Ultrasonic transducer with integrated variable gain amplifier

A transducer apparatus for use with an ultrasonic imaging system, said transducer apparatus comprising:

• a cable having a first end for coupling to said ultrasonic imaging system, and a second end;
• a transducer, located at the second end of said cable, for converting ultrasonic energy into electronic signals for transmission through said cable to said ultrasonic imaging system;
• a preamplifier, located at the second end of said cable, having an input coupled to said transducer and an output;
• a variable gain amplifier, located at the second end of said cable, having an input coupled to the output of said preamplifier and an output coupled to the second end of said cable;
• and
• means, located at the second end of said cable and responsive to a gain control signal from said imaging system, for varying the gain of said variable gain amplifier as said electronic signals are received.

A transducer apparatus for use with an ultrasonic imaging system, the imaging system comprising signal receiving circuitry for receiving signals from said transducer apparatus, said signal receiving circuitry being capable of receiving a first range of signal amplitudes, the transducer apparatus comprising:

• a cable having a first end for coupling to said ultrasonic imaging system, and a second end;
• a transducer, located at the second end of said cable, for converting ultrasonic energy into electronic signals having a second range of amplitudes greater than said first range;
• and
• means, coupled between said transducer and the second end of said cable, for mapping said second range of signals from said transducer to a range not greater than said first range of signals.