Ultrasonic Transducer Damping Plate Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasonic transducer devices face limitations in measuring short distances due to ringing time, where the piezoelectric element's remnant oscillations interfere with detecting reflected sound waves, and long electrical connections introduce noise that affects signal amplification.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a damping plate with a printed circuit board between two damping elements to increase the damping ratio, placing amplification circuitry close to the piezoelectric element, and using a flexible connection to minimize noise, thereby reducing ringing time and noise immunity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a damping element is placed between the piezoelectric element and carrier element to reduce vibrations, then the carrier element is protected from oscillations, but the ringing time increases making short distance measurements impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrations affecting carrier elementVSAvoidringing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The damping device is segmented into two separate damping elements with a damping plate positioned between them. This segmentation allows the damping plate to serve as a mass that reduces ringing time while the distributed damping elements provide vibration isolation, resolving the contradiction between protecting the carrier element and minimizing ringing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping characteristics are optimized by changing the mass parameter of the damping plate and the distribution of damping elements. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves both adequate vibration damping and reduced ringing time, enabling short distance measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If amplification circuitry is placed close to the piezoelectric element to reduce connection length, then noise immunity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical noiseVSAvoidintegration of amplification circuitry
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The amplification circuitry is merged with the damping plate by integrating it into the damping device structure. This combining approach reduces the electrical connection length between the piezoelectric element and amplification circuitry, improving noise immunity while the integration into existing structure minimizes additional device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping plate serves as an intermediary structure that mechanically supports the piezoelectric element and provides an integration platform for the amplification circuitry. This intermediary approach enables close proximity placement for noise reduction while utilizing the existing damping structure to accommodate the circuitry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 shorter distance measurements and improved noise immunity by reducing ringing time and minimizing electrical connection length, allowing for faster transmit-receive switching and clearer signal detection.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The reflected sound wave is detected by the ultrasonic transducer device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Converse Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

the piezoelectric element is usually damped by a damping element placed between the piezoelectric element and a carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3911452B1Air suspension device comprising an ultrasonic transducer device
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3911452B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3911452B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention is concerned with an ultrasonic transducer device (1) comprising a piezoelectric element (3), a damping device (4), a carrier element (5) and a damping plate (8). The invention is characterized in that the piezoelectric element (3) is mechanically coupled to the damping plate (8) by means of a first damping element (6) of the damping device (4). The damping plate (8) is mechanically coupled to the carrier element (5) by means of a second damping element (7) of the damping device (4).