Circuit for driving ultrasonic transducer

Claim 2

A circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer comprising an oscillating means for generating a driving signal whose frequency is controlled in accordance with a frequency control signal; a first phase detecting means for detecting a phase of said driving signal to generate a first phase detection signal; a second phase detecting means for detecting a phase of the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer to generate a second phase detection signal; a reference signal generating means for generating a reference signal whose frequency is continuously changed; and a frequency control means for selectively changing the operation of the driving circuit between a sweep control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal generated from said oscillating means is controlled to follow the frequency of said reference signal by comparing one of said first and second phase detection signals with said reference signal and a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal generated from said oscillating means is controlled to follow a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer by comparing said first and second phase detection signals with each other.

Claim 3

A driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein said frequency control means comprises a resonance point detecting circuit for detecting such a condition that the driving signal is phase-locked with the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer which is vibrated at its resonance frequency and producing a resonance point detection signal, and a switching circuit for changing the operation mode of the driving circuit between the sweep control mode and the feedback control mode in response to said resonance point detection signal.

Claim 4

A driving circuit according to claim 2, wherein said frequency controlling means further comprises a phase comparator having a reference input terminal, a variable input terminal and an output terminal, said reference input terminal being connected to an output terminal of said said switching circuit, and said variable input terminal being connected to an output terminal of the other of said first and second phase detecting means, and said oscillating means comprises a voltage controlled oscillator having a control input terminal coupled with said output terminal of said phase comparator, whereby said phase comparator and voltage controlled oscillator constitute a phase lock loop in which the phase difference between said first and second phase detection signals is detected by said phase comparator and an oscillation frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is controlled in accordance with said phase difference so that the frequency of the driving signal is automatically adjusted to follow the resonance frequency of said ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 5

A driving circuit according to claim 3, wherein said frequency controlling means further comprises a loop filter connected between said output terminal of the phase comparator and the control input terminal of the voltage controlled oscillator and having the integrating function for integrating a phase difference derived from said phase comparator.

Claim 6

A driving circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first phase detecting means comprises a voltage phase detector for detecting the phase of a voltage of the driving signal, and said second phase detecting means comprises a current phase detector for detecting the phase of a current of the driving signal.

Claim 7

A driving circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first phase detecting means comprises a voltage phase detector for detecting the phase of a voltage of the driving signal, and said second phase detecting means comprises a vibration sensor applied on the ultrasonic transducer for detecting the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 8

A driving circuit according to claim 2, wherein said resonance point detecting circuit comprises an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer and generating an enabling signal when the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer is reduced below a predetermined threshold level, and a phase comparator which is enabled in response to said enabling signal to initiate to compare the phases of said first and second phase detection signals with each other and produce said resonance point detection signal when a phase difference between said phases becomes zero.

Claim 9

A driving circuit according to claim 7, wherein the driving circuit further comprises a means for keeping constant an amplitude of a current of the driving signal, and said impedance detector comprises an absolute value detecting circuit for detecting an absolute value of a voltage of said driving signal and a voltage comparator for comparing the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal with a predetermined threshold value which corresponds to said predetermined threshold level, said enabling signal being generated when the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal becomes smaller than said predetermined threshold value.

Claim 10

A driving circuit according to claim 8, wherein said means for keeping constant the amplitude of the current of the driving signal comprises a voltage controlled amplifier for amplifying the driving signal and having a control input terminal, an absolute value detector for detecting an absolute value of the current of the driving signal, a presetting means for generating a control voltage corresponding to said predetermined threshold value, and a differential amplifier for deriving a difference between said absolute value of the current and said control voltage, whereby said difference is applied to said control input terminal of the voltage controlled amplifier to change an amplification factor thereof such that the amplitude of the current of the driving signal is kept to said predetermined threshold level.

Claim 11

A driving circuit according to claim 3, wherein said frequency controlling means further comprises an out-of range detector for producing a reset signal by detecting a condition in which the frequency of the driving signal is changed beyond a predetermined frequency range, and a control circuit for driving said switching circuit in response to said reset signal such that the frequency controlling means is operated in the sweep control mode when said reset signal is generated.

Claim 12

A driving circuit according to claim 10, wherein said out-of range detector comprises a window comparator for comparing said phase difference generated by the phase comparator with upper and lower threshold levels and producing said reset signal when the phase difference is changed beyond said upper and lower threshold levels.

