Patent ID: 7772746

Claim:
An electroactive transducer for converting between acoustical power, consisting of pressure and velocity, and electrical power, consisting of potential and current, the transducer comprising: a diaphragm having a perimeter and a central portion, the diaphragm having a neutral position and at least one flexed position wherein the central portion is displaced axially relative to the neutral position, the perimeter and central portion disposed generally in a common diaphragm plane when the diaphragm is in the neutral position, the diaphragm having a first face defining at least a portion of the first face of the transducer and an opposed second face defining at least a portion of the second face of the transducer, the first and second face of the diaphragm each being flat when the diaphragm is in the neutral position; and a perimeter member including a plurality of electroactive elements disposed generally in a ring, the perimeter member generally defining a transducer plane and surrounding a central area, the perimeter member being mechanically coupled to the perimeter of the diaphragm such that displacement of the central portion from the neutral position to the flexed position stresses the electroactive element, the perimeter member further comprising a plurality of supports, each support having a portion disposed between two adjacent electroactive elements and another portion interconnected with the perimeter of the diaphragm.