A system and method are provided for visualizing an offset in static parameters in an echo sounding system by generating a difference grid by subtracting a first survey line from a second survey line to determine difference values at each point in the grid; and displaying the difference grid on a display device, where the difference values are represented on a visual scale. The difference values may be used to calibrate the echo sounding system or check the quality of the calibration of an echo sounding system.

An integrated fish detection module/navigation module system that may provide the location of fish over a distance or time is provided herein. The location of fish can be presented on a navigation module display to provide information regarding the location of fish relative to navigational data known to the navigation module. The information may create a record of fish location over time and distance. In some configurations, the navigational data and fish detection module data of more than one watercraft may be combined and distributed. In some configurations, a marker may be automatically placed on a navigation module to indicate that fish have been detected at the location on the navigation module.

Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.

Techniques describe structures and methods for generating larger output signals and improving image quality of ultrasonic sensors by inclusion of an acoustic cavity in the sensor stack. In some embodiments, an ultrasonic sensor unit may be tuned during manufacturing or during a provisioning phase to work with different thicknesses and materials. In some embodiments, a standing wave signal may be generated using an acoustic cavity in the ultrasonic sensor unit for capturing an ultrasonic image of an object placed on a sensor surface. In some implementations, the ultrasonic sensor may include an ultrasonic transmitter, a piezoelectric receiver, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer and a TFT substrate positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, one or more adhesive layers, and optional cover materials and coatings. The thickness, density and speed of sound of the sensor materials and associated adhesive attachment layers may be used to attain the desired acoustic cavity and improved performance.

An ultrasonic object detection device includes: a first echo prolongation determination unit that sequentially determines whether a measured echo time of an ultrasonic sensor is prolonged from a reference echo time; a second echo prolongation determination unit that determines whether an addition echo time is prolonged from the reference echo time when the measured echo time is not prolonged from the reference echo time, and the ultrasonic sensor detects a reflected wave, the addition echo time being obtained by adding, to the measured echo time, a time from termination of an echo to termination of a first reflected wave; and a short distance object detection unit that determines that an object is disposed within a short distance so as to receive the reflected wave while the echo is not terminated when one of the measured echo time or addition echo time is prolonged from the reference echo time.

An ultrasonic object detection device includes: a first echo prolongation determination unit that sequentially determines whether a measured echo time of an ultrasonic sensor is prolonged from a reference echo time; a second echo prolongation determination unit that determines whether an addition echo time is prolonged from the reference echo time when the measured echo time is not prolonged from the reference echo time, and the ultrasonic sensor detects a reflected wave, the addition echo time being obtained by adding, to the measured echo time, a time from termination of an echo to termination of a first reflected wave; and a short distance object detection unit that determines that an object is disposed within a short distance so as to receive the reflected wave while the echo is not terminated when one of the measured echo time or addition echo time is prolonged from the reference echo time.

An ultrasound array for acoustic wave transmission comprising at least one capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) cell (6), wherein the CMUT cell comprises a substrate (4); a first electrode (7); a cell membrane (5) having a second electrode (7′), which opposes the first electrode and the substrate with a cavity (8) there between, wherein the membrane is arranged to vibrate upon the cell activation; and an acoustic window layer (13), overlaying the cell membrane, and having an inner surface opposing the cell membrane and an outer surface. The acoustic window layer comprises a first layer comprising molecules of antioxidant and a polymeric material (47) with insulating particles (41) embedded therein, wherein the polymeric material consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms and has a density equal or below 0.95 g/cm.sup.3 and an acoustic impedance equal or above 1.45 MRayl. This acoustic window layer provides an improved acoustic performance, such as wide bandwidth and low attenuation, in application with the CMUT based array.

An ultrasound array for acoustic wave transmission comprising at least one capacitive micro-machined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) cell (6), wherein the CMUT cell comprises a substrate (4); a first electrode (7); a cell membrane (5) having a second electrode (7′), which opposes the first electrode and the substrate with a cavity (8) there between, wherein the membrane is arranged to vibrate upon the cell activation; and an acoustic window layer (13), overlaying the cell membrane, and having an inner surface opposing the cell membrane and an outer surface. The acoustic window layer comprises a first layer comprising molecules of antioxidant and a polymeric material (47) with insulating particles (41) embedded therein, wherein the polymeric material consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms and has a density equal or below 0.95 g/cm.sup.3 and an acoustic impedance equal or above 1.45 MRayl. This acoustic window layer provides an improved acoustic performance, such as wide bandwidth and low attenuation, in application with the CMUT based array.

There are provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and an operation method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of performing polarization processing during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis without affecting the image quality of an ultrasound image. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and the operation method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention, a trigger generation circuit generates a trigger for starting polarization processing. After a trigger is given, during the execution period of ultrasound diagnosis, in a non-diagnosis period which is a period other than a period for acquiring an image of each frame and during which transmission of ultrasound waves and reception of reflected waves for performing ultrasound diagnosis are not performed, within each frame time in which an image of each frame of an ultrasound image is acquired, a control circuit performs polarization processing on a plurality of ultrasound transducers.

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 a high-speed serial data module may be used to move data for all received channels off-chip as 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. Various novel waveform generation techniques, transducer configuration and biasing methodologies, etc., are likewise disclosed. HIFU methods may additionally or alternatively be employed as a component of the “ultrasound-on-a-chip” solution disclosed herein.