US4344159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic transducer
Assignee: BIOSOUND Inc 6405 CASTLEWAY COURT INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA 46250
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Filing: 1981-05-08
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Granted: 1982-08-10
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Expires: 2001-05-08
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic signal transducer is characterized in that the piezoelectrically active element has a first unitary electrode over the entire surface of one face and a matrix of a plurality of individual electrodes on the opposite face. In the receive mode, such an arrangement effectively constitutes a plurality of individual transducers arranged in the matrix array while maintaining the efficacy of a unitary structure. The signals from the individual electrodes are individually amplified, full-wave rectified, and combined additively to produce a composite signal which eliminates the phase cancellation of the ultrasonic pulses distributed over the face of the transducer assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale O. Ballinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52046; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/346; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A phae insensitive ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising: a piezoelectric transducer element having a unitary electrode on one major face thereof and a plurality of electrically independent electrodes on an opposite major face of said transducer element; input pulse control means connected to said unitary electrode to excite said piezoelectric transducer element to produce a series of ultrasonic pulses for transmission into an object for study, said piezoelectric transducer element being responsive to echo pulses from within said object in accordance with discontinuities within said object; signal responsive means connected, respectively, to each of said electrically independent electrodes to detect echo signals produced in said piezoelectric transducer element in response to said echo pulses, said signal responsive means each including full-wave rectifying means to convert said echo signals to unidirectional signals; and means for additively combining said unidirectional signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A phae insensitive ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising: a piezoelectric transducer element having a unitary electrode on one major face thereof and a plurality of electrically independent electrodes on an opposite major face of said transducer element; input pulse control means connected to said unitary electrode to excite said piezoelectric transducer element to produce a series of ultrasonic pulses for transmission into an object for study, said piezoelectric transducer element being responsive to echo pulses from within said object in accordance with discontinuities within said object; signal responsive means connected, respectively, to each of said electrically independent electrodes to detect echo signals produced in said piezoelectric transducer element in response to said echo pulses, said signal responsive means each including full-wave rectifying means to convert said echo signals to unidirectional signals; and means for additively combining said unidirectional signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal responsive means each includes an amplifier means connected between respective ones of said electrically independent electrodes and corresponding ones of said full-wave rectifying means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for additively combining includes a summing circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said signal responsive means each includes a signal limiter connected between said electrically independent electrodes and said amplifier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic transducer assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of electrically independent electrodes are arranged in a two dimensional matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3090030A
Cited
US4012952A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-09 | 1986-02-08 | 1986-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-09 | 1990-02-08 | 1990-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-09 | 1994-02-08 | 1994-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |