EP0821822B1 - Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules - Google Patents

Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0821822B1
EP0821822B1 EP96911020A EP96911020A EP0821822B1 EP 0821822 B1 EP0821822 B1 EP 0821822B1 EP 96911020 A EP96911020 A EP 96911020A EP 96911020 A EP96911020 A EP 96911020A EP 0821822 B1 EP0821822 B1 EP 0821822B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
membrane
piezoelectric
ceramic
horn
horn according
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP96911020A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0821822A1 (fr
Inventor
Gilbert Hurst
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.)
Compagnie Europeenne de Composants Electroniques LCC CICE
Original Assignee
Compagnie Europeenne de Composants Electroniques LCC CICE
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 Compagnie Europeenne de Composants Electroniques LCC CICE filed Critical Compagnie Europeenne de Composants Electroniques LCC CICE
Publication of EP0821822A1 publication Critical patent/EP0821822A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0821822B1 publication Critical patent/EP0821822B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
    • G10K9/12—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to audible warning devices, in particular for equipment for motor vehicles, and it concerns more particularly a piezoelectric horn.
  • Audible warning devices currently motor vehicles use the vibration of a membrane under the action of a system electromagnetic. These horns electromagnetic, which are universally used, have the disadvantage of being heavy not negligible (around 250g) and present a significant average electrical consumption (approximately 4 to 6 Amps at a supply voltage of 12 V).
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy the above mentioned drawbacks of electromagnetic horns and it offers, for this purpose, the realization of an alarm piezoelectric that is to say an audible warning using the vibration of a piezoelectric membrane.
  • effect piezoelectric by which electric charges appear on the faces of certain crystals (quartz in particular) when these are subject to constraints mechanical. Since these crystals are generally insulating, the charges that appear on their faces give electrical voltages, which can be very high, and these electrical voltages are collected by metal electrodes on the faces of crystals.
  • the piezoelectric effect is characteristic ordered structures of matter (crystals), but mono-crystalline materials are rare and few convenient to implement.
  • ceramics with a crystal structure also lend themselves to the implementation of effects piezoelectric by prior orientation molecules constituting the ceramic. This orientation is obtained by applying for a few seconds a high bias electric field on ceramic, causing the molecules to align within ceramics. When the field is deleted electric polarization, molecular orientation subsists and gives rise to a piezoelectric phenomenon identical to that observed in single crystals.
  • the polarized ceramics are much more convenient to use than crystals, especially effect they are obtained in the form desired by sintering at high temperature and cooking at more than 1000 ° C.
  • the membrane piezoelectric is mounted in a suitable support, this mounting device participates so significant to the sound emission of the membrane in modifying the resonance frequencies of the membrane and more generally the frequency response of the device.
  • Piezoelectric membranes currently available on the market are only used for low noise applications. These applications mainly concern telephony, Low level sound reproduction in devices portable, and also the noisemakers for switchgear industrial and instrumentation: in particular car noise makers (reporting a forgotten headlights, a door that remained open or an engine fault).
  • the only applications with noise level higher than 100 dBA concern either acute frequency generators (1800 at 3600 Hz for car alarms), i.e. narrow frequency band and power applications limited (105 dB at 1000 Hz for back-up alarms for trucks and vehicles).
  • the sound level measured at 2m from the alarm in free field (or in a deaf room) must be between 105 dBA and 118 dBA and the level sound of this alarm, once mounted on the vehicle, must be 93 dBA 7 meters in front of the vehicle.
  • the subject of the present invention is a new design and use of an element piezoelectric sound allowing the realization of a buzzer that fully meets the conditions laid down, and which presents in relation to traditional electromagnetic horns the advantage of a significant reduction in weight and its electrical consumption.
  • the piezoelectric membrane is a membrane with a diameter included between 60 and 100mm, presenting a resonance peak main in a frequency zone between 350 and 500 Hz and a large amplitude of vibration, and its suspension is designed to allow a large travel for minimum stress and deformation on ceramic.
  • the piezoelectric membrane used according to the invention should vibrate sweep a certain volume during its vibration.
  • the membrane will have to bend, without however reaching the minimum radius of curvature below which the ceramic breaks.
  • the suspension device of this membrane should be designed according to the invention for obtain, from a ceramic having a radius of given limit curvature, the largest volume scan possible. To this end, the suspension of the membrane must be free and not embedded.
  • the diameter of the membrane according to the invention must be substantially higher than that of the membranes currently on the market (50mm) which is too small to allow reach both 120 decibels and 400 Hz required. We are therefore led to increase the diameter of the membranes, which does not necessarily lead to increasing the diameter of the ceramic pellets.
  • the invention proposes to realize the piezoelectric membrane under the shape of a large diameter metal membrane (by example of the order of 9cm) equipped in the center with a smaller ceramic tablet (around from 3 to 5cm for example).
  • the part located at right of the ceramic undergoes a deformation in cap spherical, while the rest of the membrane tends to dampen the deformation by taking a reverse curvature at that of the spherical cap.
  • the rest of the membrane should takes the form of a truncated cone tangent to the cap spherical.
  • the piezoelectric membrane either in its external part (not covered by ceramic) both rigid in the radial direction and flexible in the diametrical direction, from so as to be able to deform only "in a tulip" or well “in umbrella".
  • the part center of the membrane on which the ceramic must retain its elastic properties isotropic.
  • such a deformation is obtained by starting from a flexible membrane on which grafting rigid elements arranged along the spokes, like the whales of an umbrella.
  • These elements can be reported items (like whales umbrella), or even folds or ribs arranged along the rays of the membrane.
  • These elements are arranged in a ring around the periphery of the membrane, from the outer edge to the limit of the area covered by the ceramic, so that retain the faculty in the central part of the membrane to deform into a "spherical cap". Between the stiffening elements, the membrane must be very flexible.
  • An advantageous embodiment of a such membrane according to the invention comprises a membrane molded rubber on which a membrane is stuck metallic daisy shaped. At the center of this daisy-shaped membrane is pasted of piezoelectric ceramic. In the axis of each daisy petal can be arranged a stiffener, such as a fold, which slightly encroaches on the part central so that during the deformation of this central part, these stiffeners are positioned according to a tangent to the spherical part.
