Ultrasonic transducer array incorporating an array of slotted transducer elements
US6014898A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/42
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer and one or more acoustic matching layers. The piezoelectric layer has a concave front surface overlayed by a front electrode and a rear surface overlayed by a rear electrode. The shape of each transducer element is selected such that it is mechanically focused into the imaging plane. A backing support holds the plurality of transducer elements in a predetermined relationship along the array axis such that each element is mechanically focused in the imaging plane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.