Ultrasonic transducer array incorporating an array of slotted transducer elements
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic transducer array for testing a body, comprising:
- a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane, each of the plurality of transducer elements includinga piezoelectric layer having a front surface overlaid by a front electrode and a rear surface overlaid by a rear electrode, the front surface being interrupted by a series of slots arranged in directions substantially parallel with the array axis,a first acoustic matching layer mounted in front of the front surface of the piezoelectric layer, andan electrically conductive path across the series of slots of the piezoelectric layer,wherein the piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of the first acoustic matching layer are spaced from the adjacent transducer elements; and
a backing support that supports the plurality of transducer elements in the aligned, spaced-apart relationship along the array axis.
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Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer array having a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane. Each transducer element includes a piezoelectric layer and one or more acoustic matching layers. The piezoelectric layer has a concave front surface overlayed by a front electrode and a rear surface overlayed by a rear electrode. The shape of each transducer element is selected such that it is mechanically focused into the imaging plane. A backing support holds the plurality of transducer elements in a predetermined relationship along the array axis such that each element is mechanically focused in the imaging plane.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic transducer array for testing a body, comprising:
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a plurality of transducer elements aligned along an array axis in an imaging plane, each of the plurality of transducer elements including a piezoelectric layer having a front surface overlaid by a front electrode and a rear surface overlaid by a rear electrode, the front surface being interrupted by a series of slots arranged in directions substantially parallel with the array axis, a first acoustic matching layer mounted in front of the front surface of the piezoelectric layer, and an electrically conductive path across the series of slots of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the piezoelectric layer and at least a portion of the first acoustic matching layer are spaced from the adjacent transducer elements; and a backing support that supports the plurality of transducer elements in the aligned, spaced-apart relationship along the array axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification