Impedance-matched acoustic transducer
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsJames Edward WEST, Valerie RENNOLL, Adebayo Ayoola EISAPE, II, Ian MCLANE, Mounya ELHILALI
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Abstract
An acoustic transducer includes a first layer including an elastomer, An acoustic impedance of the first layer substantially matches an acoustic impedance of a medium that the transducer is configured to monitor. The transducer also includes a second layer including an electrode. The transducer also includes a third layer including a polymer. The second layer is positioned at least partially between the first layer and the third layer.
Claims25
An acoustic transducer, comprising:
- a first layer comprising an elastomer, wherein an acoustic impedance of the first layer substantially matches an acoustic impedance of a medium that the transducer is configured to monitor;
- a second layer comprising an electrode;
- and
- a third layer comprising a polymer, wherein the second layer is positioned at least partially between the first layer and the third layer.
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An acoustic transducer, comprising:
- a first layer comprising an elastomer, wherein the first layer has a monomer to curing agent ratio from about 5:1 to about 20:1, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of microstructures having a height from about 50 μm to about 1 mm, wherein the first layer is doped with between about 1% and about 60% silicon dioxide to cause an acoustic impedance of the first layer to substantially match an acoustic impedance of a medium that the transducer is configured to monitor, and wherein the first layer is the only layer that is used to match the acoustic impedance of the medium that the transducer is configured to monitor;
- a second layer comprising an electrode, wherein the second layer substantially conforms to the microstructures such that the second layer comprises peaks and valleys;
- and
- a third layer comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises a corona-charged fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), a corona-charged polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or a combination thereof, wherein the second layer is positioned at least partially between the first layer and the third layer, wherein the third layer is substantially flat, and wherein a gap is present between the valleys of the second layer and the third layer.
A method, comprising:
- building an acoustic transducer that is configured to measure mechanical vibrations of a medium, wherein building the transducer comprises:
- doping the first layer of the transducer with a dopant based at least partially upon the medium, wherein the material of the first layer, the dopant, or both cause an acoustic impedance of the first layer to substantially match an acoustic impedance of the medium;
- placing a second layer at least partially on the first layer;
- and
- placing a third layer at least partially on the second layer;
- placing the first layer in contact with the medium;
- and
- measuring the mechanical vibrations of the medium using the transducer.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.