High-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone
By employing a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramic ring and a high input impedance preamplifier in the hydrophone, combined with a vector sensor and real-time calibration function, the insufficient sensitivity and noise problems of traditional hydrophones are solved, achieving high-precision underwater acoustic signal detection and long-term stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511298616.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-18
AI Technical Summary
Traditional hydrophones suffer from insufficient sensitivity, excessive noise, weak signal processing capabilities, lack of real-time sensitivity correction functions, and a lack of stable host computer communication interfaces, resulting in the loss of weak sound signals, inaccurate detection, and the inability to guarantee long-term measurement accuracy.
Using lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series piezoelectric ceramic rings as sensing elements, combined with special structural design and polarization treatment, a high input impedance preamplifier and vector sensor are integrated. Combined with a signal transmission module to communicate with the host computer, real-time calibration and noise suppression are achieved, and sound pressure scalar and vector information are extracted simultaneously.
It significantly improves the sensitivity and stability of hydrophones, enabling them to clearly capture weak signals, reduce system noise, ensure long-term measurement accuracy and high-precision signal processing, and adapt to the detection needs of complex marine environments.
Smart Images
Figure CN120970800A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of hydrophone technology, specifically to a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone. Background Technology
[0002] In fields such as marine development, underwater communication, marine environmental monitoring, and underwater target detection, hydrophones serve as core underwater acoustic receiving devices, and their performance directly determines the detection accuracy and reliability. However, traditional hydrophones suffer from significant technical bottlenecks: some devices suffer from insufficient sensitivity, leading to the loss of weak acoustic signals or inaccurate detection; high-sensitivity devices often suffer from excessive noise that drowns out effective signals; some devices have weak signal processing capabilities, making it difficult to simultaneously extract sound pressure scalar and vector information, thus limiting sonar accuracy; and some devices lack real-time sensitivity correction functions and stable host computer communication interfaces, resulting in long-term measurement accuracy that cannot be guaranteed. In view of this, in-depth research was conducted to address the above problems, leading to this case. Summary of the Invention
[0003] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone, comprising a sound-transparent cover, wherein a hydrophone is installed inside the sound-transparent cover, and the hydrophone comprises a piezoelectric ceramic sensitive element, a preamplifier, a vector sensor PCD, a signal transmission module, and communication with a host computer;
[0004] The piezoelectric ceramic sensing element includes a pair of piezoelectric ceramic rings, which are inserted in parallel into the inner side of the sound-permeable cover. The piezoelectric ceramic rings are lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series ceramics, and a thick polyimide insulating gasket is installed between the piezoelectric ceramic rings and the sound-permeable cover.
[0005] The preamplifier is mounted to the inside of the acoustic enclosure with adhesive, and the preamplifier is located at the connection port of the acoustic enclosure. Oxygen resin adhesive is provided on the outside of the preamplifier.
[0006] The vector sensor PCD includes a PCB board and a vector sensor. The PCB board and the vector sensor are mounted inside the acoustic enclosure. Two pairs of radial beams are installed between the PCB board and the vector sensor. The two pairs of radial beams are located inside a pair of piezoelectric ceramic rings. The signal transmission module is connected to the PCB board and the host computer for communication.
[0007] Preferably, a hydrophone base and the cable are installed on the acoustic enclosure. The hydrophone base is inserted into the connection port of the acoustic enclosure, and the cable is inserted into the hydrophone base and connected to the host computer communication.
[0008] Preferably, a sealing ring is provided between the sound-permeable cover and the hydrophone base.
[0009] Preferably, a transformer is provided on the inner side of the sound-permeable cover.
[0010] Preferably, a calibration unit is installed inside the acoustic enclosure. The calibration unit includes a miniature standard sound source, a calibration circuit board, and a coupling cavity. The miniature standard sound source is fixed to the bottom of the acoustic enclosure by a threaded connection, and the calibration circuit board is connected to the host computer via an SPI interface.
[0011] Preferably, the transformer is provided with heat sinks.
[0012] Preferably, the piezoelectric ceramic sensing element is made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series ceramics.
[0013] Preferably, the PCB board has fan-shaped through holes to reduce the impact of external vibrations on the vector sensor detection data.
[0014] Preferably, the preamplifier circuit is integrated on a circuit board inside the hydrophone, electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic sensing element, and equipped with a shielding and isolation structure to reduce the impact of external interference on the preamplifier.
