Patents by Inventor Jian Zhong Zhao

Jian Zhong Zhao 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).

  • Ultrasound transducer and ultrasound imaging system with a variable thickness dematching layer
    Patent number: 9808830
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound imaging system including an acoustic layer with a plurality of transducer elements and a dematching layer coupled to the acoustic layer. The dematching layer has an acoustic impedance greater than the acoustic layer and the dematching layer has a thickness that varies in order to alter a bandwidth of the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Alan Tai, Frederic Lanteri, Scott Easterbrook, Jian Zhong Zhao
  • ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM WITH A VARIABLE THICKNESS DEMATCHING LAYER
    Publication number: 20150183000
    Abstract: An ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound imaging system including an acoustic layer with a plurality of transducer elements and a dematching layer coupled to the acoustic layer. The dematching layer has an acoustic impedance greater than the acoustic layer and the dematching layer has a thickness that varies in order to alter a bandwidth of the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Alan Tai, Frederic Lanteri, Scott Easterbrook, Jian Zhong Zhao
  • Apparatus and method for increasing sensitivity of ultrasound transducers
    Patent number: 8129886
    Abstract: An acoustical stack for use within an ultrasound transducer that has a center frequency has a poled piezoelectric material layer and at least one impedance matching layer. The poled piezoelectric material layer has top and bottom sides and is formed of poled piezoelectric material that has a first acoustic impedance. The poled piezoelectric material layer has a first thickness and the acoustical stack has an output electrical impedance based on the first thickness. The impedance matching layers are configured to be attached to the top and bottom sides of the poled piezoelectric material layer and have second or third thicknesses. The impedance matching layers are formed of one or more materials that have an acoustic impedance substantially similar to the first acoustic impedance. The poled piezoelectric layer and impedance matching layers form an acoustic resonance thickness. The center frequency of the transducer is based on the acoustic resonance thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jian Zhong Zhao, Alan Chi-Chung Tai, Dwayne Quatier, Kevin Mahoney
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INCREASING SENSITIVITY OF ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCERS
    Publication number: 20090219108
    Abstract: An acoustical stack for use within an ultrasound transducer that has a center frequency has a poled piezoelectric material layer and at least one impedance matching layer. The poled piezoelectric material layer has top and bottom sides and is formed of poled piezoelectric material that has a first acoustic impedance. The poled piezoelectric material layer has a first thickness and the acoustical stack has an output electrical impedance based on the first thickness. The impedance matching layers are configured to be attached to the top and bottom sides of the poled piezoelectric material layer and have second or third thicknesses. The impedance matching layers are formed of one or more materials that have an acoustic impedance substantially similar to the first acoustic impedance. The poled piezoelectric layer and impedance matching layers form an acoustic resonance thickness. The center frequency of the transducer is based on the acoustic resonance thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jian Zhong Zhao, Alan Chi-Chung Tai, Dwayne Quatier, Kevin Mahoney