公开(公告)号：US20230363735A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-16

申请号：US18029819

申请日：2021-10-01

Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Inventor： Edmond Cretu ,  Carlos D. Gerardo ,  Robert Rohling

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  B06B1/02

CPC classification number: A61B8/4472 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  A61B8/4236 ,  A61B8/56 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/76

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for the contactless operation of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) and CMUT arrays. Contactless operations refers to both the contactless transfer of energy and information between the transducer(s) and the controlling subsystem. A system includes a CMUT, a first alternating current voltage source, a first inductor electrically coupled to the first voltage source, and a second inductor electrically coupled to the CMUT. The second inductor is physically decoupled from, and positioned to be wirelessly coupled to, the first inductor. A contactless configuration is useful for a wide range of applications, from wearable transducers to high-end ultrasound imaging systems.

公开(公告)号：US20230293910A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-21

申请号：US17922492

申请日：2021-05-03

Applicant: SecondWave Systems, Inc.

Inventor： Anuj Bhardwaj ,  Jeffrey Heyman ,  Mikel Langron ,  Kashyap Patel ,  Michael Whetzel

IPC: A61N7/00 ,  B06B1/02

CPC classification number: A61N7/00 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  A61N2007/0078 ,  A61N2007/0026 ,  A61N2007/0052 ,  A61N2007/0095 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/55 ,  B06B2201/76

Abstract: Devices for providing an acoustic wave to a target location include at least one transducer device and at least one beam-forming processor to cause the at least one transducer device to produce a first acoustic wave, the first acoustic wave includes a plurality of pulses having a pulse repetition frequency, where a pulse width of each pulse is in a range of 10 ns to 10 μs and the pulse repetition frequency is in a range of 1 Hz to 50 Hz, receive data associated with a second acoustic wave, wherein the second acoustic wave is a reflection of the first acoustic wave, determine a characteristic of the second acoustic wave, and determine whether to change a beam path of an acoustic wave produced by the at least one transducer device based on the characteristic of the second acoustic wave. Methods and computer program products are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11751853B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-12

申请号：US16669259

申请日：2019-10-30

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Tetsuya Taniguchi

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  B06B1/02 ,  A61B8/14 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  A61B8/08

CPC classification number: A61B8/54 ,  A61B8/14 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  A61B8/5207 ,  A61B8/5269 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  B06B1/0292 ,  G01S7/5202 ,  G01S7/52038 ,  G01S7/52077 ,  G01S15/8915 ,  G01S15/8963 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/55 ,  B06B2201/76

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes: a transmitter that generates and outputs a plurality of drive signals to a transducer of an ultrasound probe, the drive signals causing the transducer to transmit a plurality of transmission ultrasound waves that have different waveforms in a temporally shifted manner, the drive signals being compensated for asymmetry of the transmission sound pressure waveforms of the plurality of transmission ultrasound waves transmitted from the transducer; and a hardware processor configured to extract a harmonic component according to a plurality of reception signals, and generating an ultrasound image based on the extracted harmonic component.

公开(公告)号：US20180310916A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-01

申请号：US15770605

申请日：2016-11-02

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： HANS-PETER LOEBL ,  ALFONS WOUTER GROENLAND

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  B06B1/02

CPC classification number: A61B8/4483 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  B06B1/0292 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/76

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array is provided that comprises a plurality of CMUT (capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer) cells (100), each CMUT cell comprising a substrate (300) carrying a first electrode (110) of a first electrode arrangement, the substrate being spatially separated from a flexible membrane including a second electrode (120) of a second electrode arrangement by a gap (130), at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being electrically insulated from said gap by at least one dielectric layer (311, 313), wherein at least one of the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement is partitioned into a plurality of sections interconnected by respective fuse portions (112, 122). An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound system comprising such an ultrasound transducer array are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US09819399B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-14

申请号：US14805562

申请日：2015-07-22

Applicant: uBeam Inc.

