The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1999
Wojtek Sudol, North Andover, MA (US);
Francis E. Gurrie, North Andover, MA (US);
Rodney J. Solomon, Andover, MA (US);
Alec Rooney, Eliot, ME (US);
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An acoustic backing element includes a glass fiber epoxy composite planar substrate to the outer major surfaces of which are applied electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material may be a conductive layer that is etched to expose electrical contact material in the form of conductive traces. Each conductive trace provides electrical connection between a transducer element and electrical control circuitry typically located on an electrical circuit board. The acoustic backing element provides precisely located electrical contacts for connecting the transducer elements to their control circuitry, while simultaneously providing superior acoustic attenuation. In addition, the thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) of the glass fiber epoxy composite material comprising the planar substrate can be closely matched to the TCE of the electrical contact material. In this manner, fatigue and failure caused by mechanical stresses between the planar substrate and the electrical contact material due to temperature extremes and temperature cycling are significantly reduced.