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Phased array sector scanner with multiplexed acoustic transducer elements

  • US 5,329,930 A
  • Filed: 10/12/1993
  • Issued: 07/19/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A vibratory energy imaging system comprising:

  • a transducer array having a plurality n of separate transducer elements disposed at successive locations in a plane that extends in opposite directions from a central axis;

    a multi-channel transmitter for energizing a set of transducer elements in the transducer array;

    a multi-channel receiver for receiving a number N of echo signals produced by N transducer elements in the transducer array, said receiver having N channels;

    switching means for selectively coupling at least a pair of transducer array elements, respectively, to individual channels of the transmitter, respectively, and to individual channels of the receiver, respectively; and

    a multi-channel multiplexer having a common port and a plurality of other ports, said common port being selectively coupled to any one of said plurality of other multiplexer ports in said multiplexer and being coupled to said switching means, said other multiplexer ports being coupled, respectively, to separate groups of N transducer elements, respectively,said multiplexer being operable during a plurality of firings of the transmitter to produce vibratory energy signals from successive sets of N transducer elements and to receive echo signals from said successive sets of N transducer elements for application to the N channels of the receiver, the receiver being operable to coherently sum the successive sets of N echo signals to form a single echo beam.

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