Method and apparatus for improving the performance of capacitive acoustic transducers using bias polarity control and multiple firings
US7780597B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/8995
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Presented is a method of operating a capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) array with multiple firings of varying bias voltage polarity patterns to improve its performance in imaging non-linear media, such as in contrast agent imaging or tissue harmonic imaging. Additionally, transducers incorporating the method are provided. The method of cMUT operation and the corresponding cMUT does not require pre-distortion or phase inversion of the transmit signal and can achieve an improvement in the elevation focus of the cMUT, as compared to the elevation focus that a single firing can achieve. Further, the method of operating the cMUT minimizes the deleterious effects that result from insulators being subjected to high electric fields.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.