Ultrasonic transducer apparatus

Claim 2

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe; said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising an inductive element having a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances of a multiple of two; and said second means of said matching means comprising means for connecting at least two corresponding pairs of said intermediate taps in accordance with said capacitive susceptance.

Claim 3

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe; said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and said second means of said matching means comprising a bar fixed at said probe and having a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core relative to said coil when said probe is connected to said driving unit.

Claim 4

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe; said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and said second means of said matching means comprising a bar fixed at said probe and having a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core relative to said coil when said probe is connected to said driving unit.

Claim 5

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe; said second means of said matching means comprising a resistor connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and having a resistance corresponding to said capacitive susceptance; said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising an inductive element having a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances; and said first means of said matching means including detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.

Claim 6

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe; said second means of said matching means comprising a resistor connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and having a resistance corresponding to said capacitive susceptance; said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising an inductive element having a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances; and said first means of said matching means including detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a plurality of pairs of intermediate taps having different inductances; and said probe comprising means for connecting at least one corresponding pair of said intermediate taps in accordance with said capacitive susceptance.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a plurality of pairs of intermediate taps having different inductances; and said probe comprising means for connecting at least one corresponding pair of said intermediate taps in accordance with said capacitive susceptance.

Claim 9

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and said probe comprising a bar of a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core when said probe is connected to said driving unit to vary the inductance of said inductive element.

Claim 10

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and said probe comprising a bar of a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core when said probe is connected to said driving unit to vary the inductance of said inductive element.

Claim 11

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances; said probe comprising a resistor which is connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and said resistor having a resistance value corresponding to said capacitive susceptance; and said matching means further comprising detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps of said inductive element in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.

Claim 12

An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising: a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having: a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection; a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit; said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer; said inductive element comprising a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances; said probe comprising a resistor which is connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and said resistor having a resistance value corresponding to said capacitive susceptance; and said matching means further comprising detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps of said inductive element in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.