Piezoelectric Effect

1. The
Piezoelectric Element

2.  Diagnostic Medical Sonography has
been used since the late 1950s.
Piezoelectricity discovered in the 1880s
by the Curies using natural quartz
This effect was named "piezoelectricity"
after the Greek piezein, which means to
squeeze or press.
History Of Ultrasound

3. Pierre & Jacques Curie
Although as early as
the 18th century,
crystals of certain
minerals were known
to generate electrical
charge when heated
(which also became
known as
pyroelectricity) it was
two brothers, Pierre
and Jacques Curie
who actually came to
develop the actual
"Piezoelectricty" used
yet today.

4. What is the Piezoelectric
Effect?
The principle of converting energy by
applying pressure to a crystal.
When an electric voltage is applied to a
transducer crystal, the crystal gets
excited and is deformed.

6. Piezoelectric Transducers
The conversion of electrical pulses to
mechanical vibrations and the
conversion of returned mechanical
vibrations back into electrical energy is
the basis for ultrasonic testing. The active
element is the heart of the transducer as
it converts the electrical energy to
acoustic energy, and vice versa.

7. Ultrasound Transducers &
Piezoelectric Effect
Electric energy is converted into
ultrasound energy through the
transducer. Based on the pulse-
echo principle, transducers
convert:
- Electricity into sound = Pulse.
- Sound into electricity = Echo.