Method and apparatus for doppler receive beamformer system

• US 5,555,534 A
• Filed: 05/02/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Acuson Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cole, Christopher R., Maslak, Samuel H., Petrofsky, Joseph G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US08/433,916
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 367/138, 367/119, 367/121, 367/103, 367/105, 367/135, 367/11, 367/7, 73/626, 73/625, 364/413.25, 128/660.01, 128/660.04, 128/660.05, 128/661.01, 128/661.07, 342/81, 342/154, 342/158
• US Class Current: 367/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8979 Combined Doppler and pulse-echo imaging systems

Abstract

An ultrasonic receive system includes two receive beamformers. A first receive beamformer is optimized for imaging modes such as B-mode and color Doppler flow imaging, and therefore has high spatial resolution and wide bandwidth, while the accompanying second receive beamformer has a wide dynamic range and is dedicated for use in acquiring spectral Doppler information, which is typically narrowband compared to imaging information. The second receive beamformer achieves the sensitivity and low-noise performance of a dedicated single-channel pencil probe instrument yet it also performs electronic beam steering. Both receive beamformers can operate through a common transducer array, thereby increasing exam efficiency and permitting registration of spectral Doppler information with a B-mode or color Doppler flow image.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing a plurality of input signals each responsive to ultrasonic energy incident on a respective ultrasonic receive element in an array, comprising:

a plurality of range gates each coupled to range gate a respective one of said input signals;

a plurality of focusing phase-rotators each coupled to phase-rotate a respective one of said input signals; and

a summer coupled to sum signals responsive to said gated, phase-rotated signals to produce a summed signal;

a demodulator demodulating a signal responsive to at least one of said input signals;

an integrator, downstream of said demodulator, said integrator integrating a signal responsive to said summed signal to produce an output value;

means for operating said apparatus in a first mode (PW), in which each of said range gates is enabled only during selected time periods; and

means for operating said apparatus in a second mode (CW), in which said range gates are enabled continuously.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said integrator integrates a signal responsive to said summed signal over time periods which include said selected time periods.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in said second mode, said circuit element filters said signal responsive to said summed signal.

4. A method for processing ultrasonic energy incident on a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by phase-rotating an analog input signal by a desired phase rotation, comprising the steps of:

providing said analog input signal as a plurality of phase-split signals;

weighting at least one of said phase-split signals by a plurality of different fixed weights to produce a plurality of weighted, phase-split signals; and

summing selected ones of said weighted, phase-split signals, said selection being made in response to said desired phase rotation.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step of providing provides exactly two phase-split signals.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said two phase-split signals are substantially in quadrature.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of providing comprises the steps of mixing said analog input signal with a first signal and, in parallel, mixing said analog input signal with a second signal, said first and second signals being substantially in quadrature.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of providing comprises the steps of filtering said analog input signal with a first filter and, in parallel, filtering said analog input signal with a second filter, said first and second filters having transfer characteristics of approximately equal magnitude over a predetermined frequency range and having a phase difference of approximately 90 degrees over said predetermined frequency range.

9. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step of weighing comprises the step of weighing each of said phase-split signals by a respective plurality of different fixed weights to produce a respective plurality of weighted, phase-split signals.

10. A method according to claim 4, wherein the negative of each fixed weight in said plurality of different fixed weights is also in said plurality of different fixed weights.

11. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of providing said desired phase rotation as a selection of one of a predefined set of available discrete amounts.

113. The method according to claim 4, further comprising generating said analog signal using a plurality of ultrasonic transducers responsive to ultrasonic energy from an object, each transducer generating a respective analog signal.

12. A method for processing ultrasonic energy incident on a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by phase-rotating an analog input signal by a desired one of a predefined set of available discrete amounts, comprising the steps of:

providing said analog input signal as two input phase-split signals in substantial quadrature;

weighting each of said input phase-split signals to produce a respective plurality of weighted phase-split signals for each of said input phase-split signal, the negative of each weighted phase-split signal in each of said pluralities of weighted phase-split signals also being in such plurality of weighted phase-split signals; and

summing selected ones of said weighted phase-split signals, said selection being made in response to said desired phase rotation amount.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said predefined set of available discrete amounts consists of eight available amounts substantially evenly spaced in a circular phase range of 0°

to 360°

,

and wherein each of said pluralities of weighted phase-split signals consist of four signals having respective relative weights of;

1, -1, 1+√

2/2 and -(1+√

2/2).

