Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) device includes a substrate having an opening therethrough and a membrane attached to the substrate over the opening. A portion of the membrane that overlies the opening is divided into a plurality of cantilevers that are mechanically coupled so that the cantilevers resonate at a common frequency.
Abstract:
An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.
Abstract:
A transducer includes first and second piezoelectric layers made of corresponding different first and second piezoelectric materials and three or more electrodes, implemented in two or more conductive electrode layers. The first piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between a first pair of electrodes and the second piezoelectric layer is sandwiched between a second pair of electrodes. The first and second pairs of electrodes contain no more than one electrode that is common to both pairs.