A sonic emitter, horn array with enhanced emitter-to-air acoustic coupling, with
particular application to ultrasonic frequencies. The emitter comprises a plate
support member having opposing first and second faces separated by an intermediate
plate body. The plate body includes a plurality of conduits configured as an array
of acoustic horns, with a small throat opening at the first face and an intermediate
horn section which diverges to a broad mouth opening at the second face. An emitter
membrane is positioned in direct contact with the first face and extends across
the small throat openings. The emitter membrane is biased for (i) applying tension
to the membrane extending across the throat openings and (ii) displacing the membrane
into a non-planar configuration.
