Stacked Ultrasonic Transducer Cells for Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high power ultrasonic transducers, such as CMUTs, face limitations in ultrasonic transmission power due to the design of their membranes and cavities, which affect the efficiency of wave transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple ultrasonic transducer cells with varying cavity sizes and support structures, allowing for stacked configurations where secondary cells oscillate with primary cells to enhance transmission power, and include oscillation amplifying units to increase efficiency, while maintaining resonance frequency compatibility across frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple ultrasonic transducer cells are stacked to increase transmission power, then ultrasonic transmission power is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transducer is divided into multiple independent transducer cells (first, second, and third cells) with distinct cavities and membranes. Each cell can be independently designed and optimized, allowing the system to achieve high transmission power through cumulative effect while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested configuration where the second ultrasonic transducer cell is disposed on the first cell, and the third cell is disposed on the second cell. This vertical stacking creates a compact nested structure that increases power output without proportionally increasing the device's footprint or operational complexity.
2Power
If varying cavity sizes are used in stacked cells, then transmission power is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each ultrasonic transducer cell is designed with locally optimized cavity sizes and membrane configurations tailored to its specific position in the stack. The first cell has a different cavity size than the second cell, which differs from the third cell. This local quality approach allows each component to be manufactured with standard precision while achieving superior overall system performance through differentiated design.
3Measurement precision
If oscillation amplifying units are added, then reception sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillation amplifying units are integrated within the existing transducer cell structures rather than being added as separate external components. The amplifying units share the same cavity space and membrane structures as the transducer cells, merging multiple functions into unified components. This reduces overall device complexity while still achieving enhanced reception sensitivity.
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
This configuration significantly increases ultrasonic transmission power and reception sensitivity by optimizing the oscillation and resonance frequencies, leading to improved imaging resolution and reduced viewing distance.
Implementation Method 1
When alternating current ('AC') flows through the capacitor, the thin film oscillates, and the CMUTs thereby generate ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 2
the thin film oscillates, and the CMUTs thereby generate ultrasonic waves
Implementation Method 3
maintaining resonance frequency compatibility across frequency bands
Data Source
AI summary
A high power ultrasonic transducer includes a first ultrasonic transducer cell and at least one second ultrasonic transducer cell disposed on the first ultrasonic transducer cell. The at least one second ultrasonic transducer cell oscillates together with the first ultrasonic transducer cell.