Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers – Underwater type
Patent
1999-05-24
2000-12-19
Lobo, Ian J.
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
Underwater type
439883, H04R 1700, B06B 106, G10K 1100
Patent
active
061635057
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transducer, in particular, for distance warning/anti-collision devices in motor vehicles. These kinds of transducers have a piezoelectric disc that begins to oscillate when a voltage is applied. These oscillations are transmitted to an oscillating element, and it is known that at least one of the electrical connecting leads is taken to the piezoelectric disc via the oscillating element. This type of design, for example, is disclosed in the German patent application 196 01 656.8.
The transducers described above have the disadvantage that the electrical leads either have to be soldered directly to the piezoelectric element or are at least partially--run over the, preferably aluminum, oscillating element. This means that a permanent electrical connection has to be established between the supply lead and the oscillating element or the piezoelectric disc. In known solutions, the electrical lead is soldered directly to the piezoelectric disc or the lead is run into a groove on the aluminum oscillating element and caulked thereto. Both electrical connections can be critical and are not suitable for automated manufacturing. Another disadvantage is that the transducer normally is fitted with a damping element located above the disc in the oscillating element. Consequently, it also must be ensured that the electrical connecting leads are run through appropriate holes in the damping element, which further precludes a simple production process. In the known DE-OS 38 26 799, it already has been proposed to establish the connection by means of contact pins that can be joined with each other, in which case, however, the ends of the contact pins would also have to be permanently connected to the piezoelectrical crystal.
GB-OS 2 128 399 discloses an ultrasonic transducer, in which a printed circuit board is used as the electrical circuit. The printed circuit board itself has protruding resilient contact arms that come into biased contact with assigned contact points in the transducer. The contact arms are soldered to the printed circuit board and are led through the printed circuit board by way of assigned openings after the soldering process. In order to be able to align the printed circuit board within the pot-shaped transducer housing, it is held within a retaining bowl. As far as the contact making is concerned, this is a comparably complicated design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to simplify the contacting of these kinds of transducers and their production in automated manufacturing processes. In principle the present invention consists of providing a special connecting element, to which the contact springs are fastened by casting and, hence, are given a firm hold. The invention allows numerous advantageous further embodiments, which are explained below.
This measure serves to guide the contact springs and to provide them with a firm hold in the oscillating element.
A simple mounting for the connecting element within the oscillating element is described wherein the outside form of the connecting element is such that it can be pressed into the interior space of the pot-shaped oscillating element and, consequently, is permanently anchored therein. In this way, the supports needed for the spring contacts--which are fastened by casting to the connecting element--are provided, so that the spring contacts can bear against the piezoelectric disc with considerable force and, hence, ensure good contact-making.
If the contact-making is to be improved and made safer, in a further embodiment of the present invention a good electrical connection between the spring contact and the piezoelectric disc or the oscillating element can be established, even when the contact-making properties of one of the first ends of the contact springs decrease. If the connecting element is to have only small volume, it should be ring-shaped. In a number of cases, it is recommended that the connecting element have the form of a solid cylind
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Handschiegel Thomas
Meier Johann
Zoller Karl-Heinz
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
Lobo Ian J.
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