Patent EP0742616A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4633119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Broadband multi-resonant longitudinal vibrator transducer
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1985-06-14
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Granted: 1986-12-30
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Expires: 2005-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A broadband longitudinal vibrator transducer having a laminar head mass section including at least three layers coupled to electromechanical transducer elements. The head section includes a forward head mass, a compliant member abutting the forward head mass and a rear head mass abutting both the compliant member and the transducer elements. The compliant member allows the head mass section to mechanically resonate in at least two frequencies expanding the bandwidth of the transducer. The compliant member can be an active transducer element.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0611; B06B1/0618; H; H10; H10N; H10N30/00; H10N30/50; H10N30/503; H10N30/505; H10N30/80; H10N30/802; H10N30/88; H10N30/886
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A longitudinal electromechanical transducer, comprising: a head section comprising: N head masses, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two; and N-1 compliant means, fixed between said head masses in a laminar structure, for coupling said head masses; electromechanical transducers, fixed to said head section, for providing electromechanical conversion; and a tail mass fixed to said electromechanical transducer means, said transducer allowing resonant vibration at at least N resonances within the operating band of said transducer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A longitudinal electromechanical transducer, comprising: a head section comprising: N head masses, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two; and N-1 compliant means, fixed between said head masses in a laminar structure, for coupling said head masses; electromechanical transducers, fixed to said head section, for providing electromechanical conversion; and a tail mass fixed to said electromechanical transducer means, said transducer allowing resonant vibration at at least N resonances within the operating band of said transducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein said head section is a trilaminer head section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A transducer as recited in claim 1, wherein said compliant means has a compliance substantially greater than metal and piezoelectric ceramic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
A longitudinal electromechanical transducer for radiating into a medium at an operating frequency, comprising: a head mass in contact with the medium and having a head mass length in a longitudinal vibration direction; a first electromechanical transducer element abutting said head mass; an intermediate mass abutting said first electromechanical transducer element and having an intermediate mass length in the longitudinal vibration direction; a second electromechanical transducer element abutting said intermediate mass; and a tail mass abutting said second electromechanical transducer element and having a tail mass length in the longitudinal vibration direction, said transducer providing two resonances within the operating band, said head, intermediate and tail mass length being substantially shorter than one-quarter wavelength at the operating frequency and the abutment between said transducer elements and said masses preventing significant compliancy decoupling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
A longitudinal electromechanical transducer for radiating into a medium at an operating frequency, comprising: a head mass in contact with the medium and having a head mass length in a longitudinal vibration direction; a first electromechanical transducer element abutting said head mass; an intermediate mass abutting said first electromechanical transducer element and having an intermediate mass length in the longitudinal vibration direction; a second electromechanical transducer element abutting said intermediate mass; and a tail mass abutting said second electromechanical transducer element and having a tail mass length in the longitudinal vibration direction, said transducer providing two resonances within the operating band, said head, intermediate and tail mass length being substantially shorter than one-quarter wavelength at the operating frequency and the abutment between said transducer elements and said masses preventing significant compliancy decoupling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A transducer as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and second electromechanical transducer elements are electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A transducer as recited in claim 5, wherein the electrical connection allows one of said first or second electromechanical transducer elements to expand while the other contracts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transducer as recited in claim 4, wherein said first electromechanical transducer element comprises a first transducer material and said second electromechanical transducer element comprises a second transducer material different from the first transducer material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transducer as recited in claim 4, wherein said first electromechanical transducer element has a first thickness and said second electromechanical transducer element has a second thickness different from the first thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-12-29 | 1990-06-30 | 1990-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-29 | 1994-06-30 | 1994-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-29 | 1998-06-30 | 1998-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |