EP0145429A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-12-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers primarily for use in a medical diagnostic apparatus by which divergent ultrasonic beams are transmitted without resorting to sector scanning techniques to stear the ultrasonic beam. The curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers includes a flexible transducer assembly bonded to a curvilinear surface of backing base. The flexible transducer assembly includes a flexible backing plate and an array of ultrasonic transducers elements disposed on the flexible backing. The array is formed of a transducer plate having grooves cut through to the flexible backing plate to isolate the transducer elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazufumi Ishiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:21
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers, comprising: a base having a curvilinear surface; and, a flexible transducer assembly bonded to the . curvilinear surface of said base, including, a flexible backing plate having an acoustic impedance the same as that of said base, said flexible backing plate having opposed sides, one of which is bonded to the curvilinear surface of said base, and an array of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed on the other side of said flexible backing plate, said array having grooves cut therein at least through to the flexible backing plate to isolate said transducer elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers, comprising: a base having a curvilinear surface; and, a flexible transducer assembly bonded to the . curvilinear surface of said base, including, a flexible backing plate having an acoustic impedance the same as that of said base, said flexible backing plate having opposed sides, one of which is bonded to the curvilinear surface of said base, and an array of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed on the other side of said flexible backing plate, said array having grooves cut therein at least through to the flexible backing plate to isolate said transducer elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The curvilinear array according to Claim 1, wherein said base has a convex surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The curvilinear array according to Claim 2, wherein said flexible transducer assembly comprises! a flexible printed circuit board having electrode lead patterns connected to respective of said transducer elements to supply drive pulses to said transducer elements, said flexible print circuit board having a plurality slits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The curvilinear array according to Claim 1, wherein said flexible transducer assembly comprises: first matching layers mounted on surfaces of said transducer elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The curvilinear array according to Claim 4 wherein said matching layers comprise: alumina epoxy resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The curvilinear array according to Claim 1, comprising; said flexible transducer assembly bonded to the curvilinear surface of said base with an epoxy resin compounding heavy metal powder to match the acoustic impedance of said base to said backing plate.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of manufacturing a curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers, comprising: bonding a flexible print circuit board having electrode lead patterns to one edge of a rear surface of a flat transducer plate, bonding said rear surface of said transducer plate to one side of a flexible backing plate, cutting said transducer plate at least through to the flexible backing plate between said electrode lead patterns to produce an array of transducer elements: and bonding the other side of said flexible backing plate to a curvilinear surface of a backing base.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of manufacturing a curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers, comprising: bonding a flexible print circuit board having electrode lead patterns to one edge of a rear surface of a flat transducer plate, bonding said rear surface of said transducer plate to one side of a flexible backing plate, cutting said transducer plate at least through to the flexible backing plate between said electrode lead patterns to produce an array of transducer elements: and bonding the other side of said flexible backing plate to a curvilinear surface of a backing base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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