# US 12,016,246 B2 · Ultrasonic transducer with a piezoceramic and method for producing an ultrasonic transducer of this kind

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- Number: US 12,016,246 B2
- Document ID: US12016246B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/965,155
- Filed: 2018-12-13
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-30
- Assignees: PI Ceramic GmbH
- Applicants: PI Ceramic GmbH
- Inventors: Peter Ditas; Benjamin Sennfelder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016246B2

## CPC

- G01F 23/2968: {Transducers specially adapted for acoustic level indicators}
- H10N 30/02: Forming enclosures or casings
- B06B 1/0651: {of circular shape}
- B06B 1/0662: {with an electrode on the sensitive surface}
- B06B 1/0666: {used as a diaphragm}
- G10K 9/122: using piezoelectric driving means {(G10K9/121 takes precedence)}
- H04R 17/00: Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00})
- H10N 30/875: {Further connection or lead arrangements, e.g. flexible wiring boards, terminal pins}
- H10N 30/88: Mounts; Supports; Enclosures; Casings
- G01F 1/66: by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
- H04R 2217/00: Details of magnetostrictive, piezoelectric, or electrostrictive transducers covered by H04R15/00 or H04R17/00 but not provided for in any of their subgroups
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- 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

An ultrasonic transducer and a method for producing an ultrasonic transducer are disclosed wherein the ultrasonic transducer has outstanding media resistance and a simpler construction by reducing the number of individual parts, so that the ultrasonic transducer can be produced in a fully-automated production process. The ultrasonic transducer, particularly for measurement of fluid volumes, can include a housing in which a contact element and a piezoceramic are arranged, wherein the piezoceramic includes two electrodes of differing polarity which are attached to different sides of the piezoceramic, wherein contact areas of the two electrodes for making electrical contact are disposed on a same side of the piezoceramic and the contact element includes at least two contact sections of differing polarity which are in electrically conducting contact with the contact areas of the two electrodes of corresponding polarity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic transducer for the measurement of fluid volumes, comprising:
a housing in which a contact element and a piezoceramic are arranged, where said piezoceramic includes two electrodes of different polarity which are applied onto different sides of said piezoceramic, where contact surfaces for electrical contact of said two electrodes are arranged on the same side of said piezoceramic; and
said contact element including at least two contact sections of different polarity which are in electrically conductive contact with said contact surfaces of said two electrodes of corresponding polarity, where said contact element forms a part of said housing, wherein
said contact element is pot-shaped, where said contact sections are arranged at a base of said contact element and are electrically contactable by way of edge sections of said contact element protruding from said base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein respective contact sections of said contact element are in planar contact with corresponding contact surfaces of said electrodes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein a side of a first electrode of said two electrodes facing away from said piezoceramic forms said contact surface of said first electrode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein a first electrode of said two electrodes in part at least one of covers and contacts a first side of said piezoceramic, where said first electrode is arranged centrally on said first side of said piezoceramic, such that a ring-shaped surface remains on said first side of said piezoceramic and is not covered by said first electrode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 4, wherein a second of said two electrodes at least one of covers and contacts a second side of said piezoceramic over an entire surface, where at least one contact surface of said second electrode is arranged on said first side of said piezoceramic and is connected by a deflected contact to said second electrode in an electrically conductive manner, where said deflected contact runs over a third side of said piezoceramic.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 5, wherein said second electrode comprises:
two, three, four or more contact surfaces which are at least one of formed identically, arranged symmetrically, and arranged equidistantly around said first electrode at an edge side on said first side of said piezoceramic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said piezoceramic at least one of is formed as a piezoceramic disk or plate and extends in a plane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said housing is of at least one of ceramic material or plastic material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said contact sections are at least one of located on a same surface of said contact element and located in a same plane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said contact element is formed as a membrane, configured for acoustic coupling of said piezoceramic, and said piezoceramic includes an adhesive bond over an entire surface to said contact element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said contact sections are at least one of coated sections of said contact element, metallized sections of said contact element, or are incorporated into said contact element as embedded electrically conductive materials.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises:
a lid with electrodes of different polarity, where said electrodes are in electrically conductive connection to said contact sections of corresponding polarity when said lid is closed, so that said piezoceramic will be acted upon with an alternating voltage through said electrodes of said lid.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 12, wherein said electrodes are arranged on an outer side of said lid when said lid is closed and are in electrically conductive connection by way of vias to terminals of corresponding polarity on an inner side of said lid, where said terminals on said inner side of said lid are at least one of in electrically conductive connection to and in contact with said contact sections of corresponding polarity when said lid is closed.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said housing is of at least one of ceramic aluminum oxide material, PPS cast plastic material, or PPS injection molded plastic material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein said contact sections are incorporated into said contact element as embedded electrically conductive materials in particle form.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2, wherein a side of a first electrode of said two electrodes facing away from said piezoceramic forms said contact surface of said first electrode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 16, wherein a first electrode of said two electrodes in part at least one of covers and contacts a first side of said piezoceramic, where said first electrode is arranged centrally on said first side of said piezoceramic, such that a ring-shaped surface remains on said first side of said piezoceramic and is not covered by said first electrode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 17, wherein a second of said two electrodes at least one of covers and contacts a second side of said piezoceramic over an entire surface, where at least one contact surface of said second electrode is arranged on said first side of said piezoceramic and is connected by a deflected contact to said second electrode in an electrically conductive manner, where said deflected contact runs over a third side of said piezoceramic.

### Claim 19

A method for producing an ultrasonic transducer for the measurement of fluid volumes, the ultrasonic transducer including:
a housing in which a contact element and a piezoceramic are arranged, where said piezoceramic includes two electrodes of different polarity which are applied onto different sides of the piezoceramic, where contact surfaces for electrical contact of the two electrodes are arranged on the same side of the piezoceramic; and
the contact element includes at least two contact sections of different polarity, where the contact element forms a part of the housing, wherein
the contact element is pot-shaped, where the contact sections are arranged at a base of the contact element and are electrically contactable by way of edge sections of the contact element protruding from the base, the method comprising:
a. arranging said piezoceramic in said housing so that said contact surfaces of said piezoceramic are in electrically conductive contact with said contact sections of said contact element which are of corresponding polarity; and
b. closing said housing with a lid.