Bias-switchable ultrasonic transducer array

An ultrasonic imaging system, comprising:

• a bias-switchable, ultrasonic transducer array comprising:
• a bias-sensitive ultrasonic layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• top electrode strips in electrical contact with the top surface of the bias-sensitive ultrasonic layer;
• and
• bottom electrode strips in electrical contact with the bottom of the bias-sensitive ultrasonic layer, the bottom electrode strips being oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the top electrode strips;
• a bipolar voltage source connected to each of the top electrode strips and each of the bottom electrode strips to induce a polarization in the dielectric layer, the bipolar voltage source comprising:
• solid state transistors capable of switching between a high bias voltage and a low bias voltage that differ by 25V or more at a switching speed of less than 1 ms, the solid state transistors being capable of withstanding at least 20 mA of peak current;
• and
• bias switching electronics that comprise a digital decoder, the digital decoder being adapted to control the voltage states of the solid state transistors based on digital control signals and to prevent different bias voltages being output simultaneously from one or more of the solid state transistors;
• pulsing electronics and receiving electronics electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer array;
• a controller for controlling the bipolar voltage source, the pulsing electronics, and the receiving electronics;
• and
• an imaging system that generates an image of a sample based on signals received by the receiving electronics.