Flexible acoustic array with polymer hydrophones

Abstract

An acoustic array having polymer hydrophones is disclosed. The array compes a plastic roll, a plurality of polymer piezoelectric sensors affixed to the roll and electrodes that interconnect the sensors to utilization means such as those found for underwater detection systems or geophysical detection systems such as seismic detectors. The plastic roll has a pliant characteristic so as to readily assume a predetermined shape as well as, preferably, having a strong tendency to unravel and is of a relatively thin material. Similarly, the piezoelectric sensors have a pliant characteristic, are relatively thin, and are affixed to one of the surfaces of the plastic roll. Further, the electrodes have a pliant characteristic, are relatively thin, and are affixed to the same surface of the roll as the sensors. The overall effect of these thin and compliant elements is to provide an array having a high packing density, so that a relatively large array may be stored in a relatively small housing, such as that found in a sonobuoy. The high packing density array of the present invention may be arranged to form various directional type receiving of transmitting devices.