US5295487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic probe
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1993-02-09
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Granted: 1994-03-22
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Expires: 2013-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving element which uses a piezoelectric member constituted by a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate, so that low-frequency driving can be achieved, the thickness of the piezoelectric member in the direction of vibration can be decreased, matching with a transmitting/receiving circuit can be easily made, and the sensitivity can be improved. The ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving element having a piezoelectric member constituted by a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate and a pair of electrodes formed on an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of the piezoelectric member and a surface opposite to the transmitting/receiving surface, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Shiroh Saitoh
- 👤 Mamoru Izumi
- 👤 Senji Shimanuki
- 👤 Shinichi Hashimoto
- 👤 Yohachi Yamashita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:58
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving element having a piezoelectric member consisting of a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate, and a pair of electrodes formed on an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving flat surface of said piezoelectric member and a surface opposite to said transmitting/receiving flat surface, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving element having a piezoelectric member consisting of a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate, and a pair of electrodes formed on an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving flat surface of said piezoelectric member and a surface opposite to said transmitting/receiving flat surface, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate has a composition represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship 0.05≦x≦0.20.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate has a composition represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship: 0.05≦x≦0.20, and a stoichiometric ratio A/B is defined by the relationship: 0.98≦A/B<1.00.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein x in the formula is 0.06 to 0.12.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface and said flat surface opposite to said transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric member have an average surface roughness of not more than 0.4 μm and a maximum surface roughness of not more than 4 μm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric member is on a (001) plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric member has a thickness of 200 to 400 μm in a direction of vibration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving element comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting/receiving elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
An array-type ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting/receiving elements having a piezoelectric member consisting of a single crystal and a pair of electrodes formed on an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric member and a surface opposite to said transmitting/receiving surface are aligned, wherein said piezoelectric member has a predetermined uniform thickness, and has said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface curved in a recessed manner and extending at right angles to a direction along which said elements are arranged, and said recessed ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface has an electromechanical coupling coefficient which is maximum in the central portion and gradually decreased from the control portion toward the end portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
An array-type ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of ultrasonic transmitting/receiving elements having a piezoelectric member consisting of a single crystal and a pair of electrodes formed on an ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric member and a surface opposite to said transmitting/receiving surface are aligned, wherein said piezoelectric member has a predetermined uniform thickness, and has said ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface curved in a recessed manner and extending at right angles to a direction along which said elements are arranged, and said recessed ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface has an electromechanical coupling coefficient which is maximum in the central portion and gradually decreased from the control portion toward the end portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A probe according to claim 9, wherein said piezoelectric member consists of a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein said solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate has a composition represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship 0.05≦x≦0.20.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein said solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate has a composition represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship: 0.05≦×≦0.20, and a stoichiometric ratio A/B is defined by the relationship: 0.98≦A/B<1.00.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A probe according to claim 12, wherein x in the formula is 0.06 to 0.12.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein said recessed ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface and a projecting surface opposite to said recessed transmitting/receiving surface of said piezoelectric member have an average surface roughness of not more than 0.4 μm and a maximum surface roughness of not more than 4 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein the central portion of said recessed ultrasonic transmitting/receiving surface is on a (001) plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A probe according to claim 10, wherein said piezoelectric member has a thickness of 200 to 400 μm in a direction of vibration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising a piezoelectric member having two flat surfaces and consisting of a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship: ≦0.20, and a stoichiometric ratio A/B is defined by the relationship: 0.98≦A/B≦1 and a pair of electrodes is formed on the two surfaces of said piezoelectric member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ultrasonic transducer comprising a piezoelectric member having two flat surfaces and consisting of a solid-solution based single crystal of zinc lead niobate-lead titanate represented by a formula: Pb.sub.A [(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.1-x Ti.sub.x ].sub.B O.sub.3 wherein x is defined by the relationship: ≦0.20, and a stoichiometric ratio A/B is defined by the relationship: 0.98≦A/B≦1 and a pair of electrodes is formed on the two surfaces of said piezoelectric member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 17, wherein said two flat surfaces of said piezoelectric member have an average surface roughness of not more than 0.4 μm and a maximum surface roughness of not more than 4 μm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic transducer according to claim 17, wherein at least one flat surface of said piezoelectric member is on a (001) plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5856375A
Cited
US4704774A
Cited
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