Ultrasound front-end circuit combining the transmitter and automatic transmit/receiver switch
US6083164A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/5202
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasound front end circuit (1000) according to the present invention includes a single transformer core which performs all of the pulse and transmit/receive switching functions. A transmit pulser (1102) is formed by a pair of transistor switches in combination with a transformer having first windings (N1, N2) driven by a DC source. A secondary winding (N3) provides a voltage step up for transmitted wave forms and a pair of anti-parallel shunt diodes (1014) on the receiver terminal direct the transmitted 0 waveform to the ultrasound transducer (1024). A floating third winding (N4) shunted by a current biased diode bridge (1002) provides an effective open circuit across the secondary winding while transmitting high amplitude signals. The third winding (N4) and diode bridge (1002) act to short circuit the secondary winding (N3) while receiving small amplitude signals, thus providing a direct connection between the transducer (1024) and receiver (1020).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.