Ultrasonic motor-converter systems

Claim 2

An ultrasonic system for transmitting energy for performing work at a surface comprising: A. driving circuit means for producing a driving signal consisting of bursts of ultrasonic oscillations of a frequency in the range of 10KHz to 1,000KHz repeated at sonic intervals of a frequency in the range of 10Hz to 1,000Hz; B. ultrasonic instrument means adapted to be hand held by the user thereof including, 1. a housing, 2. an ultrasonic motor supported in said housing and electrically coupled to said driving circuit means for receiving said driving signal therefrom, said ultrasonic motor having a vibrating portion transmitting bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations repeating at said sonic rate; and 3. applicator means having at least a portion extending beyond said housing for engagement against said surface, said applicator means being mechanically coupled to said vibrating portion of said ultrasonic motor for receiving and transmitting said bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations at said sonic rate, said ultrasonic instrument means being adapted so that sonic rate vibrations are tactilly detectable by a user holding said instrument means to provide an indication of the operation of the instrument means.

Claim 3

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said vibratory means is elongated and the vibration is longitudinal.

Claim 4

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic vibrations are in the range of 20 KHz to 60 KHz.

Claim 5

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the physical vibration produced by said ultrasonic frequency produces peak accelerations in said vibratory means of the order of at least 1,000g.

Claim 6

The instrument as recitied in claim 1, wherein said driving circuit means includes first circuit means for producinng an oscillatory signal at said ultrasonic frequency; and second circuit means for amplitude oscillatory signal to produce said bursts of ultrasonic oscillations.

Claim 7

A driving circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second circuit means produces an essentially half-wave signal for such modulation.

Claim 8

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said instruments means is a therapeutic instrument.

Claim 9

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor includes a piezoelectric element capable of vibration at a plurality of frequencies including a desired frrequency, first circuit means for producing said ultrasonic vibrations; and second circuit means for modulating said ultrasonic vibrations at a sonic rate to produce a driving signal consisting of bursts of ultrasonic oscillations repeated at said sonic rate, said first circuit means comprising a power supply for producing a power signal; control means coupled to said power supply at a junction terminal for controlling the application of said power signal to said piezoelectric element as a driving signal; transformer means having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding being electrically coupled intermediate said junction terminal and said piezoelectric element for detecting a detected signal representative at least of the frequency of said driving signal; and tuned circuit means tuned to said desired frequency and formed from inductor means, capacitor means connected in parallel with said inductor means, said transformer means secondary winding defining said inductor means, said tuned circuit means being operatively coupled to said control means for actuating said control means at said desired frequency in response to said detected signal to produce said driving signal at said desired frequency.

Claim 10

The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said control means is a transistor means having an emitter, collector and base, said tuned circuit means being connected to said base for the control of the operation of said transistor means, the emitter-collector path of said transistor means being connected between ground and said junction terminal.

Claim 11

The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said second circuit means includes said power supply, said power supply being adapted to produce a power signal in the form of an essentially half-wave signal for such modulation.

Claim 12

The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor includes a piezoelectric element capable of vibration at a plurality of frequencies including a desired frequency, first circuit means for producing said ultrasonic vibrations; and second circuit means for modulating said ultrasonic vibrations at a sonic rate to produce a driving signal consisting of bursts of ultrasonic oscillations repeated at said sonic rate, said first circuit means comprising sensing means mechanically coupled to said transducer device for detecting the frequencies of vibration thereof and producing a detected signal representative of said frequencies of vibration; amplifier means having an input and an output; tuned circuit means tuned to said desired frequency and electrically connected intermediate said sensing means and said amplifier means input, said tuned circuit means being adapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifier means input the component of said detected signal of said desired frequency; and means for operatively connecting said amplifier means output and said piezoelectric crystal for applying a driving signal to said crystal of said desired frequency.

Claim 13

The system as defined inc claim 11, wherein said sensing means is a piezoelectric sensing member mechanically coupled to said motor.

Claim 14

The system as defined in claim 12, wherein said second circuit means is adapted to produce an essentially half-wave signal for such modulation.

Claim 15

An ultrasonic system for transmitting energy for performing work at a surface comprising: A. driving circuit means for producing a driving signal consisting of bursts of ultrasonic oscillations of a frequency in the range of 10KHz to 1,000KHz repeated at sonic intervals of a frequency in the range of 10Hz to 1,000Hz, said driving circuit means includes first circuit means for producing an oscillatory signal at said ultrasonic frequency; and the second circuit means for amplitude modulating said ultrasonic oscillatory signal to produce said bursts of ultrasonic oscillations at said sonic intervals; B. ultrasonic instrument means adapted to be hand held by the user thereof including, 1. a housing; 2. an ultrasonic motor supported in said housing and having: i. piezoelectric transducer means electrically coupled to said driving circuit means for receiving said driving signal therefrom; and ii. a transmission member having a rear section mechanically coupled to said piezoelectric transducer means for receiving vibrations therefrom and a front section transmitting bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations repeated at said sonic rate.

