Hex packed two dimensional ultrasonic transducer arrays

Patent 6384516 Issued on May 7, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 21, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Fraser, John Douglas

Assignee

ATL Ultrasound

Application

No. 488583 filed on 01/21/2000

US Classes:

310/334Acoustic wave type generator or receiver

Examiners

Primary: Dougherty, Thomas M.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Yorks, Jr.; W. Brinton

Foreign Patent References

0 697 257 EP. 02/13/1996

International Classes

H04R 017/00
H01L 041/08

Abstract

A two dimensional ultrasonic transducer array suitable for three dimensional phased array scanning is formed of hexagonally close packed transducer elements. In a preferred embodiment the transducer elements have a rectilinear shape, allowing the array to be fabricated with conventional dicing saw processes.

Other References

Fatemi et al., "Application of Hexagonal Arrays in Generation and Steering of Limited Diffraction Beams," pp. 1531-1534, 1994 IEEE Ultrasonic Symposium
Fatemi, M. et al., "Efficient Generation of Limited Diffraction Beams by Hexagonal Arrays," Biomedical Engineering Dept., Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran, Ultrasonic Imaging, vol. 16, No. 1, Jan. 1994, p. 53
Fatemi, M., et al., "Application of Hexagonal Arrays in Generation and Steering of Limited Difraction Beams," IEEE, 1994 Ultrasonic Symposium, pp. 1531-1534 Dec. 1994
Mills et al., "Combining Multi-Layers and Composites to Increase SNR for Medical Ultrasound Transducers," at pp. 1509-1512, IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium Jan. 199