Ultrasonic Transducer With Nested Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic transducer devices face challenges in accurately measuring the temperature of a medium due to temperature sensors being physically separated from the medium, leading to potential discrepancies in temperature measurements.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a temperature sensor element within a through hole of the piezoelectric element, allowing it to be placed close to the medium without additional space, and using a damping element to decouple the temperature sensor from the piezoelectric element's oscillations, ensuring accurate medium temperature measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is placed outside the ultrasonic transducer device, then the temperature measurement of the medium is precise, but additional space or housing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is nested within the through-hole of the piezoelectric element, allowing the sensor to be housed inside the existing transducer structure rather than requiring external space. This nesting approach enables precise temperature measurement of the medium while maintaining a compact device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor is positioned in a different spatial dimension (inside the through-hole) rather than outside the transducer device. This dimensional repositioning allows the sensor to be close to the medium for accurate measurement without increasing the overall device volume.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is attached in or to the medium, then precise temperature measurement is achieved, but additional space or housing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is merged with the piezoelectric element by positioning it within the through-hole of the element. This merging combines the temperature measurement function with the existing ultrasonic transducer structure, eliminating the need for separate housing or additional mounting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric element itself provides the housing (through-hole) for the temperature sensor, making the structure self-sufficient. The element serves dual purposes: generating ultrasonic waves and providing accommodation for the temperature sensor, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is placed close to the medium, then accurate temperature measurement is achieved, but the sensor is exposed to piezoelectric element oscillations
Solution Approach 1:
A damping material is introduced as an intermediary between the temperature sensor and the piezoelectric element. This mediator allows the sensor to remain close to the medium for accurate temperature measurement while simultaneously isolating it from the harmful oscillations of the piezoelectric element.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping material is positioned beforehand between the temperature sensor and the piezoelectric element to cushion against oscillation interference. This prior cushioning protects the sensitive temperature sensor from mechanical vibrations before they can affect measurement accuracy.
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 precise temperature measurement of the medium attached to the ultrasonic transducer device, improving the accuracy of distance calculations by accounting for temperature influences on sound speed and absorption, without requiring additional space or devices.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic transducer devices comprise piezoelectric elements for sending and receiving the ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 2
the temperature sensor element is arranged in a through hole of the piezoelectric element... to measure a temperature of a medium which is attached to the piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 3
The piezoelectric element is mechanically coupled to the carrier element by means of the damping element
Implementation Method 4
Ultrasonic ranging is based on the time of flight method wherein the distance is calculated based on the time of flight between a transmission and a reception of a sound wave
Implementation Method 5
The sound wave is reflected by the object. The reflected sound wave is detected by the ultrasonic transducer device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention is concerned with an ultrasonic transducer device (1) comprising a piezoelectric element (3). The invention is characterized in that the ultrasonic transducer device (1) comprises a temperature sensor element (7), wherein the temperature sensor element (7) is arranged in a through hole (9) of the piezoelectric element (3).