Ultrasonic transducer for a proximity sensor
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising:
- a substrate member comprising a planar surface and a peripheral edge;
a piezoceramic resonator plate supported adjacent to said planar surface; and
a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler;
wherein said resonator plate is supported in cantilever relation on a contact pad extending in spaced relation generally parallel to said substrate member.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a substrate member, a piezoceramic resonator plate supported on a planar surface of the substrate member adjacent to a peripheral edge of the substrate member, and a coupler connected to a surface of the resonator plate for acoustically coupling the resonator plate to a medium in contact with the coupler.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising:
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a substrate member comprising a planar surface and a peripheral edge; a piezoceramic resonator plate supported adjacent to said planar surface; and a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler; wherein said resonator plate is supported in cantilever relation on a contact pad extending in spaced relation generally parallel to said substrate member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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2. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising:
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a substrate member comprising a planar surface and a peripheral edge; a piezoceramic resonator plate supported adjacent to said planar surface; and a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler; wherein said resonator plate comprises a rectangular plate defining an elongated major dimension and a minor dimension and said coupler is attached adjacent an end of said major dimension.
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3. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising:
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a substrate member comprising a planar surface and a peripheral edge; a piezoceramic resonator plate supported adjacent to said planar surface; and a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler; wherein said coupler comprises a substantially rigid plate-like diaphragm member extending transverse to said resonator plate. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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14. An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising:
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a substrate member comprising a printed circuit board defining a planar surface and a peripheral edge; a piezoceramic resonator plate including a planar inner surface supported at said planar surface adjacent to said peripheral edge; electrical contacts between said printed circuit board and said resonator plate for connecting said resonator plate to a power supply; and a coupler comprising a planar member including opposing first and second sides, said first side extending transverse to and connected to a surface of said resonator plate for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said second side of said coupler. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A sensor including an ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer, said sensor comprising:
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a substrate member comprising a printed circuit board defining a planar surface and a peripheral edge; a rectangular piezoceramic resonator plate defining an elongated major dimension and a minor dimension, said resonator plate being supported in cantilever relation on said substrate member with its elongated major dimension extending from said peripheral edge of said substrate member; electrical contacts between said printed circuit board and said resonator plate for connecting said resonator plate to a power supply, one of said electrical contacts forming a cantilever support for said resonator plate on said substrate member; and a disk-shaped coupler comprising a planar member including opposing first and second sides, said first side extending transverse to and connected to a surface of said resonator plate, said coupler being acoustically excited by said resonator plate to transmit a signal to an object in proximity to said coupler, and said coupler receiving and transmitting reflected signals from said object to said resonator plate. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification