公开(公告)号：US20160077198A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-17

申请号：US14669651

申请日：2015-03-26

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Antonio Davide Leone ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Fabio Quaglia

IPC: G01S7/52

CPC classification number: G01S7/52023 ,  G01N29/34 ,  G01N29/36 ,  G01N2291/106 ,  H03F1/301 ,  H03F3/70 ,  H03F2200/453 ,  H03F2200/456

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes: an ultrasonic transducer; an amplification stage; a bias circuit, which determines a bias voltage on an input terminal of the amplification stage; and a selector having an intermediate node, a high-voltage switch between the intermediate node and the transducer, and a first low-voltage switch between the intermediate node and the input terminal. A control unit controls the high-voltage switch and the first low-voltage switch so as to alternately couple and decouple the amplification stage and the transducer. A precharge circuit determines a precharge voltage on the intermediate node as a function of the bias voltage, before the amplification stage and the transducer are coupled.

Abstract translation: 超声波探头包括：超声换能器; 放大级; 偏置电路，其确定放大级的输入端上的偏置电压; 以及具有中间节点，中间节点和换能器之间的高压开关以及中间节点和输入端子之间的第一低压开关的选择器。 控制单元控制高压开关和第一低压开关，以交替地耦合和去耦放大级和换能器。 在放大级和换能器耦合之前，预充电电路确定中间节点上的预充电电压作为偏置电压的函数。

公开(公告)号：US20190162759A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-30

申请号：US16262521

申请日：2019-01-30

Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.

Inventor： Vanni Poletto ,  Riccardo Miglierina ,  Antonio Davide Leone ,  Sergio Lecce

IPC: G01R19/165 ,  G01R31/34 ,  G11C27/02 ,  H03F3/45

CPC classification number: G01R19/1659 ,  G01R31/343 ,  G11C27/02 ,  H03F3/45179 ,  H03F2200/462

Abstract: A device measures the current in an inductive load using two separate current-measuring paths to detect the current in the inductive load. The inductive load is connected between first and second nodes, and the first node connected to a first voltage. The device includes first and second transistors cascaded together between the first node and a third node that is connected to a second voltage. First and second sense amplifiers measure the current in the inductive load. The first and second sense amplifiers are connected to at least one terminal of the first and second transistors. Two blocks sample and hold signals from the first and second sense amplifiers, which represent, respectively, the currents in the two separate current-measuring paths. The two currents are subtracted in a comparison node for generating an error signal that is compared with a predefined window and if outside the window a failure signal is generated.

公开(公告)号：US10145728B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-04

申请号：US14750312

申请日：2015-06-25

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Antonio Davide Leone ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Fabio Quaglia

IPC: G01S7/52 ,  G01H11/06 ,  G10K11/18 ,  B06B1/02

Abstract: Described herein is a transceiver circuit for a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT), provided with: a transmitter stage, which generates excitation pulses for a first node of the CMUT transducer during a transmitting phase, a second node of the CMUT transducer being coupled to a biasing voltage; a receiver stage that is selectively coupled to the first node during a receiving phase and has an amplification stage; a switching stage that couples the receiver stage to the first node during the receiving phase and decouples the receiver stage from the first node during the transmitting phase. The amplification stage is provided with a charge amplifier that has an input terminal and is biased as a function of a biasing voltage; and the switching stage is coupled to the same biasing voltage thereby minimizing an injection of charge into the input terminal upon switching from the transmitting phase to the receiving phase.

公开(公告)号：US20170322240A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-09

申请号：US15372127

申请日：2016-12-07

Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.

Inventor： Vanni Poletto ,  Riccardo Miglierina ,  Antonio Davide Leone ,  Sergio Lecce

IPC: G01R19/165 ,  G11C27/02 ,  H03F3/45

CPC classification number: G01R19/1659 ,  G01R31/343 ,  G11C27/02 ,  H03F3/45179 ,  H03F2200/462

Abstract: A device measures the current in an inductive load using two separate current-measuring paths to detect the current in the inductive load. The inductive load is connected between first and second nodes, and the first node connected to a first voltage. The device includes first and second transistors cascaded together between the first node and a third node that is connected to a second voltage. First and second sense amplifiers measure the current in the inductive load. The first and second sense amplifiers are connected to at least one terminal of the first and second transistors. Two blocks sample and hold signals from the first and second sense amplifiers, which represent, respectively, the currents in the two separate current-measuring paths. The two currents are subtracted in a comparison node for generating an error signal that is compared with a predefined window and if outside the window a failure signal is generated.

公开(公告)号：US09323270B1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-26

申请号：US14553749

申请日：2014-11-25

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Sandro Rossi ,  Davide Ugo Ghisu ,  Fabio Quaglia ,  Antonio Davide Leone

IPC: G05F3/02

CPC classification number: G05F3/02 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  H03K4/94 ,  H03K17/162

Abstract: A transmission channel transmits high-voltage pulses and receives echos of the high-voltage pulses. The transmission channel includes a current generator circuit, which generates current-integrator drive currents, a receiver, which amplifies transducer-echo signals, and control circuitry. The control circuitry generates one or more control signals to control generation of current-integrator drive currents by the current generator circuit during transducer-driving periods and reception of transducer-echo signals by the receiver during echo-reception periods. A current integrator integrates current-integrator drive currents generated by current generator circuit to generate transducer drive signals.

Abstract translation: 传输通道传输高电压脉冲并接收高电压脉冲的回波。 传输通道包括产生电流积分器驱动电流的电流发生器电路，放大换能器回波信号的接收器和控制电路。 控制电路产生一个或多个控制信号，以在换能器驱动期间由电流发生器电路控制电流积分器驱动电流的产生，并且在回波接收周期期间由接收器接收换能器 - 回波信号。 电流积分器集成了由电流发生器电路产生的电流积分器驱动电流以产生换能器驱动信号。