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.