Class-C Linearized Amplifier for Portable Ultrasound Instruments

Transistor linearizer networks are proposed to increase the transmitted output voltage amplitudes of class-C amplifiers, thus, increasing the sensitivity of the echo signals of piezoelectric transducers, which are the main components in portable ultrasound instruments. For such instruments, class-C amplifiers could be among the most efficient amplifier schemes because, compared with a linear amplifier such as a class-A amplifier, they could critically reduce direct current (DC) power consumption, thus, increasing the battery life of the instruments. However, the reduced output voltage amplitudes of class-C amplifiers could deteriorate the sensitivity of the echo signals, thereby affecting the instrument performance. Therefore, a class-C linearized amplifier was developed. To verify the capability of the class-C linearized amplifier, typical pulse-echo responses using the focused piezoelectric transducers were tested. The echo signal amplitude generated by the piezoelectric transducers when using the class-C linearized amplifier was improved (1.29 V(p-p)) compared with that when using the class-C amplifier alone (0.56 V(p-p)). Therefore, the class-C linearized amplifier could be a potential candidate to increase the sensitivity of echo signals while reducing the DC power consumption for portable ultrasound instruments.