[0015] Beneficial effects
[0016] This invention provides a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone. It offers the following advantages: This high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone uses a lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramic ring as its core sensing element. Combined with a special structural design and polarization treatment, it significantly improves the response sensitivity and stability to weak underwater acoustic signals. It integrates a high-input-impedance, ultra-low-noise preamplifier, precisely matching the output characteristics of the piezoelectric ceramic, reducing signal attenuation and lowering system noise floor, ensuring clear capture of effective signals in complex environments. The innovative integration of a vector sensor and a ring-shaped PCB board, through radial beam fixation and fan-shaped through-hole design, effectively suppresses external vibration interference and simultaneously extracts sound pressure scalar and sound field vector information (direction, amplitude), breaking through the accuracy limitations of traditional scalar hydrophones. With bidirectional communication and dynamic calibration functions from a host computer, it corrects sensitivity in real time and compensates for drift caused by environmental factors and device aging, ensuring long-term measurement accuracy. Supplemented by a high-speed signal transmission module and anti-interference structure, it adapts to the needs of various scenarios such as marine development, underwater communication, and environmental monitoring, providing reliable technical support for high-precision underwater detection. Attached Figure Description
[0017] Figure 1 This is a front view schematic diagram of a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to the present invention.
[0018] Figure 2 This is a side cross-sectional view of a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to the present invention.
[0019] Figure 3This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to the present invention.
[0020] Figure 4 This is a top cross-sectional view of a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to the present invention.
[0021] In the diagram: 1. Sound-permeable cover; 2. Piezoelectric ceramic sensing element; 3. Preamplifier; 4. Vector sensor PCD; 5. Signal transmission module; 6. Host computer communication; 7. Hydrophone base; 8. Cable; 9. Sealing ring; 10. Transformer; 11. Radial beam. Detailed Implementation
[0022] Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0023] Those skilled in the art should connect all electrical components and their compatible power supplies in this case via wires. Appropriate controllers and encoders should be selected according to the actual situation to meet control requirements. The specific connection and control sequence should refer to the working principle described below, where the electrical components are connected in sequence. The detailed connection methods are well-known in the art. The following mainly introduces the working principle and process, and will not describe the electrical control further.
[0024] Example
[0025] Please see Figure 1-4 In many fields such as marine development, underwater communication, marine environmental monitoring, and underwater target detection, hydrophones, as key underwater acoustic receiving devices, directly affect the progress and results of related work. Traditional hydrophones have certain limitations in terms of sensitivity, noise suppression, and signal processing, making it difficult to meet the ever-increasing demand for high-precision detection.
[0026] Currently, some hydrophones on the market suffer from insufficient sensitivity when receiving weak sound signals, leading to signal loss or inaccurate detection. Some hydrophones, while possessing high sensitivity, suffer from severe noise problems, causing the effective signal to be submerged by noise and making it difficult to extract and analyze. Other hydrophones have defects in communication with the host computer and sensitivity correction, making it impossible to achieve accurate calibration and real-time processing of measurement data, thus affecting the performance and reliability of the entire system.
[0027] Therefore, this application protects a high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone. The piezoelectric ceramic sensing element 2 is made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series ceramic, possessing high voltage constant, low dielectric loss, and good stability. Through special structural design (such as cylindrical or disc-shaped) and polarization treatment, the response sensitivity and stability to acoustic signals are optimized, and the manufacturing process parameters are strictly controlled to ensure performance consistency. The vector information sensor PCB4 circuit integrates the vector sensor onto a ring-shaped PCB board, fixed by four radial beams, with fan-shaped through-holes around the perimeter to reduce external vibration interference. This circuit simultaneously extracts scalar sound pressure information and sound field vector information (direction and amplitude), significantly improving the accuracy of sonar signal processing. The preamplifier 3 design uses a combination of field-effect transistors (FETs) and operational amplifiers to achieve high input impedance to match the output impedance of the piezoelectric ceramic, reducing signal attenuation and distortion. Through the selection of low-noise components, the layout of the shielding layer circuit, and parameter optimization, the system noise floor is reduced, ensuring clear capture of weak signals. The amplifier is integrated inside the hydrophone at the bottom, electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic ring, and shielded to reduce external interference. The signal transmission module uses coaxial cable or shielded twisted-pair cable to transmit the amplified electrical signal to the host computer at high speed and stably. The hydrophone establishes bidirectional communication with the host computer, supporting control command issuance (such as adjusting operating status) and real-time data monitoring, enabling flexible system control. The host computer's calibration function uses built-in algorithms and calibration models to analyze the transmitted signal and, combined with standard signals or reference data, corrects the sensitivity in real time. By compensating for sensitivity drift caused by temperature and pressure changes and component aging, long-term measurement accuracy is ensured.
[0028] In summary, the sonar firstly utilizes a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramic ring as the sensing element, converting acoustic vibrations into electrical signals through its piezoelectric effect. This material possesses high voltage constant and low dielectric loss characteristics. Special structural design (e.g., cylindrical shape) and polarization treatment enhance response sensitivity. Simultaneously, a vector sensor integrated into the ring-shaped PCB is fixed by four radial beams, with a fan-shaped through-hole design reducing external vibration interference. This allows for the simultaneous extraction of scalar sound pressure information and sound field vector information (direction and amplitude), significantly improving sonar signal processing accuracy. Subsequently, the signal is processed by preamplifier 3, which uses a combination of field-effect transistors (FETs) and operational amplifiers to achieve high input impedance, matching the piezoelectric ceramic's output impedance to reduce signal attenuation. Shielding layer circuit layout and low-noise component selection reduce system noise floor, ensuring clear capture of weak signals. The vector sensor and preamplifier 3 are integrated into the front-end PCB, and the radial beam structure further isolates mechanical vibration, ensuring data stability. The processed signal is then transmitted through… The signal is transmitted at high speed to the host computer via coaxial cable or shielded twisted pair cable. The bidirectional communication interface supports the issuance of control commands and real-time data monitoring, enabling flexible system control. Finally, the host computer's built-in algorithm and calibration model analyze the signal, dynamically correct the sensitivity by combining standard signals or reference data, and compensate for drift caused by temperature and pressure changes and device aging, ensuring long-term measurement accuracy. This device achieves sound-to-electric conversion through the piezoelectric effect, and breaks through the accuracy limitations of traditional scalar hydrophones by combining vector-scalar fusion technology. Relying on low-noise design and intelligent calibration function, it provides high-precision underwater detection support for marine bioacoustics research, underwater target detection, and environmental monitoring. The combination of piezoelectric ceramic sensitive element and high input impedance preamplifier enables the hydrophone to efficiently capture and amplify weak underwater sound signals, greatly improving the sensitivity of the hydrophone and enabling the detection of even weaker underwater sound signals, thus expanding the application range of the hydrophone. It is especially suitable for detecting weak signals such as marine life sounds and weak radiated noise from underwater targets.
[0029] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone, characterized in that, It includes a sound-transparent cover (1), and a hydrophone is installed on the inner side of the sound-transparent cover (1). The hydrophone includes a piezoelectric ceramic sensing element (2), a preamplifier (3), a vector sensor PCD (4), a signal transmission module (5), and communication with a host computer (6). The piezoelectric ceramic sensitive element (2) includes a pair of piezoelectric ceramic rings, which are inserted in parallel into the inner side of the sound-permeable cover (1). The piezoelectric ceramic rings are lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series ceramics. A thick polyimide insulating pad is installed between the piezoelectric ceramic rings and the sound-permeable cover (1). The preamplifier (3) is installed on the inner side of the sound-permeable cover (1) by adhesive, and the preamplifier (3) is located at the connection port of the sound-permeable cover (1). Oxygen resin adhesive is provided on the outer side of the preamplifier (3). The vector sensor PCD (4) includes a PCB board and a vector sensor. The PCB board and the vector sensor are installed inside the sound-permeable cover (1). Two pairs of radial beams (11) are installed between the PCB board and the vector sensor. The two pairs of radial beams (11) are located inside a pair of piezoelectric ceramic rings. The signal transmission module (5) is connected to the PCB board and the host computer communication (6).
2. The high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sound-permeable cover (1) is equipped with a hydrophone base (7) and a cable (8). The hydrophone base (7) is inserted into the connection port of the sound-permeable cover (1), and the cable (8) is inserted into the hydrophone base (7) and connected to the host computer communication (6).
3. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 2, characterized in that, A sealing ring (9) is provided between the sound-transparent cover (1) and the hydrophone base (7).
4. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 3, characterized in that, A transformer (10) is installed inside the soundproof cover (1).
5. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 4, characterized in that, A calibration unit is installed inside the sound-transparent cover (1). The calibration unit includes a miniature standard sound source, a calibration circuit board, and a coupling cavity. The miniature standard sound source is fixed to the bottom of the sound-transparent cover (1) by a threaded connection. The calibration circuit board is connected to the interface of the host computer communication (6) through the SPI interface.
6. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transformer (10) is equipped with heat sinks.
7. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 5, characterized in that, The piezoelectric ceramic sensing element uses lead zirconate titanate (PZT) series ceramics.
8. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 5, characterized in that, The PCB board has fan-shaped through holes to reduce the impact of external vibrations on the vector sensor's detection data.
9. A high-sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophone according to claim 5, characterized in that, The preamplifier circuit is integrated on a circuit board inside the hydrophone, electrically connected to the piezoelectric ceramic sensing element, and equipped with a shielding and isolation structure to reduce the impact of external interference on the preamplifier.