Kenneth D Brewer

US Patent:

6548869, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/905294

Inventors:

Kenneth P. Brewer - Mountain View CA
Howard D. Bartlow - Nampa ID
Johan A. Darmawan - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Cree Microwave, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H02H 900

US Classification:

257355, 257356, 257296

Abstract:

An RF power device comprising a power transistor fabricated in a first semiconductor chip and a MOSCAP type structure fabricated in a second semiconductor chip. A voltage limiting device is provided for protecting the power transistor from input voltage spikes and is preferably fabricated in the semiconductor chip along with the MOSCAP. Alternatively, the voltage limiting device can be a discrete element fabricated on or adjacent to the capacitor semiconductor chip. By removing the voltage limiting device from the power transistor chip, fabrication and testing of the voltage limiting device is enhanced, and semiconductor area for the power device is increased and aids in flexibility of device fabrication.

US Patent:

8473239, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Apr 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/760327

Inventors:

Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US
David M. Smith - Lodi CA, US
Sharon L. Adam - San Jose CA, US
John P. Lunsford - Los Altos Hills CA, US

Assignee:

Maui Imaging, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G01N 29/00

US Classification:

702100

Abstract:

Increasing the effective aperture of an ultrasound imaging probe by including more than one probe head and using the elements of all of the probes to render an image can greatly improve the lateral resolution of the generated image. In order to render an image, the relative positions of all of the elements must be known precisely. A calibration fixture is described in which the probe assembly to be calibrated is placed above a test block and transmits ultrasonic pulses through the test block to an ultrasonic sensor. As the ultrasonic pulses are transmitted though some or all of the elements in the probe to be tested, the differential transit times of arrival of the waveform are measured precisely. From these measurements the relative positions of the probe elements can be computed and the probe can be aligned.

US Patent:

8602993, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Aug 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/002778

Inventors:

Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

Maui Imaging, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 8/00

US Classification:

600437, 600443

Abstract:

The benefits of a multi-aperture ultrasound probe can be achieved with add-on devices. Synchronization and correlation of echoes from multiple transducer elements located in different arrays is essential to the successful processing of multiple aperture imaging. The algorithms disclosed here teach methods to successfully process these signals when the transmission source is coming from another ultrasound system and synchronize the add-on system to the other ultrasound system. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by individual transducer elements. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging and are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces.

US Patent:

20100262013, Oct 14, 2010

Filed:

Apr 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/760375

Inventors:

David M. Smith - Lodi CA, US
Sharon L. Adam - San Jose CA, US
Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
John P. Lunsford - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/14

US Classification:

600459

Abstract:

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate physical apertures. Construction of probes can vary by medical application. That is, a general radiology probe can contain multiple transducers that maintain separate physical points of contact with the patient's skin, allowing multiple physical apertures. A cardiac probe may contain only two transmitters and receivers where the probe fits simultaneously between two or more intracostal spaces. An intracavity version of the probe can space transmit and receive transducers along the length of the wand, while an intravenous version can allow transducers to be located on the distal length the catheter and separated by mere millimeters. Algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the probe apparatus to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

US Patent:

20100302201, Dec 2, 2010

Filed:

Jun 2, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/476690

Inventors:

Robert Ritter - Los Gatos CA, US
Kenneth Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US
Vitali Souchkov - Walnut Creek CA, US
Sarangan Narasimhan - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Avago Technologies ECBU (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

G06F 3/045

US Classification:

345174

Abstract:

According to one embodiment, there is provided a mutual capacitance touchscreen comprising a first set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns and a second set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns arranged at right angles with respect to the rows or columns of the first set, where the first and second sets of traces are electrically insulated from and interdigitated respecting one another, and gaps between the first and second sets of traces form boundaries between the first and second sets of traces that undulate and that are not straight or linear. Other embodiments of a mutual capacitance touchscreen are also disclosed, such as “mini-diamond” sensor array patterns and sensor array patterns that may be manufactured at low cost.

US Patent:

20110201933, Aug 18, 2011

Filed:

Feb 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/029907

Inventors:

Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/14

US Classification:

600443

Abstract:

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging system and methods of use are provided with any number of features. In some embodiments, a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit and receive ultrasound energy to and from separate physical ultrasound apertures. In some embodiments, a transmit aperture of a multi-aperture ultrasound imaging system is configured to transmit an omni-directional unfocused ultrasound waveform approximating a first point source through a target region. In some embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with a single receiving aperture. In other embodiments, the ultrasound energy is received with multiple receiving apertures. Algorithms are described that can combine echoes received by one or more receiving apertures to form high resolution ultrasound images. Additional algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the ultrasound system to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

US Patent:

20120057428, Mar 8, 2012

Filed:

Oct 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/279110

Inventors:

Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US
David M. Smith - Lodi CA, US
Sharon L. Adam - San Jose CA, US
John P. Lunsford - San Carlos CA, US
David J. Specht - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

G01N 29/30

US Classification:

367 13

Abstract:

A method of calibrating an ultrasound probe includes mounting an ultrasound probe onto a calibration system, transmitting an ultrasound test signal from an element of the probe through a test medium of the calibration system, and receiving the test signal on a matrix of hydrophones such that an element's position relative to other elements and other arrays within the same probe can be computed. Further, the system described herein is configured to detect the acoustic performance of elements of a probe and report the results to an end user or service provider.

US Patent:

20120095343, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/272105

Inventors:

David M. Smith - Lodi CA, US
Donald F. Specht - Los Altos CA, US
Linda V. Cabrera - Cypress CA, US
Kenneth D. Brewer - Santa Clara CA, US
David J. Specht - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/14

US Classification:

600447

Abstract:

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e. concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.