• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.127-132
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• 2005

Transducers for implantable hearing aids need to be small and to have good performance in frequency responses and vibration properties. From this viewpoint, we Proposed a multi-layer actuator with the piezoelectric single crystal, PMN-PT. for the implantable hearing aid. and verified its adequacy through finite element analyses and experiments. PMN-PT multi-layer actuator samples were fabricated by stacking fourteen layers of the PMN-PT crystal. Each layer were $0.2{\cal}mm$ thick and the actuator sample was $2.8{\cal}mm$ thick in total. We evaluated the performance of the PMN-PT actuator through impedance analyses and vibration displacement measurements, and compared the result with that of a PZT actuator. Results of all the process confirmed the feasibility of the PMN-PT actuator as a good transducer for an implantable hearing aid.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.568-578
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• 2016

A wireless power transfer (WPT) system is usually classified as being of either a two-coil or four-coil type. It is known that two-coil WPT systems are suitable for short-range transmissions, whereas four-coil WPT systems are suitable for mid-range transmissions. However, this paper reveals that the two aforementioned types of WPT system are alike in terms of their performance and characteristics, differing only when it comes to their matching-network configurations. In this paper, we first find the optimum load and source conditions using Z-parameters. Then, we estimate the maximum power transfer efficiency under the optimum load and source conditions, and we describe how to configure the matching networks pertaining to both types of WPT system for the given optimum load and source conditions. The two types of WPT system show the same performance with respect to the coupling coefficient and load impedance. Further, they also demonstrate an identical performance in the two cases considered in this paper, that is, a strong-coupled case and a weak-coupled case.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1150-1159
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• 2017

Flexibility in the power control of ultrasonic transducers has remained a challenge for cleaning applications. This paper introduces a modification of the existing piezoelectric ceramic transducer (PCT) circuit to increase the range of operation through its impedance characteristics. The output power is controlled using the asymmetrical voltage-cancellation (AVC) method. Together with a phase-locked loop control, the switching frequency of the inverter is automatically adjusted to maintain a lagging phase angle under load-parameter variations during the cleaning process. With the proposed modification, the region of the zero-voltage switching (ZVS) operation is extended, which results in a wider range of output power control. A hardware prototype is constructed and the control algorithm is implemented using an STM32F4 microcontroller. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the proposed method for a 50-W PCT. The operating frequency and output power ranges under study are 37 - 41 kHz and 15.8 - 50 W, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2005

The angular dependence(profile) of backward radiated ultrasound was measured for glass specimens with random surface roughness using ultrasonic goniometer that ran changes the incident angle continuously. It was concluded that the roughened region had greater acoustic impedance than the unperturbed region. The comparison of backward radiations showed that the amplitude of peak and the area of radiation profile were increased with surface roughness. It was suggested from the sensitive dependence of the profile area that the profile of backward radiation could be applied to in the nondestructive evaluation of sulfate region. Inclined C-scan technique with the transducer inclined at Rayleigh angle showed the reverse of luminosity and the high signal to noise ratio so that it provided high resolution.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.549-555
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• 2003

The objective of かis study is to investigate the feasibility of piezoelectric transducers as a damage detection system for civil infrastructures. There have been considerable amount of efforts by the modal analysis community to localize damage and evaluate its severity without looking at a reliable way to excite the structure. The detection of damages by modal analysis and similar vibration techniques depends upon the knowledge and estimation of various modal parameters. In addition to the associated difficulties, such low-frequency dynamic response based techniques fail to detect incipient damages. Smart piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) transducers which act as both actuators and sensors in a self-analyzing manner are emerging to be effective in non-parametric health monitoring of structural systems. In this paper, we present the results of an experimental study for the detection of damages using smart PZT transducers on the steel plate. The method of extracting the impedance characteristics of the PZT transducer, which is electro-mechanically coupled to the host structure, is adopted for damage detection. Two damages are simulated and assessed by the bonded PZT transducers for characterization. The experimental results verified the efficacy of the proposed approach and provided a demonstration of good robustness at the realistic steel structures, emphasizing the great potential for developing an automated in situ structural health monitoring system for application to large civil infrastructures without the need to blow the modal parameters.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07c
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• pp.1898-1899
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• 2005

반도체 집적회로 공정에서 사용되는 폴리이미드 포토레지스트(P12723, Dupont)를 감습막으로 사용하는 마이크로 습도센서 소자를 제작하였다. 마이크로 습도센서는 실리콘 웨이퍼 기판 위에 $SiO_2$ 박막을 건식열산화 공정으로 제작하고, Al 박막을 포토리소그라피 공정으로 패터닝 한 IDT (Interdigital Transducer)를 전극 위에 폴리이미드 포토레지스트를 공정변수를 다양하게 조절하면서 감습막으로 제작하였다. 폴리이미드 감습막은 스핀코팅법으로 제작하였으며, 회전수를 조절하여 두께를 변화시켰다. 완성된 마이크로 습도센서 소자의 상대습도 변화$(10{\sim}90% RH)$에 따른 정전용량 값 변화를 항온항습조 내에서 다양한 온도에서 HP4192A Impedance Analyzer를 사용하여 조사함으로써, 폴리이미드 포토레지스트를 사용하는 마이크로 정전용량형 습도센서의 제작 가능성을 검토하였다. 폴리이미드 정전용량형 마이크로 습도센서는 다양한 인가 전원 주파수에서 기준 센서로 사용된 상용 Vaisala Hygrometer와 유사한 감습특성 및 응답특성을 보였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.621-626
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• 2002

