Curvilinear array of ultrasonic transducers

Claim 1

A convex array of ultrasonic transducers, comprising: a base having a convex surface; and, a flexible transducer assembly bonded to the convex surface of said base, including, a flexible backing plate bent around said convex surface of said base and 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 convex surface of said base with an epoxy resin containing heavy metal powder to match the acoustic impedance of said base to said backing plate, and an array of ultrasonic transducer elements disposed on the other side of said flexible backing plate, said array of transducer elements comprising a piezoelectric ceramic plate having opposed sides, electrode layers provided on the opposed sides of said piezoelectric ceramic plate, and a matching layer formed on a selected of said electrode layers, said array having grooves cut through said piezeolectric ceramic plate, said electrode layers, said matching layer and a portion of the flexible backing plate to define individual transducer elements and to isolate said individual transducer elements, and a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards having electrical lead patterns sandwiched between said piezoelectric plate and said flexible backing plate and connected to respective of said transducer elements to supply drive pulses to said respective transducer elements.