Patent · US Expired

Multifrequency ultrasonic transducer for 1.5D imaging

US6160340A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
20References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 1998
Grant dateDec 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB06B1/0629
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An ultrasonic transducer has a center row of transducers operating at a center row frequency and first and second outer rows of transducers operating at a common frequency or different frequencies lower than the center row frequency. In an enhancement of the ultrasonic transducer array, the center row of transducers has a matching layer with an acoustic velocity that is higher than matching layers that are associated with the first outer row and second outer row transducers. The matching layers can be selected such that the overall thickness of the transducer array is constant. A 1.5D ultrasonic transducer array operating at a higher center frequency and lower outer frequencies is adjustable to allow high resolution near field imaging in addition to better far field imaging without the need for a 2D transducer array.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.