Edo Corporation, Western Division

David P Baird

Robert A Lapetina

Gordon L Snow

A piezoelectric transducer assembly for producing sonar signals for transmission underwater and for detecting reflected sonar signals. The assembly includes a two-dimensional generally planar array of piezoelectric elements disposed in an elastomer casing. The elements are coupled by way of conductors to electronic circuitry which produces electrical signals for stressing the piezoelectric elements and which processes electrical signals produced by the piezoelectric element in response to reflected sonar signals. The piezoelectric elements are closely packed and are selected to have low cross-coupling characteristics. At least some of the elements are oriented so that their axes of polarization are generally perpendicular to the plane of the array.

Two-dimensional piezoelectric transducer assembly

A flexible line array transducer assembly for detecting underwater acoustical signals. The assembly includes an array of spaced-apart piezoelectric elements arranged generally in a line and selected to have low cross-coupling characteristics, low sensitivity to incoherent mechanical perturbations in the directions longitudinal and lateral to the axis of the array, and high sensitivity to coherent mechanical perturbations such as acoustical signals. The elements are polarized in a direction generally transverse to the array and each include opposing surface areas which are generally parallel with the linear axis of the array. Electrodes are disposed on the opposing surface areas of the elements and are coupled to conductors which carry signals produced by the piezoelectric elements when the elements are stressed by acoustical signals. A porous, open-cell material is disposed about the piezoelectric elements as an encasement to maintain the elements in place and mechanically isolate the elements. An outer, water-tight jacket encloses the open cell material and holds a fill fluid carried within the open-cell material. An electrically conductive flexible sleeve may be placed either about the open-cell material or about the outer jacket to shield the piezoelectric elements from electromagnetic waves.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

David P Baird