Claim 13

A driving circuit according to claim 10, wherein said out-of range detector comprises an absolute value detector for detecting an absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal, a differentiating circuit for differentiating the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal, and a gate circuit for generating said reset signal when said differentiating circuit generates a large output signal.

Claim 14

A driving circuit according to claim 10, wherein said frequency controlling means further comprises a counter for counting the reset signals and generating an abnormality indication signal when the number of the reset signals exceeds a predetermined number.

Claim 15

A driving circuit according to claim 1, wherein said reference signal generating means is constructed such that the frequency of the reference signal is varied monotonously.

Claim 16

A circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer and including a driving signal generating means which has an open loop control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously and a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between voltage and current of the driving signal such that the frequency of the driving signal follows a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, and a switching means for selectively driving said driving signal generating means between said open loop control mode and the feedback control mode by comparing the phases of the voltage and current of the driving signal, the improvement being characterized in that said switching means comprises an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer, a comparator for comparing the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer with a predetermined threshold value and generating a resonance point detecting signal when the impedance is decreased below said threshold value, and a switch for changing the open loop control mode into the feedback control mode in response to said resonance point detection signal.

Claim 17

A circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer and including a driving signal generating means which has an open loop control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously and a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between voltage and current of the driving signal such that the frequency of the driving signal follows a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, and a switching means for selectively driving said driving signal generating means between said open loop control mode and the feedback control mode by comparing the phases of the voltage and current of the driving signal, the improvement being characterized in that said switching means comprises an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer, a comparator for comparing the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer with a predetermined threshold value and generating a resonance point detecting signal when the impedance is decreased below said threshold value, and a switch for changing the open loop control mode into the feedback control mode in response to said resonance point detection signal.

Claim 18

A driving circuit according to claim 15, wherein the driving signal generating means comprises a means for keeping constant an amplitude of a current of the driving signal, and said impedance detector comprises an absolute value detecting circuit for detecting an absolute value of a voltage of said driving signal and a voltage comparator for comparing the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal with a predetermined threshold value which corresponds to said predetermined threshold level, said enabling signal being generated when the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal becomes smaller than said predetermined threshold value.

Claim 19

A driving circuit according to claim 16, wherein said means for keeping constant the amplitude of the current of the driving signal comprises a voltage controlled amplifier for amplifying the driving signal and having a control input terminal, an absolute value detector for detecting an absolute value of the current of the driving signal, a presetting means for generating a control voltage corresponding to said predetermined threshold value, and a differential amplifier for deriving a difference between said absolute value of the current and said control voltage, whereby said difference is applied to said control input terminal of the voltage controlled amplifier to change an amplification factor thereof such that the amplitude of the current of the driving signal is kept to said predetermined threshold level.

Claim 20

A driving circuit according to claim 17, wherein said impedance detector comprises an absolute value detecting circuit for detecting an absolute value of a voltage of said driving signal and a voltage comparator for comparing the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal with a predetermined threshold value which corresponds to said predetermined threshold level, said open loop control mode is changed into said feedback control mode when the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal becomes smaller than said predetermined threshold value.

Claim 21

A driving circuit according to claim 15, wherein said driving signal generating means further comprises an out-of range detector for producing a reset signal by detecting a condition in which the frequency of the driving signal is shifted from the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer to such an extent that the frequency of the driving signal could be no more adjusted to follow the resonance frequency, and a control circuit for driving said switching circuit in response to said reset signal such that the driving signal generating means is operated in the open loop control mode when said reset signal is generated.

Claim 22

A driving circuit according to claim 19, wherein said out-of range detector is constructed such that said reset signal is generated when the frequency of the driving signal is changed beyond a predetermined frequency range.

Claim 23

A driving circuit for generating a driving signal for an ultrasonic transducer including a frequency sweep means for effecting the frequency sweep over a predetermined frequency range; a means for operating the driving circuit under a sweep control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously within said predetermined frequency range with the aid of said frequency sweep means; a means for operating the driving circuit under a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled to follow a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer; and a switching means for selectively driving said driving circuit between said sweep control mode and the feedback control mode by comparing the phases of the voltage and current of the driving signal, the improvement being characterized in that said switching means comprises an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer, a comparator for comparing the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer with a predetermined threshold value and generating a resonance point detection signal when the impedance is decreased below said threshold value, and a switching circuit for changing the sweep control mode into the feedback control mode in response to said resonance point detection signal.

