Acoustic transducer with elastomeric coupling

A piezoelectric acoustic transducer comprising:

• a. a generally circular, disc shaped piezoelectric element having opposed major surfaces with electrodes affixed thereto;
• b. a generally circular diaphragm formed of piezoelectrically inactive material having a different thermal coefficient of expansion from said piezoelectric element, said diaphragm having opposed major surfaces one of which defines an area at least coextensive with one of the major surfaces of said piezoelectric element;
• c. an elastomeric interlayer having one surface affixed to said one major surface of said piezoelectric element and an opposed surface affixed to said one coextensive major surface of said diaphragm, said elastomeric interlayer being formed of material having a shear modulus which varies directly with the frequency of stress applied thereto and said material being further characterized by mechanically coupling said piezoelectric element to said diaphragm at acoustic frequencies within the operating range of the transducer and decoupling said piezoelectric element from said diaphragm at lower frequencies;
• d. a mounting member;
• and
• e. flexible hinge means fixedly attaching said diaphragm to said mounting member for axial flexing movements at an acoustic rate.