Ultrasonic transducer array incorporating an array of slotted transducer elements
AssigneeParallel Design, Inc.
InventorsP. Michael Finsterwald, Stephen Joseph Douglas, Ricky Gail Just
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer and one or more acoustic matching layers. The piezoelectric layer has a concave front surface overlayed by a front electrode and a rear surface overlayed by a rear electrode. The shape of each transducer element is selected such that it is mechanically focused into the imaging plane. A backing support holds the plurality of transducer elements in a predetermined relationship along the array axis such that each element is mechanically focused in the imaging plane.
Claims25
An ultrasonic transducer array for testing a body, comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane, each of the plurality of transducer elements including
- a piezoelectric layer having a front surface overlaid by a front electrode and a rear surface overlaid by a rear electrode, the front surface being interrupted by a series of slots arranged in directions substantially parallel with the array axis,
- a first acoustic matching layer mounted in front of the front surface of the piezoelectric layer, and
- an electrically conductive path across the series of slots of the piezoelectric layer,
- wherein the piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of the first acoustic matching layer are spaced from the adjacent transducer elements;
- and
- a backing support that supports the plurality of transducer elements in the aligned, spaced-apart relationship along the array axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.