Ultrasonic probe

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave including a piezoelectric element and first and second electrode each applied on opposite main surfaces of the piezoelectric element;
• supporting means for supporting said ultrasonic vibrator such that the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic vibrator is directed towards an object under inspection and the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object is received by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• a signal transmitting means arranged integrally with said supporting means for transmitting a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrator and an echo signal generated by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• and
• connecting means for connecting said signal transmitting means to said first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator, and wherein said supporting means comprises a housing which is made of electrically conductive material and which includes a recess formed in a surface thereof, the ultrasonic vibrator is secured to the recess by means of a backing member, said signal transmitting means comprises a coaxial cable having a core conductor and a shielding conductor covering the core conductor, and said connecting means comprises a first conductive member for connecting the core conductor to the first electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator, a second conductive member for connecting the second electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator to the housing and a third conductive member for connecting the shielding conductor to the housing.

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave including a piezoelectric element and first and second electrodes each applied on opposite main surfaces of the piezoelectric element;
• supporting means for supporting said ultrasonic vibrator such that the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic vibrator is directed towards an object under inspection and the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object is received by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• a signal transmitting means arranged integrally with said supporting means for transmitting a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrator and an echo signal generated by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• and
• connecting means for connecting said signal transmitting means to said first and second electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein said supporting means comprises a recess in which said ultrasonic vibrator is inserted and fixed, said signal transmitting means comprises a flexible print circuit board having first and second conductive patterns, and said connecting means comprises first and second conductive members for connecting the first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator to the first and second conductive patterns, respectively, of the print circuit board.

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave including a piezoelectric element and first and second electrodes each applied on opposite main surfaces of the piezoelectric element;
• supporting means for supporting said ultrasonic vibrator such that the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic vibrator is directed towards an object under inspection and the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object is received by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• a signal transmitting means arranged integrally with said supporting means for transmitting a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrator and an echo signal generated by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• and
• connecting means for connecting said signal transmitting means to said first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein said ultrasonic vibrator further comprises at least one acoustic matching layer applied on the first electrode and said acoustic matching layer is formed integrally with the first electrode by means of an ultraviolet setting resin.

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave including a piezoelectric element and first and second electrodes each applied on opposite main surfaces of the piezoelectric element;
• supporting means for supporting said ultrasonic vibrator such that the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic vibrator is directed towards an object under inspection and the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object is received by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• a signal transmitting means arranged integrally with said supporting means for transmitting a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrator and an echo signal generated by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• and
• connecting means for connecting said signal transmitting means to said first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein said ultrasonic vibrator further comprises at least one acoustic matching layer applied on the first electrode and said acoustic matching layer and said acoustic lens are formed integrally with the first electrode of the ultrasonic vibrator by means of an ultraviolet setting resin.

An ultrasonic probe comprising:

• an ultrasonic vibrator for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave including a piezoelectric element and first and second electrodes each applied on opposite main surfaces of the piezoelectric element;
• supporting means for supporting said ultrasonic vibrator such that the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the ultrasonic vibrator is directed towards an object under inspection and the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object is received by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• a signal transmitting means arranged integrally with said supporting means for transmitting a driving signal for the ultrasonic vibrator and an echo signal generated by the ultrasonic vibrator;
• and
• connecting means for connecting said signal transmitting means to said first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator, wherein said connecting means comprises first and second conductive members made of metal sponge or metal felt and arranged to be brought into contact with the first and second electrodes of the ultrasonic vibrator, respectively, and third and fourth conductive members for connecting the first and second conductive members to first and second conductors, respectively to the signal transmitting means.