Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonograph

US7785260B2 · kind B2 · utility

47Cited by
20References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2002
Grant dateAug 31, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/5202
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonograph capable of generating a transmission beam comprising a main beam having a uniform width over a wide range in an ultrasonic wave propagation direction by one-time transmission of an ultrasonic pulse. A weighted mean value of a plurality of transmission delay time values corresponding to focal lengths of transmission pulse waves having a plurality of focal points which are set in the ultrasonic wave propagation direction is calculated for each of elements constituting a transmission aperture and used as the delay time. The curvature of a transmitted wave front is close to a short focal length in the center portion of the transmit aperture and is close to a long focal length in the peripheral portion. Thus, a transmission beam including a relatively narrow main beam with a uniform width over a wide range in the ultrasonic wave propagation direction can be generated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.