A Basic Study on an Artificial Cochlea Sensor and Actuator Based on the Energy Flow Theory

通过关注哺乳动物耳蜗的复杂功能，我们的目标是对其谐振器阵列结构进行建模，并将其应用于高效和智能的传感器和执行器。研究作为传感器和执行器的阵列的最佳结构，并采用硅微机械加工方法进行制作。制作了一种名为“鱼骨”的谐振器阵列结构，归纳出了一种优化的谐振器阵列结构，制定了设计规则，采用硅微机械加工的方法进行了机械加工，并通过实验验证了理论。证实了其作为智能听觉传感器和机械执行器的适用性。作为传感器，它被证明是一种智能麦克风，具有逐渐变化的频率的谐振束阵列，并将声音分解为正弦振动。通过压电式传感方法，观察到了机电信号的转换。作为致动器，我们观察到一个脉冲串，它是谐振器光束的微妙正弦输入的总和。

By focusing on the sophisticated functions of the mammalian cochlea, we aim to model and to apply its resonator array structure to efficient and smart sensors and actuators. For this purpose, actual goals of this research project are as follows :1. To create a model of the mammalian cochlea as an array of 2nd order spring-mass systems which have some mutual interactions based on the electro-mechanical analogy.2. To investigate an optimum structure of the array as a sensor and an actuator and to fabricate it by Si micro-machining.3. To confirm its applicability to an auditory sensor and a mechanical actuator through experiments.The summary of the results of this project is as follows :1. Construction of a theory of sound processing mechanism in the cochlea based on "the energy flow theory".2. Fabrication of the resonator array structure called 'fishbone'.We induced an optimum structure of the resonator array, established design rules, fabricated it mechanically by Si micro-machining and confirmed the theory through experiments.3. Confirmation of its applicability as an intelligent auditory sensor and a mechanical actuator.As a sensor, it proved to be a smart microphone which had an array of resonator beams of gradually varying frequencies and decomposed a sound into sinusoidal vibrations. By a piezo-electric sensing method, we observed mechanical-electronic signal transformation. As an actuator, we observed an impulse train which was the summation of subtle sinusoidal inputs to the resonator beams.