# US 9,039,625 B2 · Head unit, ultrasonic probe, electronic instrument, and diagnostic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,625 B2 - Document ID: US9039625B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/774,270 - Filed: 2013-02-22 - Published: 2013-08-29 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-24 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Masaki Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039625B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/4411: {Device being modular} - A61B 5/725: {using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters (specific diagnostics methods using using bioelectric or biomagnetic signals A61B5/316)} - A61B 8/04: Measuring blood pressure - A61B 8/145: {characterised by scanning multiple planes} - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4494: {characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements} - A61B 8/461: {Displaying means of special interest} - A61B 8/52: {Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves} - A61B 8/54: {Control of the diagnostic device} - B06B 1/0629: {Square array} - A61B 8/4483: {characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer} - A61B 2560/0475: Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract A head unit for an ultrasonic probe includes a connecting section, an element chip and a storing section. The connecting section is configured to electrically connect the head unit to a probe main body of the ultrasonic probe. The element chip includes an ultrasonic element array having a substrate defining a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements with each of the ultrasonic transducer elements being provided in each of the openings. The element chip is configured to be electrically connected to a processing device of the probe main body through the connecting section. The storing section is configured to store operation setting information of the processing device to be output to the processing device through the connecting section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A head unit for an ultrasonic probe comprising: a connecting section configured to electrically connect the head unit to a probe main body of the ultrasonic probe; an element chip including an ultrasonic element array having a substrate defining a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, each of the ultrasonic transducer elements being provided in each of the openings, the element chip being configured to be electrically connected to a processing device of the probe main body through the connecting section; and a storing section configured to store a gain setting information including a value of gain of a programmable gain amplifier as operation setting information of the processing device to be output to the processing device through the connecting section, the gain setting information being information for setting the gain of the programmable gain amplifier of an analog front-end section that the processing device has to perform signal processing to a signal received from the ultrasonic element array. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the storing section stores the gain setting information further for setting gain of a low noise amplifier of the analog front-end section as the operation setting information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The head unit according to claim 2, wherein the storing section is configured to store frequency characteristic setting information for setting frequency characteristics of a low-pass filter of the analog front-end section as the operation setting information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the storing section is configured to store the operation setting information corresponding to a probe target of the ultrasonic probe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The head unit according to claim 4, wherein the operation setting information corresponding to the probe target of the ultrasonic probe corresponds to one of ultrasonic diagnosis image processing and blood pressure measurement processing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The head unit according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting member supporting the element chip and the storing section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The head unit according to claim 6, wherein the connecting section has a plurality of connecting terminals connected to the probe main body, the storing section and the connecting terminals are disposed on a first surface side of the supporting member, and the element chip is supported on a second surface side of the supporting member, the second surface being a reverse surface of the first surface of the supporting member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The head unit according to claim 7, wherein the connecting section has a connector including the connecting terminals and a flexible printed circuit board including wiring connecting the connector and the element chip, and the storing section is disposed in the flexible printed circuit board. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An ultrasonic probe comprising: the probe main body; and the head unit according to claim 1, the head unit being removably coupled to the probe main body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the probe main body includes a processing device having an analog front-end section configured to perform signal processing to a signal received from the ultrasonic element array, a transmitting section configured to output a driving signal to the ultrasonic element array, and a controlling section configured to control the analog front-end section and the transmitting section, the controlling section being configured to set operations of the analog front-end section and the transmitting section based on the operation setting information read out from the storing section of the head unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An electronic instrument comprising: the head unit according to claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A diagnostic device comprising: the head unit according to claim 1; and a display section configured to display image data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The head unit according to claim 3, wherein the frequency characteristic setting information has a value of cutoff frequency. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An electronic instrument comprising: the head unit according to claim 1; and the probe main body, the head unit being removably coupled to the probe main body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A diagnostic device comprising: the head unit according to claim 1; a probe main body; and a display section configured to display image data, the head unit being removably coupled to the probe main body.