Substrate Penetrating Acoustic Sensor 3D Vibration Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional subterranean acoustic sensors are insensitive to off-axis vibrations, limiting their ability to capture sound signal energy in three dimensions, which is essential for comprehensive subterranean environment monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic sensor design featuring a compressed piezoelectric element and a mass coupled with a transverse energy coupler, allowing the sensor to detect vibrations longitudinally, radially, and off-axis, thereby capturing sound energy in three dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional accelerometer sensors utilize a seismic mass that floats freely with attachment only at a piezoelectric element, then the device achieves insensitivity to off-axis vibrations (transverse sensitivity of 5% or less), but this configuration limits the device's ability to capture sound signal energy in three dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into multiple independent piezoelectric elements (first, second, third, and fourth elements) arranged in specific orientations. Each element captures vibrations from different directions, allowing the sensor to detect three-dimensional sound energy while maintaining controlled transverse sensitivity through the segmented architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-axis measurement approach to three-dimensional vibration detection by adding piezoelectric elements oriented in multiple dimensions. The first and second elements detect longitudinal vibrations, while the third and fourth elements detect transverse vibrations, enabling comprehensive spatial sound capture
2Device complexity
If the sensor is designed to capture longitudinal vibrations only, then the device structure remains simple, but the sensor cannot acquire additional sound signal energy from transverse vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor achieves multi-functionality by incorporating piezoelectric elements that simultaneously detect both longitudinal and transverse vibrations. The first and second elements respond to longitudinal sound waves, while the third and fourth elements respond to transverse vibrations, allowing a single device to capture comprehensive three-dimensional sound energy
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 sensor achieves enhanced sensitivity to sound waves, enabling the detection of sound energy in three dimensions with up to 100% longitudinal and 30% or greater transverse sensitivity, facilitating more comprehensive subterranean monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
the acoustic sensor includes a compressed piezoelectric element and a mass coupled to the device at a transverse energy coupler
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic sensor configured to detect sound waves traveling through a substrate in which the acoustic sensor is embedded. The acoustic sensor includes a piezoelectric element and mass configured to receive and react to sound waves in three dimensions. Also, methods of using the acoustic sensor to receive sound waves traveling through a substrate.