Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustical stack for use within an ultrasound transducer comprises using a user defined center operating frequency of an ultrasound transducer that is at least about 2.9 MHz. A piezoelectric material and a dematching material are joined with an assembly material to form an acoustical connection therebetween. The piezoelectric material has a first acoustical impedance and *at least one of* an associated piezoelectric rugosity (Ra) and piezoelectric waviness (Wa). The dematching material has a second acoustical impedance that is different than the first acoustical impedance and at least one of an associated dematching Ra and dematching Wa. The piezoelectric and dematching materials have an impedance ratio of at least 2. The assembly material has a thickness that is based on the center operating frequency and at least one of the piezoelectric Ra, piezoelectric Wa, dematching Ra and dematching Wa.

Abstract: An acquisition component is provided that includes an audible sound sensor configured to receive audible sounds within a sensing area and a multi-element ultrasound transducer configured to emit ultrasound signals and to receive reflections of the ultrasound signals in the same sensing area. The audible sound sensor and the multi-element ultrasound transducer may be configured to be simultaneously operable.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustical stack for use within an ultrasound transducer comprises using a user defined center operating frequency of an ultrasound transducer that is at least about 2.9 MHz. A piezoelectric material and a dematching material are joined with an assembly material to form an acoustical connection therebetween. The piezoelectric material has a first acoustical impedance and *at least one of* an associated piezoelectric rugosity (Ra) and piezoelectric waviness (Wa). The dematching material has a second acoustical impedance that is different than the first acoustical impedance and at least one of an associated dematching Ra and dematching Wa. The piezoelectric and dematching materials have an impedance ratio of at least 2. The assembly material has a thickness that is based on the center operating frequency and at least one of the piezoelectric Ra, piezoelectric Wa, dematching Ra and dematching Wa.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing controllable attenuation of an ultrasound probe are provided. The ultrasound probe includes a housing having a membrane, a transducer array within the housing and a fluid between the transducer array and the membrane. The membrane is configured to contact an object and the fluid is configured to allow controllable attenuation of the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: The process, the imaging system and the probe are intended to obtain images by way of waves emitted by an antenna after reflection of these waves at the level of a target-like assembly illuminated by the waves emitted and on the basis of which the images are extracted, said antenna consisting of at least one array of wave emitter/receiver tranducers. The process carries out a series of emissions of the same type by providing the transducers with identical excitation signals which are staggered in time so as to generate an essentially plane wave at each emission. The delays between transducers is determined so that the equiphase surfaces obtained are in line or in a plane according to whether the antenna includes an array of transducers.

Abstract: The process, the imaging system and the probe are intended to make it possible to obtain images by way of waves emitted by an antenna (1), after reflection of these waves at the level of a target-like assembly illuminated by the waves emitted and on the basis of which the images are extracted, said antenna consisting of at least one alignment of wave emitter/receiver transducers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multiple-element acoustic probe including piezoelectric transducers and an array of interconnections connecting the transducers to an electronic signal processing and control device. The probe also includes a continuous ground electrode integrated between the transducers and the acoustic matching elements, facing the piezoelectric transducers, the acoustic matching elements being totally uncoupled from one another mechanically. This probe may be used in medical imaging or underwater imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-element acoustic probe comprising piezoelectric transducers (Tij) and an array of interconnections connecting the acoustic transducers to an electronic signal processing and control device. This probe further comprises a continuous ground electrode (P) integrated between the transducers and acoustic matching elements, facing the piezoelectrical transducers, the acoustic matching elements being totally uncoupled from one another mechanically.

Abstract: A curved bar probe (1) for an echograph is fabricated by using a thin support (2) on which is placed a bar of piezoelectric crystal. The bar is divided into a plurality of piezoelectric transducers elements (3). The thin support presents the particularity of being rigid at room temperature but is thermodeformable. By subjecting it to a heating-cooling cycle during which it is given a desired curved shape, a rigid bar having an imposed curved shape is obtained. It is then possible to avoid the adhesion of said support to a base (16). This would form a back-reflecting surface for acoustic waves and would create interference harmful to the useful acoustic signal.

Abstract: The electric connection between the control circuits (13,14) of a probe and the metallized faces (5,6) of the piezoelectric elements (2) of said probe is provided by metallizations (6,8) made on parts, support (1) or blade (4) in contact with said metallized faces. The mechanical and electric connection between said metallizations may be provided by a thin layer of conducting glue (19,20).

Abstract: When making curved bar probes it is necessary, particularly at high frequency, to provide circuits for the connection of piezoelectric elements of the bars which are compatible with the curvature imposed to the bar after it has been fabricated flat. The invention overcomes such difficulty by adjoining on both sides of the elements a generally parallelepipedic relay metallized on at least two (12,13) of its adjacent faces to transpose one connection face (7) situated in plane which must be curved into one connection face (13) which is perpendicular and of which the orientation remains unchanged and parallel to a same plane during the curvature operation. As a result, the connection is simplified.

Abstract: Antenna, in particular for a sonar, allowing to form directional channels by feeding the transducers by a reduced number of sources by means of an interpolation network that permits to maintain to a low level the image lobes in spite of this reduction of the number of sources.