Patent ID: 8867314

Claim:
An ultrasonic probe device comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers is configured to transmit and/or receive ultrasonic waves in a frequency range that varies with a bias voltage value of a bias voltage applied to the each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and a band control unit configured to perform a determination function to determine the bias voltage value of the bias voltage applied to the each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers during an operation period of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers such that a predetermined continuous frequency band is covered by a combination of the frequency ranges of the transmitted and/or received ultrasonic waves from the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the determination function comprises determining: a first bias voltage value of a first bias voltage to be applied to a first ultrasonic transducer of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers such that the first ultrasonic transducer transmits and/or receives ultrasonic waves in a first frequency range, and a second bias voltage value of a second bias voltage to be applied to a second ultrasonic transducer of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers such that the second ultrasonic transducer transmits and/or receives ultrasonic waves in a second frequency range, at least a part of the second frequency range being different from the first frequency range.