Fiber acoustic waveguide and system

Claim 2

A fiber acoustic waveguide comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal to be coupled thereto, and an outer elongated surface, extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film deposited on the outer elongated surface of said crystal fiber, wherein said single crystal film has a higher velocity of acoustic propagation than said single crystal fiber, said film being used to guide acoustic energy into said fiber.

Claim 3

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein the material of said single crystal fiber is Yttrium-Iron-Garnet (YIG); and the material of said single crystal film is Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (YAG).

Claim 4

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein the length of said waveguide is directly proportional to the delay in transporting an acoustic signal through said waveguide whereupon fixed lengths of said waveguide provide fixed delays.

Claim 5

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 1, wherein said single crystal film is epitaxially grown onto the outer surface of said single crystal fiber.

Claim 6

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 2, wherein said single crystal film of YAG material is epitaxially grown onto the outer surface of said single crystal fiber of YIG material.

Claim 7

A fiber acoustic waveguide comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal to be coupled thereto, and an outer elongated surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film epitaxially grown on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, said film having a higher velocity of propagation than said fiber, said film being used to guide acoustic energy into said fiber.

Claim 8

A fiber acoustic waveguide comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal to be coupled thereto, and an outer elongated surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film epitaxially grown on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, said film having a higher velocity of propagation than said fiber, said film being used to guide acoustic energy into said fiber.

Claim 9

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 6, wherein said single crystal fiber is of a YIG material, and said single crystal film is of a YAG material.

Claim 10

The fiber acoustic waveguide of claim 7, wherein the length of said wave guide is directly proportional to the delay in transporting an acoustic signal through said waveguide whereupon fixed lengths of said waveguide provide fixed delays.

Claim 11

A fiber acoustic waveguide system comprising: a single crystal fiber acoustic waveguide; transducer drive means for receiving and converting an electrical signal into an acoustic signal, and for driving acoustic signals into one end of said fiber acoustic waveguide; transducer pickup means for receiving the acoustic signal from the other end of said fiber acoustic waveguide, for converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal; and said fiber acoustic waveguide including: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal to be coupled thereto, and an elongated outer surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film deposited on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, wherein said single crystal film has a higher velocity of acoustic propagation than said single crystal fiber, said film being used to guide acoustic energy into said fiber.

Claim 12

A fiber acoustic waveguide system comprising: a single crystal fiber acoustic waveguide; transducer drive means for receiving and converting an electrical signal into an acoustic signal, and for driving acoustic signals into one end of said fiber acoustic waveguide; transducer pickup means for receiving the acoustic signal from the other end of said fiber acoustic waveguide, for converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal; and said fiber acoustic waveguide including: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal to be coupled thereto, and an elongated outer surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film deposited on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, wherein said single crystal film has a higher velocity of acoustic propagation than said single crystal fiber, said film being used to guide acoustic energy into said fiber.

Claim 13

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 9, wherein the material of said single crystal fiber is Yttrium-Iron-Garnet; and the material of said single crystal film is Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet.

Claim 14

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 9, wherein said single crystal film is epitaxially grown onto the outer surface of said single crystal fiber.

Claim 15

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 10, wherein said single crystal film of YAG material is epitaxially grown onto the outer surface of said single crystal fiber of YIG material.

Claim 16

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 9, wherein said transducer drive means includes: a compensation filter for receiving an electrical input signal, a first amplifier having an input connected to an output of said compensation filter, said amplifier being used to preamplify the electrical input signal, the gain of said amplifier being directly proportional to system losses; a first transducer having an input connected to an output of said amplifier, said transducer serving to convert the electrical signal outputted from said amplifier to an acoustic signal, to couple said acoustic signal into one end of said fiber acoustic waveguide, and has a frequency response, which is combination with the frequency response of said waveguide, compensation filter, amplifier, and transducer pickup means, provides a flat frequency response for said system.

Claim 17

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 9, wherein said transducer pickup means includes: a second transducer having an input connected to the other end of said fiber acoustic waveguide, and an output; and a second amplifier having an input connected to the output of said second transducer; said second transducer serving to convert acoustic signals, received from said fiber acoustic waveguide, into electrical signals; said second amplifier serving as an output amplifier and an impedance for coupling the output of said second transducer to a next stage.

Claim 18

The fiber acoustic waveguide system of claim 9, wherein said fiber acoustic waveguide is cut to a fixed length to provide a desired delay in the guiding of an acoustic signal between said transducer drive means and said transducer pickup means, the length of said waveguide being directly proportional to the delay.

Claim 19

A fiber acoustic delay line comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantial equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal, and an outer elongated surface extended in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film deposited on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, wherein the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal film is higher than that of siad single crystal fiber, said film guiding acoustic energy into said fiber; the delay of said fiber acoustic delay line being equal to the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal fiber times the length of said fiber.

Claim 20

A fiber acoustic delay line comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross-sectional area substantial equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal, and an outer elongated surface extended in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film deposited on the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, wherein the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal film is higher than that of siad single crystal fiber, said film guiding acoustic energy into said fiber; the delay of said fiber acoustic delay line being equal to the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal fiber times the length of said fiber.

Claim 21

The fiber acoustic delay line of claim 16, wherein the material of said single crystal fiber is Yttrium-Iron-Garnet (YIG); and the material of said single crystal film is Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (YAG).

Claim 22

The fiber acoustic delay line of claim l6, wherein said single crystal film is epitaxially grown onto the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber.

Claim 23

The fiber acoustic delay line of claim 17, wherein said single crystal film of YAG material is epitaxially grown onto the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber of YIG material.

Claim 24

A fiber acoustic delay line comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal, and an elongated surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film epitaxially grown onto the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, said film having a higher velocity of acoustic propagation than said fiber; the delay of said fiber acoustic delay line being equal to the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal fiber times the length of said fiber.

Claim 25

A fiber acoustic delay line comprising: a single crystal fiber having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the square of the wavelength of an acoustic signal, and an elongated surface extending in the direction of acoustic wave propagation; and a single crystal film epitaxially grown onto the outer elongated surface of said single crystal fiber, said film having a higher velocity of acoustic propagation than said fiber; the delay of said fiber acoustic delay line being equal to the velocity of acoustic propagation of said single crystal fiber times the length of said fiber.

Claim 26

The fiber acoustic delay line of claim 20, wherein the material of said single crystal fiber is Yttrium-Iron-Garnet; and the material of said single crystal film is Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet.