Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: a transducer element which generates ultrasonic energy propagating along a transducer axis and an acoustic backing layer having a surface positioned at an angle to said transducer axis, said backing layer including an electrorheological fluid therein for enabling the acoustic properties of said backing layer to be selectively altered, said electrorheological fluid consisting of dielectric particles floating in an insulating fluid having voltage dependent flow properties and further including means for controllably applying voltage to said backing layer to selectively alter the acoustic properties thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: a transducer element which generates ultrasonic energy propagating along a transducer axis and an acoustic backing layer having a surface positioned at an angle to said transducer axis, said backing layer including an electrorheological fluid therein for enabling the acoustic properties of said backing layer to be selectively altered, said electrorheological fluid consisting of dielectric particles floating in an insulating fluid having voltage dependent flow properties and further including means for controllably applying voltage to said backing layer to selectively alter the acoustic properties thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrorheological fluid has a high modulus with a high dielectric constant for reorienting the dielectric particles as said voltage is applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 2, wherein said dielectric particles align into rows of particles as said voltage is applied, changing the modulus of said electrorheological fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 3, wherein said electrorheological fluid includes a combination of corn starch and vegetable oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic energy propagating along a transducer axis and an acoustic matching layer, said acoustic matching layer including an electrorheological fluid therein for enabling the acoustic properties of said matching layer to be selectively altered, said electrorheological fluid consisting of dielectric particles floating in an insulating fluid having voltage dependent flow properties and further including means for controllably applying voltage to said matching layer to selectively alter the acoustic properties thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic energy propagating along a transducer axis and an acoustic matching layer, said acoustic matching layer including an electrorheological fluid therein for enabling the acoustic properties of said matching layer to be selectively altered, said electrorheological fluid consisting of dielectric particles floating in an insulating fluid having voltage dependent flow properties and further including means for controllably applying voltage to said matching layer to selectively alter the acoustic properties thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 5, wherein said electrorheological fluid has a high modulus with a high dielectric constant for reorienting the dielectric particles as said voltage is applied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 6, wherein said dielectric particles align into rows of particles as said voltage is applied, changing the modulus of said electrorheological fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic transducer as defined in claim 7, wherein said electrorheological fluid includes a combination of corn starch and vegetable oil.