The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2018

Filed:

Mar. 26, 2015
Applicant:

Stmicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;

Inventors:

Antonio Davide Leone, Pieve Emanuele, IT;

Davide Ugo Ghisu, Milan, IT;

Fabio Quaglia, Pizzale, IT;

Assignee:

STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., Agrate Brianza, IT;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01N 29/36 (2006.01); H03F 1/30 (2006.01); H03F 3/70 (2006.01); G01N 29/34 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/52023 (2013.01); G01N 29/34 (2013.01); G01N 29/36 (2013.01); H03F 1/301 (2013.01); H03F 3/70 (2013.01); G01N 2291/106 (2013.01); H03F 2200/453 (2013.01); H03F 2200/456 (2013.01);
Abstract

An ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic transducer; an amplification stage; a bias circuit, which determines a bias voltage on an input terminal of the amplification stage; and a selector having an intermediate node, a high-voltage switch between the intermediate node and the transducer, and a first low-voltage switch between the intermediate node and the input terminal. A control unit controls the high-voltage switch and the first low-voltage switch so as to alternately couple and decouple the amplification stage and the transducer. A precharge circuit determines a precharge voltage on the intermediate node as a function of the bias voltage, before the amplification stage and the transducer are coupled.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…