Drive a piezo crystal to produce ultrasound?

[Adder_Noir]

Hi,

Could I use the following item:

http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/03c4/0900766b803c41c7.pdf"

to drive a piezo crystal to produce ultrasound? I know it wouldn't be perfect but it might be good enough for a small underwater depth sensor. Any ideas if it's possible?

 

[Astronuc]

Well - what kind of depth range is one considering?

I believe the minimum frequency in the pdf file is 1 MHz.

Consider - Frequency Used In Navigational Sonar
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/EmranYusufov.shtml

http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/lfa.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonar

http://www.htisonar.com/frame_241A.htm

 

[Adder_Noir]

Those links are great, thanks Astronuc.

The depths are shallow and thus I'm told by an expert in San Diego and one of the lads on here that frequency ranges of 1MHz are needed. My only worry is will a piezo not necessarily made to operate at such frequencies still be usable to make ultrasound with this method or will I have to start shelling out lots of cash for a full blown transducer (they're a good £250+ for a 1MHz one).

If I could get it to transmit then I could amplify the return signal well enough to process it. I'm only talking 6 feet or so.