Method of making piezoelectric polymeric acoustic transducer

Claim 1

A method of making a flexible piezoelectric acoustic transducer tape which is thin enough to be convolutely wound on itself in roll form and when extended is adapted for placement on a lengthy supportive surface, said method comprising: I. heat forming a long, narrow, thin, flexible layer of poled piezoelectric thermoplastic film material having two extended surfaces and a poled direction generally perpendicular to said extended surfaces of said film on a surface having a plurality of repetitively curved elements disposed in an area corresponding to one of said extended surfaces to provide a comparable plurality of repetitively curved segments in said film; II. applying a first and second continuous long, thin, narrow, flexible conductive electrode in a surface-to-surface contact with respective sides of poled piezoelectric layer and coextensive therewith; III. adhering to said first extended surface in at least a plurality of positions a long, narrow layer of flexible resilient material having first and second extended surfaces, with said first extended surface of said resilient material in contact with the second conductive electrode along substantially the entire length thereof; and IV. applying one or more adhesive portions coextensive with at least a portion of said second extended surface of said resilient material.

Claim 2

A method of making a flexible piezoelectric acoustic transducer tape which is thin enough to be convolutely wound on itself in roll form and when extended is adapted for placement on a lengthy supportive surface, said method comprising: I. heat forming a long, narrow, thin, flexible layer of poled piezoelectric thermoplastic film material having two extended surfaces and a poled direction generally perpendicular to said extended surfaces of said film on a surface having a plurality of repetitively curved elements disposed in an area corresponding to one of said extended surfaces to provide a comparable plurality of repetitively curved segments in said film; II. applying a first and second continuous long, thin, narrow, flexible conductive electrode in a surface-to-surface contact with respective sides of poled piezoelectric layer and coextensive therewith; III. adhering to said first extended surface in at least a plurality of positions a long, narrow layer of flexible resilient material having first and second extended surfaces, with said first extended surface of said resilient material in contact with the second conductive electrode along substantially the entire length thereof; and IV. applying one or more adhesive portions coextensive with at least a portion of said second extended surface of said resilient material.