# US 10,480,971 B2 · Compact wide angle acoustic transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,971 B2 - Document ID: US10480971B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/496,833 - Filed: 2017-04-25 - Published: 2017-10-26 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-25 - Assignees: GWF MessSysteme AG - Applicants: GWF MessSysteme AG - Inventors: Thomas Werner Hies; Claus-Dieter Ohl; Trung Dung Luong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480971B2 ## CPC - G01F 1/662: {Constructional details} - G10K 11/161: {in systems with fluid flow (G10K11/162 takes precedence; gas flow silencers or exhaust apparatus for machines or engines in general or for internal combustion engine F01N, noise absorbers in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/02; noise absorption in air conditioning and ventilation F24F13/24; silencing exhaust or propulsion jets in aircraft B64D33/06)} - G10K 11/20: Reflecting arrangements (G10K11/28 takes precedence) - H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A transducer is provided for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, a method for operating and a method for producing the same. The transducer comprises a casing that forms a cavity. The casing comprises an excitation surface and an emitting surface, which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface. A transducer element is provided at the excitation surface, and an acoustic diffuser is provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transducer for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, the transducer comprising a casing, the casing forming a cavity, the casing comprising: an excitation surface and an emitting surface which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface, a transducer element, the transducer element being provided at the excitation surface, an acoustic diffuser, the acoustic diffuser being provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity, and a second acoustic diffuser, the second acoustic diffuser being provided at the excitation surface, wherein a diffusing structure of the second acoustic diffuser faces the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the diffusing structure of the second acoustic diffuser faces the diffusing structure of the first acoustic diffuser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser comprises a column type diffusing structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser comprises a chamber type diffusing structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the acoustic diffuser is made from a metallic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the acoustic diffuser is made from a plastics material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the acoustic diffuser is made by a 3D printing process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the cavity is a rectangular cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, the transducer comprising a needle transducer, the needle transducer extending through the cavity and unto the emitting surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, the transducer comprising a plate transducer that is provided at the emitting surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, the transducer comprising a first transducer element, a second transducer element and a third transducer element, the second transducer element and the third transducer element being provided at the excitation surface and the first transducer element being in contact with the emitting surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The transducer of claim 11, wherein the first transducer element is a plate transducer, the plate transducer being provided at the emitting surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The transducer of claim 11, wherein the first transducer element is arranged in a central position of the emitting surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The transducer of claim 13, wherein the first transducer element, the second transducer element and the third transducer element are arranged along a diagonal of the excitation surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The transducer of claim 11, wherein the first transducer element is a needle transducer, the needle transducer extending through the cavity and unto the emitting surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The transducer of claim 11, wherein the second transducer element and the third transducer element are arranged symmetrically to the first transducer element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The transducer of claim 1, wherein the transducer element comprises a piezoelectric element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A transducer arrangement, the transducer arrangement comprising a first transducer and a second transducer, each according to claim 1, a signal generating unit and a signal processing unit, the signal generating unit being connected to the first transducer and to the signal processing unit, and the signal processing unit being connected to the second transducer, wherein the first transducer, the second transducer, the signal generating unit and the signal processing unit are configured to: apply a predetermined first signal to the first transducer, receive a response signal of the predetermined first signal at the second transducer, derive a measuring signal from the response signal, the derivation of the measuring signal comprising selecting a signal portion of the response signal or of a signal derived therefrom and reversing the signal portion with respect to time, store the measuring signal for later use, apply the measuring signal to the first transducer, receive a response signal to the measuring signal at the second transducer, derive a flow speed from the received response signal to the measuring signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The transducer arrangement of claim 18, wherein the signal generating unit is furthermore connected to the second transducer and the signal processing unit is furthermore connected to the second transducer, and wherein the first transducer, the second transducer, the signal generating unit and the signal processing unit are configured to: apply the measuring signal to the second transducer, receive a second response signal to the measuring signal at the first transducer, derive a flow speed from the received response signal to the measuring signal at the second transducer and from the received second response signal to the measuring signal at the first transducer. ### Claim 20 Method of production of a transducer, comprising providing a casing, the casing defining a cavity, producing a column type acoustic diffuser by a 3D printing process, providing the column type acoustic diffuser on an emitting surface of the casing, such that the columns of the column type acoustic diffuser face the cavity, providing at least one transducer element at an excitation surface of the casing, the excitation surface being arranged opposite to the emitting surface, producing a second column type acoustic diffuser by a 3D printing process, providing the second column type acoustic diffuser at the excitation surface of the casing, such that the columns of the column type acoustic diffuser face the cavity. ### Claim 21 A transducer for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, the transducer comprising a casing, the casing forming a cavity, the casing comprising: an excitation surface and an emitting surface which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface, a transducer element, the transducer element being provided at the excitation surface, an acoustic diffuser, the acoustic diffuser being provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity; wherein the transducer comprises a needle transducer, the needle transducer extending through the cavity and unto the emitting surface. ### Claim 22 A transducer for emitting and receiving acoustic waves, the transducer comprising a casing, the casing forming a cavity, the casing comprising: an excitation surface and an emitting surface which is arranged opposite to the excitation surface, an acoustic diffuser, the acoustic diffuser being provided at the emitting surface of the casing, wherein a diffusing structure of the acoustic diffuser faces the cavity; wherein the transducer further comprises a first transducer element, a second transducer element and a third transducer element, the second transducer element and the third transducer element being provided at the excitation surface and the first transducer element being in contact with the emitting surface.