Design of a curved face parametric projector

A curved face transducer array was designed, fabricated, and tested. Multiple rectangular beams were desired in which each beam would be broad in the vertical plane and narrow in the horizontal plane. The high electrical input power required to generate parametric rectangular beams on the order of 3° × 30° dictated the use of a large ceramic area design. The curved face design selected provides the ceramic area required along with a low profile housing. A large number of narrow staves were used in order to provide versatility in selection of the vertical beamwidths. Construction difficulties and solutions are described. Each individual stave was bizonally shaded and the selected stave combinations were also shaded. Experimental beam patterns taken in both planes as well as computer predicted patterns are shown. [This work was supported by Naval Sea Systems Command.]