US 12,085,646 B2
Matrix transducer configurable as a one-dimensional transducer in ultrasound imaging
Terry E. Simpson, Sammamish, WA (US); Henry G. Pavy, Cupertino, CA (US); Robert Petersen, Issaquah, WA (US); and David A. Petersen, Fall City, WA (US)
Assigned to Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Malvern, PA (US)
Filed by Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Malvern, PA (US)
Filed on Nov. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/949,698.
Prior Publication US 2022/0146669 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 15/89 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 15/8925 (2013.01) [G01S 15/8927 (2013.01); G01S 7/52095 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transducer system for ultrasound imaging, the transducer system comprising:
a two-dimensional array of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements connected with routing switches, wherein the transducer elements are organized into overlapping L-shaped groups across three quadrants, wherein each transducer element in a respective L-shaped group shares one common connection with every other element in the respective L-shaped group; and
a controller configured to operate the routing switches to form a first set of sub-arrays of the transducer elements as a one-dimensional array and form a second set of sub-arrays of the transducer elements as a multi-dimensional arrays.