Delta-sigma beamformers with minimal dynamic focusing artifacts
US6366227B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/346
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Techniques for minimizing artifacts resulting from ultrasound time-delay focusing while using a single-bit delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter for each beamformer channel include correcting the dynamic focus artifact in a delta-sigma beamformer by always inserting a pair of samples having a zero sum when a delay is required. Using other techniques, the dynamic focus artifact is not eliminated on each beamforming channel, but rather is eliminated in the beamsummed, reconstructed signal. In one technique, samples having a zero sum are respectively inserted on a pair of symmetric channels such that the net effect on the beamsummed signal is zero. In another technique, a +1 sample is inserted when a focus time delay is required, and either a pre-calculated or counted number of channels having a focus time delay at each time sample is subtracted from the beamsum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.