Ultrasonic transducer with reduced elevation sidelobes and method for the manufacture thereof
First Claim
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1. An ultrasound transducer designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the transducer comprising:
- a body of piezoelectric material having a width along an elevation direction and a thickness along a range direction, said transducer element having a center portion having a first width, said center portion formed solely of piezoelectric material the center portion having a width in the elevation direction and thickness in the range direction wherein the width is at least four times greater than the thickness, a first end region adjacent in the elevation direction to one end of said center portion and a second end region adjacent in the elevation direction to an opposite end of said center portion, said first and second end regions each having a second width in the elevation direction wherein said first width is greater than said second width;
at least a first kerf formed in said first end region, said first kerf extending, in depth, in the range direction to a first depth; and
at least a second kerf formed in said second end region, said second kerf extending, in depth, in said range direction to a second depth; and
a second material disposed in said first kerf and said second kerf.
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Abstract
An ultrasound transducer and the method for the manufacture thereof which is designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes. At least one kerf is formed in each end region of a body of piezoelectric material. The kerfs define therebetween a center region formed solely of piezoelectric material. The kerfs are filled with a second material.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An ultrasound transducer designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the transducer comprising:
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a body of piezoelectric material having a width along an elevation direction and a thickness along a range direction, said transducer element having a center portion having a first width, said center portion formed solely of piezoelectric material the center portion having a width in the elevation direction and thickness in the range direction wherein the width is at least four times greater than the thickness, a first end region adjacent in the elevation direction to one end of said center portion and a second end region adjacent in the elevation direction to an opposite end of said center portion, said first and second end regions each having a second width in the elevation direction wherein said first width is greater than said second width; at least a first kerf formed in said first end region, said first kerf extending, in depth, in the range direction to a first depth; and at least a second kerf formed in said second end region, said second kerf extending, in depth, in said range direction to a second depth; and a second material disposed in said first kerf and said second kerf. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasound transducer element designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the transducer element comprising:
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a layer of ceramic having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge and a second edge, said top and bottom surfaces defining a width of said layer along an elevation direction and said first and second edges defining a thickness of said layer along a range direction; a first electrode coupled to said top surface of said layer; and a second electrode coupled to said bottom surface of said layer, wherein said layer of ceramic is composed of pure PZT over a center region, said center region having a width along the elevation direction and a thickness along the range direction wherein the width of the center region is greater than its thickness and a composite PZT in end regions on opposite sides of said center region wherein said end regions has a second width, said first width being greater than said second width. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of making a transducer element designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a body of piezoelectric material having a width along an elevation direction and a thickness along a range direction, said body having a center portion having a first width in the elevation direction and a first thickness in the range direction wherein the first width is at least four greater than the first thickness, and a first and second end regions located at opposite ends of the center portion, the second end regions having a second width, said first width being greater than said second width; dicing a first kerf in said first end region; dicing a second kerf in said second end region; and filling said first and second kerfs with a second material. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An ultrasound transducer designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the transducer comprising:
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a body of piezoelectric material having a width along an elevation direction and a thickness along a range direction, said transducer element having a center portion having a first width, said center portion formed solely of piezoelectric material the center portion having a width in the elevation direction and thickness in the range direction wherein the width is greater than the thickness, a first end region adjacent in the elevation direction to one end of said center portion and a second end region adjacent in the elevation direction to an opposite end of said center portion, said first and second end regions each having a second width in the elevation direction wherein said first width is greater than said second width and wherein the center portion comprises at least 60% of said transducer element; at least a first kerf formed in said first end region, said first kerf extending, in depth, in the range direction to a first depth; and at least a second kerf formed in said second end region, said second kerf extending, in depth, in said range direction to a second depth; and a second material disposed in said first kerf and said second kerf.
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23. A method of making a transducer element designed to reduce the generation of elevational sidelobes, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a body of piezoelectric material having a width along an elevation direction and a thickness along a range direction, said body having a center portion having a first width in the elevation direction and a first thickness in the range direction wherein the first width is greater than the first thickness, and a first and second end regions located at opposite ends of the center portion, the second end regions having a second width, said first width being greater than said second width and wherein the center portion comprises at least 60% of said transducer element; dicing a first kerf in said first end region; dicing a second kerf in said second end region; and filling said first and second kerfs with a second material.
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Specification