# US 9,751,108 B2 · Extended range ultrasound transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,108 B2 - Document ID: US9751108B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/814,542 - Filed: 2015-07-31 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-31 - Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Applicants: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Inventors: Wei-Yan Shih; Xiaochen Xu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751108B2 ## CPC - B06B 1/0629: {Square array} - B06B 1/0292: {Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type} - B06B 1/0622: {on one surface} - 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 An ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer has an interposer having electrical connectivity contacts. The ultrasonic transducer also has an ultrasonic receiver, comprising an array of receiving elements, physically fixed relative to the interposer and coupled to electrically communicate with electrical connectivity contacts of the interposer. The ultrasonic transducer also has at least one ultrasonic transmitter, separate from the ultrasonic receiver, physically fixed relative to the interposer and coupled to electrically communicate with electrical connectivity contacts of the interposer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: an interposer having electrical connectivity contacts; an ultrasonic receiver, comprising an array of receiving elements, physically fixed relative to the interposer and coupled to electrically communicate with electrical connectivity contacts of the interposer; and at least one ultrasonic transmitter, separate from the ultrasonic receiver, physically fixed relative to the interposer and coupled to electrically communicate with electrical connectivity contacts of the interposer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the array comprises at least 64 elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the array comprises a same number of rows and columns of the elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the at least one ultrasonic transmitter comprises a single element transmitter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the at least one ultrasonic transmitter comprises a bulk ceramic transmitter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1: wherein the ultrasonic receiver is physically fixed adjacent a first side of the interposer; and wherein the at least one ultrasonic transmitter is physically fixed adjacent a second side, opposite the first side, of the interposer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 6 and further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, comprising the at least one ultrasonic transmitter, wherein all of the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters are physically fixed adjacent the second side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 7 and further comprising an acoustic couplant layer adjacent each transmitter and facing the interposer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, comprising the at least one ultrasonic transmitter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 9: wherein the ultrasonic receiver is physically fixed adjacent a first side of the interposer; wherein at least a first ultrasonic transmitter in the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters is physically fixed adjacent the first side; and wherein at least a second ultrasonic transmitter in the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters is physically fixed adjacent a second side, opposite the first side, of the interposer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 and further comprising two ultrasonic transmitters, comprising the at least one ultrasonic transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 and further comprising three ultrasonic transmitters, comprising the at least one ultrasonic transmitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 12: wherein the ultrasonic receiver is physically fixed adjacent a first side of the interposer; wherein a first ultrasonic transmitter and a second ultrasonic transmitter in the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters are physically fixed adjacent the first side; and wherein a third ultrasonic transmitter in the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters is physically fixed adjacent a second side, opposite the first side, of the interposer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1: wherein the ultrasonic receiver is physically fixed adjacent a first side of the interposer; and further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters, comprising the at least one ultrasonic transmitter, wherein all of the plurality of ultrasonic transmitters are physically fixed adjacent the first side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1: wherein the ultrasonic receiver is physically fixed adjacent a first side of the interposer; and further comprising operational circuitry for operating at least one of the ultrasonic receiver and the at least one ultrasonic transmitter, the operational circuitry physically fixed adjacent a second side, opposite the first side, of the interposer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 15 wherein the operational circuitry comprises analog front end circuitry for the ultrasonic receiver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 15 wherein the operational circuitry comprises driver circuitry for providing a first voltage to the at least one ultrasonic transmitter, the first voltage being greater than a second voltage for operating the at least one ultrasonic receiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic receiver comprises a pMUT array. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic receiver comprises a cMUT array. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the interposer comprises: a first side with a first density of electrical connectivity contacts; and a second side with a second density of electrical connectivity contacts, differing from the first density. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 1 wherein the at least one ultrasonic transmitter comprises an annular shape. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The ultrasonic transducer of claim 21: wherein the annular shape has an open area within an outer annular region, and wherein the at least one ultrasonic transmitter is fixed within the open area.