of the flexural wave acting on the beam based on at least one of a width of the beam, a distance between the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers, and a phase difference between an actuation of the pair of scatterers; and

wherein the phase difference between the actuation of the pair of scatterers is such that one of the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers is actuated at a 90-degree phase difference from the other.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexural wave travels in a first direction along a length of the beam when the phase difference between the actuation of the pair of scatterers is −90 degrees and travels in a second direction along the length of the beam when the phase difference between the actuation of the pair of scatterers is +90 degrees.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second directions are substantially opposite directions.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of scatterers are disposed along a length of the beam.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers is approximately one-quarter of a wavelength of the flexural wave.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a width of the beam is approximately

1

2

of a wavelength of the flexural wave acting on the beam.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers comprises:

a pair of supports;

a flexible material extending between the pair of supports; and

a mass connected to the flexible material.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers further comprises a rigid cross bar extending between the supports forming the pair of supports.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the scatterers forming the pair of scatterers comprises:

a solid member acting as a mass; and

a flexible member attached to a side of the solid member, the flexible member acting as a spring and damper.