Elevation direction focusing in ultrasound transducer arrays
US5490512A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/52046
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Ultrasound imaging apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals to a subject to be diagnosed and for reconstructing an ultrasonic diagnostic image from received ultrasonic echo signals, the ultrasound imaging apparatus including: (a) a plurality of transducer elements which are two-dimensionally oriented in an array having a lateral direction and an elevation direction, the transducer elements converting electrical driving signals supplied thereto into the ultrasonic transmitting signals and converting the ultrasonic echo signals into electrical echo signals; (b) apparatus for generating and supplying the electrical driving signals to the transducer elements; (c) apparatus for selectively combining the electrical driving signals and the electrical echo signals sent to or received from transducer elements in the elevation direction; and (d) apparatus for converting the selectively combined electrical echo signals into the ultrasound diagnostic image. In addition, further embodiments further include apparatus for adjusting the levels of the selectively combined electrical driving signals supplied to the transducer elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.