Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Daft
Christopher M. Daft has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10022751Abstract: In an embodiment, a tile device includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers elements and a base adjoining and supporting the plurality of piezoelectric transducers elements. The base includes integrated circuitry programmed to successively configure operational modes of the tile, according to a pre-programmed sequence, to successively select respective subsets of the piezoelectric transducers elements for activation. The integrated circuitry includes pulser logic to selectively activate such subsets, and demultiplexer logic to communicate from the tile sense signals resulting from such activation. In another embodiment, the demultiplexer logic is part of a first voltage domain of the tile, and the pulser logic is part of a second voltage domain of the tile. The base may include circuitry to protect the demultiplexer logic from a relatively high voltage level of the second voltage domain.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: FUJIFILM DIMATIX, INC.Inventors: Arman Hajati, Deane Gardner, Christopher M. Daft
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Patent number: 9274088Abstract: Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging is performed with a multi-dimensional transducer array and an imaging system for planar scanning. The elements of the array may be distributed on a periodic grid with aperiodic shifts in position. When a one-dimensional array is formed on the array, the aperiodic shifts better distribute acoustic energies, reducing peaks in side lobes. Using a layered structure of switches underneath the acoustic elements, side lobes may be further reduced. The switches are used for interconnecting elements to form macro elements of the one-dimensional aperture on the multi-dimensional array. The switches are distributed on a grid corresponding to the desired imaging frequency. The acoustic elements are distributed with a finer pitch. The finer pitch allows formation of the macro elements for the one-dimensional aperture where the edges of the macro elements have fewer or no periodic patterns.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Publication number: 20150343493Abstract: In an embodiment, a tile device includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers elements and a base adjoining and supporting the plurality of piezoelectric transducers elements. The base includes integrated circuitry programmed to successively configure operational modes of the tile, according to a pre-programmed sequence, to successively select respective subsets of the piezoelectric transducers elements for activation. The integrated circuitry includes pulser logic to selectively activate such subsets, and demultiplexer logic to communicate from the tile sense signals resulting from such activation. In another embodiment, the demultiplexer logic is part of a first voltage domain of the tile, and the pulser logic is part of a second voltage domain of the tile. The base may include circuitry to protect the demultiplexer logic from a relatively high voltage level of the second voltage domain.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Arman Hajati, Deane Gardner, Christopher M. Daft
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Patent number: 8795182Abstract: Switching is provided in a transducer array of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The switching controls the formation of macro elements or aperture for scanning a plane or volume. The switches are implemented with one or more transistors. The control causes the gates of the transistor to float during the “on” connection. While on, the switch connects, allowing ultrasound signals to pass through the switch.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Haim Shafir, Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Patent number: 8647279Abstract: A one-dimensional array is used for transmit operation, allowing connection with an imaging system for planar scanning and avoiding transmit electronics in the transducer array. A multi-dimensional array is used for reception only, avoiding transmit interconnects while providing greater coherence in elevation. Both arrays are moved to scan different planes, allowing acquisition of data representing a volume. This transducer arrangement may be used for scanning breasts for cancer screening.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Patent number: 8641628Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system may use a capacitive membrane or electrostrictive ultrasound transducer to realize isotropic volumetric imaging with bias-line element selection and a variety of aperture synthesis techniques. Two dimensional beam formation may be performed by using a beamformer to focus along one dimension, and then perform a second round of “off-line” or “retrospective” beam formation along the other direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Bradley, Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner, Satchi Panda
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Publication number: 20110306886Abstract: A one-dimensional array is used for transmit operation, allowing connection with an imaging system for planar scanning and avoiding transmit electronics in the transducer array. A multi-dimensional array is used for reception only, avoiding transmit interconnects while providing greater coherence in elevation. Both arrays are moved to scan different planes, allowing acquisition of data representing a volume. This transducer arrangement may be used for scanning breasts for cancer screening.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Patent number: 7963919Abstract: Synthetic transmit aperture is provided for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. A transducer may have separate transmit and receive elements. Broad beams are transmitted, allowing fewer transmit elements and/or more rapid scanning. A multidimensional receive array generates data in response to sequential transmissions, such as transmissions from different angles. The data is combined to increase resolution. A transducer array with offset transmit elements for forming a transmit line source may be used.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2005Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Timothy L. Proulx, Christopher M. Daft, J. Paul Mohr, Walter T. Wilser, Charles E. Bradley, Paul A. Wagner, Igal Ladabaum
