Hydrophone structure and method
AssigneeSyntron, Inc.
InventorsLouis W. Erath, Gary Craig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrophone structure comprises a hydrophone casing within which is mounted a conductive substrate. Sound pressure signals are conducted into the interior of the substrate, on which are mounted piezoelectric crystals on the exterior of the substrate. The volume between the casing and the substrate is nearly filled with a fluid, preferably oil. One or more bubbles of air remain in the volume between the casing and the substrate to permit vibration of the substrate and consequently the piezoelectric hydrophone element.
Claims15
A hydrophone comprising:
- a. a substantially cylindrical casing;
- b. an electrically conductive support element within the casing, the support element defining a sound conductive channel through the support element, wherein the casing and the support element define a volume therebetween;
- c. a piezoelectric crystal on the support element outside the channel, the crystal defining a first surface in contact with the support element and a second surface opposite the support element;
- d. a first output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the support element;
- and
- e. a second output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the second surface.
A hydrophone comprising:
- a. a substantially cylindrical casing;
- b. an electrically conductive support element within the casing, the support element defining a sound conductive channel through the support element;
- c. a segmented piezoelectric crystal on the support element, the crystal defining a first surface in contact with the support element and a second surface opposite the support element, wherein a first segment of the crystal is polarized in a direction opposite to that of a second segment of the crystal;
- d. a first output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the support element;
- and
- e. a second output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the second surface.
A hydrophone transducer comprising:
- a. a support element defining a sound conductive channel;
- b. an electrode mounted on and insulated from the support element outside the channel;
- c. a piezoelectric crystal mounted to the electrode, the crystal defining a first surface toward the support element and a second surface opposite the support element;
- d. a first output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the electrode;
- and
- e. a second output terminal of the transducer electrically coupled to the second surface.
A hydrophone support structure comprising:
- a. an open-ended sound conductive channel with top and bottom electrically conductive support substrates, each of the substrates adapted to support a piezoelectric element outside of the channel;
- b. a substantially cylindrical casing, the channel and the casing defining a volume therebetween;
- and
- c. an end plate at each end of the casing to seal the volume between the channel and the casing, each of the end plates having an opening to receive a sound signal into the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.