Ultrasonic motor driving device and ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus

• US 20060250046A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Onozuka, Masao, Koizumi, Jun, Irioka, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,375,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/894 by rotation about a single axis
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/355 Arcuate movement
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/14 Drive circuits; Control arrangements or methods

Abstract

A technology, wherein unstable operation of the ultrasonic motor is prevented, when the ultrasonic motor is driven at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, and life extension is attempted, is disclosed, and according to this invention, when the ultrasonic motor 3 is driven at a comparatively low-speed during normal driving, unstable operation due to driving at a comparatively low-speed can be prevented and life extension can be attempted by driving the ultrasonic motor at a comparatively high-speed every predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic motor driving device for driving an ultrasonic motor, comprising:

a speed control means for driving the ultrasonic motor at at least two types of speeds; and

which

drives at a low speed, the slower out of the two types of speeds, during normal drive.

2. An ultrasonic diagnostic device for obtaining three-dimensional images by scanning sonic elements by driving an ultrasonic motor, wherein:

whether or not the ultrasonic motor was driven for a predetermined period of time, at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, when the power switch of the ultrasonic diagnostic device has been turned OFF, is determined, and if it was driven, the ultrasonic motor is driven at the higher speed out of at least two types of speeds, for an arbitrarily set period of time.

3. An ultrasonic diagnostic device for obtaining three-dimensional images by scanning sonic elements by driving an ultrasonic motor, wherein:

whether or not the ultrasonic motor was driven for a predetermined period of time, at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, when the screensaver of the monitor which shows the three-dimensional image has been turned ON, is determined, and if it was driven, the ultrasonic motor is driven at the higher speed out of at least two types of speeds.

4. An ultrasonic diagnostic device for obtaining three-dimensional images by scanning sonic elements by driving an ultrasonic motor, wherein:

whether or not the ultrasonic motor was driven for a predetermined period of time, at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, is determined when the power switch is turned ON for the first time within one day, and if it was driven, the ultrasonic motor is driven at the higher speed out of at least two types of speeds.

5. An ultrasonic diagnostic device for obtaining three-dimensional images by scanning sonic elements by driving an ultrasonic motor, wherein:

the user is asked whether or not the driving function in the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds should be turned on, by driving the ultrasonic motor at the higher speed out of at least two types of speeds, when the ultrasonic motor is driven for a predetermined period of time at the lower speed out of at least two types of speeds, and if the user selects this function, a means for turning on this function is provided.