DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING POWER TO AN ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER

Abstract

A device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer including a power interface configured to provide an analog power signal, called supply signal, to the ultrasonic transducer, and further including a delta-sigma modulator configured to produce a delta-sigma modulator of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, and provide a digital signal, called control signal, to control said power interface. Also an ultrasonic device powered by such a supply device, an ultrasonic head including such ultrasonic devices and an ultrasonic system including such an ultrasonic head.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer comprising a power interface configured to provide an analog power signal, called supply signal, to said ultrasonic transducer; wherein said device further comprises a delta-sigma modulator configured to produce a delta-sigma modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, and provide a digital signal, called control signal, to control said power interface.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the delta-sigma modulator comprises a single-bit output quantizer such that the control signal is modulated over one bit.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the delta-sigma modulator comprises a multi-bit output quantizer such that the control signal is modulated over several bits.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the drive signal is a digital sinusoidal signal, said device further comprising a digital generator (102) configured to generate said drive signal, according to any combination of at least one of the following parameters: a frequency of said drive signal, an amplitude of said drive signal, a phase of said drive signal.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein said device further comprises a digital control interface providing any combination of at least one of the following parameters: a frequency of said drive signal, an amplitude of said drive signal, a phase of said drive signal.

18. The device according to claim 13, wherein said device is integrated, partly or entirely, into at least one digital component.

19. An ultrasonic device comprising: at least one ultrasonic transducer, and a supply device, according to claim 13, for supplying said at least one ultrasonic transducer.

20. An ultrasonic head comprising several ultrasonic devices according to claim 19, in parallel.

21. An ultrasonic system, comprising: an ultrasonic head according to claim 20, and at least one digital control device for the ultrasonic devices of said ultrasonic head.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said ultrasonic system is a medical imaging, or therapy, system.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said ultrasonic system is a medical imaging system.

24. A method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer with an analog power signal, called supply signal, said method comprising the following steps: delta-sigma modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, to provide a signal, called control signal; and controlling a power interface with said delta-sigma modulated control signal, to provide said supply signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0071] Other benefits and features shall become evident upon examining the detailed description of an entirely non-limiting embodiment, and from the enclosed drawings in which:

[0072] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a supply device for an ultrasonic transducer;

[0073] FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting example of examples of signals in the device of FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic device according to the invention;

[0075] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic head according to the invention;

[0076] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic system according to the invention; and

[0077] FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] It is clearly understood that the embodiments that will be described hereinafter are by no means limiting. In particular, it is possible to imagine variants of the invention that comprise only a selection of the features disclosed hereinafter in isolation from the other features disclosed, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical benefit or to differentiate the invention with respect to the prior state of the art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional feature that lacks structural details, or only has a portion of the structural details if that portion is only sufficient to confer a technical benefit or to differentiate the invention with respect to the prior state of the art.

[0079] In the figures the same reference has been used for the elements that are common to several figures.

[0080] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a supply device according to the invention.

[0081] The device 100, shown in FIG. 1, is provided to supply an ultrasonic transducer, for example, in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic head for medical use.

[0082] The supply device 100 comprises a digital sinusoidal signal generator 102 that generates a digital sinusoidal signal, i.e. a sinusoidal signal represented in digital form, and called the drive signal hereinafter. This digital generator 102 can be any digital electronic component programmed or designed to deliver, in digital form, the sinusoidal drive signal, as a function of the parameters relating to the sinusoidal signal to be generated. For example, the parameters entered into the digital generator 102 may comprise: [0083] the frequency F, and/or [0084] the phase φ, and/or [0085] the amplitude A
of the sinusoidal signal to be generated.

[0086] The digital generator 102 therefore provides a digital signal representing a sinusoidal signal, and called drive signal. The phase and frequency of the drive signal correspond respectively to the frequency and to the phase of the ultrasonic wave to be generated.

[0087] Of course, the use of such a digital generator in the device according to the invention is optional and the drive signal may be provided by an external device.

[0088] The device 100 further comprises a delta-sigma converter 104, also called a DS converter hereinafter. The DS converter 104 receives the drive signal and performs a delta-sigma conversion of said drive signal to provide a signal, called control signal. In other words, the control signal provided by the DS converter 104 is a delta-sigma representation of the drive signal that itself is a digital signal representing a sinusoidal signal.

[0089] The DS converter 104 may be of any order.

[0090] The DS converter 104 may comprise a single-bit or multi-bit output quantizer.

[0091] The supply device 100 comprises a power interface 106 designed to deliver a supply signal supplying an ultrasonic transducer. The supply signal delivered by the power interface 106 is a high voltage sinusoidal signal, for example between 10 V and 100 V, and with a power of a few watts. The ultrasonic transducer converts this supply signal into an ultrasonic wave whose frequency is equal to the frequency of the supply signal.

[0092] The power interface 106 is controlled by the control signal supplied by the DS converter 104. In other words, the control signal 106 adjusts the operation of the power interface 106 so that the latter supplies the supply signal. The power interface 106 may be a half H-bridge or an H-bridge or else a group of switches, controlled by the control signal supplied by the DS converter. In this case, the power interface 106 comprises, in a known manner, a DC voltage source, or receives a DC voltage from an external source. The control signal supplied by the DS converter 104 controls the operation of the power interface 106 that provides, at the output, a DS modulated sinusoidal supply voltage.

