Patent · US Expired

Transformed stress direction acoustic transducer

US4999819A · kind A · utility

115Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 1990
Grant dateMar 12, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG10K9/121
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

This invention describes an acoustic transducer assembly wherein an extremely high figure of merit (d.sub.h g.sub.h) is obtained as a result of converting incoming acoustic axial stress into radial extensional stress thereby multiplying its effect. The piezoelectric active element is encased in a metal sandwich enclosing two semilunar air spaces which allow the device to withstand extremely high hydrostatic pressure yet still respond to low level sound waves when acting as a hydrophone. The mechanical prestress induced by the differential coefficients of expansion between the metal case and the piezoelectric ceramic element also serves to prevent depolarization aging.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.