Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic flowmeter and method
US11879759B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jan 23, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/02836
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonic flowmeter includes: a transducer housing with an ultrasound window; a transducer element in the transducer housing that transmits ultrasonic signals onto a signal path and receives ultrasonic signals from the signal path; a control and evaluation unit that controls the transducer element and evaluates the ultrasonic signals; and a buffer element that forms at least one at least partially reflective boundary layer in the signal path. In an operating state, the transducer element transmits an ultrasonic signal that is at least partially reflected at the boundary layer of the buffer element, and the reflected signal component is received by the transducer element. The control and evaluation unit monitors the reception of the reflected signal component and, in the absence of reception of a reflected signal component, detects an error state of the ultrasonic transducer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.