USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

James F Tressler

Thomas R Howarth

Walter L Carney

Joseph A Bucaro

Robert D Corsaro

Scott L Small

James Merryfield

Patrick Arvin

Joseph D Klunder

Phillip W Meadows

A compound electro-acoustic transducer for producing acoustic signals has a plurality of elements. Each element has a piezoelectric disk with electrically conductive plates fixed on the top and bottom sides of the piezoelectric disk. A stud is joined to an outer face of each plate. Conductors can be joined to each stud. The elements can be assembled on a resilient structure to form an array. Elements can be used in the array or individually accessed.

Lightweight underwater acoustic projector

A mount for acoustic transducers has a resilient sheet with a plurality of mounting apertures therein. Each mounting aperture has an annular groove formed about the inside surface of the sheet to accommodate one of the acoustic transducers. A pair of rigid, acoustically transparent plates are mounted on each side of the resilient sheet. Each plate has a plurality of communication apertures in it which correspond to the mounting apertures of the resilient sheet. The acoustic transducers are inserted into the mounting aperture of the resilient sheet. The acoustically transparent plates provide structural support for the mount.

Mount for underwater acoustic projector

A thin, lightweight electroacoustic actuator device covering a large surface area providing a high piston-like output over the frequency range of from at least 30 to in excess of 500 Hz comprising a stiff, lightweight face plate; a backing structure disposed below the face plate; at least one driver structure disposed between the face plate and the backing structure; and flexible structure flexibly connecting the at least one driver to the face plate.

Thin, lightweight acoustic actuator tile

An acoustic actuator comprises a radially poled piezoelectric or electrostrictive drive element which is electroded on its inner and outer faces, and an acoustic diaphragm coupled to the upper surface of the piezoelectric drive element. As a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the piezoelectric drive element expands and contracts in the radial direction and the acoustic diaphragm displaces upward or downward, generating a sound wave. In an alternative embodiment, the piezoelectric or electrostrictive drive element is comprised of several subelements laid end to end and radially poled. In another embodiment, the piezoelectric or electrostrictive drive element is comprised of several subelements laid end to end which are thickness-poled reduced and internally biased oxide wafers of piezoelectric material.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

James F Tressler