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US 12,622,674 B2Granted
Contactless CMUT operation
AssigneeThe University of British Columbia
InventorsEdmond Cretu, Carlos D. Gerardo, Robert Rohling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and techniques for the contactless operation of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) and CMUT arrays. Contactless operations refers to both the contactless transfer of energy and information between the transducer(s) and the controlling subsystem. A system includes a CMUT, a first alternating current voltage source, a first inductor electrically coupled to the first voltage source, and a second inductor electrically coupled to the CMUT. The second inductor is physically decoupled from, and positioned to be wirelessly coupled to, the first inductor. A contactless configuration is useful for a wide range of applications, from wearable transducers to high-end ultrasound imaging systems.
Claims26
A system comprising:
- (a) a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT);
- (b) a first alternating current voltage source;
- (c) a first inductor electrically coupled to the first voltage source;
- and
- (d) a second inductor electrically coupled to the CMUT, wherein the second inductor is physically electrically decoupled from, and configured to be wirelessly coupled to, the first inductor;
- (e) a first antenna electrically coupled to the first inductor;
- and
- (f) a second antenna electrically coupled to the second inductor, wherein first and second inductors are wireless coupled via the first and second antennas,
- wherein an electrical resonant frequency of the second inductor and the CMUT is approximately equal to a mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT, wherein the first voltage source is configured to operate at a frequency approximately equal to the electrical or mechanical resonant frequency, and wherein an electrical resonant frequency of the first inductor is approximately equal to the electrical resonant frequency of the second inductor.
6 more elements
The system of 1, wherein the first voltage source is configured to be operated at a frequency of at least 1 MHz.
A method comprising:
- (a) applying a first alternating current voltage source across a first inductor;
- (b) wirelessly transferring power from the first alternating current voltage source to a second inductor;
- and
- (c) using the wirelessly transferred power to oscillate a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT);
- (d) receiving an echo at the CMUT, wherein the echo results in a current change in the second inductor;
- (e) wirelessly transferring a signal resulting from the current change from the second inductor to the first inductor;
- and
- (f) measuring the signal that has been wirelessly transferred,
- wherein the power is wirelessly transferred using a first antenna electrically coupled to the first inductor and a second antenna electrically coupled to the second inductor,
- wherein an electrical resonant frequency of the second inductor and the CMUT is approximately equal to a mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT, wherein the first voltage source is operated at a frequency approximately equal to the electrical or mechanical resonant frequency, and wherein an electrical resonant frequency of the first inductor is approximately equal to the electrical resonant frequency of the second inductor.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- (a) a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT);
- (b) a first alternating current voltage source;
- (c) a first inductor electrically coupled to the first voltage source;
- and
- (d) a second inductor electrically coupled to the CMUT, wherein the second inductor is physically electrically decoupled from, and configured to be wirelessly coupled to, the first inductor;
- (e) a first antenna electrically coupled to the first inductor;
- and
- (f) a second antenna electrically coupled to the second inductor, wherein first and second inductors are wireless coupled via the first and second antennas;
- (g) a controller communicatively coupled to the first voltage source, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory having stored thereon computer program code executable by the processor and that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
- (i) operate the first voltage source at a frequency at least a decade above a mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT;
- (ii) while operating the first voltage source at the frequency at least a decade above the mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT, measure a reflected impedance of the first inductor;
- and
- (iii) determine from the reflected impedance a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors.
10 more elements
A method comprising:
- (a) applying a first alternating current voltage source across a first inductor;
- (b) wirelessly transferring power from the first alternating current voltage source to a second inductor;
- and
- (c) using the wirelessly transferred power to oscillate a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT);
- (d) receiving an echo at the CMUT, wherein the echo results in a current change in the second inductor;
- (e) wirelessly transferring a signal resulting from the current change from the second inductor to the first inductor;
- (f) measuring the signal that has been wirelessly transferred, wherein the power is wirelessly transferred using a first antenna electrically coupled to the first inductor and a second antenna electrically coupled to the second inductor;
- (g) operating the first voltage source at a frequency at least a decade above a mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT;
- (h) while operating the first voltage source at the frequency at least a decade above the mechanical resonant frequency of the CMUT, measuring a reflected impedance of the first inductor;
- and
- (i) determining from the reflected impedance a coupling coefficient between the first and second inductors.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.