Ultrasonic Probe Support Member Thickness Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic probes face challenges in preventing the appearance of false images due to complex structures and unnecessary ultrasonic vibrations, which complicate manufacturing and image formation.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasonic device with a substrate and support member, where the support member has a surface with varying thickness and an inclined plane that differentiates the ultrasonic wave transmission path for adjacent transducer elements, dispersing vibrations and reducing false image detection signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple layers (ultrasonic transmission layer, scattering member, absorption layer, reflection layer, heat transfer layer, cooling layer) are formed on the back side of the piezoelectric layer to prevent false images, then false image prevention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse image preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential function of preventing false images from the complex multi-layer structure and implements it through a single support member with varying thickness. By removing unnecessary layers and retaining only the critical thickness variation feature, the solution achieves false image prevention while significantly reducing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member features local variation in thickness across different regions, with the thickness being different for adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements. This local quality difference creates the necessary ultrasonic path length variation to prevent false images, while maintaining simplicity in the overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple layers are formed on the back side of the piezoelectric layer to prevent false images, then false image prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse image preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention simplifies manufacturing by extracting the essential anti false-image function from the complex multi-layer structure and implementing it through a single support member with varying thickness, reducing the number of manufacturing steps and materials required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member combines multiple functions into a single component: structural support, ultrasonic wave management, and false image prevention. This merging eliminates the need for separate layers and simplifies the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the support member has varying thickness for adjacent transducer elements, then false image prevention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefalse image preventionVSAvoidthickness control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the thickness parameter of the support member across different regions to prevent false images. By controlling the thickness variation rather than requiring complex multi-layer structures, the solution achieves effective false image prevention while managing manufacturing precision requirements through a simpler geometric parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design effectively prevents false images in ultrasonic images by dispersing unnecessary vibrations along the time axis, achieved through a simpler structure that reduces manufacturing complexity and enhances image quality.

Implementation Method 1

At the surface on the opposite side (hereafter called the 'opposite surface') to the surface adhered to the substrate (hereafter called the 'adhesive surface'), the ultrasonic waves are reflected according to the acoustic impedance of the medium in contact with the interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

Each ultrasonic transducer element is equipped with a so called bulk type piezoelectric layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10441248B2Ultrasonic device, probe, electronic equipment, and ultrasonic image device

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ultrasonic device includes a substrate and a support member. The substrate has an element array including a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in an array form. The support member has a surface adhered to the substrate in an area including the element array, and an opposite surface opposite from the surface adhered to the substrate, a distance from the surface adhered to the substrate to the opposite surface being different with respect to two adjacent ones of the ultrasonic transducer elements in the element array.