IP Library Granted Patent US 12,178,648
Granted Patent B2
US 12,178,648 · App. 17/853,835 · Granted Dec 31, 2024

Methods and apparatuses for packaging an ultrasound-on-a-chip

Inventors: Keith G. Fife (Palo Alto, CA); Jianwei Liu (Fremont, CA); Andrew Betts (Guilford, CT)
Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC
A61B8/4483A61B8/54A61B8/56B06B1/0622B81B7/0048B81C1/00261H10N30/03
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,178,648
App. No.
17/853,835
Granted
Dec 31, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure described herein related to packaging an ultrasound-on-a-chip. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an ultrasound-on-a-chip that has through-silicon vias (TSVs) and an interposer coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip and including vias, where the ultrasound-on-a-chip is coupled to the interposer such that the TSVs in the ultrasound-on-a-chip are electrically connected to the vias in the interposer. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an ultrasound-on-a-chip having bond pads, an interposer that has bond pads and that is coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip, and wirebonds extending from the bond pads on the ultrasound-on-a-chip to the bond pads on the interposer.

Claims (28)

1. A portable ultrasound imaging device, comprising:

a hand-held ultrasound probe; and

an ultrasound-on-a-chip package housed in the handheld ultrasound probe, the ultrasound-on-a-chip package comprising:

an ultrasound-on-a-chip; and

an interposer coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip, the interposer comprising:

a plurality of first vias electrically coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip; and

a plurality of second vias different than the plurality of first vias and configured to conduct heat away from the ultrasound-on-a-chip.

2. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second vias are coupled to copper patterns disposed on a face of the interposer and protruding towards the ultrasound-on-a-chip from the face of the interposer.

3. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein an adhesive is disposed along a portion of an interface between the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer.

4. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a thermally conductive material is disposed along a portion of an interface between the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer.

5. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the ultrasound-on-a-chip is about 200 microns to 300 microns.

6. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein vias of the plurality of first vias are electrically coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip by wirebonds.

7. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer are coupled together using a surface-mount technology (SMT) process.

8. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board comprising circuitry and/or traces, the printed circuit board being coupled to the interposer such that the plurality of first vias in the interposer are electrically connected to the circuitry and/or traces in the printed circuit board.

9. A portable ultrasound imaging device, comprising:

a hand-held ultrasound probe; and

an ultrasound-on-a-chip package housed in the hand-held ultrasound probe, the ultrasound-on-a-chip package comprising:

an ultrasound-on-a-chip including first bond pads;

an interposer comprising second bond pads and coupled to the ultrasound-on-a-chip; and

wirebonds extending from the first bond pads on the ultrasound-on-a-chip to the second bond pads on the interposer.

10. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 9 , the interposer further comprising:

a plurality of first vias electrically coupled to the second bond pads; and

a plurality of second vias different than the plurality of first vias and configured to conduct heat away from the ultrasound-on-a-chip.

11. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of second vias are coupled to copper patterns disposed on a face of the interposer and protruding towards the ultrasound-on-a-chip from the face of the interposer.

12. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 10 , wherein an empty space exists along a portion of an interface between the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer.

13. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 10 , wherein an adhesive is disposed along a portion of an interface between the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer.

14. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 10 , wherein a thermally conductive material is disposed along a portion of an interface between the ultrasound-on-a-chip and the interposer.

15. The portable ultrasound imaging device of claim 10 , further comprising a printed circuit board comprising circuitry and/or traces, and wherein the printed circuit board is coupled to the interposer such that the plurality of first vias in the interposer are electrically connected to the circuitry and/or traces in the printed circuit board.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2024
From: BUTTERFLY NETWORK INC
To: BFLY OPERATIONS INC
Reel/Frame 067779/0872 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2024
From: FIFE, KEITH G.; LIU, JIANWEI; BETTS, ANDREW
To: BUTTERFLY NETWORK, INC
Reel/Frame 067505/0979 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16260242 · Jan 29, 2019
Provisional Application 62623948 · Jan 30, 2018
Related Publication 20220395254A1 · Dec 15, 2022