Abstract: A capacitive ultrasonic transducer (c-MUT) comprising a silicon substrate and a transducer element which comprises transducer cells, each of which is constituted by a first electrode equipped on the top surface of the silicon substrate, a second electrode placed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined gap therefrom and a membrane for supporting the second electrode, wherein a trench is equipped between the adjacent transducers and a conductive film is formed in the trench.

Abstract: This invention includes a first electrode which is fixed on a base, a vibration film which is disposed to oppose the first electrode with an air and vacuum portion between the vibration film and the first electrode, a second electrode which is supported by the vibration film and is connected to a predetermined potential, a ferroelectric which is electrically connected to the first electrode, and a driving portion that applies, to the first electrode, a driving signal which is a monopulse voltage signal and whose polarity is reversed every time the driving signal is outputted.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer manufactured by using a micromachining process comprises: a first electrode into which a control signal for transmitting ultrasound is input; a substrate on which the first electrode is formed; a second electrode that is a ground electrode facing the first electrode with a prescribed space between the first and second electrodes; a membrane on which the second electrode is formed and which vibrates and generates the ultrasound when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes; a piezoelectric film contacting the membrane; and a third electrode electrically continuous to the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: two or more ultrasonic transducer cells, each of which has a lower electrode, a first insulating layer placed on the lower electrode, a cavity placed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer placed on the cavity, and an upper electrode placed above the second insulating layer; channels which communicate the cavities with each other; the second insulating layer placed on the channels; holes formed in the second insulating layer placed on the channels; and sealing portions which seal the holes, where that part of the sealing portions which enters the channels is the same in cross-sectional shape as the holes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer cell according to the present invention includes: a substrate; a charge holding portion provided on the substrate; a lower electrode provided on the charge holding portion and used to input and output a signal; and a vibration membrane provided above the lower electrode to be separated from the lower electrode with a cavity, and configured to include at least an insulating film and an upper electrode provided on the insulating film.

Abstract: Within the tip portion of a cylindrical shaped sheath a capacitive ultrasonic transducer which is an array type two-dimensionally arrayed on the outer surface of the cylindrical face is disposed. Capacitive ultrasonic transducer units employ m capacitive ultrasonic transducer elements arrayed in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical face as a division unit, thereby providing an arrangement wherein the respective capacitive ultrasonic transducer units are readily disposed in the circumferential direction, whereby radial scanning or the like can be performed within a body cavity.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention includes: two or more ultrasonic transducer cells, each of which has a lower electrode, a first insulating layer placed on the lower electrode, a cavity placed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer placed on the cavity, and an upper electrode placed above the second insulating layer; channels which communicate the cavities with each other; the second insulating layer placed on the channels; holes formed in the second insulating layer placed on the channels; and sealing portions which seal the holes, where that part of the sealing portions which enters the channels is the same in cross-sectional shape as the holes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus which applies a RF pulse signal with a DC bias signal superimposed thereon to c-MUTs and transmits/receives an ultrasound wave is configured such that a transmission control system includes bias regulators which regulate the voltage value of the DC bias signal, a reception control system has a plurality of different frequency band pass filtering characteristics including at least those for a low pass and high pass and a frequency band pass filtering processing section which can select at least one frequency band pass filtering characteristic from those frequency band pass filtering characteristics. The apparatus controls voltage settings of the bias regulators in conjunction with the selection of frequency band pass filtering characteristics of the frequency band pass filtering processing section.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer of the present invention includes elements each provided with an electromechanical conversion element that converts an electric signal inputted between a first electrode and a second electrode into vibration, an array section made up of n elements in a row direction and m elements in a column direction (nm) arranged in a matrix form, and an array forming section that switches between a one-dimensional array state column-wise made up of m element groups formed by electrically connecting the first electrode terminals neighboring in the row direction out of the first electrode terminals in the element groups arranged on the same column and a one-dimensional array state row-wise made up of n element groups formed by electrically connecting the first electrode terminals neighboring in the column direction out of the first electrode terminals in the element groups arranged on the same row in the array section.

Abstract: A terminal fitting (10, 120, 210, 230) has a connecting portion (11, 121, 211) to be connected with a mating terminal and a wire barrel (12, 126, 212) to be crimped into connection with an end portion of a wire (20, 110, 220). A restriction (18, 152, 218A, 231) is between the connecting portion (11, 121, 211) than the wire barrel (12, 126, 212) and faces a placing surface of a bottom plate (16, 123, 216) where the end portion of the wire (20, 110, 220) is to be placed for restricting an upward movement of the end portion of the wire (20, 110, 220).

