Solid-State Hydrophone Shielding for High-Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrophones face challenges in high-pressure, high-temperature environments, requiring pressure compensation and being prone to noise interference, which complicates their design and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state hydrophone design featuring a piezoelectric rod shielded by a metallic housing, eliminating the need for an oil cavity and allowing for compactness, while the metallic housing shields against both acoustic waves and electrical noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a piezoelectric tube with oil-filled cavity is used for high-pressure environments, then pressure compensation is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the oil-filled cavity and pressure compensation reservoir from the hydrophone structure. By using a solid-state piezoelectric element without a cavity, the design eliminates the need for pressure compensation mechanisms while maintaining acoustic sensing capability in high-pressure environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure compensation system (oil-filled cavity with capillary holes) with a solid-state piezoelectric sensing element that directly converts acoustic pressure to electrical signals without requiring fluid pressure equalization mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a metallic housing is added for shielding, then noise interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a metallic housing as an intermediary shielding structure between the piezoelectric element and external electromagnetic interference. This housing acts as a Faraday cage, blocking external electrical noise from reaching the sensitive piezoelectric crystal while allowing acoustic waves to pass through to the sensing element.
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
Enables reliable acoustic signal sensing in high-pressure environments without pressure compensation, reduces manufacturing costs, and maintains sensitivity in low-noise conditions, even in high-temperature settings.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric rod shielded by a metallic housing for use in high-pressure, high-temperature environments to sense acoustic signals
Implementation Method 2
the metallic housing shields against both acoustic waves and electrical noise
Data Source
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AI summary
A solid-state hydrophone may include a piezoelectric rod positioned between at least two electrodes. The piezoelectric rod may be disposed within a metallic housing to shield the piezoelectric rod and its connections from acoustic and electromagnetic waves. The piezoelectric rod and the electrodes may be potted in the mechanical housing using a potting material that may be positioned adjacent to the piezoelectric rod. At least a layer of the potting material may be positioned between the piezoelectric rod and the metallic housing to physically separate the piezoelectric rod from the metallic housing.