Microfabricated acoustic source and receiver
First Claim
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1. A microfabricated acoustic source or receiver structure, comprising:
- a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section;
a membrane of a second material disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections;
means, mechanically coupled to said membrane, for inputting or sensing mechanical energy in said membrane and said substrate; and
wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section.
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Abstract
A microstructure that may be used as an acoustic source or receiver. It comprises a substrate having a thicker section and a thinner section, supporting a membrane. A window is formed in the thinner section. Means are provided for inputting or sensing mechanical energy in the substrate and membrane. The microstructure allows for the design of complex mechanical frequency responses for at least partly mechanical signal processing.
93 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A microfabricated acoustic source or receiver structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section; a membrane of a second material disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections; means, mechanically coupled to said membrane, for inputting or sensing mechanical energy in said membrane and said substrate; and wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 36)
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11. A microfabricated acoustic source structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section; a membrane of a second material disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections; transducer means mechanically coupled to said membrane; means for supplying electrical power to said transducer means to cause a flexural wave action in said second section of said substrate; and wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, a lateral extent of said preselected region being less than a lateral extent of said second section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 33, 34, 35)
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21. A microfabricated acoustic receiver structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section; a membrane of a second material disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections; transducer means mechanically coupled to said substrate for sensing mechanical vibration in said second section to produce an electrical signal; and wherein said second section comprises a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A microfabricated acoustic receiver structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second sections; transducer means mechanically coupled to said substrate for sensing mechanical vibration in said second section to produce an electrical signal; and wherein said second section has a preselected region from which said first material has been removed, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section, said second section including a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response and said preselected region defines a notch structure that does not enclose said transducer means. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A microfabricated acoustic receiver structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section; transducer means mechanically coupled to said substrate for sensing mechanical vibration in said second section to produce an electrical signal; and wherein said second section has a preselected region from which said first material has been removed, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section, said second section including a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response and said preselected region defines a cantilever structure that encloses at least part of said transducer means. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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37. A method for producing acoustic signals, comprising:
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providing an acoustic source including a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section;
means, a membrane disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections, means, mechanically coupled to said membrane, for inputting mechanical energy in said substrate; and
wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section; andactivating said means for inputting mechanical energy in said substrate.
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38. A method for receiving acoustic signals, comprising:
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providing an acoustic receiver including a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section;
a membrane disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections;
means, mechanically coupled to said substrate, for sensing mechanical energy in said substrate; and
wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane, said preselected region having a lateral extent less than a lateral extent of said second section; andusing said means for sensing mechanical energy in said substrate to sense said acoustic signals.
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39. A microfabricated acoustic source or receiver structure, comprising:
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a substrate of a first material, said substrate having first and second sections wherein said first section is thicker than said second section; a membrane of a second material disposed on said substrate over said first and second sections; means, mechanically coupled to said membrane, for inputting or sensing mechanical energy in said membrane and said substrate; and wherein said second section of said substrate includes a plate shaped to produce a predetermined acoustic response, said plate shaped by removing said first material from a preselected region of said second section of said substrate exposing said membrane.
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Specification