Patent ID: 9182377
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: A61B,B06B,G01N,G01S

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic transducer drive circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer by outputting pulses including a positive pulse and a negative pulse to an output line coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit comprising: a positive voltage supply circuit configured to supply positive voltage to the output line; a negative voltage supply circuit configured to supply negative voltage to the output line; a current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is positive voltage, and configured to change the voltage in the output line to ground voltage; and a current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is negative voltage, and configured to change the voltage in the output line to ground voltage, wherein the current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the negative pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is positive voltage; the current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the positive pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is negative voltage; the positive voltage supply circuit is configured to start operation after a first predetermined delay time that lasts from an operation start point of the current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit until the voltage in the output line becomes ground voltage; and the negative voltage supply circuit is configured to start operation after a second predetermined delay time that lasts from an operation start point of the current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit until the voltage in the output line becomes ground voltage.