Transducer for acoustic communications
First Claim
1. A transducer for acoustic communications, the transducer comprising:
- a signal processor configured to implement a communications scheme at and around a centre frequency of at least 1 MHz;
a piezoelectric element for activation in accord with the communications scheme;
an electrode electrically connected to the signal processor, and having a first surface that runs along and is attached to a second surface of the piezoelectric element; and
a substrate, having the piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate;
wherein a length of the first surface of the electrode that runs along the second surface of the piezoelectric element is approximately equal to the acoustic wavelength of an acoustic wave in the substrate at the centre frequency, the transducer being adapted for acoustic communications through a series arrangement of fluid and solid media.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a transducer for acoustic communications through a series arrangement of fluid and solid media, the transducer comprising: —a signal processor configured to implement a communications scheme at and around a center frequency of at least 1 MHz; a piezoelectric element for activation in accord with the communications scheme; an electrode electrically connected to the signal processor, and being attached to the piezoelectric element; and a substrate, having the piezoelectric element mounted thereon, wherein an aspect of the electrode at the piezoelectric element is approximately equal to the acoustic wavelength of an acoustic wave in the substrate at the center frequency. There is further disclosed a remote monitoring device employing at least one of the transducers described, in concert with a further transducer. Still further, there is disclosed a method of communicating using the transducer described herein.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A transducer for acoustic communications, the transducer comprising:
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a signal processor configured to implement a communications scheme at and around a centre frequency of at least 1 MHz; a piezoelectric element for activation in accord with the communications scheme; an electrode electrically connected to the signal processor, and having a first surface that runs along and is attached to a second surface of the piezoelectric element; and a substrate, having the piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate; wherein a length of the first surface of the electrode that runs along the second surface of the piezoelectric element is approximately equal to the acoustic wavelength of an acoustic wave in the substrate at the centre frequency, the transducer being adapted for acoustic communications through a series arrangement of fluid and solid media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of communicating between an internal surface of a vessel and an external surface of the vessel, the vessel defining a cavity, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first transducer within the cavity, the first transducer comprising; a signal processor configured to implement a communications scheme at and around a centre frequency of at least 1 MHz; a piezoelectric element for activation in accord with the communications scheme; an electrode electrically connected to the signal processor, and having a first surface that runs along and is attached to a second surface of the piezoelectric element; and a substrate, having the piezoelectric element mounted on the substrate, wherein a length of the first surface of the electrode that runs along the second surface of the piezoelectric element is approximately equal to the acoustic wavelength of an acoustic wave in the substrate at the centre frequency; providing a receive transducer on the external surface of the vessel; receiving a sensor signal at the first transducer; digitally modulating the signal at the signal processor to provide a data stream; transmitting the data stream using acoustic waves; receiving the parallel data streams at the receive transducer; combining the parallel data streams into a data stream; and de-modulating the data to extract the sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification