High Frequency Broadband Hybrid Transducer/Amplifier

This proposal is for a Phase II continuation of the work accomplished Under Phase I Topic SBIR N07-075 Final Report, Contract N00014-07-M-0183 and addresses the requirement for a broad-bandwidth, efficient, small compact projector module with an integral amplifier that can be imbedded in the hull of an unmanned vehicle or in the coating of a surface combatant or submarine. The transducer should have a high coupling coefficient and power factor allowing a small power amplifier. This and the need for low frequency performance from a small housing led us to a transducer design which we call the CMX (Cantilever Mode X-spring) transducer which can be operated with PZT-8 or single crystal piezoelectric material, such as PMN-28%PT. Wide band results are obtained through this unique transducer design which provides motion over a uniform radiating area driven from lever coupled dual cantilever drivers yielding both a low resonance frequency and a mechanical Q. Under full array loading conditions, the CMX transducer can be operated with an extraordinarily wide bandwidth along with a reduced fundamental resonance frequency with velocity control.