Ultrasonic Transducer Damping Device Temperature Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasonic transducer devices face performance limitations due to the narrow working temperature range of elastomeric damping compounds, which can affect the damping behavior and thus the accuracy of distance measurements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a heating device with a temperature sensor and control circuit within the damping device to maintain a predefined target temperature, ensuring optimal damping behavior across a broader temperature range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If elastomeric damping compounds are used to dampen piezoelectric element vibrations, then vibration isolation is improved, but the working temperature range becomes too narrow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidworking temperature range
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by actively controlling the temperature parameter of the damping compound through a heating element. The system monitors the temperature of the damping compound and adjusts the heating power to maintain optimal damping properties across a wide temperature range, transforming the fixed-temperature limitation into a controllable parameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the damping compound's temperature and feeding this information back to a control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the heating element's power consumption based on the temperature feedback to maintain the damping compound within its optimal working temperature range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Temperature

If a heating device is added to control damping device temperature, then the working temperature range is extended, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking temperature rangeVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into the damping device structure. The heating element is integrated directly into the damping compound, and the temperature sensor is embedded within the damping device, combining heating, sensing, and damping functions into a single integrated assembly, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping device becomes self-regulating through the integrated temperature sensor and heating element. The system automatically monitors and adjusts its own temperature without requiring external control systems, making the damping device self-sufficient in maintaining optimal operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Extends the working temperature range of ultrasonic transducer devices, maintaining consistent performance by actively heating the damping element to a target temperature, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of distance measurements.

Implementation Method 1

The heating device comprises a heating element arranged inside the damping device and configured to heat the damping device by means of a heating current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

Ultrasonic transducer devices comprise piezoelectric elements for sending and receiving the ultrasonic waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

Damping properties of elastomeric compounds depend on a temperature of the compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelastic damping: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3670006B1Ultrasonic transducer device, air suspension device comprising an ultrasonic transducer device and method for controlling an ultrasonic transducer device
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3670006B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention is concerned with an ultrasonic transducer device (1) comprising a piezoelectric element (2), a damping device (3) and a carrier element (4), wherein the piezoelectric element (2) is mechanically coupled to the carrier element (4) by means of the damping device (3). The invention is characterized in that the ultrasonic transducer device (1) comprises a heating device (5). The heating device (5) comprises a temperature sensor element (6) situated inside the damping device (3) and configured to measure a temperature (7) of the damping device (3) and a heating element (8) situated inside the damping device (3) and configured to heat the damping device (3) by means of a heating current (11). A control circuit (9) of the heating device (5) is configured to supply the heating current (11) to the heating element (8) as a function of the measured temperature (7) and a predefined target temperature (12).