Patent ID: 7611462

Claim:
A system for focusing acoustic energy towards a target region, comprising: a transducer array comprising a plurality of “n” transducer elements; a controller for providing drive signals to the transducer array, the controller comprising a plurality of “m” output channels providing sets of drive signals having respective phase shift values, “m” being less than “n,” wherein the controller is configured for assigning phase shift values to each of the transducer elements at least partially based upon an analysis of an acoustic path extending from each of the transducer elements to a desired focal zone within the target region; and a switch coupled to the output channels of the controller and to the transducer elements of the transducer array, the switch configured for connecting output channels to respective transducer elements in order to provide respective sets of drive signals to the respective transducer elements, whereby acoustic energy transmitted by the transducer array may be focused in a desired manner.