4D data ultrasound imaging system and corresponding control process

Abstract

An embodiment of a 4D data ultrasound imaging system includes a matrix of transducer elements suitable for transmitting and for receiving ultrasound signals, said transducer elements being divided into sub-matrixes suitable for receiving in a delayed way a same acoustic signal, a plurality of reception channels with one of said reception channels being associated with one of said transducer elements, a beamformer device including a plurality of storage cells arranged in re-phasing matrixes, each re-phasing matrix being associated with a corresponding sub-matrix with each row associated with one of said transducer elements, said storage cells including an input storage stage that is selectively associated with a row and a reading output stage that is selectively associated with a buffer; each storage cell that belongs to a same column has the input stage that is dynamically activated in sequential times with respect to another storage cell of the same column for storing the same delayed acoustic signal, said storage cells that belong to the same column have the output stage that is simultaneously activated.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: first and second storage cells arranged in a group of one of a column or a row; and a controller coupled to the first and second storage cells and configured to cause the first storage cell to store a first value at a first time in response to a first signal generated by a first transducer element in response to a third signal from a location, and to cause the second storage cell to store a second value at a second time in response to a second signal generated by a second transducer element in response to the third signal, wherein the first time is different than the second time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second storage cells each include a respective storage capacitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured such that: the first time corresponds to a time at which the first transducer receives a portion of the third signal; and the second time corresponds to a time at which the second transducer receives the portion of the third signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first value includes a first voltage level; and the second value includes a second voltage level.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first signal includes a first electronic signal; and the second signal includes a second electronic signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third signal includes an acoustic signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third signal includes an ultrasonic signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the first and second transducers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transducer array that includes the first and second transducers.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to reset the first and second storage cells.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first shift register configured to provide, in response to the controller, a fourth signal that causes the first storage cell to store the first value at the first time; and a second shift register configured to provide, in response to the controller, a fifth signal that causes the second storage cell to store the second value at the second time.

12. An apparatus, comprising: first and second storage cells arranged in a group of one of a column or a row; and a controller coupled to the first and second storage cells and configured to cause the first storage cell to store a first value at a first time in response to a first signal generated by a first transducer element in response to a third signal from a location, to cause the second storage cell to store a second value at a second time in response to a second signal generated by a second transducer element in response to the third signal, and to cause the first and second storage cells to provide the first and second values simultaneously to a single read line, wherein the first time is different than the second time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second storage cells are disposed in a same column.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second storage cells are disposed in a same row.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: the first and second transducer elements; and the read line.

16. An apparatus, comprising: first and second storage cells arranged in a group of one of a column or a row; a single read line coupled to the first and second storage cells; and a controller coupled to the first and second storage cells and configured to cause the first storage cell to store a first value at a first time in response to a first signal generated by a first transducer element in response to a third signal from a location, to cause the second storage cell to store a second value at a second time in response to a second signal generated by a second transducer element in response to the third signal, and to cause the first and second storage cells to provide the first and second values simultaneously to the single read line, wherein the first time is different than the second time.

17. A method, comprising: causing a first storage cell to store a first value at a first time in response to a first signal generated by a first transducer element in response to a third signal from a location; and causing a second storage cell in a same row or column as the first storage cell to store a second value at a second time in response to a second signal generated by a second transducer element in response to the third signal, wherein the first time is different than the second time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising simultaneously reading the first and second storage cells.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: directing a fourth signal toward the location; and wherein the third signal includes a portion of the fourth signal that is redirected from the location.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising: directing a fourth signal toward the location; and wherein the third signal includes a portion of the fourth signal that is redirected by an object at the location.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating a fourth signal with at least one of the first and second transducer elements; and wherein the third signal includes a portion of the fourth signal that is redirected from the location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows, with a block scheme, an ultrasound imaging system;

(2) FIG. 2 is a side schematic view, partially in section, of an ultrasound probe employed in an apparatus of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows the reception in different times of a same echo signal in a probe with array transducer elements;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a side schematic view, partially in section, of an ultrasound probe including a matrix of transducer elements;

(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively show a three-quarter top view and a schematic, cross-section view of a matrix of transducer elements employed in a matrix probe;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a conventional re-phasing matrix of storage cells coupled to N reception channels and to respective transducer elements;

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a storage cell of a re-phasing matrix;

(8) FIGS. 8-11 show a schematic view of four sampling sequences realised according to a conventional method;

(9) FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a portion of a second re-phasing matrix of storage cells coupled to N reception channels and to respective transducer elements, according to an embodiment;

(10) FIGS. 13-16 show a schematic view of four sampling sequences realised according to an embodiment;

(11) FIG. 17 shows, in another embodiment, the second re-phasing matrix of storage cells of FIG. 16;

(12) FIG. 18 shows, in another embodiment the second re-phasing matrix of storage cells of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) With reference to the figures, and in particular to FIG. 12, 100 globally and schematically indicates a portion of a 4D data ultrasound imaging system, where 4D means 3D images in real time.

