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US3736552A
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Acoustic imaging device using multiple element electret transducer
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-27
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract In an acoustic imaging system, the shape of an object may be reconstructed by directing sound energy on the object and sensing the sound field scattered by it. An improved sensing unit, which exhibits high resolution, large aperture and good sensitivity and which is sufficiently robust to be used as a field instrument, utilizes a large area, divided-backplate foil electret transducer. Each backplate unit, with its share of the overlying foil electret, constitutes an individual transducer element. The resulting array is capable of real time operation, responds to relatively small acoustic energy densities, and is suitable for operation in either a gaseous or liquid medium.
Inventors
- 👤 G Sessler
- 👤 K Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; G01S15/8925; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/12; G01H3/125; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/52; G01S7/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An acoustic imaging sytem, which comprises: a multiple element elecTrostatic transducer for sensing a sound field, said transducer including, a plurality of mutually insulated conductive elements, a single layer foil-electret diaphragm held in intimate contact with all of said conductive elements; means for recovering electric signals from all of said conductive elements; and means for utilizing all of said electric signals to represent said sound field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An acoustic imaging sytem, which comprises: a multiple element elecTrostatic transducer for sensing a sound field, said transducer including, a plurality of mutually insulated conductive elements, a single layer foil-electret diaphragm held in intimate contact with all of said conductive elements; means for recovering electric signals from all of said conductive elements; and means for utilizing all of said electric signals to represent said sound field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein, said means for recovering electric signals from all of said conductive elements, comprises, means for sequentially delivering said electric signals from all of said elements to said utilization means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An acoustic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein, said means for recovering electric signals from all of said conductive elements, comprises, means for simultaneously delivering said electric signals to said utilization means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An acoustic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein, said means for recovering electric signals from all of said conductive elements, comprises, simultaneously operative means for sequentially delivering said electric signals from each of a selected group of said conductive elements to said utilization means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
An acoustic imaging system as defined in claim 2, wherein, said sound field represents the shape of an object illuminated by a sound source, and wherein, said means for utilizing all of said electric signals to represent said sound field includes, means for modulating an electron beam in accordance with said sequentially delivered electric signals, means responsive to said modulated beam for varying the optical properties of a transparent target to form a hologram, and means for illuminating said transparent target with coherent light to produce a visual replica of said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer for sensing sound waves scattered by an object, which comprises, a planar array of mutually insulated conductive elements, a foil-electret diaphragm commensurate in area with and held in close proximity to one plane surface of said array of conductive elements, and means for recovering electric signals individually from all of said conductive elements in response to an acoustic signal impinging on said diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer for sensing sound waves scattered by an object, which comprises, a planar array of mutually insulated conductive elements, a foil-electret diaphragm commensurate in area with and held in close proximity to one plane surface of said array of conductive elements, and means for recovering electric signals individually from all of said conductive elements in response to an acoustic signal impinging on said diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein, said planar array of conductive elements comprises, an insulating base member and a plurality of discrete segments of conductive material situated thereon, and wherein said means for recovering electric signals from said elements comprises, an electrical connection conductively associated with each of said discrete segments of conductive material extending transversely through said base member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein, said planar array of conductive elements comprises, a plurality of individual conductive elements laterally bonded together with insulating adhesive and machined to create a relatively flat lateral surface including all of said elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein, said foil electret diaphragm comprises a plurality of strips of foil electret material edgewise bonded together to produce a large area continuous plane sheet of said material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein, said means for recovering electric signals individually from all of said conductive elements in response to acoustic signal, includes, a thin layer of insulating material bonded as a substrate to the plane surface of said array of conductive elements opposite to said one plane surface, and discrete integrated circuit elements supported on said substrate and associated respectively with each of said elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 10, wherein, each of said discrete integrated circuit elements includes a light emitting diode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A multiple element electroacoustic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein, said means for recovering electric signals individually from all of said conductive elements in response to acoustic signal, includes, a thin layer of insulating material bonded as a substrate to the plane surface of said array of conductive elements opposite to said one plane surface, and large-scale integrated circuits supported on said substrate with individual circuits thereon associated respectively with each of said elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an acoustic imaging system, a large area multiple element electret transducer for sensing sound waves scattered by an object, which comprises, a single sheet foil electret diaphragm held in close proximity to an array of mututally separate conductive elements, the linear dimension of each element in said array being related in size to the wavelength of said sound to achieve a desired field of view, and the number of elements in said array being related both to said element size and said wavelength of said sound to achieve a desired angular resolution, means for recovering signals individually from said conductive elements, and means for utilizing all of said recovered signals to develop an image of said object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an acoustic imaging system, a large area multiple element electret transducer for sensing sound waves scattered by an object, which comprises, a single sheet foil electret diaphragm held in close proximity to an array of mututally separate conductive elements, the linear dimension of each element in said array being related in size to the wavelength of said sound to achieve a desired field of view, and the number of elements in said array being related both to said element size and said wavelength of said sound to achieve a desired angular resolution, means for recovering signals individually from said conductive elements, and means for utilizing all of said recovered signals to develop an image of said object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |