Acoustic Sensor Using Acoustoelectric Effect for High-Pressure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound sensors are expensive, prone to damage under high pressures, and lack sufficient sensitivity for certain applications, limiting their effectiveness in acoustic systems used for medical imaging, geological surveying, and other purposes.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic system that includes a circuit member with a sensing portion exposed to acoustic waves, a current generating device to induce current, and a voltage sensor to detect voltage changes, utilizing the acoustoelectric effect to accurately detect characteristics of ultrasound waves, with a controller and data acquisition system for processing and displaying data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mechanical or fiber-optic ultrasound sensors are used, then calibration and detection functions are provided, but the sensors are prohibitively expensive and easily damaged under high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ultrasound sensors with an electrical sensing system that uses a circuit member and measures voltage changes in response to acoustic waves. This substitution eliminates the mechanical components that are prone to damage and expensive to manufacture, while providing a more robust and cost-effective sensing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the sensing parameter from mechanical displacement or optical properties to electrical voltage measurements. By measuring voltage changes across a circuit member in response to acoustic waves, the system achieves high sensitivity and durability while avoiding the limitations of conventional mechanical sensors.
2Measurement precision
If piezoelectric elements are used in conventional sensors, then some detection capability is provided, but sufficient sensitivity is not achieved for certain applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces piezoelectric mechanical sensing elements with an electrical sensing approach using a circuit member. This substitution achieves higher sensitivity by directly measuring voltage changes induced by acoustic waves, avoiding the sensitivity limitations of piezoelectric materials while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides sensitive, robust, and cost-effective detection of ultrasound characteristics, enabling accurate calibration and imaging of ultrasound beams with high spatial resolution, suitable for various applications including medical and geological uses.
Implementation Method 1
An acoustic sensor utilizing acoustoelectric effect
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound system that detects a characteristic of an ultrasound wave. The system includes a circuit member defining a sensing portion operable to be exposed to the ultrasound wave. The system also includes a current generating device that generates a current in the sensing portion of the circuit member. Furthermore, the system includes a voltage sensor that detects a voltage across the sensing portion due to the exposure to the ultrasound wave to thereby detect the characteristic of the ultrasound wave.