US 11,986,856 B2
High power microbeamformer ultrasound transducer probe
Andrew Lee Robinson, Kenmore, WA (US); and Haifeng Wang, State College, PA (US)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 16/959,452
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Dec. 26, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/086873
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 1, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/134878, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 11, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/612,831, filed on Jan. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0068786 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. B06B 1/06 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01)
CPC B06B 1/0611 (2013.01) [B06B 1/064 (2013.01); G01S 7/5202 (2013.01); G01S 7/5208 (2013.01); G01S 15/8915 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound device for operating at drive currents for increased transmit power comprising:
a transducer array; and
a microbeamformer integrated circuit located in the device and comprising a plurality of current drive amplifiers adapted to provide a drive current to actuate elements of the transducer array during ultrasonic transmission,
wherein the transducer array comprises transducer elements configured to be actuated by the drive current,
wherein at least one transducer element of the array comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers that are (1) electrically coupled in parallel to a current drive amplifier of the microbeamformer integrated circuit and (2) mechanically coupled in series for ultrasonic transmission, and
wherein a transmit power of the transducer array is adapted to be increased by increasing the drive current.