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Abstract

An annular ultrasound bulk wave transducer array for electronic depth steering of symmetric focus from a near focus F.sub.n to a far focus F.sub.f includes elements that are divided into k groups with different fixed prefocusing. The central group participates in beam forming from F.sub.n to F.sub.f, the next outer group in beam forming from F.sub.n1 >F.sub.n to F.sub.f, and the kth outer group in beam forming from F.sub.nk >F.sub.n,k-1 to F.sub.f. The fixed focus for the kth group is selected at F.sub.k between F.sub.nk and F.sub.f. In this manner, beam formation close to F.sub.n is performed only by the central group. By steering the focus outward from F.sub.n, the focal diameter increases and, at a depth where the focal diameter exceeds a limit, the next outer group of elements is included in beam formation. This increase in aperture area reduces the focal diameter with subsequent increases in diameter as the focus is further steered toward F.sub.f. In the same manner, the kth group of elements is included in beam formation for steered foci deeper than F.sub.nk, presenting a growing aperture that enables maintenance of the diameter below limits with a low total number of elements and avoids impractically small widths of the annular elements. The elements may also be subdivided in the angular direction, allowing for phase aberration correction.

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