EP2276583B1 - Acoustic antenna with integrated printed circuits - Google Patents

Acoustic antenna with integrated printed circuits Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2276583B1
EP2276583B1 EP09750050.8A EP09750050A EP2276583B1 EP 2276583 B1 EP2276583 B1 EP 2276583B1 EP 09750050 A EP09750050 A EP 09750050A EP 2276583 B1 EP2276583 B1 EP 2276583B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
transducers
printed circuit
acoustic
antenna
elementary
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2276583A2 (en
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Gilles Grosso
Frédéric MOSCA
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iXBlue SAS
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iXBlue SAS
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
    • B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
    • B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
    • B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
    • B06B1/06—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
    • B06B1/0607—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements
    • B06B1/0622—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements on one surface
    • B06B1/0629—Square array

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an integrated printed circuit acoustic antenna, and in particular to a low cost acoustic antenna.
  • the acoustic transduction technology conventionally used in underwater applications and having the best compromise between radiated sound power and usable bandwidth is "Tonpilz”.
  • This system is an electro-acoustic converter of mass-spring-mass type with symmetry of revolution functioning generally in dilation / compression.
  • FIG 1 such a Tonpilz type transducer. It essentially comprises a stack 1 of piezoelectric ceramic discs (or electrostrictive) clamped between a thick disc 2 forming a counterweight and a disc 3 less thick than the disk 2 and flag. All these discs are pierced with a central opening allowing the passage of a clamping rod 4 which ensures their tightening with a nut 5.
  • each of the elements represented in figure 1 ensures a very particular role: the driving function is provided by the pillar 1 of piezoelectric ceramics electrically interconnected by electrodes 1A formed on their flat faces vis-à-vis. The ceramics are wired in parallel.
  • the flag 3 ensures the acoustic coupling with the medium and also makes it possible to widen the band by clean mode known as "papillonnage". It is he who determines the geometry of the radiated field (directivity diagram).
  • Countermass 2 stabilizes the system and channels the radiated energy in a single direction of space.
  • the prestressing rod 4 and the clamping nut 5 guarantee the operation of the device (transducer) in expansion / compression.
  • the amount of wiring by welding to achieve is very quickly rhédibitoire for high frequency antennas (greater than 50kHz), composed of a large number of small transducers, for example, and not limited to, 128 elementary transducers 150kHz .
  • This cabling, welding and tracking station which is very difficult to automate, is very often in practice the heavier workstation in the process of mounting an acoustic antenna.
  • An acoustic antenna comprising a network of elementary transducers mounted on a printed circuit is presented in the document US 6,181,052 B1 .
  • the present invention relates to a low cost acoustic antenna requiring the minimum possible assembly operations, these operations can be easily automated.
  • the term "acoustic" is used here, but it is understood that the operating frequency band of the antenna of the invention may be greater than and even substantially greater than the sound frequencies; it may range for example from 20 kHz to several hundred kHz, and typically, but not exclusively, it may be the 140-160 kHz frequency band.
  • the acoustic antenna according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a network of elementary transducers, each elementary transducer comprising, between a counter-mass and a horn, at least one ceramic, all the elementary transducers being mounted on a common printed circuit for electrical connection between the transducers and for positioning the transducers relative to one another, and at least one connector fixed on this printed circuit, each of the transducers being mounted so that the printed circuit is clamped between his (its) ceramics (s) and its counter-mass.
  • the elementary transducers are of one of the following electro-acoustic types: piezoelectric or electrostrictive.
  • An object of the present invention consists in eliminating, during the manufacturing process, the positioning stations of the transducers on their support and the welding of their connection electrodes (transducer supply wires) of the manufacturing process of the tonpilz type antennas to high frequency with a large number of elements.
  • the invention provides, according to a preferred embodiment, to reduce the ceramic pillar of Tonpilz to a single ceramic and fix the various pillars on a printed circuit common to the entire antenna in the tonpilz structure, between the ceramic and the countermeasures, to ensure the electrical connection of all elements of the antenna and to fix stably the arrangement of the transducers relative to each other. It is understood that the invention is not limited to single ceramic transducers, and that these transducers may include more.
  • the insulating material of the printed circuit is chosen according to the characteristics of the transducers used, for example, and without limitation, this material may be epoxy glass or any screen-printing medium.
  • the transducer 6 essentially comprises a tubular ceramic 8, a horn 9 These three elements 8 to 10 are assembled in the following manner on the printed circuit 7 by means of a screw 11 passing through a hole in this printed circuit: the counter-mass 10 is applied on one side of the printed circuit, while the ceramic 8 is applied on the other side of this circuit, and the horn 9 is applied on the free planar face of the ceramic 8.
  • the screw 11 thus freely traverses the elements 10, 7, and 8 and is screwed into a threaded axial bore of the horn 9.
  • the common axis of all these elements is referenced 12.
  • a large number (a hundred or more) other transducers can be fixed on the printed circuit 7, and by way of example, there is shown a bore 13 formed in this printed circuit for fixing a transducer neighbor transducer 6.
  • the topology of implantation of different transducers on the printed circuit 7 e st determined in a manner known per se to obtain a desired radiation pattern and, if necessary, to be able to implement a beam formation and orientation system.
  • the electrical connections are ensured in the following way.
  • the printed circuit 7 recovers each of the positive and negative points of the transducer on its two main faces.
  • the positive connection is obtained by the direct contact of a plane face of the ceramic on the printed circuit 7.
  • the negative connection is obtained indirectly: the other flat face of the ceramic is in direct contact with the horn (electrically conductive ), and the screw 11 electrically connects the horn to the counterweight, and the counterweight is in direct contact with the printed circuit 7.
  • the screw 11 is electrically insulated from the ceramic with a sheath (not shown), in plastic material for example.
  • the topography of the conductors formed on the printed circuit board 7 and from the transducers is optimized and these conductors are connected to a connector (not shown) fixed on the printed circuit.
  • These conductors convey the excitation energy of the transmission channels from the power electronics and control devices (not shown), and in the reception phase, they convey the signals to the electronic processing circuits (not shown).
  • an antenna 14 (without its protective case) according to the invention with only eight transducers, referenced as a whole, but it is understood that in reality, an antenna generally comprises a larger number at least 64.
  • These transducers 15 have been shown in alignment, but it is also understood that in reality, they are not necessarily aligned, and their arrangement on the printed circuit supporting them is functionally, so known per se, characteristics of the acoustic beam to obtain.
  • the transducers 15 are fixed on a plate 16 on which are printed electrical connection conductors between the different transducers and a connector (Not shown) providing, with another connector (not shown either) the connection with appropriate reception and signal processing circuits, well known per se and not described here.
  • the conductors 17 printed on the upper face of the plate 16 each comprise a circular portion surrounding the fixing bore of the transducer, ensuring contact with a first front electrode of the corresponding ceramic, and extending by a filiform portion extending to a zone 18A where these conductors 17 are connected to through the plate 16, in a zone 18B (opposite the zone 18A) of the lower face of the plate 16, to sections of conductors 19 whose ends are welded to a connector (not shown, of which one has only shown the trace 20 on the plate 16).
  • Conductors 21 are printed on the underside of the plate 16.
  • the antenna 23 represented in figure 8 essentially comprises a printed circuit board 24 on which are fixed 64 transducers referenced 25 as a whole. Four connectors (of which only two, referenced 26, 27 are visible in the figure) are fixed on the plate 24.
  • the printed circuit 24 is of the double-sided type, and therefore only sees in the figure the tracks 28 printed on one of them. his faces.
  • the assembly is fixed in a sealed housing (not shown). Similarly, the electronic circuits (preamplification, amplification, pretreatment, ...) that can be included in this package have not been shown either.
  • the cross-talking vibratory couplings that can appear via the printed circuit are minimized by optimization of the operation by the finite element method, by optimizing the mass of each element of each transducer, in particular the against the masses (10), so as to bring the nodal point of vibration of the structure to the printed circuit board in order to reduce as much as possible the deformation of the latter and the possible minute displacements of the transducers on their support plate (generally, the transducer fixing rod on the printed circuit board is much more elastic than the ceramic, and the prestress it exerts on the transducer is not sufficient to clamp it, but is sufficient to ensure the electrical contact between the elements of the transducers and the printed circuit).
  • the structure of each transducer is represented as a mesh of small volume elements in which each of the acoustic quantities is calculated, knowing the initial conditions and the boundary conditions and applying the Kirchhoff theorem.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
  • Obtaining Desirable Characteristics In Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)

Description

La présente invention se rapporte à une antenne acoustique à circuits imprimés intégrés, et en particulier à une antenne acoustique à bas coût.The present invention relates to an integrated printed circuit acoustic antenna, and in particular to a low cost acoustic antenna.

