Modular ultrasonic transducers and frame

Inventors

Taffler, Sean

Assignees

Acoustiic Inc

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 invention describes a modular ultrasonic transducer array that uses a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame configured to attach ultrasonic transducer modules. Each ultrasonic transducer module includes an ultrasonic transducer array comprising one or more ultrasonic transducer elements with electronics that control operation of the one or more ultrasonic transducer elements. The modular frame further comprises a backplane, and the transducer modules connect to the backplane at connection points of a common interface.

Each ultrasonic transducer module includes a common interface connected to the electronics, where 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 common interface supports module-to-module signaling and/or connection to a backplane, and the document describes that the signals can be electrical signals and/or optical signals. The modular construction allows at least two modules to include arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements, where at least two of the arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements are different between the at least two ultrasonic transducer modules.

The document further describes module orientation and registration using fiducials and an ultrasonic controller system that detects fiducials to determine orientation of ultrasonic transducer modules and the modular ultrasonic transducer array frame. Based on the detected orientation, the controller system generates control signals, including control signals based on electrical propagation delay for signal paths. In addition, the modular ultrasonic transducer array system includes cooling fluid distribution with cooling fluid chambers using intake ports and exit ports, where a membrane and conductive/RF-shield coatings are described to improve coupling and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes two independent claims that cover the construction and interface of an individual ultrasonic transducer module and a modular ultrasonic transducer array that combines multiple modules with different transducer-element arrays on a shared modular frame and backplane. The main inventive features focus on the common interface for bidirectional signals, attachment to a modular array frame with a backplane, and a system-level modular array that combines different ultrasonic transducer element arrays and uses connection points on the common interface.

Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on an ultrasonic transducer module having electronics-controlled transducer elements and a common interface that provides signals both into and out of the module, plus integration of that module onto a modular ultrasonic transducer array frame with a backplane connection at the common interface connection point. The array claim additionally requires a modular frame with attachment mechanisms and multiple modules that include different arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements, with connection-point integration through the common interface to the backplane.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications