Multilevel bipolar pulser
AssigneeButterfly Network, Inc.
InventorsKailiang Chen, Tyler S. Ralston, Keith G. Fife
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multilevel pulser is described, which can provide bipolar pulses of multiple levels. The multilevel pulser includes a pulsing circuit and pulser and feedback circuit. Symmetric switches are also described. The symmetric switches can be positioned as inputs to ultrasound receiving circuitry to block signals from the receiving circuitry.
Claims23
An apparatus, comprising:
- a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) die having ultrasonic transducers and an integrated circuit formed thereon, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a pulser with feedback.
An ultrasound device comprising:
- at least one capacitive ultrasonic transducer;
- a pulser having an input terminal and an output terminal, the pulser coupled, at the output terminal, to the capacitive ultrasonic transducer and configured to provide an input signal to the capacitive ultrasonic transducer;
- and
- a feedback circuit coupled to the output terminal and the input terminal of the pulser and configured to provide a control signal to the input terminal of the pulser based on a comparison of a detection signal, representing or derived from the input signal, to a threshold voltage.
A method of operating an ultrasound device having a capacitive ultrasonic transducer, a pulser coupled to the capacitive ultrasonic transducer, and a feedback circuit, the method comprising:
- with the pulser, providing an input signal to the capacitive ultrasonic transducer ;
- deriving a detection signal from the input signal, the detection signal representing the input signal;
- and
- with the feedback circuit, providing a control signal to the pulser to control the provision of the input signal based on a result obtained by comparing the detection signal to a threshold voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.