IP Library Granted Patent US 10,014,344
Granted Patent B2
US 10,014,344 · App. 14/320,368 · Granted Jul 3, 2018

Large area ultrasonic receiver array

Inventors: John Keith Schneider (Snyder, NY); Jack Conway Kitchens, II (Buffalo, NY)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H01L27/20G01N29/06G06K9/0002H01L27/1214A61B5/1172A61B8/08G01N2291/02466G01N2291/044
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,014,344
App. No.
14/320,368
Granted
Jul 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some disclosed devices may include a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate, an electret film and an array of addressable pixels electrically connected to the TFT substrate. The array of addressable pixels may be an array of electrodes proximate a first side of the electret film. The electrodes maybe capable of coupling charge from the electret film to the TFT substrate in response to an acoustic wave.

Claims (17)

1. A TFT panel, comprising:

a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate;

an array of thin-film transistors (TFTs) disposed on the TFT substrate;

an electret film; and

an array of addressable pixels electrically connected to the array of TFTs, the array of addressable pixels comprising an array of first electrodes electrically connected to a first side of the electret film, the first electrodes configured for coupling charge from the electret film to the array of TFTs in response to an acoustic wave.

2. The TFT panel of claim 1 , wherein the TFT substrate comprises glass or plastic.

3. The TFT panel of claim 1 , further comprising row and column addressing circuitry on the TFT substrate, the addressing circuitry operably coupled to the pixel array.

4. The TFT panel of claim 1 , further comprising multiplexer circuitry on the TFT substrate, the multiplexer circuitry operably coupled to the pixel array.

5. The TFT panel of claim 1 , further comprising sample and hold circuitry on the TFT substrate, the sample and hold circuitry operably coupled to the pixel array.

6. The TFT panel of claim 1 , further comprising at least one component operably coupled to the pixel array, the at least one component selected from a list of components consisting of a buffer circuit, an amplification stage, a rectifier, and an attenuator.

7. The TFT panel of claim 1 , further comprising a second electrode electrically connected to a second side of the electret film.

8. An acoustic sensor array, comprising:

a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate;

an array of thin-film transistors (TFTs) disposed on the TFT substrate;

an array of first electrodes electrically connected to the TFT substrate; and

an electret film electrically connected to the array of first electrodes, wherein the first electrodes are configured to couple charge from the electret film to the array of TFTs in response to changes in thickness of the electret film caused by an acoustic wave.

9. The acoustic sensor array of claim 8 , further comprising a second electrode electrically connected to the electret film.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 14320638 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034176 FRAME 0533. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 15, 2018
From: SCHNEIDER, JOHN KEITH; KITCHENS, JACK CONWAY, II
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 046154/0059 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: SCHNEIDER, JOHN KEITH; KITCHENS, JACK CONWAY, II
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 034176/0533 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 13423523 · Mar 19, 2012
Continuation 11754131 · May 25, 2007
Provisional Application 60822087 · Aug 11, 2006
Provisional Application 60803150 · May 25, 2006
Related Publication 20140312350A1 · Oct 23, 2014