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US 5,313,834 AGranted
Phased array sonic transducers for marine instrument
AssigneeAirmar Technology Corporation
InventorMaurice Lagace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low cost phased array sonic transducer is described in which an array of transducer elements separated by spacers are held within a frame which applies a compressive force transverse the length of the elements.
Claims20
A phased array transducer for generating and receiving sonic vibratory forces comprising:
- a) an array of transducer elements separated by spacer members disposed along the length of the elements;
- b) a transducer assembly frame for holding the array, with a flexible member formed in a sidewall of the frame for applying a compressive force in a direction transverse to the length dimension of the elements and spacer members.
A phased array sonic transducer for generating and receiving sonic vibratory forces housed in a unitary housing comprising:
- a) a unitary housing having side brackets for mounting to a marine vessel, with a walled cavity therein for supporting a phased array sonic transducer;
- b) a phased array sonic transducer disposed in said cavity and comprising an array of transducer elements acoustically separated from one another by spacer members disposed along the length of the elements and a unitary frame for holding the array in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said housing and for applying a compressive force to said elements and spacer members in a direction transverse to the length dimension of the elements and spacer elements.
A method of supporting a sonic transducer in a housing comprising:
- a) providing a unitary housing having brackets for mounting to a marine vessel, with a walled cavity therein for supporting the sonic transducer;
- b) forming a phased array sonic transducer and disposing the transducer in said cavity and by forming an array of transducer elements and acoustically separating each from one another by inserting spacer members between and along the length of the elements and holding the array in a unitary frame in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said housing and applying a compressive force to said elements and spacer members in a direction transverse the length dimension of the elements and spacer members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.