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US4117074A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Monolithic mosaic piezoelectric transducer utilizing trapped energy modes

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-30
•
Granted: 1978-09-26
•
Expires: 1996-08-30
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Abstract

Abstract A transducer array comprising a large number of separated sets of electrodes plated on a single piezoelectric plate of uniform thickness is described. Each set of electrodes is made to act essentially independently by placing them sufficiently far apart and employing an essentially trapped energy mode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harry F. Tiersten
  • 👤 John F. McDonald
  • 👤 Pankaj K. Das

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 08:46
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; B06B1/0629

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A transducer element array comprising: a plate of piezoelectric material, means for vibrating said plate to produce vibration thereof including vibration in the thickness extensional mode, a plurality of first electrode means operatively electrically coupled to one surface of said plate in spaced relationship with respect to each other and second electrode means operatively electrically coupled to said other surface of said plate to form with said plurality of first electrode means a plurality of pairs of electrodes, each said pair of electrodes forming a transducer element of the array, said plurality of pairs of electrodes being operatively electrically coupled to said piezoelectric plate so as to provide acoustic energy trapping of the thickness extensional mode of vibration in the unelectroded space between adjacent ones of said pairs of electrodes and to thereby provide acoustic isolation between the adjacent transducer elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
A transducer element array comprising: a plate of piezoelectric material, means for vibrating said plate to produce vibration thereof including vibration in the thickness extensional mode, a plurality of first electrode means operatively electrically coupled to one surface of said plate in spaced relationship with respect to each other and second electrode means operatively electrically coupled to said other surface of said plate to form with said plurality of first electrode means a plurality of pairs of electrodes, each said pair of electrodes forming a transducer element of the array, said plurality of pairs of electrodes being operatively electrically coupled to said piezoelectric plate so as to provide acoustic energy trapping of the thickness extensional mode of vibration in the unelectroded space between adjacent ones of said pairs of electrodes and to thereby provide acoustic isolation between the adjacent transducer elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 60 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein the frequency ω of the trapped acoustic energy lies between the resonance frequency ω A of an odd thickness extensional mode of vibration of the unelectroded region of the plate and the resonance frequency ω C of the corresponding odd thickness extensional mode of vibration of the electroded region of the plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A transducer array as in claim 2 wherein the frequency ω A is higher than the frequency ω B of the pertinent even thickness extensional mode of vibration of the unelectroded space of the plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A transducer array wherein said plate of piezoelectric material is of substantially uniform thickness throughout.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
A transducer array wherein said plate of piezoelectric material is of substantially uniform thickness throughout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said second electrode means comprises a continuous member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said second electrode means comprises a plurality of means each of the same general shape as the respective means of the first plurality of electrode means, each of said second electrode means located opposite a corresponding one of said first electrode means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein each of said first electrode means is of generally circular shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said means for exciting said piezoelectric plate excites the same to produce a thickness extension mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said means for exciting said plate comprises means for coupling mechanical energy to said second electrode means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A transducer array as in claim 9 further comprising means for coupling electrical energy from said second electrode means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said means for exciting said plate comprises, means for supplying electrical energy to pairs of electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
A transducer as in claim 11 further comprising means for coupling mechanical energy therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein ω A > ω C > ω B .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
A transducer array as in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric material is a polarized ceramic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
A transducer array as in claim 14 wherein said polarized ceramic is PZT-7A.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3401276A Cited
US3384768A Cited
US3891872A Cited
US3971962A Cited
US3961210A Cited
US3904274A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-09-25 1982-03-27 1982-09-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-09-25 1986-03-27 1986-09-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-09-25 1990-03-27 1990-09-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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