La technologie de transduction acoustique utilisée classiquement dans les applications sous-marines et présentant le meilleur compromis entre puissance acoustique rayonnée et bande passante utilisable est le "Tonpilz". Ce système est un convertisseur électro-acoustique de type masse-ressort-masse à symétrie de révolution fonctionnant généralement en dilatation/compression.The acoustic transduction technology conventionally used in underwater applications and having the best compromise between radiated sound power and usable bandwidth is "Tonpilz". This system is an electro-acoustic converter of mass-spring-mass type with symmetry of revolution functioning generally in dilation / compression.

On a schématiquement représenté en figure 1 un tel transducteur de type Tonpilz. Il comporte essentiellement un empilement 1 de disques de céramique piézoélectriques (ou à effet électrostrictif) serrés entre un disque épais 2 formant contre-masse et un disque 3 moins épais que le disque 2 et formant pavillon. Tous ces disques sont percés d'une ouverture centrale permettant le passage d'une tige de serrage 4 qui assure leur serrage avec un écrou 5.We have schematically represented in figure 1 such a Tonpilz type transducer. It essentially comprises a stack 1 of piezoelectric ceramic discs (or electrostrictive) clamped between a thick disc 2 forming a counterweight and a disc 3 less thick than the disk 2 and flag. All these discs are pierced with a central opening allowing the passage of a clamping rod 4 which ensures their tightening with a nut 5.

Chacun des éléments représentés en figure 1 assure un rôle bien particulier : la fonction motrice est assurée par le pilier 1 de céramiques piézoélectriques reliées entre elles électriquement par des électrodes 1 A formées sur leurs faces planes en vis-à-vis. Les céramiques sont câblées en parallèle.Le pavillon 3 assure le couplage acoustique avec le milieu et permet aussi d'élargir la bande par mode propre dit de "papillonnage". C'est lui qui détermine la géométrie du champ rayonné (diagramme de directivité). La contremasse 2 stabilise le système et canalise l'énergie rayonnée dans une seule direction de l'espace. La tige de précontrainte 4 et l'écrou de serrage 5 garantissent le fonctionnement du dispositif (transducteur) en dilatation/ compression.Each of the elements represented in figure 1 ensures a very particular role: the driving function is provided by the pillar 1 of piezoelectric ceramics electrically interconnected by electrodes 1A formed on their flat faces vis-à-vis. The ceramics are wired in parallel. The flag 3 ensures the acoustic coupling with the medium and also makes it possible to widen the band by clean mode known as "papillonnage". It is he who determines the geometry of the radiated field (directivity diagram). Countermass 2 stabilizes the system and channels the radiated energy in a single direction of space. The prestressing rod 4 and the clamping nut 5 guarantee the operation of the device (transducer) in expansion / compression.

La quantité de câblage par soudure à réaliser est donc très rapidement rhédibitoire pour des antennes hautes fréquences (supérieure à 50kHz), composées d'un grand nombre de transducteurs de petites dimensions, par exemple, et à titre non limitatif, 128 transducteurs élémentaires à 150kHz. Ce poste de câblage, de soudage et de repérage, très difficilement automatisable, s'avère être très souvent dans la pratique le poste le plus lourd du process de montage d'une antenne acoustique .The amount of wiring by welding to achieve is very quickly rhédibitoire for high frequency antennas (greater than 50kHz), composed of a large number of small transducers, for example, and not limited to, 128 elementary transducers 150kHz . This cabling, welding and tracking station, which is very difficult to automate, is very often in practice the heavier workstation in the process of mounting an acoustic antenna.

Une antenne acoustique comportant un réseau de transducteurs élémentaires montés sur un circuit imprimé est présenté dans le document US 6 181 052 B1 .An acoustic antenna comprising a network of elementary transducers mounted on a printed circuit is presented in the document US 6,181,052 B1 .

