Ultrasonic transducer method

Claim 1

A method of making an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising the steps of: injection-molding a body member having an end wall and a plurality of side walls, said end wall having a pair of exterior planar surfaces, each of said exterior planar surfaces extending from a centerline of said end wall outwardly to a side edge of said end wall at a predetermined angle relative to each other, an interior surface, and a pair of recesses located in said interior surface which are separated from each other by a central rib which extends along said centerline of said end wall, each of said recesses having a planar surface which is parallel to one of said exterior planar surfaces of said end wall, said side walls having a radially extending exterior rib which is located between the top and bottom surfaces thereof and which extends about the periphery thereof, one of said end walls which is located at one end of said central rib including a multiple pin receiving post which is integrally formed therewith and which extends perpendicularly from said interior surface of said end wall, said post having a plurality of equally spaced, tapered, pin receiving holes; providing a pair of piezoelectric ceramic planar members, each of said members having a pair of conductive electrodes covering and affixed to opposite surfaces thereof, respectively; providing a plurality of metal ribbons; attaching one of said ribbons to each of said electrodes, each of said ribbons having a length sufficient for it to be inserted well into a corresponding one of said plurality of tapered holes in said multiple pin receiving post; attaching one of said pair of ceramic planar members to said planar surface in each of said recesses; and inserting an electrically conductive pin and the free end of one of said ribbons in each of said tapered holes in such a manner as to form a good electrical connection between said pin and said ribbon inserted in said hole.

Claim 2

A method of making an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising the steps of: injection-molding a body member having an end wall and a plurality of side walls, said end wall having a pair of exterior planar surfaces, each of said exterior planar surfaces extending from a centerline of said end wall outwardly to a side edge of said end wall at a predetermined angle relative to each other, an interior surface, and a pair of recesses located in said interior surface which are separated from each other by a central rib which extends along said centerline of said end wall, each of said recesses having a planar surface which is parallel to one of said exterior planar surfaces of said end wall, said side walls having a radially extending exterior rib which is located between the top and bottom surfaces thereof and which extends about the periphery thereof, one of said end walls which is located at one end of said central rib including a multiple pin receiving post which is integrally formed therewith and which extends perpendicularly from said interior surface of said end wall, said post having a plurality of equally spaced, tapered, pin receiving holes; providing a pair of piezoelectric ceramic planar members, each of said members having a pair of conductive electrodes covering and affixed to opposite surfaces thereof, respectively; providing a plurality of metal ribbons; attaching one of said ribbons to each of said electrodes, each of said ribbons having a length sufficient for it to be inserted well into a corresponding one of said plurality of tapered holes in said multiple pin receiving post; attaching one of said pair of ceramic planar members to said planar surface in each of said recesses; and inserting an electrically conductive pin and the free end of one of said ribbons in each of said tapered holes in such a manner as to form a good electrical connection between said pin and said ribbon inserted in said hole.

Claim 9

A method of making an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising the steps of: providing an injection-molded body member; providing a first and a second piezoelectric ceramic member for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, both said first and said second members having electrodes located on opposite surfaces thereof, said first member having a transmitting axis and said second member having a receiving axis; mounting said first and said second members in said body member in planes disposed at a predetermined angle to each other such that said transmitting and receiving axes of said members intersect at a predetermined distance along a line which extends through the center of said body member; providing an electrical connector having a plurality of pin members; providing a plurality of metallic ribbons; attaching one end of each of said ribbons to a corresponding one of said electrodes on said surfaces of said ceramic members; and electrically connecting an opposite end of each of said ribbons to a corresponding one of said pin members of said electrical connector.

Claim 10

A method of making an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising the steps of: providing an injection-molded body member; providing a first and a second piezoelectric ceramic member for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals, both said first and said second members having electrodes located on opposite surfaces thereof, said first member having a transmitting axis and said second member having a receiving axis; mounting said first and said second members in said body member in planes disposed at a predetermined angle to each other such that said transmitting and receiving axes of said members intersect at a predetermined distance along a line which extends through the center of said body member; providing an electrical connector having a plurality of pin members; providing a plurality of metallic ribbons; attaching one end of each of said ribbons to a corresponding one of said electrodes on said surfaces of said ceramic members; and electrically connecting an opposite end of each of said ribbons to a corresponding one of said pin members of said electrical connector.