Patent ID: 6822374
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: B06B,H04R

Abstract:
An ultrasound transducer array comprising a plurality of elements, each of said elements comprising:a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, each of said ultrasound transducer elements comprising: first and second layers of piezoelectric ceramic material having a relatively high dielectric constant, each of said first and second layers having front and rear faces, said front face of said second layer facing said rear face of said first layer; a first electrode in contact with said front face of said first layer; a second electrode between said front face of said second layer and said rear face of said first layer; a third electrode in contact with said rear face of said second layer; a first inter-electrode connection electrically connecting said first and third electrodes; and a first segment of material having a relatively low dielectric constant, said first segment extending between said first inter-electrode connection and an opposing edge of said second electrode and between said first and third electrodes wherein a thickness of said first segment equals about a sum of at least a thickness of said first and second layers and said second electrode and wherein said first segment is situated and configured for confining an electric field to said material having a relatively high dielectric constant.