(14) In the following description reference will be made to the previously described system and details and cooperating parts having the same structure and function will be indicated with the same numbers and reference acronyms.

(15) The system 100 includes a matrix 10 of transducer elements 3 suitable for transmitting and for receiving ultrasound signals. The transducer elements 3 being divided into sub-matrices 21 suitable for receiving, delayed in time, a same echo signal transmitted by or from a same focusing point.

(16) Each transducer element 3 is associated through a reception channel 22 with a beamformer device 109 or re-phasing device.

(17) In particular, the beamformer device 109 includes a plurality of re-phasing matrices 112 each including a plurality of storage cells 111.

(18) Moreover, each re-phasing matrix 112, divided into rows Ri and columns Coi, is associated with a corresponding sub-matrix 21 of transducer elements 3. In particular, each row Ri of each re-phasing matrix 112 is associated with a respective one of said transducer elements 3 through the corresponding reception channel 22. Each reception channel 22 includes a respective TR switch and a respective variable-gain low-noise amplifier LNA placed in cascade with each other between the transducer element 3 and the re-phasing matrix 112.

(19) The number of the rows Ri of the re-phasing matrix 112 is equal to the number of the transducer elements 3 of the sub-matrix 21, while the number of the columns Coi is equal to the number of echo signals received by the transducer elements 3 and is in relation to the number of acoustic signals sent through the transducer elements 3, which are variable and defined in the design step.

(20) Each storage cell 111 includes an input storage stage In that is associated with a row Ri of the re-phasing matrix 112 and an output reading stage Out that is associated with a buffer 16.

(21) Each storage cell 111 that belongs to a same column Coi has the input storage stage In which is activated dynamically in sequential times with respect to another storage cell 111 of the same column Coi for storing the same acoustic signal received in a delayed way in said transducer elements 3 of the sub-matrix 21 from a same focusing point. In this way, a same echo signal received delayed in each transducer element 3 of the sub-matrix 21 is stored in the storage cells 111 of the re-phasing matrix 112 that belongs to the same column Coi.

(22) Moreover, suitably, the storage cells 111 that belong to a same column Coi have the output stage Out which is simultaneously activated.

(23) Each storage cell 111 of said same column Coi is activated singularly with respect to each other storage cell 111 of the same column Coi.

(24) In particular, each storage cell 111 includes a capacitor C interposed between an inner node V and a reference terminal associated with a reference voltage, that in an embodiment is with ground voltage GND, a writing switch S1 interposed between an input terminal and the inner node V suitable for defining the input stage In, and a reading switch S2 interposed between the inner node V and an output terminal suitable for defining the output stage Out.

(25) The storage cells 111 belonging to a same column Coi of the re-phasing matrix 112 have the output terminal associated with a corresponding column terminal Tci, which is in turn associated through a selection switch S3i with a row terminal Tri coupled to the interface element or buffer 16. In this case, the buffer 16 interfaces the inner signals of the beamformer device 109 with the external cables, decoupling the sensitive node, i.e. the row terminal Tri, from the load capacitance.

(26) The system 100 also includes a selector block 118 that emits writing signals wr and reading signals rd suitable for driving, respectively, the input stage In and the output stage Out of each of the storage cells 111 of the re-phasing matrix 112.

(27) In particular, the selector block 118 drives the writing switch S1 of each storage cell 111 belonging to a same column Coi in sequential times and in a predetermined way, thus allowing to store in the same column Coi the same acoustic signal received in a delayed way by the transducer elements 3 according to the delayed reception time.

(28) The selector block 118 drives instead with the same reading signal rdi the reading switches S2 of all the storage cells 111 belonging to the same column Coi and also the selection switch S3i of the respective column terminal Tci for generating the output signal Vout corresponding to the respective echo signal.

(29) In other words, there is a storage of the storage cells 111 by column Coi in successive times that allows a reading of the same acoustic signal corresponding to the echo signal by column Coi.

(30) The example shown in FIGS. 13-16 shows an array of transducer elements 3 of a submatrix 21 associated through four respective reception channels 22 with a re-phasing matrix 112 of storage cells 111, thus there are four focusing points, indicated with A, B, C and D, which receive respective acoustic signals and emit respective echo signals, while the numbers indicate the successive sequences of time.

