| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 367180000 | Piezoelectric | 19 |
| 20080273424 | MONITORING OR IMAGING SYSTEM WITH INTERCONNECT STRUCTURE FOR LARGE AREA SENSOR ARRAY - An ultrasonic monitoring system is formed with a probe unit. In one example an array of transducer cells is arranged in rows and columns formed along a first plane with a first pitch along a first direction. An integrated circuit including an array of circuit cells is formed along a second plane parallel to the first plane. The circuit cells are spaced apart along the first direction at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch. A first of the transducer cells is vertically aligned, along a direction normal to one of the planes, with a first of the circuit cells and having a connection thereto. A second of the transducer cells is offset from vertical alignment with respect to the position of a second circuit cell so as to not overlie the second circuit cell. A connection subsystem is positioned between the array of transducer cells and the array of circuit cells, configured to form connection of the first transducer cell to the first circuit cell and connection of the second transducer cell with the second circuit cell. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090034370 | Diagnostic ultrasound transducer - An ultrasound transducer includes an array of PZT elements mounted on a non-recessed distal surface of a backing block. Between each element and the backing block is a conductive region formed as a portion of a metallic layer sputtered onto the distal surface. Traces on a longitudinally extending circuit board—preferably, a substantially rigid printed circuit board, which may be embedded within the block—connect the conductive region, and thus the PZT element, with any conventional external ultrasound imaging system. A substantially “T” or “inverted-L” shaped electrode is thereby formed for each element, with no need for soldering. At least one longitudinally extending metallic member mounted on a respective lateral surface of the backing block forms a heat sink and a common electrical ground. A thermally and electrically conductive layer, such as of foil, transfers heat from at least one matching layer mounted on the elements to the metallic member. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20100202254 | CMUTS WITH A HIGH-K DIELECTRIC - A capacitive ultrasound transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, the third electrode including a central region disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the first electrode, and a peripheral region disposed outward of the central region and disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the second electrode. The transducer further includes a layer of a high dielectric constant material disposed between the third electrode and the first electrode, and between the third electrode and the second electrode. The transducer may be operable in a collapsed mode wherein the peripheral region of the third electrode oscillates relative to the second electrode, and the central region of the third electrode is fully collapsed with respect to the first electrode such that the dielectric layer is sandwiched therebetween. Piezoelectric actuation, such as d31 and d33 mode piezoelectric actuation, may further be included. A medical imaging system includes an array of such capacitive ultrasound transducers disposed on a common substrate. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20110141854 | ACOUSTIC SENSOR AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A condenser-type acoustic sensor is provided. The acoustic sensor includes an acoustic chamber formed by etching an upper portion of a substrate, an insulating layer formed on the substrate and having a central area etched so that the acoustic chamber is exposed, a diaphragm formed on the insulating layer, and a stationary electrode formed on the diaphragm. Thus, a nonlinear component resulting from horizontal movement of the support and the diaphragm is removed to improve a sound-pressure response characteristic, and a substrate backside process can be omitted to simplify a fabrication process and improve a yield. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20120039152 | Sensor Array - There is provided a sensor array, comprising a pair of transducers, a first transducer, configured to transmit pressure waves; and a second transducer, acoustically coupled to the first transducer, configured to detect pressure waves incident upon the sensor array from the environment. The array further comprises control circuitry, coupled to the first and second transducers, configured to: control the first transducer to transmit pressure waves; simultaneously control the second transducer to monitor the transmission of said pressure waves; and verify correct operation of the array in the event that said pressure waves are detected. The invention therefore provides a sensor array with a failsafe mechanism. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120069715 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is connectable with an ultrasound probe having a c-MUT element or a piezoelectric ultrasound transducer, and includes a DC bias output portion, a transmission signal output portion, an operation portion, a control portion, and a display portion. The control portion controls the DC bias output portion and the transmission signal output portion so as to output an ultrasound transmission signal after applying the bias voltage when an instruction signal instructing the start of transmission is inputted from the operation portion, and so as to stop application of the bias voltage after stopping output of the ultrasound transmission signal when an instruction signal that instructs stopping of transmission is inputted from the operation portion. The control portion causes a connection state showing which one of the c-MUT element and the capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer is connected to be displayed on the display portion. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120147708 | PROXIMITY SENSOR USED BY AN OPERATION ROBOT AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE PROXIMITY SENSOR - Described is a proximity sensor used by an operation robot that may measure a proximity distance to an object using an ultrasonic wave in a device such as an operation robot, an endoscope, and the like, and a method of operating the proximity sensor which may be used by an operation robot. The proximity sensor used by the operation robot may include an inner wall provided in a circular structure to secure a cavity within the circular structure, a piezoelectric polymer film disposed outside the inner wall to generate an ultrasonic signal, and to sense the ultrasonic signal, and an outer wall disposed outside the piezoelectric polymer film to propagate the ultrasonic signal via an open window, thereby preventing a collision between devices or an unnecessary contact, and providing a more stable operation environment. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120188850 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR UNIT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic sensor unit includes a transmission base plate and a reception base plate. The transmission base plate includes an ultrasonic transmission sensor configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves. The reception base plate includes an ultrasonic reception sensor configured and arranged to receive the ultrasonic waves. One of the transmission base plate and the reception base plate define a through-hole at a position corresponding to one of the ultrasonic transmission sensor and the ultrasonic reception sensor provided in the other of the transmission base plate and the reception base plate so that the one of the ultrasonic transmission sensor and the ultrasonic reception sensor is exposed through the through-hole. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120269039 | AIRBORNE ULTRASONIC SENSOR - An airborne ultrasonic sensor capable of obtaining an asymmetric directivity pattern in a predetermined direction with a simple structure. The airborne ultrasonic sensor includes: a case whose one end is open and another end is a closed surface, so as to have a hollow portion; and a piezoelectric element which is disposed on an inner side of the closed surface, the closed surface being a vibration surface, in which the case has a side surface at least partially provided with a region which is obtained by removing the side surface from an opening surface side. The closed surface has a circular, elliptical, oval, square, or rectangular shape. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120300592 | SENDER TRANSDUCER FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER - A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120327747 | REFLECTED ACOUSTIC WAVE MODULATION - Devices and systems for transmitting information within a body are disclosed. An example system includes a signal generator configured for transmitting an acoustic interrogation signal, a sensor for sensing at least one parameter within the body and generating an electrical sensor signal, an acoustic transducer configured to convert a received acoustic interrogation signal into an electrical signal, and a switching element adapted to modulate a reflected acoustic wave from the acoustic transducer. The switching element is configured to controllably change the mechanical impedance of the acoustic transducer. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130208572 | THIN FILM ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER - The present invention relates to a transducer ( | 08-15-2013 |
| 20140043944 | ULTRASONIC HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE HOUSING FOR PIEZOELECTRIC-ACOUSTIC CHANNELS - An ultrasonic transducer with housing contains a transducer assembly, an outer housing surface being fixed against a barrier surface for transferring ultrasonic waves to and from a barrier. The housing has an inner surface with plateau. A cap closes the housing and the transducer assembly has a piezoelectric transducer with a pressure surface around its outer perimeter and an opposite vibration surface engaging the plateau. A ring engages the pressure surface for biasing the vibration surface against the plateau. A holder engages the cap, transducer and ring for positioning and a plurality of springs are spaced around the transducer perimeter and between the cap and ring for biasing the vibration surface toward or against the raised plateau. A viscous couplant is between the vibration surface and plateau for enhancing transmission of the ultrasonic waves. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140056111 | ACOUSTIC DETECTOR - An acoustic detector includes a cylindrical support member and a plurality of receiver elements that are disposed on a surface of the cylindrical support member. The plurality of receiver elements are configured to detect acoustic waves in a plurality of azimuthal angular directions. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140086017 | ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION UNIT, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF ULTRASONIC TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION UNIT, AND ULTRASONIC FLOW METER DEVICE - An ultrasonic transmission/reception unit includes a metal plate, an acoustic matching member, a piezoelectric substrate, a first lead wire, a second lead wire, and a vibration suppression member containing a thermoplastic resin as a major component, the vibration suppression member being configured to cover, in a unitary manner, the other main surface of the metal plate, which is other than a portion of the other main surface to which the piezoelectric substrate is fastened, a surface of the piezoelectric substrate, an end surface of the metal plate, an outer peripheral portion of the one main surface of the metal plate, the first lead wire, and the second lead wire. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140321244 | ULTRASONIC WAVE TRANSDUCER USING A SIGNAL PATHWAY-INTEGRATED HOUSING - The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic wave transducer using a signal pathway-integrated housing. The ultrasonic wave transducer includes: a housing serving as a handle; an array including a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed in parallel to each other on a back material and a flexible circuit board having a pattern electrically connected to the piezoelectric elements; and a cable assembly including a plurality of fine wires. Signal paths for electrically connecting the pattern circuit of the flexible circuit board to the fine wires are integrated with the housing. Thus, the necessary space within a scanhead can be minimized to improve the degree of freedom in ergonomic design and to provide an ultrasonic wave transducer having a small-sized handle and excellent gripping properties. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20150078136 | Conformable Transducer With Self Position Sensing - Embodiments are directed to a diaphragm-based flexible array comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein the array is configured to conform to a surface of a structure under evaluation and emit acoustic waves in two directions in sequence, a source configured to apply a voltage pulse to each element of the array, and a sensor configured to receive an acoustic pulse from each element of the array in response to application of the voltage pulse to each element of the array. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150358737 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL HIGH-EFFICIENCY PIEZOELECTRIC ENERGY TRANSDUCER - A piezoelectric transducer for harvesting ambient vibration energy is made up of two elastic beams poled for series operation, a center flextensional component and two proof masses. The center flextensional component serves as the energy harvesting part as well as vibration harvesting inertial mass. The energy harvester is capable of harvesting multi-directional low-frequency vibration energy efficiently. It can be applied in implantable devices, wearable electronics and wireless sensor networks. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160139250 | SURROUNDINGS-SENSING DEVICE HAVING A MODULAR ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER, AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING SUCH A SURROUNDINGS-SENSING DEVICE - A surroundings-sensing device for emitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals including an ultrasonic transducer, which includes at least one transducer element and at least one resonance body including a front body and a rear body, and including a diaphragm for sound transmission, which is coupled to an end face of the front body, the front body, the transducer element, and the rear body being separably connected to one another, and the front body being fastened on the diaphragm. Further described is a motor vehicle including a bumper, a side mirror, or a door section and at least one such surroundings-sensing device, the diaphragm of the surroundings-sensing device being formed by an outer skin of the bumper, the side mirror, or the door section and the ultrasonic transducer being situated concealed behind the outer skin. | 05-19-2016 |