Claim 16

An ultrasonic system for transmitting energy for performing work at a surface comprising: A. driving circuit means for producing a driving signal consisting of bursts of ultrasonic oscillations of a frequency in the range of 10KHz to 1,000KHz repeated at sonic intervals of a frequency in the range of 10Hz to 1,000Hz, said driving circuit means includes first circuit means for producing an oscillatory signal at said ultrasonic frequency; and the second circuit means for amplitude modulating said ultrasonic oscillatory signal to produce said bursts of ultrasonic oscillations at said sonic intervals; B. ultrasonic instrument means adapted to be hand held by the user thereof including, 1. a housing; 2. an ultrasonic motor supported in said housing and having: i. piezoelectric transducer means electrically coupled to said driving circuit means for receiving said driving signal therefrom; and ii. a transmission member having a rear section mechanically coupled to said piezoelectric transducer means for receiving vibrations therefrom and a front section transmitting bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations repeated at said sonic rate.

Claim 17

applicator means having at least a portion extending beyond said housing for engagement against said surface, said applicator means being mechanically coupled to said transmission member front section for receiving and transmitting said bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations at said sonic rate, sonic rate vibrations being transmitted to the hand of the user holding said instrument means to provide an indication of the operation of the instrument means; and C. piezoelectric sensing means mechanically coupled to said transmission member for providing means for sensing variations in frequencies of said motor, said driving circuit means including means for maintaining said ultrasonic vibrations at a desired frequency in response to the signal produced by said piezoelectric sensing means.

Claim 18

applicator means having at least a portion extending beyond said housing for engagement against said surface, said applicator means being mechanically coupled to said transmission member front section for receiving and transmitting said bursts of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations at said sonic rate, sonic rate vibrations being transmitted to the hand of the user holding said instrument means to provide an indication of the operation of the instrument means; and C. piezoelectric sensing means mechanically coupled to said transmission member for providing means for sensing variations in frequencies of said motor, said driving circuit means including means for maintaining said ultrasonic vibrations at a desired frequency in response to the signal produced by said piezoelectric sensing means.

Claim 19

An ultrasonic system as recited in claim 14, wherein said ultrasonic instrument means is in the form of a razor.

Claim 20

An ultrasonic system as recited in claim 14, wherein said ultrasonic instrument means is in the form of a toothbrush.

Claim 21

An ultrasonic system as recited in claim 14 including interchangeable means each adapted to be secured to the front end of said ultrasonic instrument means to permit a variety of applications of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations to a selected object for various results.

Claim 22

An ultrasonic system as recited in claim 17, wherein said interchangeable means are removably secured to the ultrasonic instrument means by threaded means.

Claim 23

The ultrasonic system as recited in claim 14, wherein said second circuit means includes an alternating power source; and half-wave rectifier means for producing a half-wave pulse signal for said modulation.

Claim 24

The ultrasonic system as defined in claim 14, wherein said first circuit means includes tuned circuit means tuned to a desired frequency for controlling the frequency of said driving signal, said ultrasonic instrument means being capable of vibration at more than one frequency including said desired frequency, and including means for applying to said tuned circuit means a detected signal representative of the frequencies of vibration of said instrument means, said tuned circuit means responding to the desired frequency portion of said detected signal to cause said driving signal means to produce a driving signal of said desired frequency.

Claim 25

An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 20, wherein said first circuit means includes a power supply for producing a power signal; switch means for controlling the transmission of said power signal as a driving signal to said ultrasonic instrument; and transformer means having a primary and secondary winding, said tuned circuit means including capacitor means connected in parallel with said secondary winding; said means for applying said detected signal including the primary winding and means for electrically coupling said power supply through said primary winding to said ultrasonic instrument means.

Claim 26

An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 20, wherein said means for applying said detected signal includes sensing means mechanically coupled to said ultrasonic instrument means for detecting the frequencies of vibration thereof, said first circuit means including amplifier means having an input and an output, said tuned circuit means being electrically connected between said sensing means and said amplifier means input and being adapted to filter said detected signal and pass to said amplifier means input the components of said detected signal of said desired frequency, said driving circuit means further including means operatively coupling said amplifier means output and said first connector for transmission of said driving signal.

Claim 27

An ultrasonic system as defined in claim 14, and further including power switching means operatively coupled to said driving circuit means and adapted to be selectively engaged by the user during operation of the system.

Claim 28

A system, as recited in claim 14, wherein said driving circuit means is adapted to produce spaced bursts of said ultrasonic oscillations.