US 12,433,571 B2
Dual bias micromachined ultrasonic transducers
Bruno Haider, Rehoboth Beach, DE (US)
Assigned to GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed by GE Precision Healthcare LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/332,292.
Prior Publication US 2024/0407758 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); B06B 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/4494 (2013.01) [A61B 8/4444 (2013.01); B06B 1/0276 (2013.01); B06B 2201/51 (2013.01); B06B 2201/55 (2013.01); B06B 2201/76 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
7. A method of operating an ultrasound probe, comprising:
applying a first voltage bias to a first top electrode of a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) and applying a second voltage bias to a second top electrode of the transducer while applying a single drive signal to a bottom electrode of the transducer, causing a voltage across the PMUT from the applied first voltage bias to oscillate in phase with and offset from a voltage across the PMUT from the applied second voltage bias;
emitting an ultrasound signal actuated by the transducer towards a target; and
receiving a reflected ultrasound signal at a receiver coupled to the transducer.