Ultrasound Transducer Spiral Array for Side Lobe Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insonification devices with symmetrical transducer layouts suffer from significant side lobes and hot spots due to inhomogeneous energy distribution, leading to undesirable damage and parasitic waves during ultrasound imaging or modification of environments.
Innovation Solution
A network of at least ten ultrasound transducers is distributed spirally over a three-dimensional surface, such as a sphere or ellipsoid, to achieve a homogeneous energy distribution and reduce side lobes, with the use of concentric spirals ensuring energy concentration at the focal point and minimizing secondary lobes in the near field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If transducers are arranged in a symmetrical layout, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but significant side lobes and hot spots appear due to inhomogeneous energy distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by distributing transducers along spiral trajectories instead of using symmetrical geometric patterns. This asymmetric spiral arrangement breaks the symmetry that causes constructive interference and side lobe formation, while still providing regular spacing between transducers. The spiral geometry naturally creates inhomogeneous energy distribution patterns that eliminate hot spots and reduce side lobes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved spiral trajectories for transducer placement rather than straight lines or simple geometric shapes. The spiral curves wrap around the focal region in three-dimensional space, creating a distributed pattern that focuses energy at the target point while dispersing energy in surrounding regions. This curved geometry is essential for achieving homogeneous energy distribution and eliminating hot spots.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If transducers are randomly distributed in a three-dimensional concave area, then side lobes are reduced, but the layout becomes inhomogeneous creating hot spots and parasitic waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transducer array into multiple independent spiral trajectories. Each spiral acts as a separate segment that contributes to the overall focal pattern. By dividing the array into multiple segments (spirals) with regular spacing, the patent achieves both side lobe reduction and layout homogeneity, avoiding the random distribution problem while maintaining the benefits of non-symmetrical arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial distribution parameters by using spiral coordinates instead of random or simple geometric patterns. The spiral parameters (pitch, radius, number of turns) are optimized to achieve homogeneous transducer spacing while maintaining the asymmetric pattern needed for side lobe reduction. This parameter optimization allows simultaneous achievement of both goals.
3Power
If the number of transducers is increased to improve focusing, then beam intensity at focal point increases, but the number of control channels and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transducers into coherent spiral patterns that work together to focus energy. By organizing transducers into spiral trajectories with specific geometric relationships, the patent achieves constructive interference at the focal point, increasing beam intensity without requiring a proportional increase in the total number of transducers. This merging approach maximizes the effectiveness of each transducer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar arrays to three-dimensional spiral arrangements. This dimensional change allows transducers to be distributed in volumetric space, improving focusing capability and beam intensity without linearly increasing the number of required control channels. The three-dimensional spiral geometry provides additional degrees of freedom for beam shaping and focusing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The spiral distribution of transducers provides a homogeneous energy distribution, eliminating hot spots and optimizing beam focusing, resulting in improved safety and effectiveness by reducing unwanted energy in the near field and enhancing antenna gain at the focal point.
Implementation Method 1
a network of at least ten ultrasound transducers that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed beam of waves
Implementation Method 2
designed to generate a beam of high-intensity focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone
Implementation Method 3
N ultrasound sources that are controlled independently in phase and in amplitude by electronic means, so that their overall energy reaches a local maximum in a predetermined focus zone
Implementation Method 4
additional electronic focussing that will then be performed by applying individually calculated phase delays to each transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a device (1) for the insonification of an environment or medium, which is designed to generate a beam of focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone (20), used for imaging the medium or changing the properties of the medium, with the insonification device (1) having an intrinsic or extrinsic support structure on which is installed a network of a predetermined number of ultrasound transducers (12) that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed wave beam. According to the invention, the transducers (12) used for the generation of the focussed wave beam are located in a homogeneous spatial distribution along at least two concentric spirals (11) that are wound onto a three-dimensional concave area (10) whose shape and size are chosen to allow optimal focusing of the beam at a predetermined focal length, and whose concave side is oriented toward the focus zone (20).