Joining method for curved surfaces, and ultrasonic probe and manufacturing method thereof
AssigneeFUJIFILM Corporation
InventorAtsushi Oosawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head of an ultrasonic probe is formed by joining a flexible sheet holding a plurality of ultrasonic transducers to a curved surface of a support. Concave-convex shapes (concave-convex surfaces) are provided on the curved surface of the support and a joining surface of the flexible sheet. The concave-convex surfaces correspond to each other, and are engaged with each other to determine relative positions of the flexible sheet and the support when they are joined. Each of grooves on the concave-convex surface is positioned between adjacent ultrasonic transducers.
Claims16
A joining method for curved surfaces, in which a flexible member is joined, on a curved surface of a curved member having a curved shape, comprising steps of:
- providing concave-convex shapes to said curved surface of said curved member and a joining surface of said flexible member, said concave-convex shapes corresponding to each other;
- and
- engaging said concave-convex shape of said curved surface with said concave-convex shape of said joining surface;
- wherein said concave-convex shapes are provided by forming grooves and convex portions perpendicular to a curving direction of said flexible member, and/or forming grooves and convex portions parallel to said curving direction.
An ultrasonic probe comprising:
- a support having a curved surface;
- a flexible sheet holding a plurality of ultrasonic transducers at an opposite surface to a joining surface which is joined on said curved surface of said support;
- and
- concave-convex shapes provided to said curved surface and said joining surface, said concave-convex shapes of said curved surface and said joining surface corresponding to each other and being engaged with each other;
- wherein said concave-convex shapes are provided by forming grooves and convex portions perpendicular to a curving direction of said flexible member, and/or forming grooves and convex portions parallel to said curving direction.
A manufacturing method of an ultrasonic probe in which a flexible sheet holding a plurality of ultrasonic transducers at an opposite surface to a joining surface is joined on a curved surface of a support having a curved shape, said method comprising steps of:
- providing concave-convex shapes to said curved surface and said joining surface, said concave-convex shapes corresponding to each other;
- and
- engaging said concave-convex shape of said curved surface with said concave-convex shape of said joining surface;
- wherein said concave-convex shapes are provided by forming grooves and convex portions perpendicular to a curving direction of said flexible member, and/or forming grooves and convex portions parallel to said curving direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.