STMicroelectronics Launches Highly Integrated 32-Channel Ultrasonic Transmitter Optimized for Handheld Scanners

April 17, 2023, China - STMicroelectronics has added a new member to its advanced ultrasonic transmitter product family, adding a high-output current 32-channel portable scanner transmitter. The new product 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 ultrasound transmitter portfolio as the 64-channel STHVUP64, the new 32-channel transmitter has similar features to the 64-channel model, which can improve the performance and integration of the next generation of economical high-performance medical and industrial scanners. These features include innovative technologies to maximize image quality, built-in digital beam steering, space-saving driver architecture and low-power modes.

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

Digital beam steering improves beam direction control accuracy compared to traditional analog control using delay circuits. By integrating the beam steering logic, the transmitter operates without a companion 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-biased driver architecture that eliminates the need for decoupling capacitors on the power pins, a new feature that helps the transmitter take up less space on the circuit and reduces bill of materials (BOM). In addition, the STHVUP32 has a smaller package than similar chips, allowing designers to create next-generation products with smaller form factors.

The STHVUP32 has low power consumption, which is critical for battery-powered systems, and it also has rich features to provide users with an excellent user experience. On-chip memory is used to store data transmission patterns, and data can be synchronized with a clock signal up to 200MHz to improve image quality by minimizing the impact of jitter. The chip's communication port supports a variety of CMOS signal standards.

On-chip protection features include noise blocking, over-temperature protection, under-voltage protection, and recirculation current protection. Diagnostic registers allow direct reading of the cause of an interrupt for easy debugging in the event of a fault.

The STHVUP32 is manufactured using STMicroelectronics’ proven BCD8s-SOI process technology , which allows the integration of analog (bipolar), digital (CMOS), and power (DMOS) circuits on the same chip. The new product is now in production and is available in a 11.5mm x 10.5mm x 1.35mm 168 -ball FC-BGA168 package .