Ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic imaging apparatus
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorsTeiichiro Ikeda, Hiroki Tanaka, Shuntaro Machida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention aims to give uniform and stable characteristics to a cMUT-cell array and to improve acoustic characteristics. To this end, a signal blocking section is additionally provided for cells 102 located in the outermost peripheral portion or at the end positions of a two-dimensional array 101 of cMUT cells that are designed and manufactured as ones usable as an ordinary transducer capable of transmission and reception of signals. The signal blocking section is provided to prevent the displacement and the vibration of the cells, and to block the transmission and the reception of signals.
Claims10
An ultrasonic transducer characterized by comprising:
- a plurality of cells which are arranged substantially in two dimensions as a cell array, and each of which includes a floor portion, a wall portion, a membrane portion opposed to the floor portion and supported by the wall portion, a first electrode provided in the floor portion, and a second electrode provided in the membrane portion;
- a signal processing section which controls transmission and reception of signals by the cells;
- and
- a signal blocking means for blocking the conveying of signals between the signal processing section and a cell group located in edge portions of the cell array.
An ultrasonic transducer characterized by comprising:
- a plurality of first cells which are arranged substantially in two dimensions as a cell array, and each of which includes a floor portion, a wall portion, a membrane portion opposed to the floor portion and supported by the wall portion, a first electrode provided in the floor portion, and a second electrode provided in the membrane portion;
- a plurality of second cells which are located surrounding the cell array, and each of which includes a floor portion, a wall portion, and a membrane portion opposed to the floor portion and supported by the wall portion;
- and
- a signal processing section which controls transmission and reception of signals by the first cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.