US 12,260,050 B2
Differential receive at an ultrasonic transducer
Leonardo Baldasarre, Varese (IT); Alessandro Colombo, Milan (IT); Federica Confalonieri, Carimate (IT); and Marco Travagliati, Pavia (IT)
Assigned to TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/822,116.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/260,571, filed on Aug. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0065212 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 3/043 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); B06B 1/02 (2006.01); B06B 1/06 (2006.01); G06V 40/13 (2022.01)
CPC G06F 3/0436 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4483 (2013.01); B06B 1/0207 (2013.01); G06V 40/1306 (2022.01); A61B 8/00 (2013.01); B06B 1/064 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic transducer device comprising:
a substrate;
an edge support structure connected to the substrate; and
a membrane connected to the edge support structure such that a cavity is defined between the membrane and the substrate, the membrane configured to allow movement at ultrasonic frequencies, the membrane comprising:
a structural layer;
a piezoelectric layer having a first surface and a second surface;
a first electrode placed on the first surface of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the first electrode is located at a center of the membrane;
a second electrode placed on the first surface of the piezoelectric layer, wherein the second electrode is a patterned electrode comprising more than one electrode components located at an edge of the membrane; and
a third electrode placed on the second surface of the piezoelectric layer;
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are operable during a transmit operation and a receive operation, and wherein, during the receive operation, the first electrode and the second electrode operate to provide differential receiving and the third electrode is coupled to ground.