US5423220A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic transducer array and manufacturing method thereof
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1993-01-29
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Granted: 1995-06-13
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Expires: 2013-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic transducer array, and a method for manufacturing it, having a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer and one or more acoustic matching layers. The piezoelectric layer has a concave front surface overlayed by a front electrode and a rear surface overlayed by a rear electrode. The shape of each transducer element is selected such that it is mechanically focused into the imaging plane. A backing support holds the plurality of transducer elements in a predetermined relationship along the array axis such that each element is mechanically focused in the imaging plane.
Inventors
- 👤 P. Michael Finsterwald
- 👤 Stephen J. Douglas
- 👤 Ricky G. Just
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:44
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/32; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; B06B1/0633; B06B1/0688; B06B1/0692; B06B2201/00; B06B2201/20; B06B2201/50; B06B2201/55; B06B2201/56; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
An ultrasonic transducer array for testing a body, comprising: a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis; and a backing support that supports the plurality of transducer elements; wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array includes a piezoelectric layer having a front surface overlaid by a front electrode and a rear surface overlaid by a rear electrode, the front surface being concave along an axis perpendicular to the array axis, and a first acoustic matching layer having a front surface that is concave along an axis perpendicular to the array axis, a rear surface, and a uniform thickness, the rear surface of the acoustic matching layer being mounted to the concave front surface of the piezoelectric layer; wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array has its piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of its first acoustic matching layer spaced from the adjacent transducer elements in the array; and wherein the concave shapes of the front surfaces of the piezoelectric and acoustic matching layers of each transducer element are selected to mechanically focus the transducer element in a plane perpendicular to the array axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
An ultrasonic transducer array for testing a body, comprising: a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis; and a backing support that supports the plurality of transducer elements; wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array includes a piezoelectric layer having a front surface overlaid by a front electrode and a rear surface overlaid by a rear electrode, the front surface being concave along an axis perpendicular to the array axis, and a first acoustic matching layer having a front surface that is concave along an axis perpendicular to the array axis, a rear surface, and a uniform thickness, the rear surface of the acoustic matching layer being mounted to the concave front surface of the piezoelectric layer; wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array has its piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of its first acoustic matching layer spaced from the adjacent transducer elements in the array; and wherein the concave shapes of the front surfaces of the piezoelectric and acoustic matching layers of each transducer element are selected to mechanically focus the transducer element in a plane perpendicular to the array axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements further includes a second acoustic matching layer having a concave front surface, a rear surface and uniform thickness, mounted to the concave front surface of the first acoustic matching layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein a flexible printed circuit signal conductor is attached to the rear electrode of each of the plurality of transducer elements and a flexible ground conductor is attached to the front electrode of each of the plurality of transducer elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements is divided into subelements, with the subelements electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric material forming an outer face layer for the plurality of transducer elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the spaces between adjacent transducer elements is filled with a low impedance acoustically attenuative material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the front and rear electrodes each include an inner layer of nickel and an outer layer of copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 7, wherein the front and rear electrodes further include an outer layer of gold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein, for each transducer element, the front surface of the piezoelectric layer is interrupted by a series of slots arranged in the direction of the array axis, each transducer element further comprising means for providing an electrically conductive path across the series of slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, and further including an elastomeric filler material in the slots, to acoustically isolate the adjacent segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric filler material is an epoxy material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the means for providing an electrically conductive path includes an electrically conductive layer between the piezoelectric layer and the acoustic matching layer of each transducer element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the means for providing an electrically conductive path is the acoustic matching layer, wherein the acoustic matching layer is an electrically conductive material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the array axis has a convex shape facing the body being tested.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements further includes a second acoustic matching layer having a concave front surface, a rear surface and uniform thickness, mounted to the concave front surface of the first acoustic matching layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9 wherein, a flexible printed circuit signal conductor is attached to the rear electrode of each of the plurality of transducer elements and a flexible ground conductor is attached to the front electrode of each of the plurality of transducer elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of transducer elements is divided into subelements, with the subelements electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, further comprising a dielectric material forming an outer face layer for the plurality of transducer elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the spaces between adjacent transducer elements is filled with a low impedance acoustically attenuative material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the front and rear electrodes each include an inner layer of nickel and an outer layer of copper.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 20, wherein the front and rear electrodes further include an outer layer of gold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the array axis has a convex shape facing the body being tested.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic matching layer of each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array is completely spaced apart from the first acoustic matching layers of the adjacent transducer elements in the array.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the array axis is linear and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the array axis is curvilinear and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein the array axis includes linear and curvilinear sections and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the series of slots for each transducer element are uniformly spaced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the series of slots for each transducer element are randomly spaced between a predetermined minimum spacing and a predetermined maximum spacing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the first acoustic matching layer of each of the plurality of transducer elements in the array is completely spaced apart from the first acoustic matching layer of the adjacent transducer elements in the array.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the array axis is linear and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the array axis is curvilinear and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein the array axis includes linear and curvilinear sections and the plurality of transducer elements are uniformly spaced along the array axis.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PZT-based material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PVDF-based material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 9, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PMN-based material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PZT-based material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PVDP-based material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1, wherein for each transducer element, the piezoelectric layer is a PMN-based material.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-12 | 1998-12-12 | 1999-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-12 | 2002-12-12 | 2003-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-12 | 2006-12-12 | 2007-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |