Back to results
US 4,359,767 AGranted
Ultrasonic array
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsBertram Sachs, Jacques Borburgh, Ingmar Feigt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsBertram Sachs, Jacques Borburgh, Ingmar Feigt
Estimating the term…
In an exemplary embodiment, the transducer elements are arranged in rows and columns, the transducer elements bein contacted at both sides by oppositely disposed contact surfaces, and switches being associated with the contacts of the one contact surface as well as with the contacts of the other contact surface for the purpose of adjustment of preselectable transmitting and/or receiving surface of transducer elements during a transmitting/receiving cycle, in particular, for the purpose of dynamic focusing. It is an object of the disclosure to construct an ultrasonic array which can function with an optimally low outlay of switches and which if desired also permits a transition to continuously varied apertures. In accordance with the disclosure, this object is achieved in that transducer elements, with their one contact surface in the direction of the rows, and with their other contact surface in direction of the columns, are contacted together into groups, and that there is maximally associated, with each row group, an individual common row group switch, and that there is maximally associated, with each column group, an individual common column group switch. A transfer to continuously variable aperture is possible in the simplest manner if continuously variable switching elemets, such as controllable resistances, or the like, are utilized as transmitting and/or receiving switches.
An ultrasonic array comprising an arrangement of transducer elements in rows and columns, said transducer elements having opposite contact surfaces at opposite sides thereof, electrical contact means in electrical contact with said opposite contact surfaces of said transducer elements, and switch means being associated with the electrical contact means and being operative for forming preselectable transducing surfaces from the transducer elements during a transducing cycle, in particular for the purpose of dynamic focusing, said contact surfaces of said transducer elements (2) comprising row-connecting contact surfaces and column-connecting surfaces, said electrical contact means comprising row contact means for connecting the row-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the rows (Z1 through Z3) and comprising column contact means for connecting the column-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the columns (SP1 through SPN) to define respective row and column groups of transducer elements, said switch means comprising at least one row group switch (ES1 through ES3, or ES, respectively) for controlling activation of at least one row group, and comprising column group switches (SS1 through SSN) for controlling activation of the column groups, transverse contacting means (E11) electrically connecting respective contact means of a plurality of groups, and said switch means comprising an individual switch (ES) for actuation to control joint activation of the contact means (E1, E3), of said plurality of groups.
An ultrasonic array comprising an arrangement of transducer elements in rows and columns, said transducer elements having opposite contact surfaces at opposite sides thereof, electrical contact means in electrical contact with said opposite contact surfaces of said transducer elements, and switch means being associated with the electrical contact means and being operative for forming preselectable transducing surfaces from the transducer elements during a transducing cycle, in particular for the purpose of dynamic focusing, said contact surfaces of said transducer elements (2) comprising row-connecting contact surfaces and column-connecting surfaces, said electrical contact means comprising row contact means for connecting the row-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the rows (Z1 through Z3) and comprising column contact means for connecting the column-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the columns (SP1 through SPN) to define respective row and column groups of transducer elements, said switch means comprising at least one row group switch (ES1 through ES3, or ES, respectively) for controlling activation of at least one row group, and comprising column group switches (SS1 through SSN) for controlling activation of the column groups, said row group and column group switches including ground potential switches (ES1 through ES3, or ES respectively) comprising continuously variable elements (3 through 5) connected between ground potential and the associated row contact means for providing continuously variable control of the excitation of such associated row contact means, thereby to provide a continuously variable control of the connection of individual transducer elements (2) in a transducer surface, so that, in this manner, a continuously variable aperture results.
An ultrasonic array comprising an arrangement of transducer elements in rows and columns, said transducer elements having opposite contact surfaces at opposite sides thereof, electrical contact means in electrical contact with said opposite contact surfaces of said transducer elements and switch means being associated with the electrical contact means and being operative for forming preselectable transducing surfaces from the transducer elements during a transducing cycle, in particular for the purpose of dynamic focusing said contact surfaces of said transducer elements (2) comprising row-connecting contact surfaces and column-connecting surfaces, said electrical contact means comprising row contact means for connecting the row-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the rows (Z1 through Z3) and comprising column contact means for connecting the column-connecting contact surfaces in a direction along the columns (SP1 through SPN) to define respective row and column groups of transducer elements, said switch means comprising at least one row group switch ES1 through ES3, or ES, respectively) for controlling activation of at least one row group, and comprising column group switches (SS1 through SSN) for controlling activation of the column groups, said switch means comprising group potential switch means for controlling application of ground potential, said arrangement of transducer elements having said group potential switch means controlling activation of at least one of said row and column groups, and further having a capacitively coupled high frequency shielding layer (14) which is constantly connected to ground potential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.