114. The method according to claim 12, further comprising generating said analog signal using a plurality of ultrasonic transducers responsive to ultrasonic energy from an object, each transducer generating a respective analog signal.

14. Apparatus for processing ultrasonic energy incident on a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by phase-rotating an analog input signal by a desired phase rotation, comprising:

a source providing said analog input signal as a plurality of input phase-split signals;

amplifier circuitry weighting at least one of said input phase-split signals by a plurality of different fixed weights to produce a plurality of weighted phase-split signals; and

a selective summer summing selected ones of said weighted phase-split signals, said selection being made in response to said desired phase rotation.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said source provides exactly two input phase-split signals.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said two input phase-split signals are substantially in quadrature.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said source comprises:

a first mixer mixing said analog input signal with a first demodulation signal to produce a first one of said input phase-split signals; and

a second mixer coupled in parallel with said first mixer, said second mixer mixing said analog input signal with a second demodulation signal to produce a second one of said input phase-split signals, said first and second demodulation signals being substantially in quadrature.

18. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said source comprises:

a first filter coupled to receive said analog input signal and to provide a first one of said input phase-split signals; and

a second filter coupled to receive said analog input signal and to provide a second one of said input phase-split signals, said first and second filters having transfer characteristics of approximately equal magnitude over a predetermined frequency range and being substantially in quadrature over said predetermined range.

19. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said amplifier circuitry weights each of said input phase-split signals by a respective plurality of different fixed weights to produce a respective plurality of weighted phase-split signals.

20. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the negative of each fixed weight in said plurality of different fixed weights is also in said plurality of different fixed weights.

115. Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers responsive to ultrasonic energy from an object, each transducer generating a respective analog signal.

21. Apparatus for processing ultrasonic energy incident on a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by phase-rotating an analog input signal by a desired one of a predefined set of available discrete amounts, comprising:

a source providing said analog input signal as two input phase-split signals substantially in quadrature;

amplifier circuitry weighting each of said input phase-split signals to produce a respective plurality of weighted phase-split signals for each of said input phase-split signals, the negative of each weighted phase-split signal in each of said pluralities of weighted phase-split signals also being in such plurality of weighted phase-split signals; and

a selective summer summing selected ones of said weighted phase-split signals, said selection being made in response to said desired phase rotation amount.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said predefined set of available discrete amounts consists of eight available amounts substantially evenly spaced in a circular phase range of 0°

to 360°

,

and wherein each of said pluralities of weighted phase-split signals consists of four signals having respective relative weights of;

1, -1, 1+√

2/2 and -(1+√

2/2).

116. Apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers responsive to ultrasonic energy from an object, each transducer generating a respective analog signal.

23. A method for controlling an ultrasonic beamformer system, comprising the steps of:

communicating a transmit data set from a central control to a transmit beamformer of said system, said transmit beamformer being coupled to excite an array of ultrasonic transducers to emit a transmit beam, said transmit data set indicating a transmit delay profile across said array which focuses said transmit beam;

communicating a non-imaging receive data set from said central control to a separate local control of a non-imaging receive beamformer of said system, said non-imaging receive beamformer being coupled to receive signals for a non-imaging receive beam from said array of ultrasonic transducers, said non-imaging receive data set indicating a non-imaging receive delay profile across said array which focuses said non-imaging receive beam;

communicating an imaging receive data set from said central control to an imaging receive beamformer of said system, said imaging receive beamformer being coupled to receive signals for an imaging receive beam from said array of transducers, said imaging receive data set indicating an imaging receive delay profile across said array which focuses said imaging receive beam; and

in said central control, calculating both said transmit delay profile and said non-imaging receive delay profile from a common source delay profile.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said non-imaging receive data set further indicates a profile of active array elements.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said non-imaging receive data set further indicates a focusing time delay profile across said array of active range intervals.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein said transmit delay profile defines a steering angle for said transmit beam, and wherein said non-imaging receive delay profile defines the same steering angle for said non-imaging receive beam.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein said non-imaging Doppler receive beamformer includes a range gate for each of said signals from said array, and wherein said non-imaging receive data set indicates when and for how long each of said range gates is to be enabled.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said non-imaging receive data set comprises a vector of bits for each of said range gates, each i'"'"'th bit of each given vector indicating whether the given vector'"'"'s range gate is to be enabled during the i'"'"'th of a plurality of time periods, all of said time periods having the same duration.

29. A method according to claim 23, wherein said non-imaging receive beamformer includes a phase rotator for each of said signals from said array, and wherein a portion of said receive data set indicates a rotation amount for each of said phase rotators.

30. Apparatus for processing a plurality of input signals each responsive to ultrasonic energy incident on a respective ultrasonic receive element in an array, comprising:

a first range gate range-gating a signal responsive to at least one of said input signals responsively to an enable input of said range gate;

a first vector of bits for said first range gate; and

applying means for applying sequential bits in said first vector to said enable input of said first range gate sequentially at predetermined intervals, said first range gate being enabled when the bit applied to said enable input has one logic level and disabled when the bit applied to said enable input has another logic level.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said predetermined intervals all have the same duration.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said duration is programmable.

33. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first vector comprises writable memory.

34. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first range gate is one of a plurality of range gates each range gating a respective signal responsive to a respective one of said input signals responsively to a respective enable input,

wherein said first vector is one of a plurality of vectors of bits, each vector being for a respective one of said range gates,

said applying means applying sequential bits in each of said vectors to the enable input of the range gate for the vector sequentially at said predetermined intervals, each of said range gates being enabled when the bit applied to the enable input of the range gate has said one logic level and disabled when the bit applied to the enable input of the range gate has said another logic level,

said predetermined intervals being common across all of said range gates.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein each of said vectors comprise writable memory.

36. Ultrasonic receive apparatus for processing analog signals from a plurality of ultrasonic receive elements in an array, which receive elements each generate a respective analog signal in response to ultrasonic energy incident thereon, comprising:

a first, imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals to produce a first beamformed output signal; and

a second, non-imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals to produce a second beamformed output signal, said second, non-imaging beamformer comprising a plurality of processing channels, each channel comprising a demodulator demodulating the respective analog signal to generate a respective baseband signal, and a phase rotator for aligning the respective baseband signal, said second, non-imaging beamformer using said aligned baseband signals to produce said second beamformed output signal.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the second beamformer comprises a channel summer for summing said baseband signals in said plurality of channels to produce said second beamformed output signal.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said channel summer is downstream of said phase rotator.

39. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first receive beamformer produces the first beamformed output signal as a multi-beam output signal, and wherein said second receive beamformer produces the second beamformed output signal as a single-beam signal.

40. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective dynamic ranges, and wherein the dynamic range of said second receive beamformer is wider than that of said first receive beamformer.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the dynamic range of said second receive beamformer is substantially wider than that of said first receive beamformer.

42. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective directional selectivities for said incident ultrasonic energy, and wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is substantially finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

44. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective directional selectivities for said incident ultrasonic energy, and wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

45. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a digital receive beamformer.

46. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises an analog receive beamformer.

47. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a hybrid analog/digital receive beamformer.

48. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein:

the first output signal produced by said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of values each corresponding to a target in a different respective one of a plurality of range intervals on a beam;

the second output signal produced by said second receive beamformer comprises at least one value corresponding to a target on a beam within a predetermined range interval; and

a range defined by said plurality of range intervals is substantially greater than a range defined by said predetermined range interval.

49. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first receive beamformer dynamically tracks a range of focal points of said ultrasonic energy, and wherein said second receive beamformer does not dynamically track a range of focal points of said ultrasonic energy.

50. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of first processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals, each of said first processing channels comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to produce a digital signal responsive to the respective one of said analog signals; and

time delay means, downstream of said analog-to-digital converter, for introducing a variable time delay in the first processing channel according to a first focusing time delay profile for said first receive beamformer,

and wherein said plurality of channels in said second receive beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals, and each including range isolation means for isolating a selected range interval in the second processing channel according to a second focusing time delay profile for said second receive beamformer,

said second receive beamformer further comprising an analog-to-digital converter downstream of the range isolation means of at least one of said second channels.

51. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said channel summer is downstream of said range isolation means for all of said second channels and upstream of said analog-to-digital converter.

52. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of first processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals, each of said first processing channels comprising an analog-to-digital converter and a variable phase rotator downstream of said analog-to-digital converter;

and

wherein said phase rotator in said second receive beamformer comprises a variable phase rotator, said plurality of channels in said second receive beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals, and each comprising the respective variable phase rotator, and an analog-to-digital converter downstream of the variable phase rotator of at least one of said second channels.

53. Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said second beamformer comprises a channel summer for summing said baseband signals in said plurality of channels to produce said second beamformed output signal, said channel summer being downstream of the variable phase rotator of all of said second channels and upstream of said analog-to-digital converter.

54. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein:

said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals and each producing a respective digital channel output signal, and a digital adder coupled to sum said digital channel output signals; and

wherein said plurality of channels in second beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels each responsive to a respective one of said analog signals and each producing a respective analog channel output signal, and wherein said summer comprises an analog adder coupled to sum said analog channel output signals.

55. Apparatus according to claim 54, for use further with a common time reference, wherein each of said processing channels in said first receive beamformer comprises:

analog-to-digital conversion means generating a respective digital input signal in response to the respective analog signal for the channel;

digital means for delaying said digital input signal for the channel by a respective amount relative to said common time reference and for time-delaying the digital input signal with that of all others of said channels;

digital means for weighting the digital input signal for the channel by a respective apodization; and

digital means for demodulating the digital input signal for the channel.

56. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein each of said processing channels in said second beamformer further comprises an analog range gate, and wherein said phase rotator comprises an analog phase rotator.

57. Apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising steering means for steering said analog signals exclusively to one of said first receive beamformer and said second receive beamformer in response to a control signal.

58. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein each of said receive elements comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in said array.

59. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the second beamformer comprises:

a range gate range gating the respective analog signal to produce a gated signal which is responsive to said analog signal only between a gate close time and a gate open time; and

an integrator integrating a signal responsive to said gated signal over a time period beginning no later than said gate close time and ending no earlier than said gate open time.

60. Apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said demodulator demodulates a signal responsive to said gated signal, to produce a gated demodulated signal, said signal integrated by said integrator being responsive to said gated demodulated signal.

61. A method for processing analog signals from a plurality of ultrasonic receive elements in an array, which receive elements each generate a respective analog signal in response to ultrasonic energy incident thereon, comprising:

producing a first beamformed output signal using a first, imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals from said array; and

producing a second beamformed output signal using a second, non-imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals from said array, said second beamformer comprising a plurality of processing channels, said step of producing said second beamformed output signal comprising demodulating said analog signals to generate respective baseband signals, rotating the phases of said baseband signals to align said baseband signals in said plurality of channels, and using said aligned baseband signals to produce said second beamformed output signal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the step producing the second beamformed output signal comprises summing the baseband signals in said plurality of processing channels to produce said second beamformed output signal.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the step of summing is performed after said step of rotating.

64. The method according to claim 61, wherein the first beamformed output signal produced in the first producing step comprises multi-beam signals, and wherein the second beamformed output signal produced in the second producing step comprises a single-beam signal.

65. The method according to claim 61 wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective dynamic ranges, and wherein the dynamic range of said second receive beamformer is wider than that of said first receive beamformer.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein the dynamic range of said second receive beamformer is substantially wider than that of said first receive beamformer.

67. The method according to claim 65, wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective directional selectivities for said incident ultrasonic energy, and wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

68. The method according to claim 67, wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is substantially finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

69. The method according to claim 61, wherein said first and second receive beamformers have respective directional selectivities for said incident ultrasonic energy, and wherein the directional selectivity of said first receive beamformer is finer than that of said second receive beamformer.

70. The method according to claim 65 wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a digital receive beamformer.

71. The method according to claim 65 wherein said first receive beamformer comprises an analog receive beamformer.

72. The method according to claim 65 wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a hybrid analog/digital receive beamformer.

73. The method according to claim 61, wherein:

the step of producing said first output signal comprises producing said first output signal comprising a plurality of values each corresponding to a target in a different respective one of a plurality of range intervals on a beam;

said step of producing said second output signal comprises producing said second output signal comprising at least one value corresponding to a target disposed on a beam within a predetermined range interval; and

a range defined by said plurality of range intervals is substantially greater than a range defined by said predetermined range interval.

74. The method according to claim 61, wherein said step of producing a first output signal comprises using said first receive beamformer to dynamically track a range of focal points of said ultrasonic energy, and wherein said step of producing a second output signal comprises using said second receive beamformer such that it does not dynamically track a range of focal points of said ultrasonic energy.

75. The method according to claim 61, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of first processing channels and said plurality of processing channels in second receive beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels, the method further comprising:

for each of said first processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals;

converting each of said analog signals to a respective digital signal;

after said step of converting, introducing a variable time delay in the first processing channel according to a first focusing time delay profile for said first receive beamformer;

for each of said second processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals, and for each second processing channel, isolating a selected range interval in the second processing channel according to a second focusing time delay profile for said second receive beamformer,

after the step of isolating, converting the isolated analog signal to a respective digital signal for at least one of said second processing channels.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein said step of producing said second beamformed output signal comprises summing the baseband signals in said plurality of second processing channels to produce said second beamformed output signal and wherein said step of summing is performed after said step of isolating and before said step of converting.

77. The method according to claim 61, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of first processing channels and said plurality of processing channels in said second receive beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels, the method further comprising:

for each of said first processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals, converting said analog signal to a respective digital input signal, and variably phase rotating said digital input signal; and

for each of said plurality of second processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals, and wherein said step of rotating the phases comprises variably phase rotating the analog signals in at least one of said second channels.

78. The method according to claim 77, wherein said step of producing said second beamformed output signal comprises summing the baseband signals in said plurality of second processing channels to produce said second beamformed output signal and wherein said step of summing the signals of all of said second channels is performed after said step of variably phase rotating and before the step of converting.

79. The method according to claim 62, wherein said first receive beamformer comprises a plurality of first processing channels and wherein said plurality of processing channels in said second beamformer define a plurality of second processing channels, the method comprising:

in said first processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals and producing a respective digital channel output signal;

digitally summing said digital channel output signals;

in said second processing channels, receiving a respective one of said analog signals and producing a respective analog channel output signal; and

said step of summing comprises summing said analog channel output signals.

80. The method according to claim 79, using a common time reference, comprising:

for each of said first processing channels, converting the analog signal for the channel to a respective digital input signal;

digitally delaying said digital input signal for the respective channel by a respective amount relative to said common time reference and time-delaying the digital input signal with that of all others of said channels;

digitally weighting the digital input signal for the channel by a respective apodization; and

digitally demodulating the digital input signal for the channel.

81. The method according to claim 79, comprising, for each of said second processing channels, range gating the analog signals.

82. The method according to claim 61, further comprising steering said analog signals exclusively to one of said first receive beamformer and said second receive beamformer in response to a control signal.

83. The method according to claim 61, wherein each of said receive elements comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in said array.

84. The method according to claim 61, wherein the step of producing said second beamformed output signal comprises the steps of:

range gating said analog signal to produce a gated signal which is responsive to said analog signal only between a gate close time and a gate open time; and

integrating a signal responsive to said gated signal over a time period beginning no later than said gate close time and ending no earlier than said gate open time.

85. The method according to claim 84, wherein the step of demodulating comprises demodulating a signal responsive to said gated signal, to produce a gated demodulated signal, said signal integrated in said step of integrating being responsive to said gated demodulated signal.

86. Ultrasonic receive apparatus, for processing analog signals from a plurality of ultrasonic receive elements in an array, which receive elements each generate a respective analog signal in response to ultrasonic energy incident thereon, comprising:

a first, imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals from said array to produce a first beamformed output signal; and

a second, non-imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals from said array to produce a second beamformed output signal;

said second, non-imaging beamformer comprising at least one demodulator generating a demodulated analog signal, and a plurality of processing channels, each channel comprising a phase rotator producing a respective analog phase-rotated signal, said demodulator being separate from said phase rotator, said second, non-imaging beamformer applying said analog signals in a selected order to said phase rotators and to said demodulator in producing said second beamformed output signal.

87. Apparatus according to claim 86, wherein each processing channel comprises a respective demodulator.

88. Apparatus according to claim 87, wherein each respective demodulator comprises a mixer generating the demodulated analog signal responsive to a first demodulation signal.

89. Apparatus according to claim 87, wherein each respective demodulator generates a first demodulated analog signal, each of said demodulators responsive to a first demodulation signal and further comprising a second demodulator, separate from said phase rotator, generating a second demodulated analog signal responsive to a second demodulation signal, said first and second demodulation signals being the same.

90. Apparatus according to claim 87, wherein said phase-rotators are downstream of said demodulators.

91. Apparatus according to claim 86, wherein each of said respective phase rotators comprises a pair of filters.

92. Apparatus according to claim 91, wherein at least one of said demodulators is downstream of said respective phase rotators.

93. Apparatus according to claim 92, wherein at least one of said demodulators operates on an analog signal comprising a sum of a plurality of channels.

