EP0317052B1 - Wandlerarray - Google Patents

Wandlerarray Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0317052B1
EP0317052B1 EP19880307808 EP88307808A EP0317052B1 EP 0317052 B1 EP0317052 B1 EP 0317052B1 EP 19880307808 EP19880307808 EP 19880307808 EP 88307808 A EP88307808 A EP 88307808A EP 0317052 B1 EP0317052 B1 EP 0317052B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transducer
elements
array
panel member
transducer elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19880307808
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0317052A3 (en
EP0317052A2 (de
Inventor
John Day
Neil Beech Cottage Spencer
Michael Laurence Henning
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems Electronics Ltd
Original Assignee
GEC Marconi Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GEC Marconi Ltd filed Critical GEC Marconi Ltd
Publication of EP0317052A2 publication Critical patent/EP0317052A2/de
Publication of EP0317052A3 publication Critical patent/EP0317052A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0317052B1 publication Critical patent/EP0317052B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/004—Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device
    • G10K11/006—Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys
    • G10K11/008—Arrays of transducers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an acoustic transducer. It relates particularly to a transducer capable of being used in a passive sonar system.
  • transducer for detecting a transducer wave
  • the transducer comprising an array of transducer elements, each transducer element having a spatial transducer response and a working aperture for receiving the acoustic wave, at least one transducer element of the array having a non-uniform spatial filter response across its working aperture thereby to attenuate the response of the transducer to spatial noise lying outside the spectrum of an acoustic wave to be detected by the transducer.
  • the array is rectangular in form and the transducer elements elliptical in shape, with elements closer to the centre of the array being larger in size. Such an array is preferred in order to reject noise arising from water flow in the horizontal direction while being highly sensitive to acoustic signals in directions other than horizontal.
  • transducer elements Whilst such an arrangement has been found to be effective in operation, a problem has been found in that the elliptical transducer elements may be difficult to construct from the ceramic material which is normally used for such elements (PZT ceramic is commonly used). Furthermore the different sizes of elements required produce further difficulties in fabrication and assembly. Use of a simpler shape of transducer element, such as circular or rectangular would bring about a significant savings in cost of fabrication and assembly. However, such transducer being of a simple shape would not be suitable in a rectangular array of elements, since the response of the array to acoustic signals would be similar to that of a diffraction grating, being highly sensitive to certain wavenumbers ( k , having magnitude and direction) and relatively insensitive to other wavenumbers.
  • a further problem which has been found with an arrangement as claimed in our copending application 8611573 (F13438) is that a hydrophone formed in the shape of a tile to be affixed to the hull of as vessel may have any orientation, particularly when a large array of tiles are to be affixed to a hull.
  • a tile having a highly directional sensitivity is therefore disadvantageous if it is not possible to affix the tile in its intended orientation for use.
  • transducer for detecting an acoustic wave
  • the transducer being in the form of a tile and comprising a flexible panel member for affixing to the hull of a vessel, the panel member having an array of apertures into which are inserted an array of transducer elements, the array being wholly or partially random, or pseudo-random in regard to the spacing and relative direction between the elements so as to provide a response of intensity v. wavenumber which is generally uniform or not significantly non-uniform for acoustic waves received from any direction.
  • the desired filter reponse is provided by introducing a degree of randomness or pseudorandomness is in the spacing and relative directions of the transducer elements.
  • a directionally uniform response will enable the tile to be positioned in any orientation on a vessel hull without affecting the intended filter response.
  • each transducer element may be circular or rectangular for simplicity in production.
  • a completely random array would be preferred this is impossible to achieve given the requirement for a relatively large number of transucer elements within a small surface area of tile. It is therefore necessary to effect a compromise between the various factors involved so as to generate a degree of randomness which provides the desired uniformity of direcitonal response, whilst maintining a sufficient aperture, sensitivity etc.
  • the precise configuration may be determined on a trial-and-error basis and/or by application of computer modelling techniques.
  • a preferred configuration is to provide the transducer elements in a series of concentric rings which are circular or polygonal but the elements being so disposed so as to create the appearance of randomness to received acoustic waves.
  • FIG. 1 a sheet of polyurethane 2 into which is punched a series of holes 4 whose accuracy is controlled by a computer generated template.
  • a ceramic thin disc 6 of lead titanate is cemented into each aperture, leaving the flat surfaces flush with the polyurethane sheet.
  • the ceramic discs have one terminal on each flat face, which are electrically connected to a matrix of wires 8 (See Figure 2), each side being treated separately, with a flying lead being brought from each side to electronics module 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d .
  • the matrix of wires are arranged in a series of rings 8′ with diagonal wires 8 ⁇ .
  • the modules 10 a - d are mounted on PCBs on the edge of the sheet and include signal processing and filter circuits (these are not relevant to the present invention and will not be described).
  • the electronics modules are encapsulated in a suitable plastics material and are clipped by means of lugs 12 to the edge of the polythene sheet, the flying leads from the ceramic disc being soldered to posts on sections 14 a - d of the printed circuit board protruding from the encapsulation.
  • a main cable 16 is attached to the posts on the printed circuit board and the whole assembly is located in a mould tool with suitable spacers to enable a uniform thickness of polyurethane overmoulding to be maintained.
  • the main cable is clamped in position in the mould tool sides during the encapsulation process.
  • the ceramic elements 6 are circular in shape and therefore have individually a directionally uniform filter response.
  • the entire array of transducer elements produces a response which is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 as intensity vs. wavenumber for various directions of incoming acoustic waves.
  • the precise array chosen comprises a series of rings having a common centre, a transducer 6 a being located at the centre.
  • An inner ring is formed of 5 transducer elements 6 b located approximately in a circle, a central ring is provided by ceramic elements 6 c arranged in a ring having the approximate shape of a hexagon, and an outer ring comprising elements 6 d is formed in the approximate shape of an octagon.
  • the overall configuration of elements has a large degree of randomness of spacing and direction between the individual elements. It has been found through experiment that such a configuration provides a desired spatial filter response.

