Methods and systems for CMUT resonance determination
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Publication Number
US-12544044-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method of determining a resonance frequency of a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer may include directing a broadband excitation waveform at an ultrasound transducer, wherein the excitation waveform comprises a frequency band which includes an anticipated resonance frequency of the ultrasound transducer; and measuring a ringdown characteristic of the ultrasound transducer.
Core Innovation
The invention characterizes an ultrasound transducer, including a capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), by directing a broadband electrical stimulus waveform at the ultrasound transducer, wherein a spectral bandwidth of the broadband electrical stimulus waveform includes an anticipated resonance frequency range of the ultrasound transducer. An emitted signal is measured from the ultrasound transducer as a result of the broadband electrical stimulus waveform. A ringdown characteristic is determined from at least one emitted signal, and a resonance frequency of the ultrasound transducer is determined based at least in part on the ringdown characteristic.
The ringdown characteristic provides a basis for computing the resonance frequency, including processing such as a Fourier transform and analysis of a peak frequency. The description further includes zero-padding, windowing, and determining a resonance frequency using a polynomial fit to estimate sub-bin peak frequency. The characterization can be repeated using multiple excitations, including averaging multiple emitted signals.
The characterization includes implementation contexts where a stimulus waveform is provided and an emitted signal is measured and analyzed, including use with an otoscope speculum and other fixtures, and measuring emitted signals for resonance determination using a Doppler receiver that amplifies and digitizes signals. The document also describes characterization as functional or non-functional based on the ringdown characteristic relative to a predetermined range, and reports variability of determined resonance with atmospheric pressure/altitude, including quantifying resonance shifts.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are identified. They cover a method and a computer system for characterizing an ultrasound transducer by using a broadband electrical stimulus waveform spanning an anticipated resonance frequency range, measuring ringdown from emitted signals, and determining resonance frequency based on the ringdown characteristic. Across the independent claims, the inventive features center on broadband stimulus bandwidth selection, ringdown-based resonance determination, and a system implementation that executes the same sequence via software on a processor.
Broadband stimulus includes anticipated resonance range and directs it to the ultrasound transducer
Directing a broadband electrical stimulus waveform at an ultrasound transducer, wherein a spectral bandwidth of the broadband electrical stimulus waveform includes an anticipated resonance frequency range of the ultrasound transducer.
Measuring ringdown characteristic from emitted signals
Measuring a ringdown characteristic of the ultrasound transducer from at least one emitted signal of the ultrasound transducer as a result of the broadband electrical stimulus waveform.
Resonance frequency determined based on ringdown characteristic
Determining a resonance frequency of the ultrasound transducer based at least in part on the ringdown characteristic.
Computer system executing broadband stimulus, ringdown measurement, and resonance determination
A computer system for characterizing an ultrasound transducer comprising an ultrasound transducer, a processor, and a non-transient computer readable storage medium including software that, as a result of execution, causes the processor to provide a broadband electrical stimulus waveform having spectral bandwidth that comprises an anticipated resonance frequency range, measure an emitted signal in response to the broadband electrical stimulus waveform, determine a ringdown characteristic of the emitted signal, and determine a resonance frequency based at least in part on the ringdown characteristic.
The independent claims collectively require applying a broadband electrical stimulus waveform whose spectral bandwidth includes an anticipated resonance frequency range, measuring a ringdown characteristic from emitted signals produced by that stimulus, and determining the ultrasound transducer resonance frequency based at least in part on the ringdown characteristic, with the second independent claim defining a computer system executing these functions via processor-executed software.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Characterization in an otoscope environment using an otoscope speculum and other fixtures.
Use with a Doppler receiver context where emitted signals are amplified and digitized for resonance determination.
Functional or non-functional characterization based on the ringdown characteristic relative to a predetermined range.
Assessing resonance variability as a function of atmospheric pressure/altitude and quantifying resonance shifts.
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