ACOUSTIC SENSOR

摘要

An acoustic sensor includes a side wall, closed at each end by an end wall, to form a substantially cylindrical cavity, a transmitter and a receiver operatively associated with first and second respective end walls. Properties of the relative dimensions of the cavity are configured to create a desired oscillatory motion of the end walls, and oscillations of a fluid pressure in the cavity, to generate an electrical signal via the receiver to be output from the sensor. An array of acoustic sensors can be connected to allow calibration of one of the array of sensors.

主权项

1. An acoustic sensor comprising:
a side wall closed at each end by an end wall to form a substantially cylindrical cavity which, in use, contains a fluid; a transmitter operatively associated with a first of the end walls; a receiver operatively associated with a second of the end walls; wherein a radius, a, of the cavity and a height, h, of the cavity satisfies the following inequality:ahis greater than 1.2; and
wherein, in use, the transmitter causes oscillatory motion of the first end wall in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the end walls; such that the axial oscillations of the end wall drive substantially radial oscillations of the fluid pressure in the cavity; and the substantially radial oscillations in the pressure of the fluid drive oscillatory motion of the end wall associated with the receiver, generating an electrical signal.