G01S7/52

ULTRASOUND SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, ULTRASOUND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE
20180011178 · 2018-01-11 ·

Ultrasound signal processing device including: transmitter performing transmission events while varying a focal point; receiver generating, for each transmission event, receive signal sequences for transducer elements; delay-and-sum calculator generating, for each transmission event, a sub-frame acoustic line signal including an acoustic line signal for each measurement point located on target lines passing through the focal point and composing a target line group; and synthesizer combining sub-frame acoustic line signals to generate a frame acoustic line signal. The target lines are straight lines, and any measurement point, on any target line, that is spaced away from the focal point by a predetermined distance or more satisfies a condition that distance between the measurement point and a most nearby measurement point on the same target line is smaller than distance between the measurement point and a most nearby one among measurement points on an adjacent target line.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE MODES OF ULTRASOUND IMAGING USING A SINGLE ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER
20180008233 · 2018-01-11 ·

The present embodiments relate generally to ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus that allow for multiple modes of imaging using a single ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. In an embodiment, there is provided an ultrasound imaging machine that is: operable in a first imaging mode in which the plurality of transducer elements are activated; and operable in a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode, and in the second imaging mode, a subset of the plurality of transducer elements are activated so that ultrasound signals are steered from the subset of the plurality of transducer elements, where any remaining transducer elements of the plurality of transducer elements not part of the subset are inactive when operating in the second imaging mode.

Method and Apparatus for Noise Control in Ultrasonic Sensors

The adjustable voltage regulator under control of a microcontroller applies controlled amplitude voltage in the range of 5 to 9VDC to the sensor transmitter to adjust the output amplitude of the transmitter. The adjustable amplitude transmitter allows an occupancy sensor to have its total output energy adjusted to reduce environmental noise-induced false triggering and to conform to the area to be covered. Lowering the total ultrasonic energy in the monitored space lowers the sensitivity of the receiver to inappropriate activations. Lowering the input power to the transmitter also lowers the total internal system noise and provides an improved signal to noise ratio in the receiver.

ULTRASONIC IMAGING COMPRESSION METHODS AND APPARATUS

To implement a single-chip ultrasonic imaging solution, on-chip signal processing may be employed in the receive signal path to reduce data bandwidth and an output data module may be used to move data for all received channels off-chip as a digital data stream. The digitization of received signals on-chip allows advanced digital signal processing to be performed on-chip, and thus permits the full integration of an entire ultrasonic imaging system on a single semiconductor substrate. The on-chip digitization of received signals also enables the on-chip integration of ultrasound processing and/or pre-processing to reduce the burden on off-chip computing. Data compression architectures are disclosed to facilitate the transfer of data off-chip as a digital data stream in accordance with the bandwidth requirements of standard commercially-available output interfaces.

ACOUSTIC MODEL ACOUSTIC REGION OF INFLUENCE GENERATION

Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting an ultrasonic-based inspection. The systems and methods perform operations comprising: receiving a plurality of scan plan parameters associated with generating an image of at least one flaw within a specimen based on acoustic echo data obtained using full matrix capture (FMC); applying the plurality of scan plan parameters to an acoustic model, the acoustic model configured to determine a two-way pressure response of a plurality of inspection modes based on specular reflection and diffraction phenomena; generating, by the acoustic model based on the plurality of scan plan parameters, an acoustic region of influence (AROI) comprising an acoustic amplitude sensitivity map for a first inspection mode amongst the plurality of inspection modes; and generating, for display, a first image comprising the AROI associated with the first inspection mode for capturing or inspecting the image of the at least one flaw.

AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT AND SONAR
20230238924 · 2023-07-27 · ·

An amplifier circuit to be used in a sonar is described. The amplifier circuit includes a transducer and a matching circuit. The transducer has an impedance characteristic having a resonance frequency and an anti-resonance frequency higher than the resonance frequency. The matching circuit is connected to the transducer. The impedance characteristic of the transducer connected to the matching circuit has a first resonance frequency and a second resonance frequency higher than the first resonance frequency.

AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT AND SONAR
20230238924 · 2023-07-27 · ·

An amplifier circuit to be used in a sonar is described. The amplifier circuit includes a transducer and a matching circuit. The transducer has an impedance characteristic having a resonance frequency and an anti-resonance frequency higher than the resonance frequency. The matching circuit is connected to the transducer. The impedance characteristic of the transducer connected to the matching circuit has a first resonance frequency and a second resonance frequency higher than the first resonance frequency.

Ultrasonic diagnostic and image processing apparatus for tissue harmonic imaging by extracting nonlinear components from three signals via addition after phase rotation

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes transmission circuitry, receiving circuitry and extracting circuitry. The transmission circuitry cause an ultrasonic probe to perform three or more times of ultrasonic wave transmissions, an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted including a center frequency component, a phase of the center frequency component being different in each transmission. The receiving circuitry generates three or more reception signals corresponding to a common reception scanning line based on a plurality of reflected wave signals, the plurality of reflected wave signals being obtained through the three or more times of ultrasonic wave transmissions. The extracting circuitry extracts a nonlinear component included in the three or more reception signals by adding up the three or more reception signals after performing a processing including phase rotation processing on two or more reception signals among the three or more reception signals.

Ultrasound imaging apparatus and control method thereof

An ultrasound imaging apparatus and a control method thereof. The ultrasound imaging apparatus may include: a display; a communication unit; and a processor configured to be operatively connected to the display and the communication unit. The processor may obtain a first ultrasound image of a subject and a result of an analysis of the first ultrasound image. The processor may also control the display to display a user interface, which allows selection of an operating mode of the ultrasound imaging apparatus, based on the result of the analysis.

Actively Cooled Ultrasound Probe with Additively Manufactured Heat Exchanger

An ultrasound probe includes a probe housing, a heat generating electronic component disposed within the housing, and a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and thermally coupled with the heat generating electronic component, wherein the heat exchanger is a monolithic structure without seams. The heat exchanger includes a flow path defined by a plurality of baffles, a fluid inlet connected to one end of the flow path, a fluid outlet connected to the opposite end of the flow path, and one or more turbulating elements disposed within the flow path, the flow path configured for passing a cooling fluid therethrough. The heat exchanger is additively manufactured of a suitable material, such as to form part of a probe central support member.