US Patent 7359286 Multi-level capacitive ultrasonic transducer

The invention concerns a capacitive ultrasonic transducer, comprising an external layer operating as an external plate, provided with electrode means, capable to vibrate, and a stiff substrate, in turn provided with electrode means, wherein it further comprises n levels, with n≧2, interposed between the plate and the substrate, each level including a plurality of cavities, and m interface intermediate layers, capable to vibrate, among said n levels, with m=(n−1), the cavities of each one of said n levels being further defined by support means connected between faced surfaces of layers adjacent to said cavities, each one of said m intermediate layers being provided with electrode means, whereby the cavities of each level are interposed between a pair of electrode means belonging to either two adjacent intermediate layers or to an intermediate layer and to one out of the substrate and the plate.