Patent ID: 8187405
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: B06B,G10K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing an underwater sonar projector comprising the steps of: (i) bonding a flat piezo-ceramic plate to a flexible conducting sheet; (ii) dicing the plate, by cutting through the thickness of the plate with a cutting tool having a width in the range of 300 μm to 500 μm to form an assembly comprising a matrix of rows of piezo-ceramic pegs bonded to the flexible conducting sheet, the pegs being separated by kerfs; (iii) bending the assembly to a predetermined curvature, thereby expanding the kerfs; (iv) filling the expanded kerfs with a filler material; and (v) applying conductive material to the exposed surfaces of the pegs, such that the conductive material and the flexible conducting sheet in combination form electrodes operable to apply a voltage to the piezo-ceramic pegs.