(31) At time 1, shown in FIG. 13, the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point A and generate in the respective reception channel 22 an acoustic signal which is first amplified and then stored in the respective storage cells 111 of the first column Co1 of the re-phasing matrix 112, which storage cells are activated in a selective way by the selector block 118 through the writing signal wr.

(32) At time 2, shown in FIG. 14, with a certain delay with respect to time 1, the third and the fourth transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point A and generate in the respective reception channel 22 an acoustic signal which is stored by the storage cells 111 indicated with 2A of the first column Co1 activated by the selector block 118. Simultaneously, the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point B and generate the acoustic signal, which is stored by the storage cells 111 of the second column Co2 indicated with 2B.

(33) In this way, differently from the prior art, the acoustic signal corresponding to the echo signal from the same point is stored in storage cells 111 of the same column Coi.

(34) At time 3, shown in FIG. 15, the third and the fourth transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point B and generate a respective acoustic signal which is stored by the storage cells 111 of the second column Co2 indicated with 2B. Simultaneously, the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point C and generate the acoustic signal which is stored by the storage cells 111 of the third column Co3 and indicated with 3C.

(35) Similarly, at time 4, shown in FIG. 16, the third and the fourth transducer elements 3 generate the acoustic signal corresponding to the echo signal of point C which is stored in the respective storage cells 111 of the third column Co3 and indicated with 4C. Simultaneously, the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point D, and generate the corresponding acoustic signal which is stored by the storage cells 111 of the fourth column Co4 indicated with 4D. And so on.

(36) The storage cells 111 are then read in a same column Coi, for generating a representation of (or a recovered version of) the echo signal generated by a same focusing point A, B, C and D. Successive columns allow reading in sequence the acoustic signals received from different focusing points.

(37) Naturally, the storage cells 111 of each column Coi can be activated in a dynamic way and then the acoustic signal can be stored in storage cells 111 belonging to different sequences or rows inclinations, although predetermined according to the transducer elements 3 that in sequence receive the echo signal. A single storage cell 111 in each row may always remain active for maintaining a load constant at the low-noise variable-gain amplifier LNA.

(38) According to an embodiment, each storage cell 111 of a same column Coi of the re-phasing matrix 112 is activated singularly with respect to each other storage cell 111 of said same column Coi.

(39) In an embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the system 100 includes the re-phasing matrix 112 with each storage cell 111 including a reset switch S4 interposed between the inner node V and the ground terminal GND, which allows resetting each storage cell 111 prior to a successive storage.

(40) The reset switches S4 of the storage cells 111 belonging to a same column Coi are driven by a single reset signal rs generated by the selector block 118.

(41) In an embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the beamformer device 109 includes the selector block 118 realized by means of first shift registers SR1, which transport said writing signals wr suitable for driving said writing switches S1 of the storage cells 111. In particular, each of said first shift registers SR1 is placed in correspondence with each row Ri of the re-phasing matrix 112. The beamformer device 109 also includes a second shift register SR2 for transporting the reading signals rd of each column Coi and a third shift register SR3 for the possible reset signals rs suitable for driving the reset switches S4 by column Coi.

(42) An embodiment also relates to a process for controlling a 4D data ultrasound imaging system, where 4D means 3D images in real time.

(43) In the following description reference will be made to the system previously described and details and cooperating parts having the same structure and function will be indicated with the same numbers and reference acronyms.

(44) An embodiment of the system 100, as shown in FIG. 12, includes a matrix 10 of transducer elements 3 suitable for transmitting and for receiving ultrasound signals. These transducer elements 3 being divided into sub-matrixes 21, which receive in a delayed way a same ultrasound signal.

(45) The system 100 also includes a plurality of reception channels 22 each associated with a respective transducer element 3, and a beamformer device 109 including a plurality of storage cells 111 arranged in re-phasing matrices 112.

(46) Each second re-phasing matrix 112 being associated with a corresponding sub-matrix 21 of transducer elements 3, with each row Ri associated with a respective one of said transducer elements 3 through the respective reception channel 22.

(47) Each storage cell 111 includes an input stage In, driven by a corresponding writing signal wr, for being associated with a row Ri, and an output stage Out, driven by a corresponding reading signal rd, for being associated with a buffer 16.

(48) An embodiment includes a writing-by-row driving selectively, in sequential times, the input storage stage In of each storage cell 111 belonging to a same column Coi with respect to another storage cell 111 of the same column Coi, for storing in said storage cells 111 of said same column Coi the same delayed acoustic signal received in said rows Ri. The writing step couples to each row Ri the input storage stage In of one or more storage cells 111 belonging to the same column Coi.

(49) Moreover, an embodiment includes a reading-by-column step by simultaneously driving the output stage Out of the storage cells 111 belonging to a same column Coi. In this way, the output signal Vout is generated corresponding to said same delayed acoustic signal received in said rows Ri by activating the storage cells 111 belonging to a same column Coi.

(50) The writing signal wr, which allows driving the input stage In of each storage cell 111, and the reading signal rd, which allows driving the output stage Out of each storage cell 111, are emitted by a selector block 118. In particular, the writing signals wr for the storage cells 111, belonging to a same column Coi, are emitted in sequential times suitably predetermined in the process step.

(51) In the example shown in FIGS. 13-16, four transducer elements 3 associated with respective reception channels 22 and four focusing points indicated with A, B, C and D are represented while the numbers indicate the successive time sequences.

(52) At time 1, shown in FIG. 13, the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point A and generate an acoustic signal which is first amplified and then stored in the respective storage cells 111 of the first column Co1 of the re-phasing matrix 112, which cells are activated in a selective way by the selector block 118 generating the corresponding writing signals wr.

(53) At time 2, shown in FIG. 13, with a certain delay, the third and the fourth transducer element 3 receive the echo signal from point A while the first and the second transducer elements 3 receive the echo signal from point B, the selector block 118 generates the corresponding writing signals wr for activating the storage cells 111 of the third and fourth row Ri belonging to the first column Co1 and the writing signals wr for activating the storage cells 111 of the first and second row belonging to the second column Co2. And so on.

(54) In this way, differently from at least some conventional techniques, the acoustic signal corresponding to the echo signal from the same focusing point A, B, C or D, is stored in storage cells 111 of the same column Coi.

(55) Therefore, a sequential reading step of the columns of the re-phasing matrix 112 allows reading in sequence the acoustic signals received.

(56) In an embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the system 100 includes the second re-phasing matrix 112 with each storage cell 111 including a reset switch S4 that allows resetting each storage cell 111 prior to a successive storage.

(57) An embodiment then includes a reset step by driving to all the reset switches S4 of the storage cells 111 belonging to a same column Coi with a single reset signal rs.

(58) In an embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the process drives the input storage stages In of the storage cells 111 suitably associated with the rows Ri of the re-phasing matrix 112, by means of first shift registers SR1 where the control bits flow.

(59) The embodiment also includes a second shift register SR2 for transporting second control bits of the reading signals rd for driving the output stages Out of the storage cells 111. An embodiment provides a single bit and a single terminal for activating the output stages Out of the storage cells 111 of a same column Coi. Furthermore, differently from at least some conventional techniques, the number of first shift registers SR1 is equal to the rows Ri of the re-phasing matrix 112 while a single second shift register SR2 is requested for reading the storage cells 111 of the re-phasing matrix 112.

(60) An embodiment of a process can also provide that the reading signal rd can drive the selection switch S3i of the respective column terminal Tci placed at the end of the output metallization of each column, allowing to activate these selection switches S3i only one by one. In this way the parasitic capacitance of the metallizations associated with the other column terminals Tci is not coupled to the input node of the buffer 16.

(61) Moreover, an embodiment can allow realizing a third shift register SR3 for the possible reset signals rs, providing in particular a single bit and a single terminal for activating the reset switches S4 of the storage cells 111 of a same column Coi.

(62) A major advantage of the 4D data ultrasound imaging system according to an embodiment is that of improving the output signal of the beamformer device, reducing the parasitic capacitance coupled to the input node of the buffer, and increasing the signal-to-noise ratio, thus allowing obtaining a higher resolution.

(63) Another considerable advantage of an embodiment is that to make easy the reading of the echo signal received delayed by the transducer elements by activating the cells that belong to a same column.

(64) Another advantage of an embodiment is the circuit simplicity, relative to the reading of the stored signal.

(65) Another advantage of an embodiment is the reduction of the distortion of the signals due to the fact that only a column of the re-phasing matrix is selected for generating the output signal, remarkably reducing the value of the parasitic capacitances.

(66) Another advantage of an embodiment is the possibility to reset in a simple way by column the cells of the re-phasing matrix that store a same acoustic signal, thus reducing the distortion of the stored signal.

(67) A remarkable advantage of an embodiment is the quickness and the simplicity of the reading step.

(68) Another remarkable advantage of an embodiment is the simplicity of the reset step of the cells that store the same acoustic signal.

(69) One skilled in the art, with the aim of meeting incidental and specific needs, will be allowed to introduce, in the above-described embodiments, several modifications, all of which are within the scope of the disclosure.

(70) From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, where an alternative is disclosed for a particular embodiment, this alternative may also apply to other embodiments even if not specifically stated.