PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic probe, along with a method of manufacturing the ultrasonic probe, capable of providing an ultrasonic image of high definition by reducing the effect of unwanted reflection from a reflecting layer while widening a transmission band of the ultrasonic probe.SOLUTION: In the ultrasonic probe that a reflecting layer is provided on a rear surface of a piezoelectric element, both surfaces of the reflecting layer are parallel to each other and have a smooth tabular surfaces. Such surface of the reflecting layer as contacts to the piezoelectric element has a structure in which a material A whose acoustic impedance value is larger than the piezoelectric element and a material B whose acoustic impedance value is smaller than the piezoelectric element are repeated parallel to each other in a line stripe pattern. The distance in the depth direction from the surface contacting to the piezoelectric element of the reflecting layer of the material A and the distance in the depth direction from the surface contacting to the piezoelectric element of the reflecting layer of the material B are constant respectively in the reflecting layer.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】超音波探触子の送信帯域の広帯域化を図りつつ、反射層からの不要な反射の影響を減じて高精細な超音波画像を得ることが可能な超音波探触子、及びかかる超音波探触子の製造方法を提供する。【解決手段】圧電素子の背面に反射層を設けている超音波探触子において、前記反射層は両面が平行で表面が平滑な板状であり、前記反射層の前記圧電素子と接する面は、音響インピーダンス値が前記圧電素子より大きい材料Aと音響インピーダンス値が前記圧電素子より小さい材料Bがライン縞模様状に平行に繰り返される構造であり、前記材料Aの前記反射層の圧電素子と接する面からの深さ方向の距離と、前記材料Bの前記反射層の圧電素子と接する面からの深さ方向の距離とは前記反射層内で各々一定である。【選択図】図3
