摘要 |
By using larger segments for transmit than receive in ultrasound imaging, the number of transmit beamformer channels relative to receive beamformer channels is reduced. The space and power requirements of the transmit beamformer channels are reduced, assisting in placement within a transducer probe. The larger segments for transmit are obtained by interconnecting electrodes used for transmit on different elements. Each element includes two or more layers of transducer material and a corresponding three or more electrodes. One of the electrodes is a transmit electrode. The transmit electrodes of two or more elements are connected together, such as sharing a via connection to a transmit beamformer channel. Receive electrodes for each element are isolated from each other and connect to receive beamformer channels. The multi-layer structure of the elements provides for transmit grouping of elements and separate reception without grouping or with different grouping.
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