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. 01, 2014
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2008
Christopher Stephen Hall, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);
Chien Ting Chin, Tarrytown, NY (US);
Jan Frederik Suijver, Dommelen, NL;
Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Eindhoven, NL;
Stein Kuiper, Neerijnen, NL;
Christopher Stephen Hall, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);
Chien Ting Chin, Tarrytown, NY (US);
Jan Frederik Suijver, Dommelen, NL;
Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Eindhoven, NL;
Stein Kuiper, Neerijnen, NL;
Koninklijke Philips N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An acoustic probe () includes an acoustic transducer (), and a plurality of variably-refracting acoustic lens elements () coupled to the acoustic transducer. Each variably-refracting acoustic lens element has at least a pair of electrodes () adapted to adjust at least one characteristic of the variably-refracting acoustic lens element in response to a selected voltage applied across the electrodes. In one embodiment, each variably-refracting acoustic lens element includes a cavity, first and second fluid media () disposed within the cavity, and the pair of electrodes. The speed of sound of an acoustic wave in the first fluid medium is different than the speed of sound of the acoustic wave in the second fluid medium. The first and second fluid media are immiscible with respect to each other, and the first fluid medium has a substantially different electrical conductivity than the second fluid medium.