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Publication number: 20110021920Abstract: Switching is provided in a transducer array of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging. The switching controls the formation of macro elements or aperture for scanning a plane or volume. The switches are implemented with one or more transistors. The control causes the gates of the transistor to float during the “on” connection. While on, the switch connects, allowing ultrasound signals to pass through the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INCInventors: Haim Shafir, Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Publication number: 20110021923Abstract: Medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging is performed with a multi-dimensional transducer array and an imaging system for planar scanning. The elements of the array may be distributed on a periodic grid with aperiodic shifts in position. When a one-dimensional array is formed on the array, the aperiodic shifts better distribute acoustic energies, reducing peaks in side lobes. Using a layered structure of switches underneath the acoustic elements, side lobes may be further reduced. The switches are used for interconnecting elements to form macro elements of the one-dimensional aperture on the multi-dimensional array. The switches are distributed on a grid corresponding to the desired imaging frequency. The acoustic elements are distributed with a finer pitch. The finer pitch allows formation of the macro elements for the one-dimensional aperture where the edges of the macro elements have fewer or no periodic patterns.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner
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Patent number: 7824338Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Patent number: 7780597Abstract: Presented is a method of operating a capacitive microfabricated ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) array with multiple firings of varying bias voltage polarity patterns to improve its performance in imaging non-linear media, such as in contrast agent imaging or tissue harmonic imaging. Additionally, transducers incorporating the method are provided. The method of cMUT operation and the corresponding cMUT does not require pre-distortion or phase inversion of the transmit signal and can achieve an improvement in the elevation focus of the cMUT, as compared to the elevation focus that a single firing can achieve. Further, the method of operating the cMUT minimizes the deleterious effects that result from insulators being subjected to high electric fields.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Satchi Panda, Paul A Wagner, Christopher M Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Patent number: 7719166Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Patent number: 7679263Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Patent number: 7618373Abstract: A capacitive microfabricated transducer array used for 3-D imaging, with a relatively large elevation dimension and a bias control of the elevation aperture in space and time, confers the same benefits of mechanical translation, except that image cross-sections are electronically rather than mechanically scanned, and are registered very accurately in space. The 3-D cMUT, when combined with elevation bias control and convex curvature in elevation, increases the volume interrogated by the electronic scanning, thus improving field of view. Further still, the 3-D cMUT can be combined Fresnel focusing of the elevation section to improve the elevation focus.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2004Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.Inventors: Igal Ladabaum, Satchi Panda, Christopher M Daft
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Publication number: 20090105590Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Publication number: 20090105586Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Publication number: 20090092306Abstract: A single chip transducer apparatus that includes on-chip electronic circuitry which, when connected properly to a two-dimensional matrix of ultrasonic transducer elements, provides enough information to an external imaging system to form three-dimensional images of the subject of interest. In a preferred embodiment, the circuitry provides an amplifier for each transducer element, and then conditions the output of the amplifier in several ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the elements' analog voltages are stored in a sample and hold circuit, and time multiplexed into a high speed line driver that sends many elements data down the interconnect to the system's high speed Analog to Digital converters. In another embodiment, the gain of the amplifiers can be controlled in time to provide aperture translation and time based expansion for translating and focusing image slices in the elevation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Inventors: Christopher M. Daft, Igal Ladabaum
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Publication number: 20090082673Abstract: A same transducer includes both piezoelectric and CMUT transducer layers. The semiconductor substrate used for the CMUT is also used as a matching layer. A portion of the semiconductor material is removed and the kerfs or voids are filled to provide the desired density, volume ratio, and/or acoustic impedance. This composite portion operates as a matching layer for the piezoelectric transducer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Xuanming Lu, Christopher M. Daft, Gregg W. Frey
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Publication number: 20090079299Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system may use a capacitive membrane or electrostrictive ultrasound transducer to realize isotropic volumetric imaging with bias-line element selection and a variety of aperture synthesis techniques. Two dimensional beam formation may be performed by using a beamformer to focus along one dimension, and then perform a second round of “off-line” or “retrospective” beam formation along the other direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Charles E. Bradley, Christopher M. Daft, Paul A. Wagner, Satchi Panda