Bias control of electrostatic transducers
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorsStephen R. Barnes, Robert N. Phelps, Mirsaid Seyed Bolorforosh
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Abstract
A method and system for controlling bias voltage for use with an electrostatic transducer are provided. The bias voltage is dynamically varied or set as a function of imaging mode, depth gain compensation, elevational apodization, azimuthal apodization, timing with respect to the transmit waveform, center frequency of transmit and receive waves and desired modulation. Opposite polarity on sub-elements is also provided for removing signals from electromagnetic interference and crosstalk between elements.
Claims48
An ultrasound method for operating a multiple element capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer (cMUT), the method comprising:
- (a) applying a bias voltage to a multiple element electrostatic transducer during one of a transmit and a receive event;
- and
- (b) varying the bias voltage as a function of time during the one of the transmit event and receive event.
An ultrasound multiple element capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer (cMUT) system, the system comprising:
- at least one membrane ultrasound element configured to receive acoustic energy and output a responsive electrical signal;
- and
- a voltage bias source connected with the at least one membrane ultrasound element, the voltage bias source operative to vary a bias voltage as a function of time during one of a transmit event and a receive event.
An ultrasound method for operating a multiple element capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer (cMUT), the method comprising:
- (a) applying a first DC bias voltage to at least one of the multiple elements in a receive mode;
- (b) applying a second DC bias voltage in a transmit mode, the second bias voltage different than the first bias voltages;
- (c) applying a transmit waveform to one of the multiple elements in the transmit mode;
- and
- (d) changing from the first DC bias voltage to the second DC bias voltage substantially simultaneously with a beginning of the transmit waveform.
An ultrasound multiple element capacitive membrane ultrasound transducer (cMUT) system, the system comprising:
- at least one membrane ultrasound element;
- a beamformer operative to apply a transmit waveform to the at least one membrane ultrasound element;
- and
- a voltage bias source connected with the at least one membrane ultrasound element, the voltage bias source operative to change from a first DC bias voltage of a receive mode to a second different DC bias voltage of a transmit mode substantially simultaneously with a beginning of the transmit waveform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.