US4672591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic transducer
Assignee: CREDITANSTALT BANKVEREIN
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Filing: 1986-01-17
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Granted: 1987-06-09
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Expires: 2006-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic transducer comprises a support body, a piezoelectric layer of a material with a relatively high dielectric constant and high acoustic impedance, a first impedance matching layer and a second impedance matching layer (10). The first matching layer consists of silicon.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz Breimesser
- 👤 Gunther Grabner
- 👤 Reinhard Lerch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:31
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/02; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0644; B06B1/0662; B06B1/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a support body; a piezoelectric vibrator body attached to said support body, said vibrator body being made of a material having a high dielectric constant and a high acoustic impedance; a first matching layer at least indirectly attached to said vibrator body, said first matching layer consisting of silicon; and a second matching layer at least indirectly attached to said first matching layer on a side thereof opposite said vibrator body; said first and second matching layers being provided for acoustic matching of said piezoelectric vibrator to a medium contacting said second layer, said medium being selected from a group consisting of water and body tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising: a support body; a piezoelectric vibrator body attached to said support body, said vibrator body being made of a material having a high dielectric constant and a high acoustic impedance; a first matching layer at least indirectly attached to said vibrator body, said first matching layer consisting of silicon; and a second matching layer at least indirectly attached to said first matching layer on a side thereof opposite said vibrator body; said first and second matching layers being provided for acoustic matching of said piezoelectric vibrator to a medium contacting said second layer, said medium being selected from a group consisting of water and body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein said first matching layer is a quarter wavelength matching layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein said second matching layer is a quarter wavelength matching layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric vibrator body is a transmitter and said second matching layer is a receiver consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1 wherein said support body consists at least partially of silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 5, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said support body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 1, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said first matching layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 1, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said support body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic transducer system comprising: a support body; a multiplicity of piezoelectric vibrator bodies attached to said support body, said vibrator bodies being made of a material having a high dielectric constant and a high acoustic impedance; first means at least indirectly attached to said vibrator bodies for performing an impedance matching function, said first means including at least one layer of silicon; and second means at least indirectly attached to said first means on a side thereof opposite said vibrator bodies for also performing an impedance matching function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic transducer system comprising: a support body; a multiplicity of piezoelectric vibrator bodies attached to said support body, said vibrator bodies being made of a material having a high dielectric constant and a high acoustic impedance; first means at least indirectly attached to said vibrator bodies for performing an impedance matching function, said first means including at least one layer of silicon; and second means at least indirectly attached to said first means on a side thereof opposite said vibrator bodies for also performing an impedance matching function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 9 wherein said vibrator bodies are arranged in a rectilinear matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 10 wherein said first means comprises a common silicon layer attached to each of said vibrator bodies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 11 wherein said second means comprises a common polyvinylidene fluoride layer attached to each of said vibrator bodies via said common silicon layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 11 wherein said common silicon layer has a side facing said vibrator bodies and is provided on said side with means in the form of recesses for mechanically decoupling said vibrator bodies from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 13 wherein said recesses are in the form of elongate slots.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 14 wherein said slots have a triangular cross-section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 14 wherein said slots have a trapezoidal cross-section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 14 wherein each of said slots has an outer portion facing said vibrator bodies and an inner portion facing said second means, said outer portion having a rectangular cross-section and said inner portion having a trapezoidal cross-section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 14 wherein each of said slots has an outer portion facing said vibrator bodies and an inner portion facing said second means, said outer portion having a rectangular cross-section and said inner portion having a triangular cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 14, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said common silicon layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 12 wherein said common polyvinylidene fluoride layer is a quarter wavelength matching layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 11 wherein said common silicon layer is a quarter wavelength matching layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 10, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said support body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer system according to claim 9, further comprising electronic components for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic pressure waves, said electronic components being integrated into said support body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 9 wherein said piezoelectric vibrator bodies are transmitters and said second means is a receiver consisting of a layer of polyvinylidene fluoride.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 9 wherein said support body consists at least partially of silicon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-08 | 1990-12-08 | 1991-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-08 | 1994-12-08 | 1995-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-12-08 | 1999-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |