Patent ID: 6856175

Claim:
A device comprising an ultrasound transducer element and an integrated circuit, said integrated circuit comprising means for driving said ultrasound transducer element with a transmit pulse having a rise time and a fall time; and means for varying the rise or fall time of said transmit pulse, wherein said driving means comprise a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor having their drains connected at a junction, the source of said first PMOS transistor being connected to a terminal at a first voltage level and the source of said first NMOS transistor being connected to ground, said junction being electrically coupled to an input of said ultrasound transducer element, and said time varying means comprise a second NMOS transistor having a drain connected to the gate of said first PMOS transistor and having a source connected to a terminal at a first control voltage level, and a first digital-to-analog converter that supplies said first control voltage level.