Ultrasonic transducer apparatus

• US 5,087,850 A
• Filed: 01/09/1990
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuta, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/462,699
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316, 310/317
• US Class Current: 310/316.01
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0207 Driving circuits specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/40 with testing, calibrating, safety devices, built-in protection, construction details

Abstract

In an ultrasonic transducer apparatus, one of ultrasonic transducer probes of a plurality of types is selectively connected to a driving unit. The ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer having a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor, and a dumping capacitor connected in parallel with the series connection. The driving unit includes a driving circuit for supplying to the ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency where a phase difference between a voltage applied to the ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied to the ultrasonic transducer is substantially set to be zero, and an inductor connected to an output terminal of the driving circuit to be connected in parallel with the ultrasonic transducer. The inductor includes a plurality of intermediate taps having a different inductances, and each tap is connected to a connection terminal of the probe. The probe includes wiring for selecting the connection terminal so that an inductance corresponding to capacitive susceptance of the dumping capacitor of the ultrasonic transducer is connected in parallel with the ultrasonic transducer in a connector for connecting the probe and the driving unit.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe;

said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising an inductive element having a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances of a multiple of two; and

said second means of said matching means comprising means for connecting at least two corresponding pairs of said intermediate taps in accordance with said capacitive susceptance.

2. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe;

said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and

said second means of said matching means comprising a bar fixed at said probe and having a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core relative to said coil when said probe is connected to said driving unit.

3. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive component for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means including first means arranged in said driving unit and second means arranged in said probe for causing varying of an impedance of said first means when said probe is connected to said driving unit, said first means of said matching means including a variable impedance component which is variable by said second means so as to have an impedance value corresponding to the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive component of said probe;

said second means of said matching means comprising a resistor connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and having a resistance corresponding to said capacitive susceptance;

said impedance component of said first means of said matching means comprising an inductive element having a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances; and

said first means of said matching means including detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.

4. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit;

said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer;

said inductive element comprising a plurality of pairs of intermediate taps having different inductances; and

said probe comprising means for connecting at least one corresponding pair of said intermediate taps in accordance with said capacitive susceptance.

5. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit;

said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer;

said inductive element comprising a coil and a slidable ferrite core arranged in said coil; and

said probe comprising a bar of a length corresponding to said capacitive susceptance, for sliding said ferrite core when said probe is connected to said driving unit to vary the inductance of said inductive element.

6. An ultrasonic transducer apparatus comprising:

a probe including an ultrasonic transducer having;

a series connection of an inductor, a resistor, and a capacitor; and

a capacitive element for providing a capacitive susceptance connected in parallel with said series connection;

a driving unit detachably connected to said probe and including means for supplying to said ultrasonic transducer a driving signal having a frequency, said driving signal being such that a phase difference between a voltage applied to said ultrasonic transducer and a current supplied through said ultrasonic transducer is substantially zero; and

matching means arranged in said driving unit and including a variable impedance element whose impedance value is variable as a function of the capacitive susceptance provided by said capacitive susceptance of said capacitive element of said probe, and wherein said impedance value of said variable impedance element is varied in accordance with the type of said probe responsive to said probe being connected to said driving unit;

said variable impedance element of said matching means comprising an inductive element connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer;

said inductive element comprising a plurality of intermediate taps having different inductances;

said probe comprising a resistor which is connected in parallel with said ultrasonic transducer, and said resistor having a resistance value corresponding to said capacitive susceptance; and

said matching means further comprising detecting means for detecting the resistance of said resistor, and means for selecting one of said intermediate taps of said inductive element in accordance with a detection result obtained by said detecting means.