Claim 24

A driving circuit for generating a driving signal for an ultrasonic transducer including a frequency sweep means for effecting the frequency sweep over a predetermined frequency range; a means for operating the driving circuit under a sweep control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously within said predetermined frequency range with the aid of said frequency sweep means; a means for operating the driving circuit under a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled to follow a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer; and a switching means for selectively driving said driving circuit between said sweep control mode and the feedback control mode by comparing the phases of the voltage and current of the driving signal, the improvement being characterized in that said switching means comprises an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer, a comparator for comparing the impedance of the ultrasonic transducer with a predetermined threshold value and generating a resonance point detection signal when the impedance is decreased below said threshold value, and a switching circuit for changing the sweep control mode into the feedback control mode in response to said resonance point detection signal.

Claim 25

A driving circuit according to claim 21, wherein said means for operating the driving circuit under the sweep control mode and feedback control mode comprises a phase lock loop including a voltage controlled oscillator having a frequency control terminal and a phase comparator for comparing a phase of the driving signal and a vibration phase of the ultrasonic transducer, said frequency sweep means comprises a reference signal generating circuit for generating a reference signal whose frequency is varied continuously, and said switching means is so constructed that in the sweep control mode, the reference signal is supplied to said phase comparator and in the feedback control mode, a signal for representing the phase of the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is supplied to said phase comparator.

Claim 26

A driving circuit according to claim 22, wherein said signal for representing the phase of the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is generated from a circuit for detecting a phase of a current of the driving signal passing through the ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 27

A driving circuit according to claim 22, wherein said signal for representing the phase of the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is generated from a vibration sensor arranged on the ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 28

A driving circuit according to claim 21, wherein the driving circuit further comprises a means for keeping constant an amplitude of a current of the driving signal, and said impedance detector comprises an absolute value detecting circuit for detecting an absolute value of a voltage of said driving signal and a voltage comparator for comparing the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal with a predetermined threshold value which corresponds to said predetermined threshold value.

Claim 29

A driving circuit according to claim 25, wherein said means for keeping constant the amplitude of the current of the driving signal comprises a voltage controlled amplifier for amplifying the driving signal and having a control input terminal, an absolute value detector for detecting an absolute value of the current of the driving signal, a presetting means for generating a control voltage corresponding to said predetermined threshold value, and a differential amplifier for deriving a difference between said absolute value of the current and said control voltage, whereby said difference is applied to said control input terminal of the voltage controlled amplifier to change an amplification factor thereof such that the amplitude of the current of the driving signal is kept to said predetermined threshold level.

Claim 30

A driving circuit according to claim 26, wherein said impedance detector comprises an absolute value detecting circuit for detecting an absolute value of a voltage of said driving signal and a voltage comparator for comparing the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal with a predetermined threshold value which corresponds to said predetermined threshold value, said open loop control mode is changed into said feedback control mode when the absolute value of the voltage of the driving signal becomes smaller than said predetermined threshold value.

Claim 31

A driving circuit for generating a driving signal for an ultrasonic transducer comprising a phase lock loop for adjusting a frequency of the driving signal to follow a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer in accordance with a voltage phase detection signal representing a phase of a voltage of the driving signal and a current phase detection signal; a reference signal generating circuit for generating a reference signal having a frequency which is varied continuously; and a control means for selectively driving said phase lock loop between a first control mode in which during a start period, the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between the reference signal and the voltage phase detection signal until the driving signal is phase-locked with a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, and a second control mode in which after the driving signal has been phase-locked with the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between the voltage phase detection signal and the current phase detection signal.

Claim 32

A driving circuit for generating a driving signal for an ultrasonic transducer comprising a phase lock loop for adjusting a frequency of the driving signal to follow a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer in accordance with a voltage phase detection signal representing a phase of a voltage of the driving signal and a current phase detection signal; a reference signal generating circuit for generating a reference signal having a frequency which is varied continuously; and a control means for selectively driving said phase lock loop between a first control mode in which during a start period, the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between the reference signal and the voltage phase detection signal until the driving signal is phase-locked with a resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, and a second control mode in which after the driving signal has been phase-locked with the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, the frequency of the driving signal is controlled in accordance with a phase difference between the voltage phase detection signal and the current phase detection signal.

