B06B1/0215

Ultrasound catheter for imaging and blood flow measurement
09717475 · 2017-08-01 · ·

Rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments are directed to transducer mounting configurations that enable polymer piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs) to be used with a Doppler color flow rotational IVUS imaging system. In one embodiment, a rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device includes: a flexible elongate body; a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducer (PMUT) coupled to a distal portion of the flexible elongate body; and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate body. The ASIC is electrically coupled to the PMUT and includes a pulser, an amplifier, a protection circuit, and timing and control circuitry for coordinating operation of the pulser, amplifier, and protection circuit. The PMUT transducer is mounted with a tilt angle such that the IVUS catheter can be used to collect Doppler ultrasound blood flow data in conjunction with the IVUS imaging.

Transmission channel for ultrasound applications

A transmission channel transmits high-voltage pulses and receives echos of the high-voltage pulses. The transmission channel includes a current generator circuit, which generates current-integrator drive currents. The control circuitry generates one or more control signals to control generation of current-integrator drive currents by the current generator circuit during transducer-driving periods. A current integrator integrates current-integrator drive currents generated by current generator circuit to generate transducer drive signals.

Sensor device including a sensor for carrying out surrounding-area monitoring with the aid of sonic waves

A sensor device, including a sensor having a sound transducer to emit sonic waves and convert received sonic waves to electrical signals. A sensor evaluation unit carries out surrounding-area monitoring during a normal operation of the sensor, by evaluating electrical signals of the sound transducer. During a monitoring mode of the sensor, a monitoring unit of the sensor device measures an impedance of the sound transducer for different excitation frequencies of excitation signals produced with a signal generator of the sensor device. The sensor device includes a first and a second signal path, which are each connected to the sound transducer and are connectable to the signal generator. To reset the sensor from normal operation to the monitoring mode, a first control unit of the sensor device is configured to decouple the signal generator from the first signal path and to connect it to the second signal path.

Ultrasonic algae control
20170320756 · 2017-11-09 ·

Apparatus for controlling algae and bio-organisms in bodies of fluids, such as water. The algae control system includes a power unit and a transducer unit that includes a sonic head that radiates in multiple directions. The power unit connects to various power sources, including a mains supply connection, a solar panel array, and/or a battery. The power unit is electrically connected to the transducer unit. The sonic head includes a driver and a transducer subassembly. The driver excites the transducer subassembly to emit ultrasonic waves at various frequencies in the water surrounding the sonic head. Emissions at a high density of frequencies are enabled by the transducers. The frequencies include the critical structural resonant frequency for each microorganism to be controlled. The power unit and driver each include a processor in communication with each other. The processors store and execute a program for a selected application configuration.

Transducer interface pair impedance measurement

In described examples, a first and second driver each include a first-rail output transistor including a first terminal coupled to a first power rail and a second-rail output transistor including a first terminal coupled to a second power rail. The first-rail output transistor of each of the first and second drivers includes a second terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second-rail output transistor of an output node of each respective first and second driver. A resistive load includes a first terminal coupled to the first-driver output node and includes a second terminal coupled to the second-driver output node. A sampling circuit generates an indication of an impedance of at least one of the output transistors of the first and second drivers.

ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING A TRANSDUCER IN THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
20220234075 · 2022-07-28 ·

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes multiple transducer pixels. Each of the transducer pixels includes a sonic transducer, a demultiplexer electrically connected to the sonic transducer, a driving line electrically connected to the sonic transducer, a switching line electrically connected to the demultiplexer, and a reading line electrically connected to the demultiplexer. The driving line is used to provide a driving signal to the sonic transducer to emit sonic waves. The switching line is used to turn on the demultiplexer to output the sensing signal received by the sonic transducer to the reading line.

EQUALIZATION FOR MATRIX BASED LINE IMAGERS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMS

Disclosed herein are ultrasonic transducer systems comprising: an ultrasonic imager comprising a plurality of pMUT transducer elements; and one or more circuitries connected electronically to the plurality of transducer element, the one or more circuitries configured to enable: pulse transmission and reception of reflected signal for the ultrasonic transducer, where inductors are used to equalize impedance to obtain greater pressure output. Also disclosed are methods of altering a pressure of an ultrasonic wave emitted by an ultrasonic transducer.

Ultrasonic sensor pixel circuit, driving method thereof and display panel

The present disclosure provides an ultrasonic sensor pixel circuit, a driving method thereof and a display panel. The ultrasonic sensor pixel circuit includes a detection module, of which a first terminal is connected with an ultrasonic sensing unit and a second terminal is connected with a first signal terminal, and the detection module is configured to generate a detection voltage according to an electric signal output from the ultrasonic sensing unit under control of the first signal terminal; an output module, of which a first terminal is connected with a third terminal of the detection module and a second terminal is connected with a read line, and the output module is configured to generate an output signal according to the detection voltage and provide the output signal to the read line.

METHOD FOR VIBRATING HANDPIECE-TYPE HIGH-FREQUENCY VIBRATION APPARATUS

The handpiece-type high-frequency vibration apparatus includes a roughly cylindrical housing 10 configuring a handpiece, a holding member 11, a tool 12, a controller 20 and an excitation device 21. In a non-contact state before the tool 12 is brought into contact with an object, the controller 20 drives the excitation device 21 so as to vibrate the tool 12 at an added frequency fp for which a predetermined frequency fs is added to a first resonance frequency fr1 of the tool 12. In a cutting state where the tool 12 is in contact with the object by a load that enables cutting of the object by the tool 12, the controller 20 controls drive of the excitation device 21 such that a third resonance frequency fr3 of the tool 12 increases and coincides with the added frequency fp, and increases a vibration frequency of the tool 12.

Quadrature amplitude modulation circuitry for ultrasonic transducer

An ultrasonic transmitter system includes a digital controller, bandpass pulse-width modulator (BP-PWM) unit, a digital to analog converter (DAC), and an ultrasound transducer. The controller generates pulse width and phase reference signals. The BP-PWM configured receives these signals generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) output characterized by a pulse width and a phase based on the pulse width and phase reference signals. The DAC) receives the PWM output from the BP-PWM unit and generates an output characterized by the pulse width and phase. The ultrasonic transducer receives the output from the DAC and generates an output sound pressure in response to the output from the DAC. An amplitude of the RMS sound pressure depends on the pulse width of the output from the DAC.