BEAMFORMING MODULE, ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, BEAMFORMING METHOD USING THE BEAMFORMING MODULE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE BEAMFORMING MODULE

• US 20140198621A1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Kyu Hong, KIM, Yun Tae, PARK, Sung Chan, PARK, Su Hyun, KANG, Joo Young, KIM, Jung Ho, BAE, Moo Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,824,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/138
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0633 Cylindrical array
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/348 using amplitude variation

Abstract

A beamforming module includes a conversion unit configured to convert an input signal to generate a converted signal using at least one conversion function, a weight calculator configured to calculate a converted signal weight as a weight for the converted signal, and a synthesizer configured to generate a result signal using the converted signal and the converted signal weight.

Claims

1. A beamforming module comprising:

a conversion unit configured to convert an input signal to generate a converted signal using at least one conversion function;

a weight calculator configured to calculate a converted signal weight for the converted signal; and

a synthesizer configured to generate a result signal using the converted signal and the converted signal weight.

2. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the converted signal weight is a weight applied to the at least one conversion function to calculate an optimal input signal weight for the input signal.

3. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the weight calculator calculates the converted signal weight for the converted signal based on the input signal and the at least one conversion function.

4. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the weight calculator calculates the converted signal weight for the converted signal using Equation 1 below:

5. The beamforming module according to claim 4, wherein the covariance R₁ is a converted covariance of the input signals obtained using Equation 2 below:

R₁=V^HRV 

 

Equation 2

wherein V represents the at least one conversion function and R represents a covariance of the input signals.

6. The beamforming module according to claim 4, wherein the steering vector v₁ is a converted steering vector obtained using the at least one conversion function v.

7. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the converted signal is generated using Equation 3 below:

u=V^Hx 

 

Equation 3

wherein u represents the converted signal, V represents a conversion function, and x represents the input signal.

8. The beamforming module according to claim 7, wherein the result signal is acquired using Equation 4 below:

z=β

^Hu 

 

Equation 4

wherein u represents the converted signal and β

represents the converted signal weight calculated using Equation 1 below;

9. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion function is generated by combination of basis vectors acquired by performing principle component analysis on an optimal input signal weight for the input signal, the optimal input signal weight being calculated through a minimum variance technique.

10. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion function reduces dimensions of the input signal.

11. The beamforming module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion function is generated based on at least one orthogonal basis vector.

12. The beamforming module according to claim 11, wherein the at least one orthogonal basis vector is at least one from among an eigenvector or a Fourier basis vector.

13. A beamforming method comprising:

converting an input signal to generate a converted signal using at least one conversion function;

calculating a converted signal weight for the converted signal; and

generating a result signal using the converted signal and the converted signal weight.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the converted signal weight is a weight applied to the at least one conversion function to calculate an optimal input signal weight for the input signal.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the calculating comprises calculating the converted signal weight for the converted signal based on the input signal and the at least one conversion function.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the calculating comprises calculating the converted signal weight for the converted signal using Equation 1 below:

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the covariance R₁ is a converted covariance of the input signals obtained using Equation 2 below:

R₁=V^HRV 

 

Equation 2

wherein V represents the at least one conversion function and R represents a covariance of the input signals.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the steering vector v₁ is a converted steering vector obtained using the at least one conversion function v.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the converted signal is generated using Equation 3 below:

u=V^Hx 

 

Equation 3

wherein u represents the converted signal, V represents a conversion function, and x represents the input signal.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the result signal is acquired using Equation 4 below:

z=β

^Hu 

 

Equation 4

wherein u represents the converted signal and β

represents the converted signal weight calculated using Equation 1 below;