Patent ID: 7913563

Claim:
A transducer for generating acoustic waves more particularly for generating compression waves, comprising an array of transmitter elements and an array of receiver elements, at least one wedge for the array of transmitter elements and the array of receiver elements and preferably an acoustical barrier separating the array of transmitter elements and the array of receiver elements, characterized in that the pitch of the transmitter array varies along the length of the transmitter array, such that the pitch of the transmitter array generally decreases in a direction from a rear of the transducer to a front of the transducer, and in that the width of the transmitter elements in a direction perpendicular to the length of the transmitter array varies along the length of the transmitter array in a corresponding manner as the pitch of the transmitter array, such that the width of the transmitter elements in the direction perpendicular to the length of the transmitter array generally decreases in a direction from a rear of the transducer to a front of the transducer.