Patent ID: 9656300
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: B06B

Claim:
1. A unimorph-type ultrasound probe having a plurality of piezoelectric element regions which extend in a minor axis direction and are arranged at a predetermined arrangement pitch in a major axis direction, wherein a plurality of minute piezoelectric element portions are formed so as to be arranged in each of the piezoelectric element regions, and wherein the plurality of minute piezoelectric element portions comprise a plurality of first piezoelectric element portions which have a first diameter and are arranged in both the minor axis direction and the major axis direction in the central portion in the minor axis direction, and a plurality of second piezoelectric element portions which have a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and are arranged in both the minor axis direction and the major axis direction in both end portions in the minor axis direction, wherein the plurality of first piezoelectric element portions are disposed so as to have a close-packed structure in which the first piezoelectric element portions are arranged in the form of straight lines at a predetermined first pitch in the minor axis direction to form a plurality of first lines, and the first piezoelectric element portions deviate from each other in a deviation amount that is ½ of the predetermined first pitch in each of the first lines, wherein the plurality of second piezoelectric element portions are disposed so as to have a close-packed structure in which the second piezoelectric element portions are arranged in the form of straight lines at a predetermined second pitch in the minor axis direction to form a plurality of second lines, and the second piezoelectric element portions deviate from each other in a deviation amount that is ½ of the predetermined second pitch in each of the second lines.