Acoustic pressure transducer
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a flexure layer defining a plate and a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, the flexure layer also defining a flexible portion extending away from the plate and configured to exhibit a varying electrical characteristic responsive to an acoustic pressure,wherein the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are configured to exhibit torsional strain responsive to an acoustic pressure,the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion respectively configured to torsionally couple the plate to a support structure, the flexible portion configured to flexibly couple the plate to the support structure.
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Abstract
Acoustic transducer means are provided. A monolithic semiconductor layer defines a plate, a pair of oppositely disposed torsional hinges, a flexible extension and at least a portion of a support structure. Acoustic pressure communicated to the plate results in tensile strain of the flexible extension. The flexible extension provides a varying electrical characteristic responsive to the tensile strain. An electric signal corresponding to the acoustic pressure can be derived from the varying electrical characteristic of the flexible extension.
27 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a flexure layer defining a plate and a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, the flexure layer also defining a flexible portion extending away from the plate and configured to exhibit a varying electrical characteristic responsive to an acoustic pressure, wherein the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are configured to exhibit torsional strain responsive to an acoustic pressure, the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion respectively configured to torsionally couple the plate to a support structure, the flexible portion configured to flexibly couple the plate to the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A transducer, comprising:
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a flexure layer of monolithic material, the flexure layer defining a plate, the flexure layer also defining a first torsional hinge portion and a second torsional hinge portion extending away from opposite sides of the plate, the flexure layer also defining a flexible extension portion, the first torsional hinge portion and the second torsional hinge portion being configured to exhibit torsional strain responsive to an acoustic pressure; a spine layer covering the plate of the flexure layer; and a membrane layer covering the spine layer, the flexible extension portion configured to exhibit an electrical characteristic varying in accordance with an acoustic pressure incident to the membrane layer, the first torsional hinge portion and the second torsional hinge portion respectively configured to torsionally couple the plate to a support structure, the flexible portion configured to flexibly couple the plate to the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification