Ultrasonic transducer, method of manufacturing ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and ultrasonic microscope

• US 8,047,995 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamiya, Yoshitaka, Adachi, Hideo, Wakabayashi, Katsuhiro, Matsumoto, Kazuya, Karaki, Kazuhisa, Hasegawa, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addison; Karen B
• Application Number:
  US12/197,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 310/334, 310/335, 310/336, 310/337, 310/330, 310/311, 310/348, 310/344, 367/157, 367/163, 367/181, 600/437, 600/459
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0292 Electrostatic transducers, e.g. electret-type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/01 characterised by the use of electrets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

A ultrasonic transducer of the invention comprises: a transducer cell including a first electrode and a second electrode disposed separated from the first electrode by an air gap portion; and an electret for applying a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electret is disposed in a region where at least a part thereof does not overlap with the transducer cell when viewed from a transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic transducer comprising:

a transducer cell including;

a first electrode;

a vibration membrane disposed on the first electrode, separated by an air gap portion; and

a second electrode supported by the vibration membrane;

a first conductive layer electrically connected to the first electrode;

a second conductive layer disposed facing the first conductive layer and electrically connected to the second electrode;

an electret for retaining a charge and applying a predetermined potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electret being disposed in a region between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, where the electret do not overlap with the transducer cell when viewed from a transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves generated by vibration of the vibration membrane.

2. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electret has a region exposed in the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves, relative to at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

3. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the second conductive layer is disposed above the first conductive layer, and a through hole is formed in a region on the second conductive layer, which overlaps with the electret when viewed from the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves.

4. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are disposed facing each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode face each other.

5. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 2, wherein the electret is disposed on a third conductive layer having the same potential as that of the second electrode, and

wherein the first conductive layer is disposed above the electret, and a through hole is formed in a region on the first conductive layer, which overlaps with the electret when viewed from the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves.

6. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, further comprising

a protective film for covering a surface on a side of the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves,

wherein a region on the protective film, which overlaps with the electret, is projected in the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves more than a region on the protective film, which overlaps with the transducer cell.

7. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, further comprising

a protective film for covering a surface on a side of the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves,

wherein a surface of the protective film on the side of the transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves has a plane shape.

8. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein

an insulating layer is interposed between the electret and the first conductive layer, or between the electret and the second conductive layer.

9. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 8, wherein a distance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer separated by the insulating layer is larger than a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode separated by the air gap portion in the transducer cell.

10. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein the electret is attached on the first conductive layer.

11. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 10, wherein the electret is attached over a plurality of the first conductive layers.

12. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 10, wherein an air gap portion is interposed between the electret and the first conductive layer or between the electret and the second conductive layer.

13. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising the ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1.

14. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is an ultrasonic endoscope including the ultrasonic transducer disposed in an insertion portion to be introduced in a living body.

15. An ultrasonic microscope comprising the ultrasonic transducer according to claim 1.