Acoustic sensor and array thereof

摘要

The present invention provides an acoustic sensor having one or more segments that are electrically coupled to provide a response corresponding to a hydrodynamic pressure applied to the segments. Each segment contains a substrate of a desired shape with a concavity on an outer surface that is sealingly enclosed by an active member made from a flexible, resilient piezoelectric material. PVDF material is preferably used as the piezoelectric active element. The active member is covered with a protective layer of a suitable material, preferably a polyvinyl material. A single segment may be used as a sensor or a plurality of suitably configured segments may be suitably coupled to form the sensor. The sensor may be used as a hydrophone on a hydrophone cable commonly used for performing seismic surveys for geophysical exploration. In such applications, a plurality of hydrophones are placed equally spaced along the cable. In the preferred embodiment, two hydrophone segments are securely be placed around the cable. The segments are electrically coupled to each other and to a conductor in the cable. In operation, the hydrophone cable is placed at the bottom of a water-covered area or towed behind a seismic vessel to conduct seismic surveys.