La présente invention a pour objet une antenne acoustique à bas coût nécessitant le minimum possible d'opérations d'assemblage, ces opérations pouvant être facilement automatisées. On emploie ici, pour simplifier, le terme « acoustique », mais il est bien entendu que la bande de fréquences de fonctionnement de l'antenne de l'invention peut être supérieure aux fréquences sonores et même nettement supérieures à celles-ci ; elle peut s'étendre par exemple de 20 kHz à plusieurs centaines de kHz, et typiquement, mais non limitativement, ce peut être la bande de fréquences de 140-160 kHz.The present invention relates to a low cost acoustic antenna requiring the minimum possible assembly operations, these operations can be easily automated. For the sake of simplicity, the term "acoustic" is used here, but it is understood that the operating frequency band of the antenna of the invention may be greater than and even substantially greater than the sound frequencies; it may range for example from 20 kHz to several hundred kHz, and typically, but not exclusively, it may be the 140-160 kHz frequency band.

L'antenne acoustique conforme à l'invention est caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte un réseau de transducteurs élémentaires, chaque transducteur élémentaire comprenant, entre une contre-masse et un pavillon, au moins une céramique, tous les transducteurs élémentaires étant montés sur un circuit imprimé commun de liaison électrique entre les transducteurs et de positionnement des transducteurs les uns par rapport aux autres, et au moins un connecteur fixé sur ce circuit imprimé, chacun des transducteurs étant monté de façon que le circuit imprimé soit serré entre sa (ses) céramique(s) et sa contre-masse.The acoustic antenna according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a network of elementary transducers, each elementary transducer comprising, between a counter-mass and a horn, at least one ceramic, all the elementary transducers being mounted on a common printed circuit for electrical connection between the transducers and for positioning the transducers relative to one another, and at least one connector fixed on this printed circuit, each of the transducers being mounted so that the printed circuit is clamped between his (its) ceramics (s) and its counter-mass.

. Selon une caractéristique de l'invention, les transducteurs élémentaires sont de l'un des types électro-acoustiques suivants : piézo-électrique ou électrostrictif.. According to one characteristic of the invention, the elementary transducers are of one of the following electro-acoustic types: piezoelectric or electrostrictive.

La présente invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation, pris à titre d'exemple non limitatif et illustré par le dessin annexé, sur lequel :

  • la figure 1, mentionnée ci-dessus, est une vue en coupe simplifiée d'un élément d'antenne du type « Tonpilz » de l'art antérieur,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un transducteur élémentaire monté sur un circuit imprimé, conformément à l'invention,
  • les figures 3 à 7 sont respectivement des représentations en perspective en vue de dessus, de face et en perspective en vue de dessous, en vue de dessous et en vue de dessus d'un exemple de réalisation, conforme à la présente invention, d'un circuit imprimé portant huit transducteurs élémentaires, les pistes des circuits imprimés étant représentées schématiquement et partiellement, et
  • la figure 8 est une vue de dessus partielle en perspective du circuit imprimé et des transducteurs d'une antenne à 64 transducteurs, conforme à l'invention.
The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description of an embodiment, taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawing, in which:
  • the figure 1 , mentioned above, is a simplified sectional view of an antenna element of the "Tonpilz" type of the prior art,
  • the figure 2 is a sectional view of an elementary transducer mounted on a printed circuit according to the invention,
  • the Figures 3 to 7 are respectively perspective representations in top view, front view and perspective view from below, in bottom view and in top view of an exemplary embodiment, according to the present invention, of a printed circuit carrying eight elementary transducers, the printed circuit tracks being shown schematically and partially, and
  • the figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the printed circuit and transducers of a 64-transducer antenna according to the invention.

Un objet de la présente invention consiste à éliminer, lors du processus de fabrication, les postes de positionnement des transducteurs sur leur support et de soudure de leurs électrodes de connexion (fils d'alimentation des transducteurs) du processus de fabrication des antennes type tonpilz à haute fréquence à grand nombre d'éléments.An object of the present invention consists in eliminating, during the manufacturing process, the positioning stations of the transducers on their support and the welding of their connection electrodes (transducer supply wires) of the manufacturing process of the tonpilz type antennas to high frequency with a large number of elements.

L'invention prévoit, selon un mode de réalisation préféré, de réduire le pilier de céramiques du Tonpilz à une seule céramique et de fixer les différents piliers sur un circuit imprimé commun à toute l'antenne dans la structure du tonpilz, entre la céramique et la contremasse, afin d'assurer la connexion électrique de tous les éléments de l'antenne et de fixer de façon stable la disposition des transducteurs les uns par rapport aux autres. Il est bien entendu que l'invention n'est pas limitée à des transducteurs à une seule céramique, et que ces transducteurs peuvent en comporter davantage.The invention provides, according to a preferred embodiment, to reduce the ceramic pillar of Tonpilz to a single ceramic and fix the various pillars on a printed circuit common to the entire antenna in the tonpilz structure, between the ceramic and the countermeasures, to ensure the electrical connection of all elements of the antenna and to fix stably the arrangement of the transducers relative to each other. It is understood that the invention is not limited to single ceramic transducers, and that these transducers may include more.

