Acoustic receiver
AssigneeRaptor Data Limited
InventorsColin Maclean, Frazer Geddes, Gordon Cowie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acoustic receiver is provided for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel. The acoustic receiver comprises a waveguide; and at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide. The length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide.
Claims18
An acoustic receiver for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel, the acoustic receiver comprising:
- a waveguide;
- and
- at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide;
- wherein the first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide, and wherein the length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide, and
- wherein the waveguide is acoustically coupled to a solid acoustic conductor, the solid acoustic conductor to provide at least part of the acoustic communication channel,
- wherein the path followed by the waveguide between the first and second positions comprises a plurality of substantially parallel portions, wherein at least two of the substantially parallel portions are joined by a portion of the waveguide which follows the path that changes direction, or
- wherein the path is a serpentine path.
An assembly comprising:
- an acoustic receiver for receiving acoustic signals from an acoustic communication channel, the acoustic receiver comprising:
- a waveguide;
- and at least first and second sensors for sensing the acoustic signals, the sensors being in acoustic communication with the waveguide;
- wherein the first and second sensors are acoustically coupled to the waveguide at respective first and second positions spaced from each other along a length of the waveguide, and wherein the length of the waveguide between the first and second positions follows a path that changes direction to thereby limit an extent of the waveguide;
- a coupler for coupling the acoustic receiver to an acoustic conductor, the acoustic conductor to provide at least part of an acoustic communication channel, wherein the coupler is configured to fixedly couple a first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor to thereby acoustically couple the first end of the waveguide to the acoustic conductor;
- and
- a holder configured to hold a second end of the waveguide to thereby inhibit displacement of the second end of the waveguide with respect to the acoustic conductor while allowing the second end of the waveguide to vibrate in response to acoustic signals propagating on the waveguide, wherein the holder is acoustically insulating to inhibit transmission of acoustic signals through the holder between the second end of the waveguide and the acoustic conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.