Abstract: An acoustic transducer has a first transducer which transmits an acoustic primary wave having two frequency components, and a second transducer which, in order to receive a reflected wave of an acoustic secondary wave generated with propagation of the acoustic primary wave, is disposed so that a region for receiving the reflected wave is superimposed on the first transducer as seen along the direction of transmission of the acoustic primary wave.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer manufactured by using a micromachining process comprises: a first electrode into which a control signal for transmitting ultrasound is input; a substrate on which the first electrode is formed; a second electrode that is a ground electrode facing the first electrode with a prescribed space between the first and second electrodes; a membrane on which the second electrode is formed and which vibrates and generates the ultrasound when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes; a piezoelectric film contacting the membrane; and a third electrode electrically continuous to the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception surface formed by arranging a plurality of transducer cells each of which includes a membrane having a first electrode and a supporting film for supporting the first electrode, and also includes a second electrode arranged being opposite to the first electrode and being spaced apart from the first electrode at a prescribed interval, wherein: the transducer cells are arranged on the basis of resonant frequencies of the transducer cells.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer manufactured by using a micromachining process comprises: a first electrode into which a control signal for transmitting ultrasound is input; a substrate on which the first electrode is formed; a second electrode that is a ground electrode facing the first electrode with a prescribed space between the first and second electrodes; a membrane on which the second electrode is formed and which vibrates and generates the ultrasound when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes; a piezoelectric film contacting the membrane; and a third electrode electrically continuous to the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: A connector (10) is provided with substantially round large terminals (12) connected with ends of shielded wires (SW), a small terminal (13) connected with an end of an insulated wire (W) and a housing (11) in which two large cavities (27) for receiving the large terminals (12) are arranged side by side and a small cavity (28) for receiving the small terminal (13) is arranged at a position between the two large-size cavities (27) and displaced from the both large cavities (27) in a direction orthogonal to an arrangement direction of the large cavities (27).

Abstract: First terminal fitting accommodating chambers (61A) are arranged in a width direction in a housing (41) of a connector (40) for receiving first terminal fittings (42). A second terminal fitting accommodating chamber (61B) for receiving a second terminal fitting (42) is adjacent the first terminal fitting accommodating chambers (61A) in a height direction and between the first terminal fitting accommodating chambers (61A) in the width direction. First lances (64A) are in the first terminal fitting accommodating chambers (61A) for engaging the inserted terminal fittings (42) and are deformable into first deformation spaces (65A) lateral to the second terminal fitting accommodating chamber (61B). A second lance (64B) is in the second terminal fitting accommodating chamber (61B) for engaging the second terminal fitting (42) and is deformable into a second deformation space (65B) between the first terminal fitting accommodating chambers (61A).

Abstract: A terminal fitting (10, 120, 210, 230) has a connecting portion (11, 121, 211) to be connected with a mating terminal and a wire barrel (12, 126, 212) to be crimped into connection with an end portion of a wire (20, 110, 220). A restriction (18, 152, 218A, 231) is between the connecting portion (11, 121, 211) than the wire barrel (12, 126, 212) and faces a placing surface of a bottom plate (16, 123, 216) where the end portion of the wire (20, 110, 220) is to be placed for restricting an upward movement of the end portion of the wire (20, 110, 220).

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer includes a substrate, an ultrasound transducer cell placed on one surface of the substrate and having a lower electrode, a first gap portion placed on the lower electrode and an upper electrode placed on the first gap portion, a first conductive layer placed on the other surface of the substrate and electrically connected to one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode, an electret film placed on the first conductive layer, an insulating layer placed on the electret film, and a second conductive layer placed on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode not electrically connected to the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) is constituted by a plurality of transducer elements comprising plural transducer cells that are mutually connected in parallel and comprises: a silicon substrate; a bottom electrode placed on the top surface of the silicon substrate; an upper electrode placed opposite to the bottom electrode and apart therefrom by a prescribed air or vacuum; a membrane for supporting the bottom electrode; and a membrane supporting part for supporting the membrane, wherein the cMUT comprises a third electrode which has an electrical continuity to the bottom electrode and which corresponds to either one of the transducer cells of a prescribed number of the transducer subelement or of the transducer elements, and a fourth electrode which is a ground electrode electrically connected to the bottom electrode.

Abstract: This invention includes a first electrode which is fixed on a base, a vibration film which is disposed to oppose the first electrode with an air and vacuum portion between the vibration film and the first electrode, a second electrode which is supported by the vibration film and is connected to a predetermined potential, a ferroelectric which is electrically connected to the first electrode, and a driving portion that applies, to the first electrode, a driving signal which is a monopulse voltage signal and whose polarity is reversed every time the driving signal is outputted.