  • the outer shape of the so-called membrane rubber is advantageously shaped so as to create waves intended to give a maximum of flexibility in fixing the membrane both in flexion that in extension.
  • the waves thus created also the effect of distributing the stresses and therefore the rubber fatigue over a larger area, leading to a longer lifespan.
  • the "daisy" membrane can be made in two parts, a homogeneous central part in lined metal a crown of stiffeners not necessarily metallic and can therefore be obtained by molding plastic material.
  • the rubber part of the membrane could also be glued to the same side of the membrane metallic than the piezoelectric pellet.
  • the membrane rubber being obtained by molding, it would be easy to spare the space available for this purpose.
  • This contact system allows also to connect cheaply for a second small electrode located on the pad of ceramic.
  • This second electrode constitutes with the ceramic underlying a piezoelectric sensor providing an electrical voltage which varies with the displacement of the membrane.
  • This voltage is used in the electronic control circuit to control the control frequency so that it automatically tunes to the resonant frequency of the membrane. In this way, without adjustment, a maximum sound level.
  • Yet another role of the rubber part of the membrane according to the invention is to ensure the waterproofness of the horn, an appropriate form being for this purpose arranged at the end of the waves of the membrane.
  • the invention plans to use as an acoustic adaptation element a resonator of Helmholtz with cavity or an exponential pavilion rolled up or folded, the choice being made so as to obtain, depending on the diameter of the membrane selected, the best compromise between sound quality and clutter.
  • the control circuit preferably the push-in type, is designed to provide high control voltage, around one hundred volts.
  • a variety of control modes are then possible, ranging from control by voltage sinusoidal through a transformer to high voltage brief pulse systems produced by capacitive switching.
  • the membrane it is however necessary to adapt the membrane to the signal delivered by the control circuit, and this adaptation can be carried out as follows: when the control circuit chosen delivers a symmetrical waveform (alternating voltage or even at zero mean value), a membrane will advantageously be used, the central part of which supports the ceramic, is planar. Indeed the symmetrical waveforms will stress the membrane alternately in one direction then in the other.
  • a symmetrical waveform alternating voltage or even at zero mean value
  • control circuits delivering electrical pulses of a single polarity.
  • the membrane is stressed only in one direction and, if a flat membrane is used, the amplitude of allowed travel for a given radius of curvature will be half of that obtained by a waveform symmetrical.
  • advantage to choose a form membrane already deformed at rest so that only after polarization, and in the absence of solicitation electric, the radius of curvature of the ceramic is close to the minimum allowable. Electric impulses will then be applied so as to cause an antagonistic deformation compared to the initial deformation. So, for a radius of given limit curvature of ceramic it is possible to obtain, with control pulses from a single polarity. the same amplitude of vibration as with symmetrical pulses.
  • a ceramic disc which is stuck on a metal plate 2 having the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners.
  • the metal of the plate 2 is a brass or chrysocale with good elasticity.
  • the relationship between the length and width of the plate 2 is included between 1.1 and 1.5.
  • An annular structure 3 made of light metal, notched crown shape, rigidly attached (by soldering or gluing) at the periphery of the plate 2).
  • the external part of the crown 3 has sixteen fingers which are arranged radially and are distributed evenly around the edge. These fingers are provided, the along their axis, a boss 4 produced by stamping. These bosses 4 play the role of stiffeners by preventing the fingers from deforming.
  • the annular structure 3 could also be made of rigid plastic, the bosses 4 then being replaced by edges.
  • the whole of the plate 2 and structure 3 can be made in one single metal part by cutting and cold stamping.
  • the entire membrane comprising the ceramic 1, metallic puddle 2 and crown stiffener 3, is then fixed on a membrane of molded rubber 5.
  • This membrane 5 is shaped circular, for greater assembly convenience alarms, has a thick exterior 6 of rectangular section forming mounting joint.
  • the membrane 5 also includes a part softened 7 in the form of waves, intended to allow the free movement of the central part of the device.
  • the central part of the membrane 5 includes molded reserves allowing the housing of the ceramic 1 and plate 2 if applicable.
  • a ceramic with two electrodes is used allowing, at lower cost, enslavement automatic excitation frequency.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a circuit of control for a piezoelectric horn according to the invention.
  • This control circuit is designed to be as economical as possible. It includes a generator modified high flyback type.
  • the transistor T is blocked and the energy stored in the coil L is transferred, passing through a diode D in series with the coil L, in the capacity C formed by the piezoelectric membrane. Diode D then prevents ability to discharge in turn into the coil L.
  • the second electrode E of the membrane provides the integrated circuit G with a feedback voltage which controls the frequency of control compulsions it provides on the frequency giving the maximum amplitude to the movement of the membrane.
  • FIG 4 we have schematized the construction, which in itself is classic, of the horn using the membrane shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the membrane 5 is mounted between a housing 8 and a plate 9, both made of plastic material.
  • the space 10 between the membrane 5 and the plate 9 determines a compression chamber whose central event 11 communicates, as we will see in Figures 5 and 6, with the center of a pavilion acoustic.
  • the control circuit (which has been described in detail in figure 3) is mounted on a printed plate 12 which includes all of the electronic components shown in 13.
  • the connection with the outside is made by a connector 14, molded in the housing 8, of which the slats 15 are mounted directly on the circuit printed.
  • connection of the electrodes of the membrane is made by means of metallic ribbons, molded into the membrane 5, which have been described more high. These ribbons come out of the membrane at a protuberance 16 which makes it possible to establish contact by simple pressure during assembly.
  • the horn is completed by a flag, which includes a cross-section part used to acoustic tuning and an exponential part.
  • Pavilion 17 may be straight, in the case truck alarms, as shown in Figure 5, but the pavilion will preferably be of the type rolled up like on conventional horns as well that it has been represented at 18 in FIG. 6.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Piezo-Electric Transducers For Audible Bands (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
EP96911020A 1995-04-05 1996-04-03 Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules Expired - Lifetime EP0821822B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9504006A FR2732805B1 (fr) 1995-04-05 1995-04-05 Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules
FR9504006 1995-04-05
PCT/FR1996/000498 WO1996031869A1 (fr) 1995-04-05 1996-04-03 Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0821822A1 EP0821822A1 (fr) 1998-02-04
EP0821822B1 true EP0821822B1 (fr) 1999-10-20

