Active beam-forming technique for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer array
US9995821B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 14, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 17, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/341
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus includes an array of pixels, each pixel including in-cell pixel logic and a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) element, each in-cell pixel logic being communicatively coupled with at least one adjacent pixel in the array. Transceiver electronics may operate the array in a selectable one of a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the array may generate a substantially plane ultrasonic wave. In the second mode, the array may generate, from at least one superpixel region, a focused beam of relatively high acoustic pressure, each superpixel region including at least one inner pixel disposed in a central portion of the superpixel region and at least a first group of outer pixels disposed in an outer portion of the superpixel region. The transceiver electronics may be configured to operate the array by configuring at least one in-cell pixel logic.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.