Inventor： Meredith Perry ,  Paul Reynolds ,  Sean Taffler ,  Andrew Joyce

IPC: H04B5/00 ,  H02J5/00 ,  H02J7/02 ,  H02J7/04 ,  G10K11/34 ,  H04B11/00 ,  B06B1/02 ,  H02J50/80 ,  H02J50/15

CPC classification number: H04B5/0037 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  G10K11/346 ,  G10K11/348 ,  H02J5/005 ,  H02J7/025 ,  H02J50/15 ,  H02J50/80 ,  H02J50/90 ,  H04B11/00

Abstract: A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

公开(公告)号：US09788814B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-17

申请号：US14333864

申请日：2014-07-17

Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

Inventor： Kogo Endo

IPC: G01S7/56 ,  A61B8/13 ,  B06B1/06 ,  G01S15/89 ,  B06B1/02 ,  A61B8/00 ,  G01S7/52 ,  A61B8/08

CPC classification number: A61B8/13 ,  A61B8/4483 ,  A61B8/5207 ,  A61B8/54 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  B06B1/0622 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/55 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52082 ,  G01S7/52085 ,  G01S15/8915

Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer device having a substrate and an ultrasonic transducer element array that has a first channel group and a second channel group that are arranged on the substrate, a first integrated circuit apparatus that is mounted on the substrate, at one edge portion of the ultrasonic transducer element array in a first direction, such that a long-side direction coincides with a second direction that intersects the first direction, and performs at least one of signal transmission to the first channel group and signal reception from the first channel group, and a second integrated circuit apparatus that is mounted on the substrate, at the other edge portion of the ultrasonic transducer element array in the first direction, such that the long-side direction coincides with the second direction, and performs at least one of signal transmission to the second channel group and signal reception from the second channel group. In the ultrasonic transducer element array, the first group of channels and the second group of channels are arranged alternately every channel in the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US09676001B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-13

申请号：US14414467

申请日：2013-07-11

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Antonia Cornelia Van Rens ,  George Anthony Brock-Fisher

IPC: B06B1/02 ,  A61B8/00 ,  A61B8/12

CPC classification number: B06B1/023 ,  A61B8/12 ,  A61B8/445 ,  A61B8/4483 ,  A61B8/4494 ,  B06B2201/20 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/76

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver device (40) for driving a load (52) having a plurality of separate capacitive load elements (52), in particular an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements (52), comprising: input terminals (44, 46) for connecting the driver device (40) to power supply (48); a plurality of output terminals (50) each for connecting the driver device (40) to one of load elements (52), a first controllable switch (54) connected to a first of the input terminals (44), and a plurality of driving elements (42) each having a second controllable switch (60) and a resistor (58) connected in series to each other, wherein each of the driving elements (42) is connected in series with the first controllable switch (54) and to a second of the input terminals (46), and wherein each of the output terminals (50) is connected to one of the driving elements (42) for powering the load elements (52).

公开(公告)号：US20160100251A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-07

申请号：US14863892

申请日：2015-09-24

Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Inventor： Massimiliano BRACCO

IPC: H04R3/04 ,  H03F3/183 ,  G10K9/12

CPC classification number: H03F3/183 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B06B2201/55 ,  G10K9/12 ,  H03F3/217 ,  H03F2200/03 ,  H04R17/10 ,  H04R2499/11

Abstract: The electronic device is arranged for generation of an audible alarm or music. It includes a coil or inductor and a buzzer provided with a capacitor connected in series with the coil. When the electronic device is actuated, the buzzer generates the audible alarm or music. The electronic device further includes, in a feedback loop, a derivative circuit connected to a connection node between the coil and the capacitor, to produce a derivative of the signal from the capacitor, and a comparator for comparing a derivative signal from the derivative circuit with a reference voltage. The comparator supplies an output signal to the coil to amplify the signal across the capacitor, so that the buzzer generates at least one audible alarm.