On a représenté en figure 2 un transducteur élémentaire 6 conforme à l'invention et fixé sur un circuit imprimé 7. Selon l'invention, le matériau isolant du circuit imprimé est choisi en fonction des caractéristiques des transducteurs utilisés, par exemple, et à titre non limitatif, ce matériau peut être du verre époxy ou tout support sérigraphiable. Le transducteur 6 comporte essentiellement une céramique tubulaire 8, un pavillon 9 en forme de disque et une contre-masse 10. Ces trois éléments 8 à 10 sont assemblés de la façon suivante sur le circuit imprimé 7 à l'aide d'une vis 11 traversant un perçage de ce circuit imprimé: la contre-masse 10 est appliquée sur une face du circuit imprimé, tandis que la céramique 8 est appliquée sur l'autre face de ce circuit, et le pavillon 9 est appliqué sur la face plane libre de la céramique 8. La vis 11 (vis d'assemblage et de précontrainte) traverse donc librement les éléments 10, 7, et 8 et est vissée dans un alésage axial fileté du pavillon 9. L'axe commun de tous ces éléments est référencé 12. Bien entendu, un grand nombre (une centaine ou plus) d'autres transducteurs peuvent être fixés sur le circuit imprimé 7, et à titre d'exemple, on a représenté un perçage 13 formé dans ce circuit imprimé pour la fixation d'un transducteur voisin du transducteur 6. La topologie d'implantation des différents transducteurs sur le circuit imprimé 7 est déterminée de façon connue en soi en vue d'obtenir un diagramme de rayonnement recherché et, le cas échéant, pour pouvoir mettre en oeuvre un système de formation et d'orientation de faisceaux.We have shown in figure 2 an elementary transducer 6 according to the invention and fixed on a printed circuit 7. According to the invention, the insulating material of the printed circuit is chosen according to the characteristics of the transducers used, for example, and without limitation, this material may be epoxy glass or any screen-printing medium. The transducer 6 essentially comprises a tubular ceramic 8, a horn 9 These three elements 8 to 10 are assembled in the following manner on the printed circuit 7 by means of a screw 11 passing through a hole in this printed circuit: the counter-mass 10 is applied on one side of the printed circuit, while the ceramic 8 is applied on the other side of this circuit, and the horn 9 is applied on the free planar face of the ceramic 8. The screw 11 (screw assembly and preloading) thus freely traverses the elements 10, 7, and 8 and is screwed into a threaded axial bore of the horn 9. The common axis of all these elements is referenced 12. Of course, a large number (a hundred or more) other transducers can be fixed on the printed circuit 7, and by way of example, there is shown a bore 13 formed in this printed circuit for fixing a transducer neighbor transducer 6. The topology of implantation of different transducers on the printed circuit 7 e st determined in a manner known per se to obtain a desired radiation pattern and, if necessary, to be able to implement a beam formation and orientation system.

Les connexions électriques sont assurées de la façon suivante. Le circuit imprimé 7 récupère chacun des points positif et négatif du transducteur sur ses deux faces principales. La connexion positive est obtenue par le contact direct d'une face plane de la céramique sur le circuit imprimé 7. La connexion négative est obtenue de façon indirecte: l'autre face plane de la céramique est en contact direct avec le pavillon (électriquement conducteur), et la vis 11 relie électriquement le pavillon à la contremasse, et la contremasse est en contact direct avec le circuit imprimé 7. La vis 11 est isolée électriquement de la céramique à l'aide d'un fourreau (non représenté), en matière plastique par exemple.The electrical connections are ensured in the following way. The printed circuit 7 recovers each of the positive and negative points of the transducer on its two main faces. The positive connection is obtained by the direct contact of a plane face of the ceramic on the printed circuit 7. The negative connection is obtained indirectly: the other flat face of the ceramic is in direct contact with the horn (electrically conductive ), and the screw 11 electrically connects the horn to the counterweight, and the counterweight is in direct contact with the printed circuit 7. The screw 11 is electrically insulated from the ceramic with a sheath (not shown), in plastic material for example.

