Ultrasonic gas flow meter having enhanced noise immunity multilayer piezoelectric transducer
A transducer sensor apparatus can include a sensor, and a multilayer transducer can include a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The sensor can include the multilayer transducer, and the multilayer transducer can improve a signal-to-noise ratio during sensing operations by the sensor by overcoming an external noise source.
1. A transducer sensor apparatus, comprising:
an ultrasonic sensor; and
a multilayer transducer comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein the multilayer transducer improves a signal-to-noise ratio during sensing operations by the ultrasonic sensor, by overcoming a noise level of an external noise source, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric elements is operable to increase a signal level above the noise level of the external noise source.
2. The transducer sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external noise source comprises a regulator noise.
3. The transducer sensor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.
4. The transducer sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein each piezoelectric element in the multi-layer transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic element.
5. The transducer sensor apparatus of claim 4 wherein the piezo-ceramic element comprises at least one of: zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate (BaTiO3) and bismuth sodium titanate.
6. The transducer sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external noise source is associated with an industrial application requiring intrinsic safety.
7. A method of operating a transducer sensor apparatus, comprising:
providing an ultrasonic sensor and a multilayer transducer comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements; and
improving with the multilayer transducer, a signal-to-noise ratio during sensing operations by the ultrasonic sensor, by overcoming a noise level of an external noise source in an industrial application, wherein the plurality of piezoelectric elements is operable to increase a signal level above the noise level of the external noise source.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the external noise source comprises a regulator noise.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the transducer sensor apparatus comprises a flow measurement device.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the flow measurement device comprises an ultrasonic gas flow meter.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the transducer sensor apparatus comprises a flow measurement device.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the flow measurement device comprises an ultrasonic gas flow meter.
14. The method of claim 7 wherein each piezoelectric element in the multi-layer transducer comprises a piezo-ceramic element.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the piezo-ceramic element comprises at least one of: zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate (BaTiO3) and bismuth sodium titanate.
16. The method of claim 7 wherein the external noise source is associated with the industrial application requiring intrinsic safety.
17. The method of claim 7 wherein the transducer sensor apparatus comprises at least one transmitter.
18. The method of claim 7 wherein the transducer sensor apparatus comprises at least one receiver.