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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
David G. Miller, North Andover, MA (US);
Bernard J. Savord, Andover, MA (US);
Assignee:
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B 8/14 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B 8/14 ;
Abstract
An AC biasing arrangement for a micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (MUT) is disclosed. The AC biasing arrangement allows the sensitivity of each MUT element in an array to be adjusted without collapsing the MUT membrane. The sensitivity of the MUT element can be adjusted by varying the frequency of the AC bias signal supplied to the MUT element. An alternative embodiment of the invention adds a second AC bias signal having a phase opposite the phase of the first AC bias signal. This arrangement provides a neutral bias signal, thereby removing the large amplitude bias signal from the MUT element.