Duplexer including a variable capacitance diode for an ultrasound imaging system

摘要

A duplexer for an ultrasound imaging-system capable of selectively coupling a transducer element to either a transmitter or a receiver, depending on whether the imaging system is in the transmit mode or receive mode, contains a variable capacitance diode which is connected in a direction opposite that of transmit pulses emitted by the transmitter between the transducer element and the receiver. In this manner, one obtains an improved duplexer that operates with virtually no power loss, without drive circuits, without leakage currents, and with low noise.