Miniaturized ultrasonic transducer
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
- a housing;
acoustic elements arranged in said housing;
an integrated circuit arranged in said housing adjacent said acoustic elements;
first connection means for connecting said acoustic elements to said integrated circuit; and
second connection means for connecting said integrated circuit to electrical transmission lines, connection sites for said first and second connection means being arranged on a common surface of said integrated circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasonic transducers having a reduced size in comparison with prior art ultrasonic transducers and including a thermally-conductive body, a flexible circuit bent at least partially around the body, an acoustic assembly arranged on the flexible circuit and electronic components for controlling the acoustic assembly to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves. Signal transmission lines, such as coax wires, are coupled to the flexible circuit such that the electronic components, the acoustic assembly and the signal transmission lines are connected in a circuit defined in part by the flexible circuit. By bending the flexible circuit with the acoustic assembly, and optionally the electronic components, arranged thereon about the body, they are positioned in a vertical configuration which allows for a compact transducer which has a small, even miniature size in comparison to prior art ultrasonic transducers.
54 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a housing;
acoustic elements arranged in said housing;
an integrated circuit arranged in said housing adjacent said acoustic elements;
first connection means for connecting said acoustic elements to said integrated circuit; and
second connection means for connecting said integrated circuit to electrical transmission lines, connection sites for said first and second connection means being arranged on a common surface of said integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a thermally-conductive body;
a flexible circuit bent at least partially around said body;
an acoustic assembly connected to said flexible circuit;
electronic components for controlling said acoustic assembly; and
connection means for connecting signal transmission lines to said flexible circuit, said acoustic assembly, said electronic components and the signal transmission lines being connected in a circuit defined in part by said flexible circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising:
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a flexible circuit having connection sites;
an acoustic assembly mounted on said flexible circuit and comprising an integrated circuit having connection sites and acoustic elements electrically coupled to said integrated circuit;
electronic components for controlling said acoustic assembly to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, said acoustic assembly and said electronic components being connected in a circuit defined in part by said flexible circuit; and
wire-bonds connecting said connection sites of said integrated circuit and said connection sites of said flexible circuit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer, comprising the steps of:
- arranging an acoustic assembly on a flexible circuit;
coupling electronic components for controlling the acoustic assembly to the acoustic assembly via the flexible circuit;
coupling signal transmission lines to the flexible circuit such that the electronic components, the acoustic assembly and the signal transmission lines are connected in a circuit defined in part by the flexible circuit; and
bending the flexible circuit at least partially around a thermally-conductive body to form at least one 180°
bend about the body with the acoustic assembly being vertically spaced from the electronic components. - View Dependent Claims (27)
- arranging an acoustic assembly on a flexible circuit;
Specification