Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having one or more piezoelectric ceramic elements, each having a respective bulk acoustic impedance. Each element has a respective front face and a respective piezoelectric ceramic layer integral therewith to provide efficient acoustic coupling between the probe and a medium under examination by the probe. The respective piezoelectric layer of each element includes shallow grooves disposed on the respective front face of each piezoelectric element. A groove volume fraction of the piezoelectric layer is selected to control acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric layer so as to provide a desired acoustic impedance match between the bulk acoustic impedance of the element and an acoustic impedance of a medium under examination by the probe. Electrodes extend into and contact the grooves, imposing electrical boundary requirements that support a desired electrical field distribution within the element.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including one or more piezoelectric ceramic elements mounted on an acoustically damping support body. Desired acoustic signals are transmitted and received through a front portion of the probe while unwanted acoustic signals are dampened by the support body at the rear portion of the probe. Each element has a respective rear face and a respective piezoelectric ceramic layer integral therewith to provide efficient acoustic coupling between the element and the acoustically damping support body. The respective piezoelectric layer of each element includes shallow grooves disposed on the respective rear face of each piezoelectric element. A groove volume fraction of the piezoelectric layer is selected to control acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric layer so as to provide a desired acoustic impedance match between a bulk acoustic impedance of the element and an acoustic impedance of the acoustically damping support body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including one or more piezoelectric ceramic elements mounted on an acoustically damping support body. Desired acoustic signals are transmitted and received through a front portion of the probe while unwanted acoustic signals are dampened by the support body at the rear portion of the probe. The present invention generates and efficiently focusses a main lobe of a beam of the acoustic signals. Furthermore, the invention provides for apodization of the acoustic beam to reduce extraneous acoustic signals corresponding to side lobes of the acoustic beam. Each element has a respective rear face and a respective first piezoelectric ceramic layer integral therewith to provide efficient acoustic coupling between the element and the acoustically damping support body. The respective first piezoelectric layer of each element includes shallow grooves disposed on the respective rear face of each piezoelectric element.