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:
Aug. 24, 2021
Filed:
Aug. 04, 2016
Koninklijke Philips N.v., Eindhoven, NL;
Bernard Joseph Savord, Andover, MA (US);
Richard Edward Davidsen, Andover, MA (US);
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An array of CMUT cells () has a DC bias voltage (VB) coupled to the top electrodes of the cells to bias the electrode to a desired collapsed or partially collapsed state. Fuses () are coupled in series with the bottom electrodes () of the cells which will open and isolate an individual cell from the other still-functional cells of the array in the event of a failure of the individual cell. In a preferred embodiment the cells are coupled to control integrated circuitry such as microbeamformer circuitry and the fuses are formed of semiconductor materials with the integrated circuitry, thereby leaving the MUT surface area available for high density MUT fabrication. Damage to the integrated circuitry due to short-circuiting of the DC bias current through a failed cell is prevented.