STMicroelectronics announces Highly integrated 32 channel ultrasonic transmitter

     STMicroelectronics' advanced ultrasonic transmitter product family has been expanded with the addition of a high output current 32-channel portable scanner transmitter. The new STHVUP32 has an output current of ±800mA and is targeted at portable systems that require higher drive capabilities for coaxial cable probes.

     As part of the same ultrasonic transmitter portfolio as the 64-channel STHVUP64, the new 32-channel transmitter features similar features to the 64-channel model to improve the performance and integration of the next generation of cost-effective high-performance medical and industrial scanners. These features include innovative technologies to maximize image quality, built-in digital beam control, space-saving driver architecture, and low-power modes.

     In addition to the usual three-level output, STHVUP32 also has five-level output capability, giving developers more flexibility to optimize picture quality. The high output current allows the transmitter to drive the scanner's piezoelectric transmitter at high speed, enabling a variety of imaging modes. The new transmitter also enables developers to achieve a minimum pulse duration of 5ns for better image detail, supports both continuous wave (CW) and pulse wave (PW) modes of operation, and allows users to perform various types of analysis, including cavity and liquid flow analysis.

     Compared with traditional analog control using delay circuit, digital beam control improves the accuracy of beam direction control. By integrating the beam control logic circuit, the transmitter works without a matching chip (such as an FPGA), which saves PCB space and routing complexity, and bypasses the design challenges of FPgas

     In addition, the transmitter has a self-bias driver architecture that eliminates the need to attach decoupling capacitors to the power pin, a new feature that helps the transmitter take up less space on the circuit and reduce the cost of material (BOM). In addition, STHVUP32's packages are smaller than comparable chips, allowing designers to create next-generation products with smaller forms.

     STHVUP32's low power consumption is essential for battery-powered systems; At the same time, it also has rich functions to bring excellent user experience. On-chip memory is used to store data transfer modes and can synchronize data with clock signals up to 200MHz, improving image quality by minimizing jitter effects. The communication port of the chip supports multiple CMOS signal standards.

     STHVUP32 uses STMicroelectronics' market-proven BCD8s-SOI manufacturing process to support the integration of analog (bipolar), digital (CMOS) and power supply (DMOS) circuits on the same chip. Available in 11.5mm x 10.5mm x 1.35mm 168 ball FC-BGA168 package. On-chip protection features include noise blocking, overheat protection, undervoltage protection and recirculation current protection. The diagnostic register can directly read the cause of an interruption to facilitate debugging in the event of a failure.