Single-Element Omnidirectional Piezoelectric Ultrasound Transducer for under Water Communication

This paper presents the design and fabrication procedure of a single-element omnidirectional piezoelectric ultrasound transducer, which can be utilized for under water communication. The transducer consists of a spherical silicon infiltrated silicon carbide (Si-SiC) body and is able to perform communication at 160 kHz with a Q factor of about 5.6 over a distance of more than one meter. The circumferential pressure amplitude of the beam pattern of the transducer varies less than 10 dB, which allows reliable communication between different transducers at an arbitrary orientation with respect to each other.