A systems feedback representation of piezoelectric transducer operational impedance

An analysis of thickness-mode piezoelectric transducer impedance under a variety of mechanical load conditions is presented. A wideband, systems model is used to describe this impedance, which is representative of the electrical input impedance in the transmitting mode and the electrical output impedance for the receiving mode.For a fixed input voltage, the total current flowing through the transducer is considered as the vector sum of two current quantities. Firstly, an input current arising directly from the applied voltage source and secondly, a feedback current, which is generated by secondary piezoelectric action. By treating the problem in this manner, an extremely valuable insight into the nature of the electrical characteristics is provided. Complex variations in the impedance behaviour are readily explained and the physical processes that contribute to such deviations are clearly isolated.