Shaped piezoelectric composite transducer
First Claim
1. A piezoelectric composite transducer array, comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric rods regularly spaced apart from one another, wherein a first surface region and a second surface region are defined at opposite ends of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and wherein a side region is defined about the periphery of said array between said first surface region and said second surface region;
a viscoelastic material filling spaces between said first surface region and said second surface region;
at least one electric conductor passing through said side region, extending into said viscoelastic material to a point at which said at least one conductor extends substantially parallel to said plurality of piezoelectric rods, and terminating at said first surface region; and
at least one electrode positioned at said first surface region to be in contact with at least a portion of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and in electrical contact with said electric conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezoelectric composite transducer and method for making same are disclosed. A block of piezoelectric material has a common base and a plurality of uniform-length rods extending from the common base in a parallel spaced-apart fashion to define an array. A first surface region is defined at outboard ends of the rods and a side region is defined about the periphery of the array. Electric conductors extend through the side region, are routed parallel to the first surface region, and are then led substantially parallel to the rods to the first surface region. Spaces between the rods are filled up to the first surface region with a viscoelastic material. The common base of the block is then removed such that a second surface region parallel and opposite to the first surface region is defined. Electrodes are deposited at the first surface region to be in contact with the rods and in electrical contact with the electric conductors. A ground electrode is deposited at the second surface region to be in contact with the rods. The resulting piezoelectric composite transducer can be heated and shaped to conform to complex curves.
27 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric composite transducer array, comprising:
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a plurality of piezoelectric rods regularly spaced apart from one another, wherein a first surface region and a second surface region are defined at opposite ends of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and wherein a side region is defined about the periphery of said array between said first surface region and said second surface region;
a viscoelastic material filling spaces between said first surface region and said second surface region;
at least one electric conductor passing through said side region, extending into said viscoelastic material to a point at which said at least one conductor extends substantially parallel to said plurality of piezoelectric rods, and terminating at said first surface region; and
at least one electrode positioned at said first surface region to be in contact with at least a portion of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and in electrical contact with said electric conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A piezoelectric composite transducer array, comprising:
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a plurality of uniform-length piezoelectric rods spaced apart from one another and arranged in an array, wherein a first surface region and a second surface region are defined at opposite ends of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and wherein a side region is defined about the periphery of said array between said first surface region and said second surface region, said first surface region and said second surface region defining complementary curved surfaces;
a viscoelastic material filling spaces between said first surface region and said second surface region;
a plurality of electric conductors passed through said side region, routed through said viscoelastic material to extend substantially parallel to said plurality of piezoelectric rods, and terminated at different areas of said first surface region;
a plurality of electrodes positioned at said first surface region, each of said plurality of electrodes in contact with at least one of said plurality of piezoelectric rods and in electrical contact with at least one of said plurality of electric conductors; and
at least one ground electrode positioned at said second surface region and in contact with said plurality of piezoelectric rods. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification