A system may include a signal generator configured to generate a raw waveform signal and a modeling subsystem configured to implement a discrete time model of an electromagnetic load that emulates a virtual electromagnetic load and further configured to modify the raw waveform signal to generate a waveform signal for driving the electromagnetic load by modifying the virtual electromagnetic load to have a desired characteristic, applying the discrete time model to the raw waveform signal to generate the waveform signal for driving the electromagnetic load, and applying the waveform signal to the electromagnetic load.

An ultrasonic-based system includes a transmitter and receiver, an ultrasonic transducer including ≥1 piezoelectric element having a matching layer thereon connected to the transmitter. A controller is coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter is for driving the piezoelectric element with a pulsed electrical signal, where the piezoelectric element transmits a transmit ultrasonic signal. A current/voltage measurement circuit is coupled to sense a current or voltage in the transmitter. The controller is for implementing an algorithm for an ultrasonic transducer monitoring method including comparing an amplitude of the pulsed signal to a predetermined limit. When the pulsed signal is determined to be outside the limit, an impedance of the piezoelectric element is determined to be abnormal. When the pulsed signal is within the limit, the amplitude of the received signal is compared to a lower limit, which when below results in determining a cleaning operation for the ultrasonic transducer is needed.

A system for non-destructive inspection that generates Shear Horizontal waves in phased array configuration using an Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT). The system includes an EMAT transducer with a plurality of elements made of individually wound elements under a single magnetic field, and an instrument to pulse, receive and record the signals from each element separately. Each wired element in the array generates shear waves perpendicularly to the coil windings which radiate around the elements' long axis. By phasing the pulsing and receiving of the individual elements, the beam can be electronically focused at different angles in the component from 0° to +/−90°. The compact distribution of the array permit using relatively high frequencies without generating deleterious grating lobes.

In an example, a method includes providing a pulse-width modulation (PWM) excitation signal to a piezo transducer via a transmit path. The method also includes collecting a block of samples of a current and a voltage at the piezo transducer, where the block of samples is collected in sub-blocks of samples between interrupts in a receive path. The method includes processing each sub-block of samples separately from other sub-blocks of samples. The method also includes, responsive to the sub-blocks of the block of samples being processed, analyzing the block of samples. The method includes, responsive to the analysis, modifying the PWM excitation signal.

An ultrasonic apparatus includes a transmitting circuit, an ultrasonic transducer, a receiving circuit, and a capacitance measuring circuit. The ultrasonic transducer is a three-terminal ultrasonic transducer that includes a transmitting electrode, a receiving electrode, and a common electrode. The transmitting circuit outputs a driving signal to the transmitting electrode to cause the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves. The receiving circuit receives a receive signal from the receiving electrode. The capacitance measuring circuit is electrically connected to the receiving electrode to measure the electrostatic capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer.

Piezoelectric sensor controllers may facilitate detection and identification of various potential fault states with parameter measurements. In an illustrative embodiment of a piezoelectric-based sensor having response-parameter-based fault diagnosis, the sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer and a controller. The controller drives the piezoelectric transducer to generate bursts of acoustic energy and, based on a response of the piezoelectric transducer to said driving, identifies a corresponding transducer state from a set of potential states including multiple transducer fault states. An illustrative embodiment of a sensing method having fault diagnosis, the method includes: driving a piezoelectric transducer to generate a burst of acoustic energy; monitoring a response of the piezoelectric transducer to said driving; identifying, based on said response, a corresponding transducer state from a set of potential states including multiple transducer fault states; and if the transducer state is a fault state, reporting that fault state.

An imaging device includes a transducer that includes an array of piezoelectric elements formed on a substrate. Each piezoelectric element includes at least one membrane suspended from the substrate, at least one bottom electrode disposed on the membrane, at least one piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and at least one top electrode disposed on the at least one piezoelectric layer. Adjacent piezoelectric elements are configured to be isolated acoustically from each other. The device is utilized to measure flow or flow along with imaging anatomy.

According to one embodiment, a drive circuit includes a first circuit part. The first circuit part includes a first detecting part, a second detecting part, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The first detecting part is configured to detect a first piezoelectric element current flowing in a first piezoelectric element, and output a first detection signal corresponding to the first piezoelectric element current. The second detecting part is configured to detect a first capacitance element current flowing in a first capacitance element, and output a second detection signal corresponding to the first capacitance element current. The first circuit includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The first circuit is configured to apply a first drive signal to the first piezoelectric element and the first capacitance element. The second circuit is configured to supply a first differential signal to the second input terminal.

An ultrasound system is disclosed that utilizes an arbitrary waveform generator, memory, and an ultrasound transducer. A plurality of excitation waveforms are stored in the memory and may be output from the arbitrary waveform generator to an ultrasound transducer. At least one first excitation waveform is stored in the memory and includes an excitation portion with no damping portion (e.g., for one ultrasound procedure; such that an output from the ultrasound transducer is of a first bandwidth). At least one second excitation waveform is stored in the memory and includes an excitation portion and a damping portion (e.g., for another ultrasound procedure; such that an output from the ultrasound transducer is of a second bandwidth that is larger than the first bandwidth).

Described are transducer assemblies and imaging devices comprising: a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) die including a plurality of piezoelectric elements; a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) die electrically coupled to the MEMS die by a first plurality of bumps and including at least one circuit for controlling the plurality of piezoelectric elements; and a package secured to the CMOS die by an adhesive layer and electrically connected to the CMOS die.