Quasi-Spherical PVDF Ultrasonic Transducer With Double-Cylindrical PVDF Structure

In this paper, a quasi-spherical PVDF airborne ultrasonic transducer for three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonic location systems is designed and fabricated using two strips of cylindrical PVDF film. The 3D solid model of the transducer was created and the acoustic directivity pattern of the transducer was simulated using the finite-element method and the COMSOL Multiphysics™ software. Measurements of the frequency response, pulse response and beam directivity performance are presented. The measurement and simulation results show that the proposed transducer has a spherical beam pattern, and its resonant frequency is consistent with that of the cylindrical PVDF transducers. Because of its spherical beam pattern, it is very suitable for 3D ultrasonic location systems as a transducer to achieve wide coverage.