ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER ARRAY HAVING VARYING CAVITY DIAMETER PROFILE

1 . An ultrasonic transducer array, comprising:

a plurality of functional micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs), each having a cavity of a first diameter; and

one or more groups of non-functional MUTs disposed about a perimeter of the functional MUTs, the one or more groups of non-functional MUTs having a cavity of a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter.

2 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1 , wherein the one or more groups of non-functional MUTs have successively smaller cavity diameters in an outward direction with respect to the array.

3 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 2 wherein the successively smaller cavity diameters decrease in a linear fashion in the outward direction.

4 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 2 wherein the successively smaller cavity diameters decrease in a non-linear fashion in the outward direction.

5 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 4 , wherein the successively smaller cavity diameters decrease in an exponential fashion in the outward direction.

6 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 3 , further comprising at least three groups of non-functional MUTs having successively smaller cavity diameters in the outward direction with respect to the array.

7 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 1 , wherein the functional MUTs are configured for use in acoustic imaging, and the non-functional MUTs are not configured for use in acoustic imaging.

8 . The ultrasonic transducer array of claim 7 , wherein the non-functional MUTs are formed without functional electrodes.

9 . An ultrasonic transducer device, comprising:

first micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) arranged in an array on a substrate, the first MUTs each comprising a first cavity of a first diameter such that the ultrasonic transducer device comprises first cavities of the first diameter; and

second cavities of a second diameter disposed about a perimeter of the array of first MUTs, the second diameter different than the first diameter,

wherein:

the ultrasonic transducer device lacks transducer bottom electrodes associated with the second cavities; or

the ultrasonic transducer device includes transducer bottom electrodes associated with respective cavities of the second cavities that are permanently electrically grounded.

10 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 9 , further comprising electrodes disposed between the first cavities and the substrate and no electrodes disposed between the second cavities and the substrate.

11 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 9 , further comprising:

first electrodes disposed between the first cavities and the substrate and coupled to ultrasonic transducer integrated circuitry; and

second electrodes disposed between the second cavities and the substrate and permanently coupled to ground.

12 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 9 , wherein the second cavities are arranged in successive rings disposed about the perimeter of the array, and

the second cavities disposed in rings further from the perimeter of the array have successively smaller second diameters than second cavities disposed in rings closer to the perimeter of the array.

13 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 12 , wherein the second diameters successively decrease in a linear fashion from an innermost ring adjacent the perimeter of the array to an outermost ring furthest from the perimeter of the array.

14 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 12 , wherein the second diameters successively decrease in a non-linear fashion from an innermost ring adjacent the perimeter of the array to an outermost ring furthest from the perimeter of the array.

15 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 14 , wherein the second diameters successively decrease in an exponential fashion from an innermost ring adjacent the perimeter of the array to an outermost ring furthest from the perimeter of the array.

16 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 12 , wherein the second cavities are arranged in at least three successive rings disposed about the perimeter of the array.

17 . The ultrasonic transducer device of claim 9 , wherein the first MUTs are configured to be electrically active during acoustic imaging, and the second cavities are configured to be electrically inactive during the acoustic imaging.

18 . A method of manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer device, the method comprising:

forming an array of first micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) on a substrate by forming first cavities having a first diameter;

forming second cavities disposed about a perimeter of the array, the second cavities having a second diameter different than the first diameter,

wherein the first MUTs are configured for use in acoustic imaging, and

the second cavities are configured to be electrically inactive during acoustic imaging.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the second cavities comprises forming the second cavities in successive rings disposed about the perimeter of the array, wherein

the second cavities in rings further from the perimeter of the array have successively smaller second diameters than second cavities in rings closer to the perimeter of the array.