Measurement Specialties, Incorporated

The Whitaker Corporation

Kyung-Tae Park

Minoru Toda

Jeffrey David Swan

Susan Huang Zaks

Mitchell L Thompson

Raymond F Gastgeb

Cheng Young Hong

A beam-type sensor capable of measuring displacement or acceleration includes a thin, flexible sheet of piezoresponsive material defining broad sides and a proximal end. In order to optimize boundary conditions, the proximal end of the sheet is supported by a clamp that provides a 'clean' transition between support and no-support. Electrical connections to conductors associated with the broad sides are integrated into the clamp. In one embodiment, two sheets of piezoelectric material are connected electrically in parallel. In another embodiment, two sheets of piezoelectric material are connected electrically in series.

Sensor assembly with lead attachment

A method of forming an ultrasound transducer having thermoformed protuberances comprises providing a substrate having a plurality of perforations of a given dimension. The perforations or apertures are formed in the substrate and operate to determine the resonance frequency associated with the transducer. A film of polymeric material capable of showing piezoelectric properties when strained in its plane and electrically biassed by a field applied in a direction normal to its faces, is then laminated onto the substrate. The film is heated to a given temperature and a pressure differential is applied between the top and bottom surfaces of the film for a sufficient time to form protuberances in the film through the apertures in the substrate. The film is then cooled to a given ambient temperature while maintaining a pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces of the film for a sufficient time until the ambient temperature is reached so as to cause the protuberances to maintain a substantially permanent curvature.

Piezeoelectric transducer having protuberances for transmitting acoustic energy and method of making the same

A transducer apparatus is disclosed having a spool member with a body portion and first and second elevated regions formed on the body portion. A PVDF film surrounds the spool member, the film including an inner surface facing the spool member and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The film as surrounding the spool member has a predetermined frequency of resonance. Lateral ends of the film are secured together by a securing material. The securing material is such that the secured ends of the film will have substantially the same resonance frequency as a remainder of the film. The film includes a non-electrode area at a perimeter of the inner surface and an electrode material formed on a remainder of the inner surface. Upon securing the lateral edges of the film together, the securement is at overlapping non-electrode lateral edges of the film. The securing material may be any one of an adhesive in combination with screws or thermally deformable nails, adhesive alone, tape, or ultrasonic welding.

Omni-directional ultrasonic transducer apparatus and staking method

Method of making a piezoelectric transducer having protuberances for transmitting acoustic energy

A transducer apparatus is disclosed including a spool member having a body portion and first and second elevated regions formed on the body portion. A piezoelectric film such as a PVDF film surrounds the spool member and is spaced apart from the body portion of the spool member by an elevation of the elevated region, thereby forming a predetermined gap between the piezoelectric film and the body portion of the spool member. The predetermined gap is at least 0.1 mm and enables a predetermined resonance frequency in the piezoelectric film to control the resonance frequency of the transducer. Opposite lateral ends of the piezoelectric film are secured together such that secured ends of the piezoelectric film have substantially the same resonance frequency as a remainder of the piezoelectric film.

Omni-directional ultrasonic transducer apparatus having controlled frequency response

A device for determining which zone on a target has been struck by an object. The device is made of a frame, and a flexible support means which is mounted on the frame, and is disposed in the path of a moving object. A transducer made of piezoelectric film, coated with a conductive coating on each of its surfaces to form electrodes, is mounted on the flexible surface. Attached to the electrodes of the transducer are leads which transmit electrical pulses to a signal processing unit. An object striking the target produces an electrical pulse which is translated by the signal processing unit and which determines the zone on the target which was struck by the object.

Growing community of inventors

Berwyn, PA, United States of America

Kyung-Tae Park