Gap-Coupled Sonar Transducers for Acoustic Beam Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional sonar transducer elements suffer from low efficiency and susceptibility to cracking due to high voltage excitation, and existing configurations do not effectively amplify acoustic beams.
Innovation Solution
The transducer elements are positioned such that their emitting faces are rotated 90 degrees relative to the water surface, forming a gap between them, with acoustic beams bouncing back and forth within the gap to amplify sound power, and a beam reflector redirects beams in desired directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If transducer elements are positioned with emitting faces rotated 90 degrees relative to water surface forming a gap, then acoustic beam amplification is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer elements are rotated 90 degrees relative to the water surface, changing the orientation dimension from traditional vertical emission to horizontal emission with faces oriented perpendicular to the water surface. This dimensional change enables the gap configuration that traps and amplifies acoustic waves between the transducer faces.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between transducer elements creates a nested acoustic cavity structure where acoustic waves are trapped and bounce back and forth within the confined space formed by the facing emitting faces, effectively nesting the acoustic field within the transducer assembly geometry.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional transducer configurations are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but acoustic beam amplification is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer elements are positioned asymmetrically with emitting faces rotated 90 degrees relative to the water surface, creating an asymmetric gap configuration that is optimized for acoustic wave trapping and amplification rather than traditional symmetric vertical emission arrangements.
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 configuration achieves amplification of acoustic beams in a compact and cost-efficient manner, allowing for stronger and more directed sonar views with improved sonar image generation.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers can convert electrical energy into sound energy
Implementation Method 2
the acoustic beams emitted from the emitting faces that face the gap may be contained within the gap to form a plurality of acoustic waves that bounce back and forth within the gap
Implementation Method 3
The bouncing back and forth of the plurality of acoustic waves within the gap may contribute to a transmission of power to any non-trapped acoustic beams
Implementation Method 4
the beam reflector may include one or more beam reflecting surfaces on which emitted acoustic beam(s) impinge and, thereby, the beam reflector may redirect the acoustic beam(s) in a desired direction
Data Source
AI summary
Sonar systems and related methods are provided. A sonar system for generating one or more sonar images includes first and second transducer elements each having at least one emitting face. The sonar system also includes a sonar signal processor in electronic communication with the first and second transducer elements to cause transmission of signals from the first and second transducer elements to cause at least one first acoustic beam to be emitted from the first emitting face in a first beam direction and at least one second acoustic beam to be emitted from the second emitting face in a second beam direction. The first and second transducer elements are positioned such that a gap is formed therebetween. The gap is configured to facilitate movement of a fluid therein so as to contribute to an emission of sound power in both the first beam direction and the second beam direction.