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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 03, 2020
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2016
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Bernhard E. Boser, Berkeley, CA (US);
David A. Horsley, Albany, CA (US);
Hao-Yen Tang, Berkeley, CA (US);
Yipeng Lu, Davis, CA (US);
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus having a Micro-machined Ultrasonic Transducer (MUT), such as a Piezoelectric MUT (PMUT) or Capacitive MUT (CMUT), with a transmitting mode and a receiving mode for generating and sensing acoustic pressure in imaging applications. During transmission in a PMUT the inverse piezoelectric effect on the piezo layer causes transverse stress, which causes a bending moment in the PMUT structure leading to out-of-plane deflection. Different applied signs of voltage generates different signs of stress inside the piezo that in turn cause oscillating motion generating an acoustic pressure wave. During signal reception, incident pressure waves deflect the PMUT creating transverse stress, resulting in a charge determined through measuring voltage between electrodes. The apparatus is particularly well-suited for use in health care, such as measuring fat/muscle thickness, blood-flow, and blood pressure.