A transducer array (802) includes at least one 1D array of transducing elements (804). The at least one 1D array of transducing elements includes a plurality of transducing elements (904). A first of the plurality of transducing elements has a first apodization and a second of the plurality of transducing elements has a second apodization. The first apodization and the second apodization are different. The transducer array further includes at least one electrically conductive element (910) in electrical communication with each of the plurality of transducing elements. The transducer array further includes at least one electrical contact (906) in electrical communication with the at least one electrically conductive element. The at least one electrical contact concurrently addresses the plurality of transducing elements through the at least one electrically conductive element.

A transducer array (802) includes at least one 1D array of transducing elements (804). The at least one 1D array of transducing elements includes a plurality of transducing elements (904). A first of the plurality of transducing elements has a first apodization and a second of the plurality of transducing elements has a second apodization. The first apodization and the second apodization are different. The transducer array further includes at least one electrically conductive element (910) in electrical communication with each of the plurality of transducing elements. The transducer array further includes at least one electrical contact (906) in electrical communication with the at least one electrically conductive element. The at least one electrical contact concurrently addresses the plurality of transducing elements through the at least one electrically conductive element.

A phased ultrasonic transducer and method for transmitting sound or ultrasound through a gaseous medium into a solid spectrum with ultrasound beam steering and focusing.

An apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, and an acoustic delay gradient layer disposed in an acoustic path between the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver. The acoustic delay gradient layer is configured to cause a reflection from a platen interface of the transmitted ultrasonic signal to reach the first receiver region at a first time and the reflection from the platen interface of the transmitted ultrasonic signal to reach the second receiver region at a second time that is different from the first time. The apparatus can further include a controller configured to set for a first region or portion of the receiver, a first range gate window (RGW). The controller is also configured to set, for a second region or portion of the receiver, a second RGW, and to establish a first temporal delay between the first RGW and the second RGW.

An acoustic imaging system coupled to a sensing plate to define an imaging surface. The acoustic imaging system includes an array of piezoelectric acoustic transducers coupled to the sensing plate opposite the imaging surface and formed using a thin-film manufacturing process over an application-specific integrated circuit that, in turn, is configured to leverage the array of piezoelectric actuators to generate an image of an object at least partially wetting to the imaging surface.

Implantable bio-heating and intrabody communication systems use arrays of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) to provide ultrasound-based diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Systems involving one or more pMUT arrays can be implanted into the body or integrating into smart ingestible pills to enable monitoring of a medical condition and/or continuous or intermittent application of hyperthermia and other treatments.

A nebuliser for nebulising liquid droplets includes a housing; at least one piezoelectric substrate accommodated within the housing and having a transducer surface upon which is located at least one electroacoustic transducer for generating acoustic wave energy within the substrate, and an opposing non-transducer surface; and a liquid supply system for supplying a liquid to at least one of the transducer and non-transducer surfaces. The liquid supply system includes a reservoir for accommodating the liquid, and at least one relatively rigid supply conduit in contact with the substrate for supplying the liquid from the reservoir to the substrate.

Flex circuits and methods for ultrasound transducers are provided herein. In at least one embodiment, an ultrasound device includes a plurality of transducer elements and a flex circuit. The flex circuit includes an insulating layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A plurality of first conductive pads is included on the first surface of the insulating layer, and each of the first conductive pads is electrically coupled to a respective transducer element. A plurality of second conductive pads are included on the second surface of the insulating layer, and each of the second conductive pads is electrically coupled to a respective first conductive pad and the respective transducer element.

For transducer connection to an integrated circuit, a silicon or other wafer-based chip is processed to provide signal routing, such as altering the pitch using wafer process deposited conductors. This chip or silicon interposer may be more simply re-designed to relate the pitch of an array to the integrated circuit I/Os, avoiding redesign of the integrated circuit.

In a method of segmented image acquisition at a sensor, a plurality of segments of an image are concurrently captured, wherein pixels of each segment of the plurality of segments are captured according to a pixel capture sequence. The pixel capture sequence for at least one segment of the plurality of segments is a non-progressive sequence for controlling a timing difference between pixel capture for proximate pixels of adjacent segments. The image including the plurality of segments is generated.