Patents Examined by Parshotam B. Lall
  • Patent number: 4954960
    Abstract: A driver system for an ultrasonic probe using a tunable inductor in series with the piezoelectric crystal excitation transducer in the probe. The bias current through this flux moduation coil is controlled by the system such that the inductance of the tunable inductor cancels out the capacitive reactance of the load impedance presented by the probe when the probe is being driven by a driving signal which matches the mechanical resonance frequency of the probe. The resulting overall load impedance is substantially purely resistive. The system also adjusts the frequency of the driving signal to track changing mechanical resonance conditions for the probe at different power levels. This method of operation insures substantially maximum power transfer efficiency and substantially linear power control over a range of power dissipation levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Alcon Laboratories
    Inventors: Ying-Ching Lo, Samuel Zambre, Tolentino Escorcio