[0093] In the example shown, the supply device 100 comprises a control interface 108, upstream of the digital generator 102. The control interface is arranged to provide the digital generator 102 with the features of the sinusoidal signal to be generated, namely the frequency F, and/or the phase φ, and/or the amplitude A.

[0094] The control interface 108 may be provided to receive at least one of these features from an external device with which it is in communication.

[0095] Alternatively, the control interface 108 can be programmed to deduce at least one of these features based on other data, such as a focal length of the ultrasonic wave to be generated or a power value of the ultrasonic wave to be generated, for example.

[0096] Of course, the use of such a control interface is optional and the features of the sinusoidal signal may be communicated directly to the digital generator 102.

[0097] Each of the modules 102-108 may be produced digitally. In particular, at least the DS converter 104 is produced digitally.

[0098] In FIG. 1, each of the modules 102-108 is represented individually. Of course, at least two of these modules may be integrated into a single digital component, such as a chip or a processor. In particular, the DS converter 104 and the digital generator 102 may be integrated into the same digital component.

[0099] FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of non-limiting examples of signals in the device of FIG. 1.

[0100] Thus, in FIG. 2: [0101] the signal 202 corresponds to the curve that represents the digital signal supplied by the generator 102 to the DS modulator; [0102] the signal 204 corresponds to the delta-sigma modulated control signal produced by the DS converter 104, which, in this example, has a single-bit output, by virtue of the signal 202 and [0103] the signal 206 corresponds to the spectrum of the signal produced by the interface 106 that supplies the transducer. This signal is, in this example, produced by a DS modulator of the 4.sup.th single-bit order.

[0104] FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic device according to the invention.

[0105] The ultrasonic device 300 depicted in FIG. 3 comprises an ultrasonic transducer 302 powered by a supply device according to the invention, and in particular the supply device 100 of FIG. 1.

[0106] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic head according to the invention.

[0107] The ultrasonic head 400 of FIG. 4 comprises “n” ultrasonic devices 300.sub.1-300.sub.n arranged in parallel and forming a matrix.

[0108] At least two of the ultrasonic devices 300.sub.1-300.sub.n may be identical or different.

[0109] Each ultrasonic device 300.sub.i may be identical to the ultrasonic device 300 of FIG. 3 and comprises all the elements of the device 300 with the same references supplemented by “i” as a suffix.

[0110] FIG. 5 is a schematic depiction of a non-limiting exemplary of an ultrasound system according to the invention.

[0111] The ultrasound system 500 of FIG. 5 comprises an ultrasonic head according to the invention, such as for example the ultrasonic head 400 of FIG. 4.

[0112] The ultrasonic system 500 further comprises a control device 502, such as a computer or a tablet, and more generally any computer device, connected to each ultrasonic device 300.sub.i of the ultrasonic head 400, and in particular to the control interface 108.sub.i of said ultrasonic device.

[0113] In the example depicted, the control device 502 is connected to each control interface 108.sub.i via a communication bus 504 that is digital and wired 504. Alternatively, each control interface 108.sub.i may be in communication with the control device 502 through a wireless link.

[0114] The control device 502 makes it possible to control each ultrasonic device 300.sub.i individually and independently of the other ultrasonic devices 300.sub.i to change the frequency, phase and/or amplitude of the ultrasonic wave emitted by each ultrasonic device 300.sub.i. This makes it possible to adjust, in a simple, dynamic and reactive manner, the amplitude, frequency and phase of each ultrasonic wave emitted by each ultrasonic device 300.sub.i. Consequently, it is possible to adjust in a simple, flexible and reactive manner the focal point, and the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic devices 300.sub.1-300.sub.n.

[0115] Thus, when the invention is implemented in a medical imaging device, it is possible to track the moving members.

[0116] FIG. 6 is a schematic depiction of another non-limiting exemplary embodiment of an ultrasonic system according to the invention.

[0117] FIG. 6 illustrates a variant of FIG. 5, wherein the system 600, shown in FIG. 6, has a head 602 composed of a plurality of ‘n’ composite ultrasonic devices 604.sub.1 to 604.sub.n. Within each of these composite ultrasonic devices 604.sub.i, a same common interface 108.sub.i controls a plurality of supply devices that each supply one and only one transducer. For example, within the ultrasonic device 604.sub.1, a same common interface 108.sub.1 controls a plurality of ‘k’ supply devices 100.sub.11 to 100.sub.1k, which each supply one and only one transducer 302.sub.11 to 302.sub.1k. In the same way, the block 604.sub.n comprises a single digital interface 108.sub.n that directly drives the ‘m’ supply devices 100.sub.n1 to 100.sub.nm of the transducers respectively 302.sub.n1 to 302.sub.nm.

[0118] This makes it possible to produce a digital interface block 108.sub.1 to 108.sub.n, each of which is capable of directly driving a group of several transducers of the matrix.

[0119] The matrix then consists of a multitude of transducers, which are associated in ‘n’ groups comprising an identical or different number of transducers. In general, the number of transducers in a given group is small, for example in a number from 2 to 16.

[0120] Thus, it is for example possible to improve compactness and the number of components at the level of the digital interfaces within the head. It is also possible to industrially produce a compact and standard sub-assembly including a digital interface and several transducers; which standard sub-assembly may be used in different configurations to produce different types of heads.

[0121] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples detailed above.