Ultrasonic transducer for parametric array

• US 7,657,044 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank Joseph Pompei
• Original Assignee: Frank Joseph Pompei
• Inventors: Pompei, Frank Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US10/902,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 381/111, 381/113, 381/116, 381173-174, 381/176, 381190-191, 381/399, 381/423, 381/429, 381/431, 367/119, 367/153, 367155-157, 367162-164, 367/170, 367/140, 367180-181, 367/152, 367/137, 310/328
• US Class Current: 381/191
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0292 Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0622 on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/02 Loudspeakers H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182

Abstract

An ultrasonic transducer having a reduced cost of manufacture. The ultrasonic transducer includes a first insulative retaining layer, a second insulative retaining layer, and a vibrator film layer sandwiched between the first and second retaining layers. The first retaining layer includes a first plurality of apertures formed therethrough, and the second retaining layer includes a second plurality of apertures formed therethrough, in which the second apertures are substantially in registration with the first apertures. The ultrasonic transducer further includes a first cover portion having a plurality of spring/backplate assemblies connected thereto, and a second cover portion. The combination of the first retaining layer, the vibrator film layer, and the second retaining layer is sandwiched between the first and second cover portions of the ultrasonic transducer. The laminated construction of the ultrasonic transducer allows the formation of an array of ultrasonic film transducers using a single piece of ultrasonic vibrator film.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:

a vibrator surface operative to generate one or more ultrasonic compression waves;

a protective cover disposed on one side of the vibrator surface to allow the ultrasonic compression waves to pass therethrough,

wherein the protective cover and the vibrator surface are spaced apart a predetermined distance sufficient to minimize absorption and transmission losses due to the protective cover; and

a retaining layer disposed between the vibrator surface and the protective cover,

wherein the predetermined distance corresponds to a thickness of the retaining layer.

2. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is about ½

of the wavelength of an ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic transducer.

3. The transducer of claim 1 further including an ornamental layer attached substantially around the protective cover and the vibrator surface.

4. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the ornamental layer comprises a fabric cover.

5. The transducer of claim 3 wherein the ornamental layer is applied directly to the protective cover with no spacing therebetween.

6. The transducer of claim 1 wherein the protective cover is connected to ground potential.

7. A parametric loudspeaker, comprising:

at least one audio signal source configured to provide at least one audio signal;

a modulator configured to receive a first signal representative of the audio signal and to convert the first signal into ultrasonic frequencies;

an ultrasonic transducer having a vibrator surface operative to generate one or more ultrasonic compression waves, and a protective cover disposed on one side of the vibrator surface to allow the ultrasonic compression waves to pass therethrough,

wherein the protective cover and the vibrator surface are spaced apart a predetermined distance sufficient to minimize absorption and transmission losses due to the protective cover; and

a retaining layer disposed between the vibrator surface and the protective cover,

wherein the predetermined distance corresponds to a thickness of the retaining layer.

8. The parametric loudspeaker of claim 7 wherein the predetermined distance is about ½

of the wavelength of an ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic transducer.

9. The parametric loudspeaker of claim 7 further including an ornamental layer attached substantially around the protective cover and the vibrator surface.

10. The parametric loudspeaker of claim 9 wherein the ornamental layer comprises a fabric cover.

11. The parametric loudspeaker of claim 9 wherein the ornamental layer is applied directly to the protective cover with no spacing therebetween.

12. The parametric loudspeaker of claim 7 wherein the protective cover is connected to ground potential.