A human ear-inspired ultrasonic transducer (HEUT) for 3D localization of sub-wavelength scatterers

The proposed technology aims to enable 3D localization of scatterers using single element ultrasonic transducers, which are traditionally limited 1D measurements. This is achieved by designing a bespoke acoustic lens with spiral-shaped pattern similar the human outer ear, shape that has evolved for sound source localization. breaks surface symmetry transducer, allowing waves arriving from different directions be encoded in certain way can later decoded extract directional information. By employing mechanism spatial-encoding received signals and decoding via signal processing, location sub-wavelength detected measurement sparsely distributed scatterers. first verified through simulation study, then printed lenses used demonstrate encoding functionality Human Ear-inspired Ultrasonic Transducer (HEUT) experimentally. A framework created localize processing acquired HEUT prototype. With this technology, transducer obtain multi-dimensional information pulse-echo measurement, reducing number elements required performing ultrasound -decoding applied other wave-based imaging methods develop affordable, practical, compact sensing devices.