Ultrasonic Transducer Array with Row-Column Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional ultrasound image acquisition devices with row-column addressing (RCA) face limitations in beam shaping possibilities and sensitivity differences between rows and columns, leading to suboptimal image quality.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ultrasonic imaging device features a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in rows and columns, with specific electrode connections and insulation configurations that ensure symmetrical capacitive coupling between rows and columns, thereby improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If row-column addressing is used to simplify control electronics, then device complexity is reduced, but beam shaping possibilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer array is segmented into rows and columns with independent addressing, allowing the system to achieve simplified control electronics while maintaining beam shaping capabilities through selective activation of row and column subsets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the row-column addressing by implementing phased excitation sequences, where rows and columns are activated at different time points to synthesize complex beam patterns that would otherwise require full 2D addressing
2Device complexity
If row-column addressing is used to reduce transmit/receive channels, then device complexity is reduced, but signal-to-noise ratio is improved
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent transducers in rows and columns are electrically merged through shared electrode connections, creating larger effective aperture areas that improve signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining the reduced channel count benefit of row-column addressing
3Ease of manufacture
If asymmetrical electrode connections are used in rows and columns, then manufacturing is simplified, but sensitivity uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetrical electrode connections in specific regions to compensate for systematic manufacturing variations, achieving sensitivity uniformity across the array while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity through the regular row-column pattern
Solution Approach 2:
Different electrode connection configurations are applied to different regions of the transducer array based on local sensitivity requirements, with asymmetrical connections used strategically in areas where manufacturing variations most impact performance
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 solution enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and improves the sensitivity uniformity across rows and columns, resulting in improved quality of acquired three-dimensional ultrasound images.
Implementation Method 1
The electronic device is configured to apply electric excitation signals to the transducers to cause the emission of ultrasound waves by the transducers... The ultrasound waves emitted by the transducers are reflected by the body to be analyzed (by its internal and/or surface structure), and then return to the transducers, which convert them back into electric signals
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic imaging device includes a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged in rows and columns. Each transducer has a lower electrode and an upper electrode. In each row, any two neighboring transducers of the row respectively have their lower electrode and their upper electrode connected to each other, or their upper electrode and their lower electrode connected to each other and in each column, any two neighboring transducers in the column respectively have their lower electrode and their upper electrode connected to each other, or their upper electrode and their lower electrode connected to each other.