Multilateral Sound Manipulation Using Magnetically Tunable Apertures

Abstract

In recent years, planar aperture‐based acoustic devices have been investigated due to their thin form factor, high effective transmission, and sound modulation capability. Moreover, reconfigurable, and tunable devices are being continuously researched to enable multiple degrees of freedom in real‐time. Here, we present an aperture‐based acoustic device that enables tunable multilateral ultrasonic operation. Sound waves are manipulated in multiple directions by continuously tuning aperture width or length, using a magnetically controlled rod. We exploit the position, orientation, and geometrical properties of the rod (i.e., length, topographical curvature) to create a varied interface for the impinging sound. Through experiments and simulations, we demonstrate acoustic wave steering in different orthogonal planes and acoustic switching using a single tunable device unit. Furthermore, we implement different four‐unit device configurations for tunable beam‐formation and tunable acoustic focusing applications by utilizing the acoustic anisotropy of our system. Our tunable dynamic acoustic device is scalable to audible frequencies and enables tilted operation. This straightforward and accessible proof‐of‐concept opens a paradigm for exploring multifunctional aperture‐based designs with greater degrees of freedom, bringing us a step closer towards practical applications such as acoustic device integration with walls, window panels, and other commercial products for tunable sound transmission.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.