| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily detect a reference position by simplifying a detection mechanism for detecting the rotation angle of a piezoelectric element group, and to prevent deficiency of a flexible substrate. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic probe comprises: the piezoelectric element group with a plurality of oblong piezoelectric elements arranged in the longitudinal direction and the flexible substrate which is electrically connected to the piezoelectric elements and extended from at least one end in the lateral direction; a rotating mechanism part to rotate and oscillate the piezoelectric element group in the lateral direction to the left/right around the longitudinal direction; a reference position detecting sensor for detecting the reference position in the lateral direction of the piezoelectric element group; a control shaft interlocking with the reference position sensor and driving the rotating mechanism part; and a step motor. An optical rotary plate for the reference position sensor with the boundary area between a light shading part and a light transmitting part is connected to the control shaft. The light shading part and the light transmitting part are continuously formed at a prescribed angle from the center of the optical rotary plate in the opposite directions from each other with the boundary area as the reference, and the optical rotary plate is rotated at an angle less than the prescribed angle with the boundary area as the reference. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT |
