Ultrasound lens structure cleaner architecture and method using standing and traveling waves

Abstract

A lens structure system with a lens structure and a multi-segmented transducer coupled to the lens structure. Each segment in the plurality of segments has a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically coupled to the segment. The system also has circuitry for applying a voltage to selected segments in the plurality of segments with standing wave signals and traveling wave signals.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a signal generator;   a phase shift circuit coupled to the signal generator;   a first amplifier coupled to the signal generator;   a second amplifier coupled to the phase shift circuit; and   a routing circuit comprising:
 a plurality of segment multiplexers, each coupled to the first amplifier and the second amplifier, each coupled to a respective pair of output terminals, each respective pair of the output terminals coupled to a respective segment of a multi-segmented transducer, each segment comprising an outer electrode coupled to a first terminal of the respective pair of output terminals and an inner electrode coupled to a second terminal of the respective pair of output terminals; and 
 a lookup table coupled to each of the plurality of segment multiplexers, the lookup table configured to receive configuration signals from an external circuit and to provide select signals to the plurality of segment multiplexers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the multi-segmented transducer comprises a single body of piezoelectric material having a central opening and having an upper annular surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the lookup table is configured to store multiplexer select signals to configure polarity and sine/cosine provided by the plurality of segment multiplexers. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lookup table configured to receive a signal for operation of the plurality of segments of the multi-segmented transducer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the routing circuit is reconfigurable. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the multi-segmented transducer comprises four segments. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each segment of a multi-segmented transducer comprises an outer electrode and an inner electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a first segment in the multi-segmented transducer is adjacent a second segment in the multi-segmented transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 :
 wherein a first segment in the multi-segmented transducer comprises a material having first polling in a first direction; and   wherein a second segment in the multi-segmented transducer comprises a material having second polling in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 applying a first voltage to a plurality of electrodes of a transducer via respective conductors coupled to respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, the first voltage to the plurality of electrodes corresponding to a first mode indicated by a mode counter;   incrementing the mode counter based on whether the mode counter is equal to or greater than a threshold number of modes;   applying a second voltage to the plurality of electrodes, the second voltage corresponding to a second mode indicated by the incremented mode counter, the second mode different from the first mode; and   if the mode counter is equal to or greater than the threshold number of modes, resetting the mode counter based on whether a duration of applying the second voltage to the plurality of electrodes is less than a threshold duration of cycles.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying the first voltage to the plurality of electrodes comprises:
 applying a voltage of a first sine wave to a set of outer electrodes; and   applying a voltage of a second sine wave to a set of inner electrodes, wherein a sample amplitude of the second sine wave is the same as a sample amplitude of the first sine wave, wherein the second sine wave is offset by 180 degrees from the first sine wave.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first sine wave and the second sine wave comprise a same frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein applying the voltage of the first sine wave comprises producing a standing wave excitation in response to the voltage of the first sine wave; and wherein applying the voltage of the second sine wave comprises producing a travelling wave excitation in response to the voltage of the second sine wave. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein applying the first voltage to the plurality of electrodes comprises applying the first voltage to the plurality of electrodes for a duration of input sine waves equal to a number of periods. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the number of periods is pre-programmed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising receiving a feedback signal comprising the number of periods for the duration of the input sine waves. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 generating a first output signal;   phase shifting the first output signal to generate a second output signal, the second output signal shifted by a phase offset from the first output signal;   routing the first output signal and the second output signal through a routing circuit, the routing circuit comprising a plurality of segment multiplexers, each of the plurality of segment multiplexers receiving the first output signal and the second output signal; and   providing one of the first output signal or the second output signal to a first conductor of a plurality of conductors of a multi-segmented transducer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein routing the first output signal and the second output signal through the routing circuit comprises: receiving a select signal to the plurality of segment multiplexers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising coupling a second conductor of the plurality of conductors of the multi-segmented transducer to a reference voltage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: coupling a second conductor of the plurality of conductors of the multi-segmented transducer to the first output signal or the second output signal.