The amplitude of a back-wall echo depends on the reflection coefficient of the interface between a transducer and a test material when using contact pulse-echo ultrasonic testing. A couplant is used to transmit ultrasonic energy across the interface, but has an influence on the amplitude of the pulse-echo signal. To investigate the couplant effect on pulse-echo ultrasonic testing, back-wall echoes are measured by using various couplants made of water and glycerine in a carbon and austenitic stainless steel specimens. The amplitude of the first back-wall echo and the apparent attenuation coefficient increases with the acoustic impedance of the couplant. The couplant having a higher value of the transmission coefficient is more effective for flaw detection. The reflection coefficient should be known in order to measure the attenuation coefficient of the test material.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.365-378
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• 2011

Piezo-based active structural health monitoring (SHM) requires amplifiers specifically designed for capacitive loads. Moreover, with the increase in number of applications of wireless SHM systems, energy efficiency and cost reduction for this type of amplifiers is becoming a requirement. General lab grade amplifiers are big and costly, and not built for outdoor environments. Although some piezoceramic power amplifiers are available in the market, none of them are specifically targeting the wireless constraints and low power requirements. In this paper, a piezoceramic transducer amplifier for wireless active SHM systems has been designed. Power requirements are met by two digital On/Off switches that set the amplifier in a standby state when not in use. It provides a stable ${\pm}180$ Volts output with a bandwidth of 7k Hz using a single 12 V battery. Additionally, both voltage and current outputs are provided for feedback control, impedance check, or actuator damage verification. Vibration control tests of an aluminum beam were conducted in the University of Houston lab, while wireless active SHM tests of a wind turbine blade were performed in the Harbin Institute of Technology wind tunnel. The results showed that the developed amplifier provided equivalent results to commercial solutions in suppressing structural vibrations, and that it allows researchers to perform active wireless SHM on moving objects with no power wires from the grid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 1998

A doubly resonant ultrasonic transducer has been designed as an attempt to increase the bandwidth of underwater transducers. The dual resonance conditions were accomplished by attaching a single acoustic matching layer on the front face of a Tonpilz transducer consisted of an aluminum head, a piezoelectric ring, a brass tail and a prestress bolt. A modified Mason's model was used for the performance analysis and the design of transducers, and the constructed transducers were tested experimentally and numerically by changing the impedances and thicknesses of the head, tail and matching layers in the water tank. Two distinct resonance peaks in the transmitting voltage response(TVR) of a developed transducer were observed at 34.3 and 40.4 kHz, respectively, with the difference frequency of 6.1kHz and the center frequency of 37.2kHz. The values of TVR at these frequencies were 136.5 dB re $1\;\muPa/V$ at 34.3 kHz and 136.8 dB re $1\;\muPa/V$ at 40.4 kHz, respectively. Reasonable agreement between the experimental results and the numerical results was achieved. From this result, it is expected that the generation of the distinct resonances at any two desired frequencies can be achieved through the proper choice of the matching layer to provide the impedance transformation between the transducer and the medium.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to construct multi-element ultrasound applicators for the treatment of gynecologic cancer with high dose rate brachytherapy. For the treatment of uterus, piezo-ceramic crystal transducer (PZT -5A) with outer diameter of 4 mm, wall thickness of 1.3 mm, and length of 24.5 mm was selected. For the treatment of cervix or vagina, it should be possible to insert the applicator into the vagina. Thus, a cylindrical PZT -8 material with outer diameter of 24.5 mm, wall thickness of 1.3 mm, and length of 15.2 mm was selected. The operating frequencies determined by vector impedance measurement were 3.2 MHz for the PZT 5A cylinder (OD=4 mm) and 1.7 MHz for the PZT -8 cylinder (OD: 24.5 mm). The ratios of generated acoustic output power to applied electric power were 33% and 61% for the tandem type crystal and the cylinder type crystal, respectively. The radiated acoustic pressure fields from both transducers were calculated using a Matlab code and measured in water using hydrophone. There was good agreement between measured and calculated acoustic pressure field distribution. For a tandem type transducer, the calculated acoustic pressure field decreased from 0.023 MPa at 10 mm to 0.010 Mpa at 30 mm, the reduction of 57%. For the cylinder type transducer which will be used for the treatment of vagina showed 78% reduction at 15 mm and 66% at 25 mm as compared to values at 5 mm from the surface. Based on the characteristics of the transducers, this study demonstrated the possibility of using the crystals as a heating source. Finally, a 3-element and 4-element prototype applicators were constructed. The 3-element applicator is 75 mm long and 4 mm thick and will be used for the treatment of uterus. The 4-element applicator is 61 mm long and 24.5 mm thick and will be used for the treatment of vagina. Using these applicators, it is possible to generate enough power to increase temperature to therapeutic level.