US5465725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic probe
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-30
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2015-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A tunable ultrasonic probe of the that provides efficient electrical coupling of probe control lines to imaging system components and further provides for variable control over size of an effective acoustic aperture of the probe. The ultrasonic probe includes a body of a piezoelectric material that has a first surface and an opposing surface. A first set of electrodes is coupled with the first surface of the body. A second set of electrodes is also coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that each electrode of the second set substantially overlaps at least a respective one electrode of the first set. A third set of electrodes is coupled with the opposing surface of the body. At least one bias voltage source is coupled with the electrodes for substantially polarizing ceramic material within selected regions of the body. Switches are coupled with the first and second set of electrodes for changing an acoustic aperture of the probe by varying size of the selected polarized regions. The polarization of the selected regions of the piezoelectric material is controlled so as to variably tune a frequency of the beam of acoustic signals while controlling the acoustic aperture of the probe.
Inventors
- 👤 Mir S. Seyed-Bolorforosh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:15
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0622; B06B1/0629; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/02; B06B2201/00; B06B2201/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe for coupling a beam of acoustic signals between the probe and a medium, the probe comprising: a body of piezoelectric material, the body having a first surface and an opposing surface; a first electrode coupled with the first surface of the body; a second electrode coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that the second electrode substantially overlaps the first electrode; and a third electrode coupled with the opposing surface of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe for coupling a beam of acoustic signals between the probe and a medium, the probe comprising: a body of piezoelectric material, the body having a first surface and an opposing surface; a first electrode coupled with the first surface of the body; a second electrode coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that the second electrode substantially overlaps the first electrode; and a third electrode coupled with the opposing surface of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe as in claim 1 further comprising an insulator layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe as in claim 1 further comprising a switch for selectively interconnecting the first electrode and the second electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A probe as in claim 1 further comprising: a first set of electrodes coupled with the first surface of the body; a second set of electrodes coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that each electrode of the second set substantially overlaps at least a respective one electrode of the first set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A probe as in claim 4 wherein the piezoelectric material includes a relaxor ferroelectric ceramic material having a variable polarization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A probe as in claim 5 wherein at least one bias voltage source is coupled with the electrodes for substantially polarizing ceramic material within selected regions of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A probe as in claim 6 further comprising switches coupled with the first and second set of electrodes for changing an acoustic aperture of the probe by varying size of the selected polarized regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A probe as in claim 7 further comprising a means for controlling the switches so as to change the acoustic aperture of the probe in response to transmission of the acoustic beam from the probe and reception of the acoustic beam by the probe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A probe as in claim 7 further comprising means for controlling the polarization of the selected regions of the piezoelectric material so as to variably tune a frequency of the beam of acoustic signals while controlling the acoustic aperture of the probe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A probe as in claim 6 further comprising switches coupled with the first and second set of electrodes for apodizing the acoustic beam by varying size of the selected polarized regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A probe as in claim 5 wherein: the body has a central axis; each member of the first and second sets of electrodes extend radially outward from the central axis of the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ultrasonic probe as in claim 5 wherein each member of the first and second set of electrodes is substantially sector shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ultrasonic probe as in claim 5 further comprising a third set of electrodes coupled with the opposing surface of the body and concentrically arranged about the central axis of the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ultrasonic probe as in claim 5 further comprising a third set of electrodes coupled with the opposing surface of the body wherein each member of the third set of electrodes is substantially semicircular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ultrasonic probe as in claim 1 wherein: the third electrode has a longitudinal dimension extending along a longitudinal dimension of the probe; the first and second electrodes each have a respective longitudinal dimension arranged substantially perpendicular to that of the third electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ultrasonic probe as in claim 1 wherein: the third electrode has a longitudinal dimension extending along a longitudinal dimension of the probe; the first and second electrodes each have a respective longitudinal dimension arranged substantially parallel to that of the third electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
An ultrasonic probe for coupling a beam of acoustic signals between the probe and a medium, the probe comprising: a body of piezoelectric material, the body having a first surface and an opposing surface; a first pair of adjacent electrodes spaced apart to provide a separation therebetween, and coupled with the first surface of the body; a second electrode coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that the second electrode substantially overlaps the separation between the first pair spaced apart electrodes; and a third electrode coupled with the opposing surface of the body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
An ultrasonic probe for coupling a beam of acoustic signals between the probe and a medium, the probe comprising: a body of piezoelectric material, the body having a first surface and an opposing surface; a first pair of adjacent electrodes spaced apart to provide a separation therebetween, and coupled with the first surface of the body; a second electrode coupled with the first surface of the body and arranged so that the second electrode substantially overlaps the separation between the first pair spaced apart electrodes; and a third electrode coupled with the opposing surface of the body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A probe as in claim 17 further comprising: a first set of spaced apart electrodes coupled with the first surface of the body, members of the first set of electrodes being spaced apart from one another to provide a respective separation between each pair of adjacent members of the first set; and A second set of electrodes coupled proximate with the first surface of the body and arranged so that a respective member of the second set substantially overlaps the respective separation between each pair of adjacent members of the first set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A probe as in claim 17 wherein: the piezoelectric material includes a relaxor ferroelectric ceramic material having a variable polarization; and the probe further comprises: at least one bias voltage source coupled with the electrodes for substantially polarizing ceramic material within selected regions of the body; and switches coupled with the first and second set of electrodes for changing an acoustic aperture of the probe by varying size of the selected polarized regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
A probe as in claim 17 wherein: the body has a central axis; each member of the first and second sets of electrodes are substantially sector shaped and extend radially outward from the central axis of the body; and the probe further comprises a third set of substantially semicircular electrodes coupled with the opposing surface of the body and concentrically arranged about the central axis of the body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |