Large-aperture imaging using transducer array with adaptive element pitch control
US5902241A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 11, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S7/52071
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An adaptive transducer array in which the element pitch is controlled by the imaging system depending on the mode of operation. A multiplicity of transducer elements are connected to a multiplicity of beamformer channels by a multiplexing arrangement having multiple states. In one multiplexer state, successive transducer elements are respectively connected to successive beamformer channels to produce an aperture having a small element pitch equal to the distance separating the centerlines of two adjacent transducer elements. In another multiplexer state, selected transducer elements are respectively connected to successive beamformer channels to produce an aperture having an increased element pitch equal to the small pitch multiplied by a factor of two or more. The aperture is increased by connecting together pairs of adjacent elements to a respective beamformer channel or by connecting every other element to a respective beamformer channel to form a sparse array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.