Composite transducer structure

Claim 2

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: means for transmitting an ultrasonic energy pulse beam into an object region, said transmitting means including a first plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in transmit sensitivity than receive sensitivity; means for receiving an echo pulse beam produced by said transmitting means and reflected from said object region, said receiving means including a second plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in receive sensitivity than transmit sensitivity; means mounting transducer elements for the first plurality alternately with and laterally arranged relative to the transducer elements of the second plurality; and said transducer elements of said first plurality of transducer elements being fabricated of a material which is about fifty-three percent lead zirconate and about forty-seven percent lead titinate doped with lanthanum oxide and said transducer elements of said second plurality of transducer elements is fabricated of a material which is about sixty-five percent lead zirconate and about thirty-five percent lead titinate doped with niobium oxide.

Claim 3

The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the transducer elements of both the first and second plurality of transducer elements are ring-shaped and said mounting means mounts the transducer elements annularly.

Claim 4

The ultrasonic transducer of claim 2 wherein all of the transducer elements of said first and second plurality of transducer elements all have substantially the same area.

Claim 5

The ultrasonic transducer of claim 2 which further includes connection means for connecting the transducer elements of the first plurality of trnsducer elements to an ultrasonic transmitter and for connecting the transducer elements of said second plurality of transducer elements to an ultrasonic receiver.

Claim 6

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: means for transmitting an ultrasonic energy pulse beam into an object region, said transmitting means including a first plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in transmit sensitivity than receive sensitivity; means for receiving an echo pulse beam produced by said transmitting means and reflected from said object region, said receiving means including a second plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in receive sensitivity than transmit sensitivity; means mounting transducer elements for the first plurality alternately with and laterally arranged relative to the transducer elements of the second plurality; said transducer elements of both the first and second plurality of transducer elements are ring-shaped and said mounting means mounts the transducer elements annularly and wherein all of the transducer elements of the first and second plurality of transducer elements have substantially the same area; connection means for connecting the transducer elements of the first plurality to an ultrasonic transmitter and for connecting the transducer elements of the second plurality to an ultrasonic receiver; and said transducer elements of the first plurality of transducer elements is fabricated from a material which is about fifty-three percent lead zirconate and about forty-seven percent lead titinate doped with lanthanum oxide and said transducer elements of the second plurality of transducer elements is fabricated of a material which is about sixty-five percent lead zirconate and about thirty-five percent titinate doped with niobium oxide.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic transducer comprising: means for transmitting an ultrasonic energy pulse beam into an object region, said transmitting means including a first plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in transmit sensitivity than receive sensitivity; means for receiving an echo pulse beam produced by said transmitting means and reflected from said object region, said receiving means including a second plurality of transducer elements, each of which is constructed of a material which is sensitive to ultrasonic energy and is higher in receive sensitivity than transmit sensitivity; means mounting transducer elements for the first plurality alternately with and laterally arranged relative to the transducer elements of the second plurality; said transducer elements of both the first and second plurality of transducer elements are ring-shaped and said mounting means mounts the transducer elements annularly and wherein all of the transducer elements of the first and second plurality of transducer elements have substantially the same area; connection means for connecting the transducer elements of the first plurality to an ultrasonic transmitter and for connecting the transducer elements of the second plurality to an ultrasonic receiver; and said transducer elements of the first plurality of transducer elements is fabricated from a material which is about fifty-three percent lead zirconate and about forty-seven percent lead titinate doped with lanthanum oxide and said transducer elements of the second plurality of transducer elements is fabricated of a material which is about sixty-five percent lead zirconate and about thirty-five percent titinate doped with niobium oxide.