La topographie des conducteurs formés sur le circuit imprimé 7 et partant des transducteurs est optimisée et ces conducteurs sont reliés à un connecteur (non représenté) fixé sur le circuit imprimé. Ces conducteurs véhiculent l'énergie d'excitation des voies en émission depuis les dispositifs d'électronique de puissance et de pilotage (non représentés), et en phase de réception, ils véhiculent les signaux vers les circuits électroniques de traitement (non représentés).The topography of the conductors formed on the printed circuit board 7 and from the transducers is optimized and these conductors are connected to a connector (not shown) fixed on the printed circuit. These conductors convey the excitation energy of the transmission channels from the power electronics and control devices (not shown), and in the reception phase, they convey the signals to the electronic processing circuits (not shown).

Pour simplifier le dessin, on a représenté sur les figures 3 à 7 un mode de réalisation d'une antenne 14 (sans son boîtier de protection) conforme à l'invention avec seulement huit transducteurs, référencés 15 dans leur ensemble, mais il est bien entendu que dans la réalité, une antenne comporte généralement un plus grand nombre de transducteurs, par exemple au moins 64. Ces transducteurs 15 ont été représentés alignés, mais il est également bien entendu que dans la réalité, ils ne sont pas nécessairement alignés, et que leur disposition sur le circuit imprimé les supportant est fonction, de façon connue en soi, des caractéristiques du faisceau acoustique à obtenir.To simplify the drawing, we have shown on Figures 3 to 7 an embodiment of an antenna 14 (without its protective case) according to the invention with only eight transducers, referenced as a whole, but it is understood that in reality, an antenna generally comprises a larger number at least 64. These transducers 15 have been shown in alignment, but it is also understood that in reality, they are not necessarily aligned, and their arrangement on the printed circuit supporting them is functionally, so known per se, characteristics of the acoustic beam to obtain.

Les transducteurs 15 sont fixés sur une plaque 16 sur laquelle sont imprimés des conducteurs de liaison électrique entre les différents transducteurs et un connecteur (non représenté) assurant, avec un autre connecteur (non représenté non plus) la connexion avec des circuits de réception et de traitement de signal appropriés, bien connus en soi et non décrits ici.The transducers 15 are fixed on a plate 16 on which are printed electrical connection conductors between the different transducers and a connector (Not shown) providing, with another connector (not shown either) the connection with appropriate reception and signal processing circuits, well known per se and not described here.

Les conducteurs 17 imprimés sur la face supérieure de la plaque 16 (celle contre laquelle sont appliquées les céramiques telles que la céramique 8 de la figure 2) comportent chacune une partie circulaire entourant le perçage de fixation du transducteur, assurant le contact avec une première électrode frontale de la céramique correspondante, et se prolongeant par une partie filiforme s'étendant jusqu'à une zone 18A où ces conducteurs 17 sont reliés à travers la plaque 16, dans une zone 18B (en vis-à-vis de la zone 18A) de la face inférieure de la plaque 16, à des tronçons de conducteurs 19 dont les extrémités sont soudées à un connecteur (non représenté, dont on a uniquement représenté la trace 20 sur la plaque 16). Des conducteurs 21 sont imprimés sur la face inférieure de la plaque 16. Ils assurent la connexion électrique avec une seconde électrode de chaque céramique, et ont une forme similaire à celle des conducteurs 17, avec cette différence que leurs extrémités sont soudées à un deuxième connecteur (non représenté, dont on a uniquement représenté la trace 22 sur la plaque 16. Bien entendu, les conducteurs imprimés sur la plaque 16 peuvent avoir d'autres parcours et être reliés différemment au(x) connecteur(s).The conductors 17 printed on the upper face of the plate 16 (the one against which are applied the ceramics such as the ceramic 8 of the figure 2 ) each comprise a circular portion surrounding the fixing bore of the transducer, ensuring contact with a first front electrode of the corresponding ceramic, and extending by a filiform portion extending to a zone 18A where these conductors 17 are connected to through the plate 16, in a zone 18B (opposite the zone 18A) of the lower face of the plate 16, to sections of conductors 19 whose ends are welded to a connector (not shown, of which one has only shown the trace 20 on the plate 16). Conductors 21 are printed on the underside of the plate 16. They provide the electrical connection with a second electrode of each ceramic, and have a shape similar to that of the conductors 17, with the difference that their ends are welded to a second connector (Not shown, which has only been shown the trace 22 on the plate 16. Of course, the conductors printed on the plate 16 may have other routes and be connected differently to the (x) connector (s).

L'antenne 23 représentée en figure 8 comporte essentiellement une plaque 24 à circuits imprimés sur laquelle sont fixés 64 transducteurs référencés 25 dans leur ensemble. Quatre connecteurs (dont seulement deux, référencés 26, 27 sont visibles sur la figure) sont fixés sur la plaque 24. Le circuit imprimé 24 est du type double face, et ne voit donc sur la figure que les pistes 28 imprimées sur une seule de ses faces. L'ensemble est fixé dans un boîtier étanche (non représenté) . De même, on n'a pas représenté non plus les circuits électroniques (préamplification, amplification, pré-traitement,...) pouvant être inclus dans ce boîtier.The antenna 23 represented in figure 8 essentially comprises a printed circuit board 24 on which are fixed 64 transducers referenced 25 as a whole. Four connectors (of which only two, referenced 26, 27 are visible in the figure) are fixed on the plate 24. The printed circuit 24 is of the double-sided type, and therefore only sees in the figure the tracks 28 printed on one of them. his faces. The assembly is fixed in a sealed housing (not shown). Similarly, the electronic circuits (preamplification, amplification, pretreatment, ...) that can be included in this package have not been shown either.

Les avantages de la présente invention sont de cinq ordres :

  1. 1- Facilité du montage des tonpilz de type empilage/serrage.
  2. 2- Positionnement mutuel très précis des transducteurs par nature (déterminé par le circuit imprimé), ce qui garantit une bonne répétabilité des caractéristiques de rayonnement de l'antenne ainsi constituée.
  3. 3- Suppression de la dispersion de performances, sur de petits transducteurs, due au soudage (déformation thermique, dérive des caractéristiques des pièces assemblées).
  4. 4- Repérage automatique du câblage des transducteurs par le circuit imprimé;
  5. 5- Le contrôle électro-acoustique de l'antenne (contrôle individuel de chaque transducteur) devient automatisable.En effet, le (les) connecteur(s) peut (peuvent) être également relié(s) à un circuit de test disposé dans le boîtier de l'antenne et télécommandé pour effectuer les tests appropriés directement in situ.
  6. 6- L'ensemble des avantages mentionnés ci-dessus amène une réduction du coût de production, car il permet un gain de temps considérable.
The advantages of the present invention are fivefold:
  1. 1- Easy assembly of tonpilz type stacking / clamping.
  2. 2- Very precise mutual positioning transducers by nature (determined by the printed circuit), which ensures a good repeatability of the radiation characteristics of the antenna thus formed.
  3. 3- Suppression of the dispersion of performances, on small transducers, due to the welding (thermal deformation, drift of the characteristics of the assembled parts).
  4. 4- Automatic identification of the wiring of the transducers by the printed circuit board;
  5. 5- The electro-acoustic control of the antenna (individual control of each transducer) becomes automatable. Indeed, the (the) connector (s) can (can) be also connected (s) to a test circuit arranged in the Antenna housing and remote controlled to perform the appropriate tests directly in situ .
  6. 6- The set of advantages mentioned above leads to a reduction in the cost of production because it saves considerable time.

Les couplages vibratoires entre voies ("cross-talking") susceptibles d'apparaître par l'intermédiaire du circuit imprimé sont minimisés par optimisation du fonctionnement par la méthode des éléments finis, en optimisant la masse de chaque élément de chaque transducteur, en particulier les contre-masses (10), de façon à ramener le point nodal de vibration de la structure au niveau du circuit imprimé afin de réduire le plus possible la déformation de ce dernier et les éventuels déplacements infimes des transducteurs sur leur plaque de support (généralement, la tige de fixations des transducteurs sur la plaque de circuit imprimé est bien plus élastique que la céramique, et la précontrainte qu'elle exerce sur le transducteur n'est pas suffisante pour le brider, mais suffit à assurer le contact électrique entre les éléments des transducteurs et le circuit imprimé). Pour mettre en oeuvre l'optimisation des transducteurs, la structure de chaque transducteur est représentée comme un maillage de petits éléments volumiques dans lequel chacune des grandeurs acoustiques est calculée, connaissant les conditions initiales et les conditions aux limites et en appliquant le théorème de Kirchhoff.The cross-talking vibratory couplings that can appear via the printed circuit are minimized by optimization of the operation by the finite element method, by optimizing the mass of each element of each transducer, in particular the against the masses (10), so as to bring the nodal point of vibration of the structure to the printed circuit board in order to reduce as much as possible the deformation of the latter and the possible minute displacements of the transducers on their support plate (generally, the transducer fixing rod on the printed circuit board is much more elastic than the ceramic, and the prestress it exerts on the transducer is not sufficient to clamp it, but is sufficient to ensure the electrical contact between the elements of the transducers and the printed circuit). To implement the optimization of the transducers, the structure of each transducer is represented as a mesh of small volume elements in which each of the acoustic quantities is calculated, knowing the initial conditions and the boundary conditions and applying the Kirchhoff theorem.

