IP Library Granted Patent US 12,413,913
Granted Patent B2
US 12,413,913 · App. 17/813,500 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Method and system for transducer validation

Inventors: Drew Statom (Sheffield, AL); Mahesh Matam (Cumming, GA)
Assignee: Neptune Technology Group LLC
H04R17/005G01F1/662G01F1/667G01H3/005G01H13/00G01N29/30G01N2291/106G01S7/5205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,413,913
App. No.
17/813,500
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device, a method, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a transducer validation service is provided. The service may include stimulating a piezoelectric transducer. The service may include measuring a signal output, which is responsive to the stimulus, from the piezoelectric transducer. The service may include evaluating the measured signal output to a reference voltage and determining whether the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled or not based on the evaluation. The service may further include determining a response to the determination when the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled.

Claims (56)

1. A device comprising:

a frame;

a striker;

a guide piece that includes a passthrough hole configured for the striker;

a transducer holder that is configured to position a piezoelectric transducer for test, wherein the transducer holder, which is positioned beneath the guide piece, exposes a first side of the piezoelectric transducer and a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; and

a first controller configured to:

analyze an output signal of the piezoelectric transducer caused by the striker traveling via the passthrough hole and hitting the first side of the piezoelectric transducer; and

determine, based on the analysis, whether a polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is correct or not.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transducer holder includes a counterbore configuration that includes a first bore that exposes the first side of the piezoelectric transducer and a second bore that exposes the second side of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the first bore has a larger diameter than the second bore.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the transducer holder includes a passthrough slot that is configured to receive a wire of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the passthrough slot is connected to the first bore and the second bore.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second bore exposes a wire of the piezoelectric transducer, and the first controller is configured to connect to the wire of the piezoelectric transducer.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein, when determining, the first controller is further configured to:

determine a first peak of the output signal based on a reference voltage; and

determine whether the first peak is a positive voltage or a negative voltage.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first controller is further configured to:

determine that the polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is incorrect when the first peak is a negative voltage; and

determine that the polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is correct when the first peak is a positive voltage.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second controller configured to:

cause the striker to hit the first side of the piezoelectric transducer; and

retrieve the striker after the first side of the piezoelectric transducer is hit.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first track configured to receive the guide piece and a second track configured to receive the transducer holder.

9. A device comprising:

a frame;

a generator configured to generate an impulse sufficient to excite a piezoelectric transducer under test;

a transducer holder that is configured to position the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the transducer holder exposes a first side of the piezoelectric transducer and a second side of the piezoelectric transducer; and

a first controller configured to:

analyze an output signal of the piezoelectric transducer caused by the generator; and

determine, based on the analysis, whether a polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is correct or not.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the transducer holder includes a counterbore configuration that includes a first bore that exposes the first side of the piezoelectric transducer and a second bore that exposes the second side of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the first bore has a larger diameter than the second bore.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the transducer holder includes a passthrough slot that is configured to receive a wire of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the passthrough slot is connected to the first bore and the second bore.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the impulse is an ultrasonic pulse.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein, when determining, the first controller is further configured to:

determine a first peak of the output signal based on a reference voltage; and

determine whether the first peak is a positive voltage or a negative voltage.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the frame comprises:

a first panel; and

a second panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to a base panel, and wherein the first panel and the second panel each includes a track that is configured to receive the transducer holder.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the tracks of the first panel and the second panel allow the transducer holder to slide towards and slide away from the base panel.

16. A method comprising:

causing a piezoelectric transducer to emit a signal;

evaluating the signal based on a reference voltage;

determining, based on the evaluating, whether the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled or not; and

outputting a result of the determining, wherein the result indicates that the piezoelectric transducer is reverse-poled or that the piezoelectric transducer is correctly poled.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining to modify a first device that includes the piezoelectric transducer or to modify a second device that the piezoelectric transducer is to be included when the result indicates that a polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is not correct.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first device or the second device is a water meter.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein software or firmware of the first device or the second device is modified.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the evaluating comprises:

determining a first peak of the signal based on the reference voltage; and

determining whether the first peak is a positive voltage or a negative voltage.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a device, which when executed cause the processor to:

cause a piezoelectric transducer to emit a signal;

evaluate the signal based on a reference voltage;

determine, based on the evaluation, whether a polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is correct or not; and

output a result of the determination, wherein the result indicates that the polarity of the piezoelectric transducer is correct or not.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 21, 2025
From: NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
To: NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 070590/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: STATOM, DREW; MATAM, MAHESH
To: NEPTUNE TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.
Reel/Frame 060552/0752 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63227457 · Jul 30, 2021
Related Publication 20230036761A1 · Feb 2, 2023
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