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US4042845A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transducer assembly and method for radiating and detecting energy over controlled beam width

Assignee: Pittway Corp
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Filing: 1976-03-25
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1996-03-25
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Abstract

Abstract A transducer assembly capable of radiating and detecting energy over a controlled beam width around a selected axis is formed by a piezoelectric element mounted in a cylindrical resonant cavity defined by a Helmholtz chamber. The resonant chamber has an energy emitting end wall positioned normal to the selected axis and is arranged to have a single aperture ring which emits energy symmetrically around the axis at a predetermined radial offset distance therefrom. The energy emitted from the chamber through the end wall sums to form along and around the selected axis a beam-like pattern of controlled width, the beam width being controllable as a function of the offset distance and the energy wavelength. In one embodiment, circular apertures which operate to emit spherical radiation patterns are formed in the chamber end wall. In another embodiment, an annular aperture is formed in the chamber end wall concentric with the selected axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth R. Hackett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 06:16
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
A transducer assembly for generating and/or detecting acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, said assembly comprising: a hollow, closed cylindrical resonant chamber having planar end walls and a predetermined resonant frequency, said chamber having a longitudinal axis defined by the center axis of the cylinder which it forms, said longitudinal axis defining said selected axis and said planar end walls being disposed normal to said selected axis, one of said planar end walls having a single aperture ring formed therein through which acoustical energy can be emitted out from and into said chamber, said single aperture ring being symmetrically disposed around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance therefrom; and transducer means mounted within said chamber for generating therein along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
A transducer assembly for generating and/or detecting acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, said assembly comprising: a hollow, closed cylindrical resonant chamber having planar end walls and a predetermined resonant frequency, said chamber having a longitudinal axis defined by the center axis of the cylinder which it forms, said longitudinal axis defining said selected axis and said planar end walls being disposed normal to said selected axis, one of said planar end walls having a single aperture ring formed therein through which acoustical energy can be emitted out from and into said chamber, said single aperture ring being symmetrically disposed around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance therefrom; and transducer means mounted within said chamber for generating therein along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said single aperture ring is a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in said planar end wall, said openings being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially around said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said single aperture ring is a substantially continuous annular opening formed in said planar end wall around and concentric with said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: said predetermined frequency is an ultrasonic frequency; and, said transducer means includes a piezoelectric element which resonates at said predetermined ultrasonic frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 42 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein: said predetermined frequency is an ultrasonic frequency; and, said transducer means is positioned substantially symmetrically across the longitudinal axis of said resonant chamber and includes a piezoelectric element which resonates at said predetermined ultrasonic frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said piezoelectric element is of the flat plate-like bender type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said single aperture ring is a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in said planar end wall, said openings being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially around said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said single aperture ring is a substantially continuous annular opening formed in said planar end wall around and concentric with said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said piezoelectric element is of the flat plate-like bender type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said piezoelectric element is of the flat plate-like bender type.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 95 words
The method of generating a pattern of acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, comprising: generating along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency; and, emitting said spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy through a single aperture ring formed in wall structure, the wall structure extending across and normal to said selected axis, the single aperture ring being formed in a symmetrical configuration relative to and around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance from said selected axis.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 95 words
The method of generating a pattern of acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, comprising: generating along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency; and, emitting said spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy through a single aperture ring formed in wall structure, the wall structure extending across and normal to said selected axis, the single aperture ring being formed in a symmetrical configuration relative to and around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance from said selected axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy is generated in a resonant chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the resonant chamber is a cylindrical resonant chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the single aperture ring is a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in the wall structure, the openings being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially around said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the single aperture ring is a substantially continuous annular opening formed in the wall structure around and concentric with said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the single aperture ring is a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in the wall structure, the openings being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially around said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the single aperture ring is a substantially continuous annular opening formed in the wall structure around and concentric with said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the resonant chamber is a cylindrical resonant chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the resonant chamber is a cylindrical resonant chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said predetermined frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said predetermined frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 143 words
The method of detecting acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, comprising: positioning a hollow, closed cylindrical resonant chamber along said selected axis with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical resonant chamber coincident with said selected axis, the resonant chamber being operable to amplify acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency and having piezoelectric transducer means therein operable to generate and hence sense within said resonant chamber along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency; and emitting acoustical energy into the resonant chamber through a single aperture ring formed in end wall structure of the resonant chamber normal to said selected axis, the single aperture ring being formed in a symmetrical configuration relative to and around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance from said selected axis.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 143 words
The method of detecting acoustical energy at a predetermined frequency over a controlled beam width around a selected axis, comprising: positioning a hollow, closed cylindrical resonant chamber along said selected axis with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical resonant chamber coincident with said selected axis, the resonant chamber being operable to amplify acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency and having piezoelectric transducer means therein operable to generate and hence sense within said resonant chamber along said selected axis a spherical radiation pattern of acoustical energy at said predetermined frequency; and emitting acoustical energy into the resonant chamber through a single aperture ring formed in end wall structure of the resonant chamber normal to said selected axis, the single aperture ring being formed in a symmetrical configuration relative to and around said selected axis at a given radial offset distance from said selected axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the single aperture ring is a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in the wall structure, the openings being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially around said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 24, wherein the single aperture ring is a substantially continuous annular opening formed in the wall structure around and concentric with said selected axis at said given offset distance therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said predetermined resonant frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said predetermined resonant frequency is ultrasonic.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said predetermined resonant frequency is ultrasonic.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2567407A Cited
US2580439A Cited
US3331970A Cited
US3748502A Cited
US3860838A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-15 1981-02-14 1981-08-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-15 1985-02-14 1985-08-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-15 1989-02-14 1989-08-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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