Phased array acoustic imaging system
US4550607A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1984 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/346
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A phased array acoustic imaging system including an array of electromechanical transducers, a dedicated signal processing channel for each transducer and electronic control and delay circuits for them, transmits to and receives ultrasonic energy from a body in a controlled, steered and focused fashion. The electronic delay circuits use a unique cyclically symmetrical arrangement of identical delay cells, each with an electronically variable delay element and each dedicated to a receive signal derived from at least one transducer, to form a summing delay line. The individual delay cells are switched under microprocessor control for efficient combined linear-sector scanning or linear or sector scanning alone. The system includes means to achieve dynamic focusing and dynamic apodization in conjunction with the delay cell architecture.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.