Claim 33

A driving circuit according to claim 28, wherein said frequency of the reference signal is changed monotonously.

Claim 34

A driving circuit according to claim 29, wherein said control means comprises a resonance point detecting means for generating a resonance point detection signal when the driving signal is phase-locked with the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer, and a switching circuit for responding to said resonance point detection signal to change the operation of the driving circuit from the first control mode to the second control model.

Claim 35

A driving circuit according to claim 30, further comprising a current control means for keeping constant an amplitude of the current of the driving signal.

Claim 36

A driving circuit according to claim 31, wherein said current control means is constructed such that during the first control mode, the amplitude of the level, and during the second control mode the amplitude of the current of the driving signal is set to a higher current level.

Claim 37

A driving circuit according to claim 32, wherein said current control means further comprises a means for adjusting said lower current level and higher current lever.

Claim 38

A driving circuit according to claim 32, wherein said current control means comprises a plurality of lower current level presetting circuits, a plurality of higher current level presetting circuits, a detector for detecting a kind of a probe installed in the ultrasonic transducer to produce a probe identification signal, and a switching means for selectively connecting one of said plurality of the lower current presetting circuits and one of said plurality of the higher current level presetting circuits in accordance with said probe identification signal.

Claim 39

A driving circuit according to claim 34, wherein said probe identification signal is constructed such that the kind of the probe is identified by detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 40

A driving circuit according to claim 32, wherein said current control means further comprises a limiting means for limiting the amplitude of the current of the driving signal.

Claim 41

A driving circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer comprising a frequency sweep means for effecting the frequency sweep over a predetermined frequency range; a means for operating the driving circuit under a sweep control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously within said predetermined frequency range with the aid of said frequency sweep means; a means for operating the driving circuit under a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled to follow a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer; a switching means for selectively driving said driving circuit between said sweep control mode and the feedback control mode; a means for amplifying the driving signal with a variable amplification factor; and an amplification control means for controlling the amplification factor of said amplifying means such that the amplification factor is gradually increased from a lower value during the sweep control mode to a higher value during the feedback control mode.

Claim 42

A driving circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer comprising a frequency sweep means for effecting the frequency sweep over a predetermined frequency range; a means for operating the driving circuit under a sweep control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is increased or decreased continuously within said predetermined frequency range with the aid of said frequency sweep means; a means for operating the driving circuit under a feedback control mode in which the frequency of the driving signal is controlled to follow a varying resonance frequency of the ultrasonic transducer; a switching means for selectively driving said driving circuit between said sweep control mode and the feedback control mode; a means for amplifying the driving signal with a variable amplification factor; and an amplification control means for controlling the amplification factor of said amplifying means such that the amplification factor is gradually increased from a lower value during the sweep control mode to a higher value during the feedback control mode.

Claim 43

A driving circuit according to claim 37, wherein said amplifying means comprises a voltage controlled amplifier whose amplification factor is controlled by a control voltage applied to a control input terminal thereof, and said amplification control means comprises a first voltage source means for generating a lower control voltage corresponding to said lower value of the amplification factor, a second voltage source means for generating a higher control voltage corresponding to said higher value of the amplification factor, and a time constant circuit connectable to an output of said second voltage source means to increase gradually the control voltage from the lower value to the higher value in accordance with a time constant of the time constant circuit.

Claim 44

A driving circuit according to claim 37, wherein said amplifying means comprises a voltage controlled amplifier whose amplification factor is controlled by a control voltage applied to a control input terminal thereof, and said amplification control means comprises a microprocessor for generating a gradually increasing amplification control signal and an analog-digital converter for converting the amplification control signal into an analog control voltage whose amplitude is gradually increased.

Claim 45

A driving circuit according to claim 38, wherein said first voltage source means includes a plurality of voltage sources for generating different lower control voltages, said second voltage source means includes a plurality of voltage sources for generating different higher control voltages, a means for detecting a kind of a probe installed in the ultrasonic transducer to generate a probe identification signal, and a switching means for selectively applying one of said plurality of the lower control voltages and one of said plurality of the higher control voltages to the control input terminal of the voltage controlled amplifier in accordance with said probe identification signal.

Claim 46

A driving circuit according to claim 40, wherein said probe identification signal is constructed such that the kind of the probe is identified by detecting an impedance of the ultrasonic transducer.