Abstract translation: 电子设备被安排用于产生可听报警或音乐。 它包括线圈或电感器以及设置有与线圈串联连接的电容器的蜂鸣器。 当电子设备启动时，蜂鸣器会产生声音报警或音乐。 该电子装置还包括在反馈回路中，连接到线圈和电容器之间的连接节点的导数电路，以产生来自电容器的信号的导数，以及用于将来自导数电路的导数信号与 参考电压。 比较器向线圈提供输出信号以放大电容器两端的信号，使蜂鸣器产生至少一个声音报警。

公开(公告)号：US20150374335A1

公开(公告)日：2015-12-31

申请号：US14772669

申请日：2014-03-07

Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Inventor： Christopher James BROWN ,  Michael Robert PRIOR-JONES ,  Benjamin James HADWEN

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G10K11/34 ,  A61B8/14 ,  G01S7/52

CPC classification number: A61B8/4477 ,  A61B8/14 ,  A61B8/4281 ,  A61B8/4455 ,  A61B8/4488 ,  A61B8/4494 ,  A61B8/462 ,  A61B8/58 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B2201/51 ,  B81B2201/0292 ,  B81B2207/015 ,  B81C1/00246 ,  B81C2203/0735 ,  G01S7/5202 ,  G01S7/52025 ,  G01S7/52079 ,  G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52084 ,  G01S15/8913 ,  G01S15/8925 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G01S15/8993 ,  G10K11/341 ,  G10K11/346

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for ultrasound imaging using ultrasound sensor elements comprising thin film transistors. Specifically, ultrasound elements for use in a two dimensional array of ultrasound elements, two dimensional arrays of ultrasound elements, ultrasound sensor element array assemblies, ultrasound imaging devices and methods of performing an ultrasound scan using a two dimensional array of ultrasound elements. A sensor element comprises: an ultrasound transducer, a transmit circuit configured to provide an electrical signal to the transducer for output of an ultrasound signal; and a receive circuit configured to receive an electrical signal from the transducer, based on a received reflected ultrasound signal, wherein the transmit and receive circuits each comprise one or more thin film transistors.

Abstract translation: 使用包括薄膜晶体管的超声波传感器元件进行超声成像的方法和装置。 具体地，用于超声波元件的二维阵列的超声波元件，超声波元件的二维阵列，超声波传感器元件阵列组件，超声成像装置以及使用超声元件的二维阵列进行超声扫描的方法。 传感器元件包括：超声换能器，被配置为向换能器提供电信号以用于输出超声信号的发射电路; 以及接收电路，其被配置为基于所接收的反射超声信号从所述换能器接收电信号，其中所述发射和接收电路各自包括一个或多个薄膜晶体管。

公开(公告)号：US09202457B2

公开(公告)日：2015-12-01

申请号：US13491823

申请日：2012-06-08

Applicant: Jong-keun Song ,  Oh-kyong Kwon ,  Kyung-il Cho ,  Dong-wook Kim ,  Bae-hyung Kim

Inventor： Jong-keun Song ,  Oh-kyong Kwon ,  Kyung-il Cho ,  Dong-wook Kim ,  Bae-hyung Kim

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  G10K11/34 ,  B06B1/02

CPC classification number: G10K11/346 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B2201/51

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a two-dimensional transducer array, a medical imaging system and a method of driving a two-dimensional transducer array are provided. An apparatus for driving a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array including one or more transducers includes one or more drivers configured to respectively drive the transducers, each of the drivers including a register, a comparator, a pulse frequency setter, a multi-pulse controller, a transmission signal generator, a signal transceiver, a transmission and reception switch, and a reception signal amplifier, and a driving controller configured to control the drivers.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种用于驱动二维换能器阵列的装置，医疗成像系统和驱动二维换能器阵列的方法。 用于驱动包括一个或多个换能器的二维（2D）换能器阵列的装置包括配置成分别驱动换能器的一个或多个驱动器，每个驱动器包括寄存器，比较器，脉冲频率设定器，多脉冲 控制器，发送信号发生器，信号收发器，发送和接收开关以及接收信号放大器，以及驱动控制器，被配置为控制驱动器。