Claims (4)

  1. An easy-mounting acoustic antenna comprising an array of elementary transducers (15), each elementary transducer comprising, between a counterweight (10) and a horn (9), at least one ceramic (8), all the elementary transducers being mounted on a common printed circuit (7, 16) for electrical connection between the transducers and for positioning the transducers relative to one another, and at least one connector (26, 27) fixed to said printed circuit,
    the said acoustic antenna being characterized in that each of the transducers is mounted in such a way that the printed circuit is clamped between the ceramic(s) and the counterweight thereof and in that the weight of each element of each transducer is optimized so as to bring back the nodal point of vibration of the structure at the level of the printed circuit..
  2. An antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that the elementary transducers are of one of the following electro-acoustic types: piezoelectric or electrostrictive.
  3. An antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elementary transducers are aligned relative to one another.
  4. An antenna according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the elementary transducers are not aligned relative to one another, their arrangement on the printed circuit carrying them being based on the characteristics of the acoustic beam to be obtained.
EP09750050.8A 2008-05-07 2009-05-06 Acoustic antenna with integrated printed circuits Active EP2276583B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0802548A FR2931016B1 (en) 2008-05-07 2008-05-07 ACOUSTIC ANTENNA WITH INTEGRATED PRINTED CIRCUITS
PCT/FR2009/050842 WO2009141569A2 (en) 2008-05-07 2009-05-06 Acoustic antenna having integrated printed circuits

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2276583A2 EP2276583A2 (en) 2011-01-26
EP2276583B1 true EP2276583B1 (en) 2015-08-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09750050.8A Active EP2276583B1 (en) 2008-05-07 2009-05-06 Acoustic antenna with integrated printed circuits

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US9114427B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2276583B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5723765B2 (en)
DK (1) DK2276583T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2931016B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2009141569A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3370186A (en) * 1965-02-05 1968-02-20 Blackstone Corp Ultrasonic transducers
US3739327A (en) * 1970-12-16 1973-06-12 Dynamics Corp Massa Div Electroacoustic transducers of the mass loaded vibratile piston type
JPS513886A (en) * 1974-06-29 1976-01-13 Nippon Electric Co ITSUTANKOTEITATEGATASHINDOSHI
US4373143A (en) * 1980-10-03 1983-02-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Parametric dual mode transducer
US6016821A (en) * 1996-09-24 2000-01-25 Puskas; William L. Systems and methods for ultrasonically processing delicate parts
US4545041A (en) * 1982-10-27 1985-10-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Shock-hardened hydrophone
JPS59101593U (en) * 1982-12-24 1984-07-09 日本電気株式会社 Transducer array structure
JPH0523268Y2 (en) * 1986-10-29 1993-06-15
KR100732831B1 (en) * 1996-05-09 2007-10-16 크레스트 울트라소닉스 코퍼레이션 Ultrasonic transducer
DE19620133C2 (en) * 1996-05-18 2001-09-13 Endress Hauser Gmbh Co Sound or ultrasonic sensor
JP3961903B2 (en) * 2002-08-21 2007-08-22 古野電気株式会社 Ultrasonic transducer

Also Published As

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WO2009141569A3 (en) 2010-03-11
JP2011520374A (en) 2011-07-14
DK2276583T3 (en) 2015-11-16
EP2276583A2 (en) 2011-01-26
WO2009141569A2 (en) 2009-11-26
US20110051969A1 (en) 2011-03-03
JP5723765B2 (en) 2015-05-27
FR2931016B1 (en) 2010-08-13
FR2931016A1 (en) 2009-11-13
US9114427B2 (en) 2015-08-25

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