Claims (8)

  1. Wandler zum Erfassen einer akustischen Welle, wobei der Wandler in Form einer Belagplatte besteht und ein flexibles Tafelelement zum Befestigen an der Hülle eines Gefäßes umfaßt, das Tafelelement eine Anordnung von Durchbrüchen besitzt, in welche eine Anordnung von Wandlerelementen eingesetzt ist, die Anordnung insgesamt oder teilweise zufällig oder pseudozufällig in Beziehung auf Abstand und Relativrichtung zwischen den Elementen ist, um so ein Ansprechen auf Intensität gegen Wellenzahl zu schaffen, das im allgemeinen gleichförmig oder nicht bedeutsam ungleichförmig ist für von irgendeiner Richtung aufgenommene Akustikwellen.
  2. Wandler nach Anspruch 1, bei dem die Wandlerelemente von Kreis- oder Rechteckform sind.
  3. Wandler nach Anspruch 2, bei dem die Wandlerelemente in Form einer Reihe von Ringen mit gemeinsamer Mitte gestaltet sind.
  4. Wandler nach Anspruch 3, wobei ein Innenring von Wandlerelementen kreisförmig, ein zentraler Ring der Wandlernelemente annähernd hexagonalförmig und ein Außenring von Wandlerelementen annähernd oktogonalförmig ist.
  5. Wandler nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Tafelelement aus einem flexiblen Polyurethan-Material gebildet ist.
  6. Wandler nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Wandlerelemente jeweils aus Blei-Titanat gebildet sind.
  7. Wandler nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei Zuleitungen zwischen jedem Wandlerelement und einem oder mehreren an dem Tafelelement angebrachten Elektronikbausteinen angeschlossen sind und die Elektronikbauteile Filterkreise zur Erzeugung eines erwünschten Frequenzverhaltens der Wandler enthalten.
  8. Wandler nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die gesamte Anordnung in eine Polyurethan-Überformung eingebettet ist.
EP19880307808 1987-11-18 1988-08-24 Wandlerarray Expired EP0317052B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8726987 1987-11-18
GB8726987A GB2212693B (en) 1987-11-18 1987-11-18 Transducer array

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0317052A2 EP0317052A2 (de) 1989-05-24
EP0317052A3 EP0317052A3 (en) 1989-08-30
EP0317052B1 true EP0317052B1 (de) 1992-05-06

Family

ID=10627153

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19880307808 Expired EP0317052B1 (de) 1987-11-18 1988-08-24 Wandlerarray

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0317052B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3870814D1 (de)
GB (1) GB2212693B (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2691596B1 (fr) * 1992-05-22 1995-04-28 Thomson Csf Antenne acoustique sous-marine à capteur surfacique.
DE4445549C1 (de) * 1994-12-20 1996-03-07 Stn Atlas Elektronik Gmbh Schleppantenne
WO2001042815A1 (en) * 1999-12-10 2001-06-14 Board Of Trustees Operating Michigan State University Seismic sensor array
US7339521B2 (en) * 2002-02-20 2008-03-04 Univ Washington Analytical instruments using a pseudorandom array of sources, such as a micro-machined mass spectrometer or monochromator

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB641346A (en) * 1941-11-07 1950-08-09 Raytheon Mfg Co Improvements in or relating to piezoelectric transducer
US2911484A (en) * 1954-06-28 1959-11-03 Gen Electric Electro-acoustic transducer
FR2350758A1 (fr) * 1976-05-03 1977-12-02 Anvar Capteurs piezoelectriques et appareils equipes de ces capteurs pour etalonner des generateurs d'ondes acoustiques
GB2190561B (en) * 1986-05-12 1989-12-20 Plessey Co Plc Acoustic transducer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2212693A (en) 1989-07-26
DE3870814D1 (de) 1992-06-11
EP0317052A3 (en) 1989-08-30
EP0317052A2 (de) 1989-05-24
GB8726987D0 (en) 1988-02-17
GB2212693B (en) 1991-08-14

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