Abstract: A buckle assembly is described. The buckle assembly includes a buckle body, a fastener and a key. The buckle body includes a recess and a lock tumbler. The fastener is configured to slide within the recess. The key is configured to fit within a key hole of the lock tumbler. When the key is in a locked rotational orientation within the key hole and the fastener is engaged in the recess, the tumbler is in a locked orientation and the fastener may not be slid from the recess. When the key is in an unlocked rotational orientation within the key hole and the fastener is engaged in the recess, the tumbler is in an unlocked orientation and the fastener may be slid from the recess. A key removal prevention mechanism prevents the key from being removed from the key hole when the key is in the unlocked rotational orientation whether or not the fastener is engaged in the recess.

Abstract: A sensor having an inner conductor, a piezoelectric layer, and an outer conductor. The piezoelectric layer formed from a piezoelectric strip wrapped around the inner conductor and having adjacent turns wherein substantially each turn overlaps substantially fifty percent of an adjacent turn. The piezoelectric layer has a substantially uniform thickness. The outer conductor substantially surrounds the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasound transducer having thermoformed protuberances comprises providing a substrate having a plurality of perforations of a given dimension. The perforations or apertures are formed in the substrate and operate to determine the resonance frequency associated with the transducer. A film of polymeric material capable of showing piezoelectric properties when strained in its plane and electrically biassed by a field applied in a direction normal to its faces, is then laminated onto the substrate. The film is heated to a given temperature and a pressure differential is applied between the top and bottom surfaces of the film for a sufficient time to form protuberances in the film through the apertures in the substrate.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus is disclosed having a spool member with a body portion and first and second elevated regions formed on the body portion. A PVDF film surrounds the spool member, the film including an inner surface facing the spool member and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The film as surrounding the spool member has a predetermined frequency of resonance. Lateral ends of the film are secured together by a securing material. The securing material is such that the secured ends of the film will have substantially the same resonance frequency as a remainder of the film. The film includes a non-electrode area at a perimeter of the inner surface and an electrode material formed on a remainder of the inner surface. Upon securing the lateral edges of the film together, the securement is at overlapping non-electrode lateral edges of the film. The securing material may be any one of an adhesive in combination with screws or thermally deformable nails, adhesive alone, tape, or ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus is disclosed having a spool member with a body portion and first and second elevated regions formed on the body portion. A PVDF film surrounds the spool member, the film including an inner surface facing the spool member and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The film as surrounding the spool member has a predetermined frequency of resonance. Lateral ends of the film are secured together by a securing material. The securing material is such that the secured ends of the film will have substantially the same resonance frequency as a remainder of the film. The film includes a non-electrode area at a perimeter of the inner surface and an electrode material formed on a remainder of the inner surface. Upon securing the lateral edges of the film together, the securement is at overlapping non-electrode lateral edges of the film. The securing material may be any one of an adhesive in combination with screws or thermally deformable nails, adhesive alone, tape, or ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasound transducer having thermoformed protuberances comprises providing a substrate having a plurality of perforations of a given dimension. The perforations or apertures are formed in the substrate and operate to determine the resonance frequency associated with the transducer. A film of polymeric material capable of showing piezoelectric properties when strained in its plane and electrically biassed by a field applied in a direction normal to its faces, is then laminated onto the substrate. The film is heated to a given temperature and a pressure differential is applied between the top and bottom surfaces of the film for a sufficient time to form protuberances in the film through the apertures in the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasound transducer having thermoformed protuberances comprises providing a substrate having a plurality of perforations of a given dimension. The perforations or apertures are formed in the substrate and operate to determine the resonance frequency associated with the transducer. A film of polymeric material capable of showing piezoelectric properties when strained in its plane and electrically biassed by a field applied in a direction normal to its faces, is then laminated onto the substrate. The film is heated to a given temperature and a pressure differential is applied between the top and bottom surfaces of the film for a sufficient time to form protuberances in the film through the apertures in the substrate.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus is disclosed including a spool member having a body portion and first and second elevated regions formed on the body portion. A piezoelectric film such as a PVDF film surrounds the spool member and is spaced apart from the body portion of the spool member by an elevation of the elevated region, thereby forming a predetermined gap between the piezoelectric film and the body portion of the spool member. The predetermined gap is at least 0.1 mm and enables a predetermined resonance frequency in the piezoelectric film to control the resonance frequency of the transducer. Opposite lateral ends of the piezoelectric film are secured together such that secured ends of the piezoelectric film have substantially the same resonance frequency as a remainder of the piezoelectric film.