Transducer control system

• US 4,227,110 A
• Filed: 11/10/1976
• Issued: 10/07/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Douglas, George R., Thompson, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US05/740,683
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316
• US Class Current: 310/316.01
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0253 taken directly from the generator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0618 of piezo- and non-piezoelectric elements, e.g. 'Tonpilz'

Abstract

A control system for a Tonpilz transducer which is positioned between the transducer and the transducer drive amplifier. The control system determines the head velocity of the transducer from the input current and voltage and utilizes this determination in a feedback arrangement to maintain proper transducer excitation.

Claims

1. A transducer control circuit for connection between a transducer and a transducer power source, said transducer having input leads, and an active acoustic radiation member subject to varying loading and a reaction member, comprising:

(a) means connected to said transducer input leads for obtaining signals indicative of the input current and voltage of said transducer; and

(b) circuit means responsive to said current and voltage indicative signals for generating a control signal proportional to the velocity of said radiation member.

2. A transducer control circuit for connection between a transducer and a transducer power source, said transducer having input leads, an active acoustic radiation member subject to varying loading a reaction member and an electrical equivalent circuit analogy which includes an electrical circuit component representative of said radiation member, comprising:

(a) means connected to said transducer input leads for obtaining signals indicative of the input current and voltage of said transducer; and

(b) circuit means responsive to said current and voltage indicative signals for generating a control signal proportional to the motional current through said electrical circuit component of said electrical equivalent circuit analogy, said motional current being proportional to the velocity of said radiation member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said electrical equivalent circuit includes a clamped capacitance (C₀) across said leads and which includes:

(a) a current transformer having a core;

(b) a capacitor (C_x) connected across the input line to said transducer;

(c) a first lead supplying current to said transducer and arranged to pass said current through said core in a first direction;

(d) a second lead supplying current to said capacitor (C_x) and arranged to pass said current through said core in an opposite direction relative to the current in said first lead; and

(e) an output winding coupled to said core to provide an output signal proportional to the difference in currents passing through said core in opposite directions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) the total ampere-turns through said core in said first direction is equal to the total ampereturns through said core in said opposite direction.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 which includes:

(a) a power amplifier connected to said input leads;

(b) a source of drive signal; and

(c) means for subtracting said control signal from said drive signal and applying the resulting signal to said power amplifier.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein:

(a) said transducer is a longitudinal vibrator and includes a head member, a tail member and a linear motor section; and

(b) the electrical equivalent circuit of said transducer includes a radiation load impedance, a first inductor (L₁) representing the motional inductance of said head member and operatively connected to said load impedance, a second inductor (L₂) in parallel circuit configuration with said first inductor and representing the motional inductance of said tail member, a first capacitor (C₁) in series circuit configuration with said parallel inductors and representing the transducer motional capacitance and a second capacitor (C₀) across said input leads and representing the clamped capacitance of said transducer.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 which includes:

(a) a resistor (R) and capacitor (C) in series;

(b) a voltage divider (P) in parallel with the series arrangement of said resistor and capacitor;

(c) means for applying said input current indicative signal to the parallel arrangement of RC and P;

(d) an inductor (L) having one end connected to receive said input voltage indicative signal and having its other end connected to the junction between said resistor and capacitor;

(e) a current transformer for sensing the current in said inductor and operable to provide an output signal indicative thereof;

(f) output means connected to a point on said voltage divider and to said current transformer to provide an output signal (E₀); and

(g) said point being chosen and the values of said resistor, capacitor and inductor being chosen such that said output signal E₀ is equal to;

##EQU20## where k₁ and k₂ are constants of proportionality;

I₂ is the current through C₁ ;

E₁ is the transducer input voltage at leads 68, 69;

sC₁ is the reactance of C₁ ;

sL₂ is the reactance of L₂.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 which includes:

(a) a current transformer connected to an input lead of said transducer for deriving said current indicative signal; and

(b) a voltage transformer connected to said input leads for deriving said voltage indicative signal.

9. A transducer control circuit for connection between a transducer and a transducer power source, said transducer having input leads, an active acoustic radiation member subject to varying loading a reaction member and an electrical equivalent circuit analogy which includes an electrical circuit component representative of said radiation member, comprising:

(a) first means for obtaining a signal proportional to the input current of said transducer;

(b) second means for obtaining positive and negative signals proportional to the input voltage of said transducer; and

(c) active circuit means responsive to all said signals for generating a control signal proportional to the motional current through said electrical circuit component of said electrical equivalent circuit analogy, said motional current being proportional to the velocity of said radiation member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein:

(a) said active circuit means includes a plurality of operational amplifiers.