Abstract:
An apparatus, system, and method for a Gigasonic Brush for cleaning surfaces is presented. One embodiment of the system includes an array of acoustic transducers coupled to a substrate where the individual acoustic transducers have sizes in the range of 9 um2 to 250,000 um2. The system may include a positioning mechanism coupled to at least one of a target surface or the array of acoustic transducers, and configured to position the array of acoustic transducers within 1 millimeter of a target surface. The system may also include a cleaning liquid supply arranged to provide cleaning liquid for coupling the array of acoustic transducers to the target surface. The system may further include a controller coupled to the array of acoustic transducers and configured to activate the array of acoustic transducers.
Abstract:
The invention utilizes a multiple frequency ultrasound generator (12) driving a multiple frequency harmonic transducer (17, 18, 19 ) to improve cleaning and processing effects while eliminating damage to parts being cleaned. An AC switch and circuitry to modify the output of an ultrasound generator in combination with techniques such as random AM and FM signals are used to produce ultrasound waves that have no single frequency components which eliminates exciting parts being cleaned into resonance.
Abstract:
Acoustophoretic devices for separating particles from a non-flowing host fluid are disclosed. The devices include a substantially acoustically transparent container and a separation unit, with the container being placed within the separation unit. An ultrasonic transducer in the separation unit creates a planar or multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave within the container, trapping particles disposed within the non-flowing fluid and causing them to coalesce or agglomerate, then separate due to buoyancy or gravity forces.
Abstract:
Die Einrichtung zur Ultraschallreinigung hat zumindest einen Aktuator (7), welcher einem Becken (1) für die Aufnahme der zu reinigenden Gegenstände zugeordnet ist. Die Einrichtung hat auch ein Steuergerät (10) für die Ansteuerung des Aktuators. Das Steuergerät (10) ist so ausgeführt, dass es Schwingungen variabler Frequenz innerhalb einer grossen Bandbreite bei variabler Spannungsamplitude für verschiedene Frequenzen durch Antriebsspannungen sowie durch die Kombination von Elektroden an den Aktuatoren eines Transducers (2) liefern kann.
Abstract:
A method for operating an ultrasound device (1) is proposed, which ultrasound device (1) comprises at least one ultrasound oscillator (3) and at least one ultrasound generator (2), which ultrasound oscillator (3) is prompted to oscillate by the ultrasound generator (2), which method is distinguished in that during operation of the ultrasound device (1) a temperature (T) of the ultrasound oscillator (3) is ascertained, and in that the ascertained temperature (T) is taken as a basis for modifying a power delivered by the ultrasound generator (2) to the ultrasound oscillator (3), to which end an actual variable (IL, ILS) and/or a setpoint variable (SL) for a control loop of the ultrasound generator (2) is/are altered in said control loop. In addition, a regulatory circuit (6) for an ultrasound device (1) and also an ultrasound device (1) are proposed which are suitable for carrying out the method.
Abstract:
The application of microsonic frequencies to liquid preferably occurs simultaneously with a sweeping of the microsonic frequency within the transducer's (122) harmonic bandwidth to reduce or eliminate (a) standing waves within the liquid, (b) other resonances, (c) high energy cavitation implosion, and (d) non-uniform sound fields, each of which is undesirable for cleaning and/or processing of semiconductor wafers and other delicate parts. The invention can also drive ultrasonic transducers (122) such that the frequency of applied energy has a sweep rate within the ultrasonic bandwidth of the transducers; and that sweep rate is also varied so that the sweep rate is substantially non-constant during operation. An ultrasound generator of the invention sometimes utilizes amplitude modulation (AM), and the AM frequency is swept over time so as to reduce resonances. Two or more transducers are sometimes used by the invention, in combination, to broaden the overall bandwidth of acoustical energy applied to the liquid around the primary frequency or one of the harmonics. The bandwidths of the transducers are made to overlap such that an attached generator can drive the transducers, in combination, to deliver ultrasound to the liquid in a broader bandwidth.
Abstract:
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising: a tank for in use receiving a cleaning liquid and an item to be cleaned; a plurality of transducers arranged, when driven, to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into the tank; and a controller arranged in use to drive the transducers. First and second transducers from the plurality of transducers are arranged in use to direct ultrasonic pressure waves into an overlapping volume; and the controller is arranged in use to drive the first and second transducers to produce ultrasonic pressure waves at different frequencies from each other. The controller is arranged to in use produce first and second drive signals for the transducers using first and second frequency generators to each switch between primary and secondary operation, with the sequential switching taking place to cause different combinations of primary and secondary operation for the first and second frequency generators to occur over time.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a system for delivering megasonic energy to a liquid, comprising: - one or more megasonic transducers, each transducer having a single operating frequency within an ultrasound bandwidth and comprising two or more groups of piezoelectric elements arranged in one or more rows; and - a megasonic generator means for driving the one or more transducers at frequencies within the bandwidth, the generator means being adapted for changing the voltage applied to each group of piezoelectric elements so as to achieve substantially the same maximum acoustic pressure for each group of piezoelectric elements, the generator means and transducers being constructed and arranged so as to produce ultrasound within the liquid. Such a system may be part of an apparatus for cleaning a surface of an article such as a semiconductor wafer or a medical implant.