Impact-reinforced piezocomposite transducer array
AssigneeMaterials Systems, Inc.
InventorsGerald E. Schmidt, James M. Glynn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An impact-reinforced piezocomposite transducer array comprises a load supporting structure having a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises a piezocomposite transducer element. The load supporting structure comprises a honeycomb structure having a plurality of multi-sided cells or the structure comprises a plurality of cylindrical cells. The piezocomposite element includes a plurality of piezoceramic rods encapsulated in a polymeric matrix to form a 1-3 composite body. The transducer array may be used as a hydrophone or a transmitter in a rugged environment such as on the hull of an icebreaker ship.
Claims26
An acoustic transducer array comprising:
- a honeycomb structure having a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises a piezoelectric transducer;
- each piezoelectric transducer comprises a stack having at least one piezocomposite element;
- each piezocomposite element includes a plurality of piezoceramic elements, said piezoceramic elements being arranged parallel to each other;
- said plurality of piezoceramic elements of said piezocomposite element being encapsulated in a polymeric matrix forming said piezocomposite element;
- a front planar surface and a back planar surface of said piezocomposite element comprise an electrically conductive layer;
- and
- a soft pressure release material is disposed around each stack except on a surface of said stack facing a front surface of said acoustic transducer array.
A method of providing an acoustic transducer array for operation in a rugged environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a honeycomb structure having a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises a piezoelectric element;
- providing in each piezoelectric transducer a stack having at least one piezocomposite element;
- including a plurality of piezoceramic elements, in each piezocomposite element, said piezoceramic elements being arranged parallel to each other;
- forming said piezocomposite element by encapsulating said plurality of piezoceramic elements of said piezocomposite element in a polymeric matrix;
- providing an electrically conductive layer on a front planar surface and a back planar surface of said piezocomposite element;
- and
- disposing a soft pressure release material around each stack except on a surface of said stack facing a front surface of said acoustic transducer array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.