Horn array emitter
AssigneeAmerican Technology Corporation
InventorsElwood G. Norris, James J. Croft III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sonic emitter, horn array with enhanced emitter-to-air acoustic coupling, with particular application to ultrasonic frequencies. The emitter comprises a plate support member having opposing first and second faces separated by an intermediate plate body. The plate body includes a plurality of conduits configured as an array of acoustic horns, with a small throat opening at the first face and an intermediate horn section which diverges to a broad mouth opening at the second face. An emitter membrane is positioned in direct contact with the first face and extends across the small throat openings. The emitter membrane is biased for (i) applying tension to the membrane extending across the throat openings and (ii) displacing the membrane into a non-planar configuration.
Claims30
A sonic emitter array with enhanced emitter-to-air acoustic coupling, said emitter comprising:
- a plate support member having opposing first and second faces separated by an intermediate plate body, said plate body having a plurality of conduits configured as an array of acoustic horns, each horn having a small throat opening at the first face and an intermediate horn section which diverges to a broad mouth opening at the second face;
- an emitter membrane positioned in direct contact with the first face and extending across the small throat openings;
- biasing means operable with respect to the emitter membrane for (i) applying tension to the membrane extending across the throat openings and (ii) displacing the membrane into a non-planar configuration;
- means for applying a sonic frequency to the membrane for propagation through the intermediate horn section and out the broad mouth opening at the second face.
A sonic emitter array as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for providing sonic frequency to the membrane comprises a voltage signal source coupled to the back plate and operable to supply a variable signal which is converted by the dielectric material of the membrane into compression waves.
A method for developing a high efficiency acoustic coupling device for coupling ultrasonic emitters to a surrounding air environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) attaching an emitter membrane at a small throat opening of an acoustic horn;
- b) applying sonic frequencies to the emitter membrane to generate sonic compression waves at the small throat opening of the acoustic horn;
- and
- c) propagating the sonic compression wave through the acoustic horn for enhanced air coupling at a broad mouth of the horn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.