Ultrasonic transductor
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic transducer comprising:
- a plurality of first layers, the first layers comprising a composite of a piezoelectric material and a low acoustic impedance material;
a plurality of internal electrodes, a first internal electrode overlying a first layer and successive internal electrodes overlying successive first layers; and
a first and second external electrode, a first internal electrode being coupled to the first external electrode and a second internal electrode being coupled to the second external electrode, successive internal electrodes being coupled alternatively to the first and second external electrodes.
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Abstract
A multilayer composite transducer is disclosed. The multilayer composite transducer comprises a plurality of layers wherein a piezoelectric material is dispersed periodically within a polymer matrix. The piezoelectric material is typically formed into columns or slabs, and these columns and slabs need to be aligned from one layer to the next. As this alignment can be difficult to perform, the present invention teaches a first method for fabricating the multilayer composite transducer which allows the alignment to be easily accomplished and a second and third method which reduce or eliminate the need for the alignment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic transducer comprising:
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a plurality of first layers, the first layers comprising a composite of a piezoelectric material and a low acoustic impedance material; a plurality of internal electrodes, a first internal electrode overlying a first layer and successive internal electrodes overlying successive first layers; and a first and second external electrode, a first internal electrode being coupled to the first external electrode and a second internal electrode being coupled to the second external electrode, successive internal electrodes being coupled alternatively to the first and second external electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A transducer for use in a system generating and receiving ultrasonic sound waves, the transducer comprising:
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a plurality of first layers, the first layers comprised of a piezoelectric material dispersed periodically within a low acoustic impedance material; a plurality of second layers placed between the first layers, the second layers comprising an electrically conductive and mechanically rigid material, the first and second layers being fused together to form the transducer; and a first and second external, electrode coupled alternatively to the second layers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A ultrasonic transducer:
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a plurality of first layers comprising both piezoelectric and polymer materials, the layers together approximating the acoustic impedance of a first test object; and a plurality of second layers, placed between the first layers for reducing unwanted resonances between the first layers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. In a multilayer transducer for an ultrasonic diagnostic system, the multilayer transducer comprising at least a plurality of composite piezoelectric layers, a method for reducing and eliminating unwanted acoustic resonances between the composite piezoelectric layers, the method comprising the step of placing an electrically conductive and mechanically rigid material between the composite piezoelectric layers forming the transducer.
Specification