Ultrasonic array transducer
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsAndrei A. Ptchelintsev, Roman Gr. Maev
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Abstract
The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe and method for making the same is provided which has an advantageous construction and method of assembly. The ultrasonic probe has a segmented ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of individual independent transducers, a plurality of piezoelectric transducers connected to a first end of a respective individual independent transducer; and a plurality of electrical connections electrically communicating each the piezoelectric transducer with a power source.
Claims21
A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic array transducer, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a uniformly shaped piece of damping material;
- attaching a piezoelectric material to a first end of said damping material;
- segmenting said damping material and said piezoelectric material parallel to and along a first length to form a plurality of individual independent transducers along said length, each said individual independent transducer including a piezoelectric crystal bonded to a damping body, whereby each of said plurality of individual independent transducers being separated from a remainder of said individual independent transducers by said plurality of gaps;
- filling said plurality of gaps with a non-conductive bonding agent, whereby said non-conductive bonding agent electrically insulates and mechanically bonds each of said plurality of individual independent transducers to a remainder of said plurality of individual independent transducers;
- and
- separating said plurality of individual independent transducers from a non-segmented remainder of said damping material.
An ultrasonic array transducer comprising:
- a segmented ultrasonic transducer having a plurality of individual independent transducers bonded together by a nonconductive bonding agent, each said individual independent transducer including a piezoelectric crystal bonded to a damping body;
- a connector having a first end and a second end, said connector electrically connecting each said individual independent transducer with a power source, said connector providing an independent electrical path such that each said individual independent transducer is powered independently from a remainder of said individual independent transducers, and
- a grounding connection grounding said individual independent transducers, whereby said connector and said grounding connection forms a complete circuit to energize said individual independent transducers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.