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 piezoceramic resonator plate comprising an elongated member including a major dimension and a minor dimension; and
a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate adjacent an end of said major dimension for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler; and
said coupler comprising a substantially rigid plate-like diaphragm member extending transverse to said resonator plate.
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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 piezoceramic resonator plate and a coupler. The resonator plate is supported to the coupler in cantilever relation. The coupler extends transverse to the resonator plate for acoustically coupling the resonator plate to a medium in contact with the coupler.
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Citations
16 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 piezoceramic resonator plate comprising an elongated member including a major dimension and a minor dimension; and a coupler connected to a surface of said resonator plate adjacent an end of said major dimension for acoustically coupling said resonator plate to a medium in contact with said coupler; and said coupler comprising a substantially rigid plate-like diaphragm member extending transverse to said resonator plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. 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 piezoceramic resonator plate including opposing planar surfaces; electrical contacts connected to each of said planar surfaces of 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 (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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 rectangular piezoceramic resonator plate defining an elongated major dimension and a minor dimension, said resonator plate including opposing planar surfaces; electrical contacts connected to each of said planar surfaces of said resonator plate for connecting said resonator plate to a power supply; 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, wherein said resonator plate is supported in cantilever relation on said coupler with an end of its elongated major dimension extending from said first side of said coupler; and 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 (15, 16)
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Specification