A PROGRAMMABLE MULTICHANNEL CMOS PULSER CHIP TO DRIVE ULTRASONIC ARRAY TRANSDUCERS

This paper describes the development of a 16-channel programmable Puls e generator Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The Genera l Purpose Pulser Chip (GPPC-16) can supply pulses delayed by up to 0.5 ms with a 1 ns time resolution. By employing novel design techniques, this has been achieved in standard CMOS technology. The design employ s a CMOS delay line in conjunction with a phase-locked-loop. In this w ay a 16-phase clock is generated, which can drive 16 programmable coun ters. Currently the chip is being used to drive ultrasonic transducer arrays. The construction of these piezoelectric polymer arrays is also briefly discussed.