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Publication Number
US-11464497-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and techniques are provided for modular ultrasonic transducers and frame. An ultrasonic transducer array may include a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame. The modular ultrasonic transducer array frame may include mechanisms for the attachment of ultrasonic transducer modules to the ultrasonic transducer array frame. The ultrasonic transducer array may include ultrasonic transducer modules which may include arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements within the ultrasonic transducer modules. Two of the ultrasonic transducer modules may include arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements where the ultrasonic transducer elements are different between the two ultrasonic transducer modules.
Core Innovation
The disclosed subject matter provides an ultrasonic transducer module that includes an ultrasonic transducer array with one or more ultrasonic transducer elements, electronics that control operation of the ultrasonic transducer elements, and a common interface connected to the electronics. The common interface provides signals from outside the ultrasonic transducer module to the electronics and provides signals from the electronics to outside the ultrasonic transducer module.
The ultrasonic transducer module includes first and second connection points for the common interface, wherein the first connection point accommodates connection to a second ultrasonic transducer module and the second connection point accommodates connection to a third ultrasonic transducer module. The first connection point comprises an intake port and the second connection point comprises an exit port for circulation of fluid or vapor through the ultrasonic transducer module, and the module is configured to be attached to a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame.
The modular ultrasonic transducer array frame includes a backplane, and the ultrasonic transducer module connects to the backplane at a third connection point of the common interface. The disclosure also includes fiducials on module and/or frame surfaces, including fiducials that indicate the location of a zero element, and controller concepts that generate control signals based on module/frame orientation determined from detected fiducials, including timing based on propagation delay.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims explicitly cover two core structures: an ultrasonic transducer module with a shared common interface, intake and exit fluid or vapor ports, and a backplane connection, and a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame with multiple ultrasonic transducer modules that have different ultrasonic transducer element arrays and connect via the common interface to each other and to the backplane. Across the independent claims, the modular concept includes at least two modules, shared interface connection points, and fluid or vapor circulation through intake and exit ports.
Ultrasonic transducer module with common interface for bidirectional signals
An ultrasonic transducer module including an ultrasonic transducer array with one or more ultrasonic transducer elements, electronics controlling operation of the ultrasonic transducer elements, and a common interface connected to the electronics that provides signals from outside the ultrasonic transducer module to the electronics and provides signals from the electronics to outside the ultrasonic transducer module.
Module connection points with intake and exit ports for fluid or vapor circulation
A first connection point for the common interface and a second connection point for the common interface, wherein the first connection point accommodates connection to a second ultrasonic transducer module and the second connection point accommodates connection to a third ultrasonic transducer module, and wherein the first connection point comprises an intake port and the second connection point comprises an exit port for the circulation of fluid or vapor through the ultrasonic transducer module.
Backplane connection via common interface in modular array frame
The ultrasonic transducer module configured to be attached to a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame, wherein the modular ultrasonic transducer array frame further comprises a backplane, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer module is connected to the backplane at a third connection point of the common interface.
Modular ultrasonic transducer array frame with attachable modules and different element arrays
A modular ultrasonic transducer array frame comprising mechanisms for the attachment of ultrasonic transducer modules to the ultrasonic transducer array frame, and two or more ultrasonic transducer modules, each comprising an array of ultrasonic transducer elements within the ultrasonic transducer module, wherein at least two of the ultrasonic transducer modules comprise arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements different between the at least two of the ultrasonic transducer modules, and wherein each ultrasonic transducer module comprises one or more connection points for a common interface.
Intake and exit ports for fluid or vapor circulation through two or more modules
Two of the connection points on each of the two or more ultrasonic transducer modules comprise an intake port and exit port that accommodate the circulation of fluid or vapor through two or more ultrasonic transducer modules.
Module-to-module and frame-to-backplane connection via common interface connection points
Two of the two or more ultrasonic transducer modules are connected to each other at connection points of the common interfaces of the two ultrasonic transducer modules, and wherein the modular ultrasonic transducer array frame further comprises a backplane, and wherein the two of the two or more ultrasonic transducer modules are connected to the backplane at additional connection points of the common interfaces of the two of the two or more ultrasonic transducer modules.
Taken together, the independent claims establish a modular ultrasonic transducer array architecture where individual ultrasonic transducer modules share a common interface for outside signals and module electronics signals, include intake and exit ports for circulation of fluid or vapor, and connect both to adjacent modules and to a modular frame backplane. The array frame supports multiple modules with different ultrasonic transducer element arrays and connection point structures enabling integration into a single modular system.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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