Patent ID: 8441889

Claim:
An apparatus for estimating a property in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus comprising: a carrier configured to be disposed in the borehole; and an acoustic transducer disposed at the carrier and configured to at least one of transmit and receive an acoustic wave used to estimate the property, the acoustic transducer comprising an acoustic diaphragm; wherein: the acoustic diaphragm comprises a surface in communication with a plurality of structural members configured to increase the rigidity of the surface, the surface being configured to interface with a medium that propagates the acoustic wave; the surface comprises a circular shape; the acoustic diaphragm comprises a mounting ring disposed concentrically to the surface and configured to mount the acoustic diaphragm to a converter configured to at least one of convert energy into movement of the diaphragm and convert movement of the diaphragm into energy; at least one member in the plurality of structural members is disposed between the mounting ring and a perimeter of the surface; the at least one member forms a first angle between the mounting ring and the perimeter of the surface; and the acoustic diaphragm comprises a plurality of lobes spaced about the perimeter of the diaphragm, each lobe forming a second angle between the mounting ring and the perimeter of the surface, the second angle being configured to increase a rigidity to mass distribution ratio.