US3882429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic signal transmission device with phase response shaping
Assignee: ALIOC Inc A CT CORP
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Filing: 1974-03-29
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrical signal transmission device such as a delay line or filter of the acoustic, reflection mode type wherein an input electrical signal is converted to acoustic energy propagating along a medium such as a thin rectangular strip of spring steel toward a mismatching structure such as an array of gratings which reflects a portion of the energy for further propagation and conversion to an output electrical signal. The phase response of the device is shaped or compensated by a region of phase affecting material, such as a thin mass-loading film of gold or similar material, located on the propagating medium in the path of the reflected signal. A pattern or profile generated from the measured phase response of the device is used to control application of the material, preferably by vapor deposition, the profile and thickness of the region or film being predetermined to shape the phase response without affecting the amplitude response.
Inventors
- 👤 Tom Alan Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:15
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H9/00; H03H9/30; H03H9/42; H03H9/44; H03H9/02; H03H9/02535; H03H9/02818; H03H9/36; H03H9/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An electrical signal transmission device of the acoustic, reflection mode type comprising: a. a medium for supporting propagation of acoustic energy; b. a mismatching structure in said medium from which a portion of acoustically propagating energy is reflected; c. transmitting and receiving transducer means for converting an input electrical signal into an acoustic signal propagating along said medium and for converting a reflected acoustic signal into an output electrical signal; and d. a region of phase affecting material located on said medium in the path of the reflected acoustic signal, the profile and thickness of said region being predetermined to shape the phase response of said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrical signal transmission device of the acoustic, reflection mode type comprising: a. a medium for supporting propagation of acoustic energy; b. a mismatching structure in said medium from which a portion of acoustically propagating energy is reflected; c. transmitting and receiving transducer means for converting an input electrical signal into an acoustic signal propagating along said medium and for converting a reflected acoustic signal into an output electrical signal; and d. a region of phase affecting material located on said medium in the path of the reflected acoustic signal, the profile and thickness of said region being predetermined to shape the phase response of said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region is generally elongated and has a phase affecting profile along at least one edge, said region being disposed such that said edge is positioned generally transverse to the direction of the reflected signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the profile of said region is determined from the measured phase response of said device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region is of a material which affects the phase velocity of the reflected acoustic signal by an amount which sufficient to shape the phase response of said device and which introduces a negligible amount of propagation attenuation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region is of a material having relatively high density and low shear modulus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region is a thin vapor-deposited film of gold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said region comprises a composite thin film including a layer of chromium and a layer of gold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said region is sufficient to affect the phase velocity of an acoustic signal propagating through said medium but not sufficient to affect the amplitude of the signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the thickness of said region is of a magnitude such that the phase shift in said medium at the location of said region negates the measured phase error of said device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a thin strip of solid material and said mismatching structure comprises a pair of spaced apart grating patterns positioned on a surface of said strip in a manner such that an acoustic signal reflected from one pattern propagates toward the other pattern and wherein said region of phase affecting material is located on said strip so as to be in the path of an acoustic signal propagating between said patterns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein acoustic damping material is provided on the surface of said strip containing said grating patterns and wherein said region of phase affecting material is located on the opposite surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of shaping the phase response in an electrical signal transmission device of the acoustic, reflection mode type wherein an input electrical signal is converted to acoustic energy propagating aLong a medium toward a mismatching structure which reflects a portion of the energy for further propagation and conversion to an output electrical signal, comprising the steps of a. preparing a pattern having a profile determined by the measured phase response of said device; and b. applying phase-affecting material to said medium under control of said pattern in a manner so as to shape the phase response without affecting the amplitude response.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of shaping the phase response in an electrical signal transmission device of the acoustic, reflection mode type wherein an input electrical signal is converted to acoustic energy propagating aLong a medium toward a mismatching structure which reflects a portion of the energy for further propagation and conversion to an output electrical signal, comprising the steps of a. preparing a pattern having a profile determined by the measured phase response of said device; and b. applying phase-affecting material to said medium under control of said pattern in a manner so as to shape the phase response without affecting the amplitude response.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said phase-affecting material is applied to said medium in a manner so as to be located in the path of the reflected acoustic energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of preparing a pattern comprises a. measuring the phase response of said device; and b. providing a plot from the shape of the phase response for preparing said pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of applying phase-affecting material comprises vapor depositing said material onto said medium in the form of a thin film using said pattern as a mask to control the profile or configuration of said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of applying phase-affecting material comprises controlling the thickness of said material to be sufficient to affect the phase velocity of an acoustic energy signal propagating through the device but not to affect the signal amplitude.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said material is applied to a thickness for which the phase shift in the medium at the location of said material negates the measured phase error of the device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3564460A
Cited
US3795879A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |