Patent ID: 11464494

Abstract:
An ultrasound system, probe and method are provided that comprise a transducer with piezoelectric transducer elements polarized in a poling direction, wherein over time one or more of the transducer elements possibly exhibit a depoling effect; and one or more drive circuits configured to: i) generate a transmit signal having at least first polarity segments, the first segments having corresponding first peak amplitudes; ii) generate a repoling signal having a repoling pattern configured to at least partially revert the depoling effect exhibited by the one or more transducer elements; and iii) generate a bias signal in the poling direction, the bias signal combined with the at least one of the transmit signal or the repoling signal to form a corresponding at least one of a biased transmit signal or a bias repoling signal, that is shifted in the poling direction.