Ultrasound front-end circuit combining the transmitter and automatic transmit/receiver switch
First Claim
1. A circuit for receiving and transmitting signals from an ultrasound transducer, comprising:
- means for providing transmit pulses to set ultrasonic transducer;
means for receiving pulses from said ultrasound transducer; and
means for alternatively coupling and decoupling said transmit pulse means and said receiving pulse means to said ultrasonic transducer;
said coupling means including first transformer coils and second transform coils disposed on a common transformer core, whereby said first transformer coil being coupled with said transmit pulse means and said second transformer coil being coupled with said ultrasound transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasound front end circuit (1000) according to the present invention includes a single transformer core which performs all of the pulse and transmit/receive switching functions. A transmit pulser (1102) is formed by a pair of transistor switches in combination with a transformer having first windings (N1, N2) driven by a DC source. A secondary winding (N3) provides a voltage step up for transmitted wave forms and a pair of anti-parallel shunt diodes (1014) on the receiver terminal direct the transmitted 0 waveform to the ultrasound transducer (1024). A floating third winding (N4) shunted by a current biased diode bridge (1002) provides an effective open circuit across the secondary winding while transmitting high amplitude signals. The third winding (N4) and diode bridge (1002) act to short circuit the secondary winding (N3) while receiving small amplitude signals, thus providing a direct connection between the transducer (1024) and receiver (1020).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A circuit for receiving and transmitting signals from an ultrasound transducer, comprising:
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means for providing transmit pulses to set ultrasonic transducer; means for receiving pulses from said ultrasound transducer; and means for alternatively coupling and decoupling said transmit pulse means and said receiving pulse means to said ultrasonic transducer; said coupling means including first transformer coils and second transform coils disposed on a common transformer core, whereby said first transformer coil being coupled with said transmit pulse means and said second transformer coil being coupled with said ultrasound transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
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9. An ultrasound receiving and transmitting circuit, comprising:
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a transmit pulser configured to provide transmit pulses to an ultrasound transducer; a receiver configured to receive pulses from said ultrasound transducer; and a switching circuit including first and second transform coils configured to alternatively couple and decouple said transmit pulser and said receiver to said ultrasonic transducer, whereby said first transformer coil being coupled with said transmit pulser and said second transformer coil being coupled with said ultrasound transducer.
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11. A method for providing ultrasound signals, comprising:
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providing transmit pulses to an ultrasound transducer; receiving pulses from said ultrasound transducer; and alternatively coupling and decoupling said transmit pulses and said receive pulses to set ultrasound transducer, said alternatively coupling employing first transformer coils and second transform coils disposed on a common transformer core, whereby said first transformer coil being coupled with a transmit pulser for providing said transmit pulses and said second transformer coil being coupled with said ultrasound transducer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification