Electro-acoustic transducer with horn and reflector

• US 4,260,928 A
• Filed: 11/09/1978
• Issued: 04/07/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Salem, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US05/959,106
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 310/322, 310/324, 310/334, 310/335, 73/632, 73/642, 179/110 A, 181/139, 181/142, 181/143, 181/152, 181/159, 181/185, 181/206, 181/400, 367/151, 367/157, 367/155
• US Class Current: 310/335
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/025 horns for impedance matching see provisionally also G10K11/28
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/28 using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/34 by using a single transducer with sound reflecting, diffracting, directing or guiding means specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/402

Abstract

An electrical-acoustical ultrasonic transducer horn arrangement for operating in a transmit or receive mode at a predetermined frequency (f_c) is described. The transducer horn arrangement includes a horn and an acoustical coupling means positioned within the horn for coupling acoustical energy between the horn and a limited area of a vibratory surface of the transducer.

Claims

1. An improved electrical-acoustical transducer and horn arrangement comprising:

a. an electrical-acoustical transducer having a vibratory surface thereof and having a characteristic whereby electrical/acoustical transduction is accomplished relatively more efficiently over a limited segment of area of the vibratory surface than over other areas of the surface;

b. said transducer adapted to vibrate said surface at an ultrasonic frequency (f_c) responsive to an electrical signal applied thereto and to generate an electrical signal at a frequency (f_c) responsive to acoustical energy incident on said surface;

c. an elongated conically shaped horn body having a first aperture thereof;

d. means positioning said vibratory surface adjacent said first aperture; and

e. acoustical coupling means positioned within the horn body for coupling acoustical energy between the horn and the limited segment area of the vibratory surface and including reflective means having a focal point in the limited segment area.

2. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 1 wherein said reflective means is spaced apart from said vibratory surface by a distance of (λ

_c /4) where λ

_c is the wavelength of acoustical energy at the frequency (f_c).

3. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 2 wherein said vibratory surface is planar.

4. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 1 wherein said transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

5. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 1 wherein said reflective means comprises a reflective body and means for supporting said reflective body in said horn.

6. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 5 wherein said horn body includes a frusto-conically shaped segment.

7. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 6 wherein said reflective body includes a concave surface positioned for reflecting acoustical energy projected or reflected from said vibratory surface toward said vibratory surface.

8. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 7 wherein said concave surface comprises a segment of a hollow sphere.

9. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 7 wherein said frusto-conically shaped segment has a plurality of slots spaced about said segment and said reflective body support means includes a plurality of support legs extending from said reflective body and engaging said slots.

10. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 9 wherein said legs are integrally formed with said reflective body.

11. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 9 wherein said horn body includes a surface thereof and said support legs include segments for engaging said surface for spacing said reflective body a predetermined distance from said vibratory surface.

12. The transducer and horn arrangement of claim 5 wherein said horn body has a longitudinal axis, said vibratory surface is circular, said limited area of said vibratory surface is centrally located and said vibratory surface and said reflective body is concentrically located with respect to said axis.