BEAMFORMING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME

• US 20160100822A1
• Filed: 10/07/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Baehyung, KIM, Kyuhong, PARK, Suhyun, LEE, Seungheun, LEE, Hotaik, CHO, Kyungil
• Application Number:
  US14/877,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20160100822A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4411 Device being modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5202 for pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52025 for pulse systems G01S7/52034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52046 Techniques for image enhancement involving transmitter or receiver image enhancement by image data processing G06T5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation

Abstract

A beamforming apparatus configured to beamform ultrasound waves transmitted through an ultrasound transducer having a two-dimensional transducer array includes a transmitter configured to output transmission pulses configured to drive elements constituting the transducer array, and a transmission switch configured to select at least two elements among the elements to form an aperture such that the transmission pulses drive the elements forming the aperture.

Claims

1. A beamforming apparatus configured to beamform ultrasound waves transmitted through an ultrasound transducer having a two-dimensional transducer array, the beamforming apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to output transmission pulses for driving elements constituting the transducer array; and

a transmission switch configured to select at least two elements among the elements to form an aperture such that the transmission pulses drive the elements forming the aperture.

2. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducer array comprises M×

N elements, and a number of the selected elements is smaller than (M×

N)/2, where M and N are natural numbers.

3. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the aperture has a ring shape.

4. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that a position at which the ring-shaped aperture is formed on the transducer array varies over time.

5. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the ring-shaped aperture rotates over time.

6. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the aperture has a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

7. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that a position at which the circular or polygonal aperture is formed on the transducer array varies over time.

8. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the circular or polygonal aperture rotates over time.

9. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the aperture has a linear shape.

10. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that a position at which the linear aperture is formed on the transducer array varies over time.

11. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transmission switch is configured to select the elements such that the linear aperture rotates over time.

12. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a transmission beamformer configured to generate transmission signals and add a delay time to the transmission signals and thereby form a transmission signal pattern; and

a pulser configured to generate the transmission pulses configured to drive the elements constituting the transducer array according to the transmission signal pattern.

13. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transmission beamformer and the pulser are provided plurally, and a number of the transmission beamformers and the pulsers is smaller than a number of the elements constituting the transducer array.

14. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission and reception switch configured to determine a transmission or reception state of the transducer array.

15. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission switch comprises a high-voltage multiplexer.

16. A beamforming apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to output transmission pulses to at least two elements among elements constituting a transducer having a two-dimensional transduce array, the at least two elements forming an aperture;

a receiver configured to focus ultrasound echo signals received by the at least two elements and thereby form a reception beam; and

limiters connected to the respective elements constituting the transducer array and configured to protect the receiver from a high voltage occurring when the transmitter is driven.

17. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the transducer array comprises M×

N elements, and a number of the at least two elements forming the aperture is smaller than (M×

N)/2, where M and N are natural numbers.

18. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a transmission beamformer configured to generate transmission signals and add a delay time to the transmission signals to thereby form a transmission signal pattern; and

pulsers that are connected to the respective elements constituting the transducer array and are configured to apply the transmission pulses to the respective elements according to the transmission signal pattern.

19. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the receiver comprises:

pre amplifiers configured to amplify the ultrasound echo signals;

a reception switch configured to select the at least two elements forming the aperture; and

a reception beamformer configured to focus the ultrasound echo signals and thereby form the reception beam, wherein the reception switch comprises a low-voltage multiplexer.

20. The beamforming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a pulser controller configured to select and drive only some of the pulsers connected to the elements forming the aperture and control the reception switch such that the reception switch selects the elements forming the aperture.