Apertured Acoustic Transducer Assembly for Reflection Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic transducer arrays face challenges in minimizing acoustic reflections and improving signal capture by obstructing or reflecting acoustic waves, which affects the accuracy of sound-field measurements.
Innovation Solution
The acoustic transducer assembly incorporates multiple apertures between transducers on a flexible support material, allowing acoustic waves to pass through without obstruction, and features a scalable supporting frame and acoustically absorbing materials to reduce reflections and enhance signal-to-noise ratios, with a flexible printed circuit design that allows for adjustable transducer spacing and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic transducers are mounted on a solid support material to form an array, then structural stability and ease of manufacture are improved, but acoustic reflections and impedance increase, degrading measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The support material incorporates apertures (holes) that allow acoustic waves to pass through, reducing acoustic reflections and impedance. This porous structure maintains mechanical support for the transducer array while improving acoustic properties by enabling wave transmission rather than reflection at the support material interface.
2Productivity
If transducer spacing is reduced to capture more signals, then measurement coverage is improved, but acoustic wave obstruction increases, degrading signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The apertured support material allows acoustic waves to pass through the structure, reducing obstruction even when transducers are closely spaced. The holes in the support material create pathways for acoustic waves to reach transducers without being blocked by the support structure itself.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used to maintain transducer positions, then positional stability is improved, but acoustic wave transmission is blocked, increasing reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid support material is designed with an apertured structure that maintains structural integrity and transducer positioning while allowing acoustic waves to pass through. The rigid framework provides mechanical stability, while the apertures minimize acoustic reflections by enabling wave transmission through the support structure.
4Measurement precision
If acoustically absorbing material is added to reduce reflections, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The apertured support material itself provides acoustic absorption and reflection reduction functionality through its porous structure. This integrates the acoustic management function directly into the structural component, eliminating the need for separate acoustically absorbing materials and simplifying the overall assembly process.
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
This design improves acoustic properties by reducing reflections and enhancing signal capture, enabling more precise sound-field measurements and sound source distribution reconstruction in acoustic holography systems.
Implementation Method 1
each aperture being arranged between a pair of the transducers of the array of transducers, wherein each aperture is formed so as to create an open space in between two positions on the layer of support material on which the transducers are mounted which open space forms an opening at least towards a measurement area, to let acoustic waves originating from the measurement area through
Implementation Method 2
The assembly may comprise an acoustically absorbing material in the aperture. This helps to further reduce reflections and/or improve acoustic properties of the assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4C
AI summary
An acoustic transducer assembly is disclosed. It comprises a layer of support material (2). An electric circuit (3) is integrated with the layer of support material. A plurality of transducers (4) are mounted on the layer of support material to form at least part of an array of transducers. A recess or aperture (12) is provided between a pair of the transducers (10,11) of the array of transducers. The recess or aperture (12) can comprise a recess or aperture (12) of the support material (2) between a pair of transducers (10,11) of the plurality of transducers mounted on the layer of support material. The layer of support material (2) can be rigid or flexible. A rigid support (501) can be used for supporting at least one transducer (502) of the plurality of transducers.