Ultrasound Transducer Shield Grounding for Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound endoscope designs face challenges in reducing the diameter of the ultrasound transducer unit while maintaining electrical safety and preventing unwanted scanning signals due to the configuration of the metal shield member and signal transmission cable, which can lead to increased diameter and potential electrical safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cylindrical metal shield member with a large-diameter portion, a small-diameter portion, and a step portion, where the ground wiring connects the substrate to the outer circumferential face of the metal shield member through an opening in the step or small-diameter portion, ensuring electrical safety and reducing the overall diameter of the ultrasound transducer unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal shield member is used to cover the substrate for electrical safety, then electrical safety is improved, but the diameter of the ultrasound transducer unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal shield member is divided into a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion separated by a step portion. The large-diameter portion provides comprehensive coverage for electrical safety, while the small-diameter portion reduces the overall diameter of the transducer unit. This segmentation allows the shield to perform its safety function without unnecessarily increasing the transducer diameter throughout its entire length.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal shield member has different diameters at different locations along its length. The large-diameter portion is positioned where maximum shielding coverage is needed (covering the substrate and connection areas), while the small-diameter portion is positioned where less coverage is required. This local variation in quality optimizes both electrical safety and compactness.
2Reliability
If ground wiring is led out through an opening in the metal shield member, then electrical safety is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is pre-formed in the step portion or small-diameter portion of the metal shield member during the manufacturing process. The ground wiring is designed to pass through this predetermined opening and connect to the substrate before the shield member is fully assembled. This preliminary preparation simplifies the assembly process and ensures proper grounding without requiring complex post-assembly modifications.
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 effectively reduces the diameter of the ultrasound transducer unit, enhances electrical safety by grounding the metal shield member, and minimizes the risk of unwanted scanning signals, thereby improving the design's efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
ground wiring that electrically connects the substrate and an outer circumferential face on an opposite side to an inner surface that faces the substrate of the metal shield member
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasound transducer unit includes: an ultrasound element; a substrate; a signal transmission cable; a cylindrical metal shield member that has a large-diameter portion, a small-diameter portion, and a step portion, in which the large-diameter portion covers an outer circumference of the substrate; ground wiring that electrically connects the substrate and an outer circumferential face of the metal shield member; and an opening portion formed in the step portion or the small-diameter portion. The ground wiring is extended to outside the metal shield member from inside the large-diameter portion through the opening portion, and is electrically connected to an outer circumferential face of the small-diameter portion to thereby electrically connect the substrate and the outer circumferential face of the metal shield member.