Family

ID=9477762

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96911020A Expired - Lifetime EP0821822B1 (fr) 1995-04-05 1996-04-03 Avertisseur sonore piezo-electrique, notamment pour l'equipement de vehicules

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US6166624A (da)
EP (1) EP0821822B1 (da)
AT (1) ATE185921T1 (da)
AU (1) AU5403096A (da)
DE (1) DE69604797T2 (da)
DK (1) DK0821822T3 (da)
ES (1) ES2141494T3 (da)
FR (1) FR2732805B1 (da)
PT (1) PT821822E (da)
WO (1) WO1996031869A1 (da)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10148303B4 (de) 2001-09-29 2006-12-14 Dbt Gmbh Verwendung eines Warntongebers
DE50106265D1 (de) * 2001-12-01 2005-06-23 Siemens Building Tech Ag Akustischer Alarmgeber für einen Gefahrenmelder
JP4048203B2 (ja) * 2003-02-26 2008-02-20 株式会社ユーエスシー 圧電発電装置
WO2009154658A1 (en) * 2008-02-22 2009-12-23 Piezolnnovations Ultrasonic torsional mode and longitudinal-torsional mode transducer systems

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB249826A (en) * 1925-03-30 1927-05-05 North East Electric Co Improvement in electric horns
JPS59193497A (ja) * 1983-04-18 1984-11-02 富士電気化学株式会社 圧電ブザ−
JPS60134700A (ja) * 1983-12-23 1985-07-17 Nippon Denso Co Ltd 発音装置
JPS6372381A (ja) * 1986-09-17 1988-04-02 株式会社日本自動車部品総合研究所 容量性負荷の駆動方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT821822E (pt) 2000-04-28
WO1996031869A1 (fr) 1996-10-10
DE69604797T2 (de) 2000-11-16
ES2141494T3 (es) 2000-03-16
ATE185921T1 (de) 1999-11-15
US6166624A (en) 2000-12-26
AU5403096A (en) 1996-10-23
DE69604797D1 (de) 1999-11-25
DK0821822T3 (da) 2000-06-19
EP0821822A1 (fr) 1998-02-04
FR2732805A1 (fr) 1996-10-11
FR2732805B1 (fr) 1997-06-20

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