Patent ID: 7288878

Claim:
A piezoelectric transducer assembly for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals through a fluid isolated by a window portion of the assembly from all other portions of the assembly, the transducer assembly comprising: a thickness-mode piezoelectric ceramic body having respective electrode layers disposed on two parallel facing surfaces; first and second foil conductors, each having two respective ends, at least one respective end portion of each foil conductor configured as a respective mesh having a substantial open fraction, the mesh end portion of the first foil conductor captured between the window and a first of the two electrode layers on the piezoelectric ceramic so that the first foil conductor abuts the first electrode layer, the mesh contact end portion of the second foil conductor abutting the second of the two electrode layers and captured between the piezoelectric ceramic and a backing body, the respective second ends of the foil conductors extending outwardly beyond the ceramic body to respective electric contacts distal from the body; wherein the backing body comprises two polymeric isolation sheets, a resonator body having two parallel surfaces, and an acoustic mass, wherein: a first of the two isolation sheets abuts the second foil conductor; the resonator body is captured between the first and a second polymeric isolation sheets; and the acoustic mass is disposed so as to capture the second polymeric isolation sheet between the mass and the resonator body; and wherein portions of at least one coupling medium are disposed in the open portions of the respective mesh end portions of the first and second foil conductors, on each of the two surfaces of the resonator body, and at an interface between the acoustic mass and the second polymeric isolation sheet.