94. A method for processing analog signals from a plurality of ultrasonic receive elements in an array, which receive elements each generate a respective analog signal in response to ultrasonic energy incident thereon, comprising:

receiving said analog signals from said array in a first, imaging receive beamformer and producing a first beamformed output signal; and

receiving said analog signals from said array in a second, non-imaging receive beamformer and producing a second beamformed output signal;

said step of producing a second beamformed output signal comprising the steps of phase-rotating the analog signals received by said second, non-imaging beamformer to produce respective focused analog phase-rotated signals, and separate from said step of phase rotating, demodulating said analog signals.

95. The method according to claim 94, wherein said second, non-imaging beamformer comprises a plurality of channels and wherein said step of phase-rotating comprises phase-rotating the analog signals received in each respective channel.

96. The method according to claim 95, wherein the step of demodulating comprises demodulating the analog signals in each respective processing channel.

97. The method according to claim 96, wherein the step of demodulating comprises mixing at least a first one of said analog signals with a first demodulation signal to generate a first demodulated analog signal.

98. The method according to claim 97, wherein the step of demodulating further comprises mixing a second demodulation signal with at least a second one of said analog signals to generate a second demodulated analog signal, said first and second demodulation signals being the same.

99. The method according to claim 96, wherein said step of phase rotating is performed after said step of demodulating.

100. The method according to claim 95, wherein said step of phase-rotating comprises filtering said analog signals in each channel.

101. The method according to claim 100, wherein said step of phase-rotating is performed before said step of demodulating.

102. The method according to claim 101, further comprising summing the signals from at least two channels and wherein said step of demodulation is performed after said summing step.

103. Ultrasonic imaging apparatus, for processing analog signals from a plurality of ultrasonic receive elements in an array, which receive elements each generate a respective analog signal in response to ultrasonic energy incident thereon, comprising:

a transmit beamformer, said transmit beamformer coupled to excite said array of ultrasonic transducers to emit a transmit beam;

a first, imaging receive beamformer, said first, imaging receive beamformer responsive to analog signals from said array of ultrasonic transducers;

a second, non-imaging receive beamformer, said second, non-imaging receive beamformer responsive to said analog signals from said array of ultrasonic transducers;

a central control communicating a transmit data set to said transmit beamformer, said transmit data set indicating a transmit delay profile across said array which focuses said transmit beam;

said central control communicating a non-imaging receive data set to a separate local control of said non-imaging receive beamformer, said non-imaging receive data set indicating a non-imaging receive delay profile across said array which focuses a non-imaging receive beam;

said central control communicating an imaging receive data set to said imaging receive beamformer, said imaging receive data set indicating an imaging receive delay profile across said array which focuses an imaging receive beam; and

said central control calculating both said transmit delay profile and said non-imaging receive delay profile from a common source delay profile.

104. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said non-imaging receive data set further indicates a profile of active array elements.

105. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said non-imaging receive data set further indicates a focusing time delay profile across an array of active range intervals.

106. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said transmit delay profile defines a steering angle for said transmit beam, and wherein said non-imaging receive delay profile defines the same steering angle for said non-imaging receive beam.

107. Apparatus according to claim 106, wherein said non-imaging beamformer comprises a Doppler beamformer and said non-imaging receive delay profile comprises a Doppler receive time delay profile, wherein said central control calculates both said Doppler receive time delay profile and said imaging receive delay profile from the common source delay profile.

108. Apparatus according to claim 106, wherein said transmit delay profile defines a steering angle for said transmit beam, wherein said non-imaging receive delay profile defines the same steering angle for said non-imaging receive beam, and wherein said imaging receive delay profile also defines the same steering angle for said imaging receive beam.

109. Apparatus according to claim 106, wherein said non-imaging receive beamformer includes a range gate for each of said analog signals from said array, and wherein said non-imaging receive data set indicates when and for how long each of said range gates is to be enabled.

110. Apparatus according to claim 109, wherein said non-imaging receive data set comprises a vector of bits for each of said range gates, each i'"'"'th bit of each given vector indicating whether the given vector'"'"'s range gate is to be enabled during the i'"'"'th of a plurality of time periods, all of said time periods having the same duration.

111. Apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said non-imaging receive beamformer includes a phase rotator for each of said analog signals from said array, and wherein a portion of said non-imaging receive data set indicates a rotation amount for each of said phase rotators.

112. Apparatus for processing a plurality of analog signals each responsive to ultrasonic energy incident on a respective ultrasonic receive element in an array, comprising:

a non-imaging beamformer responsive to said analog signals to produce a beamformed output signal, said non-imaging beamformer comprising;

a plurality of range gates each coupled to range gate a respective one of said input signals;

a plurality of focusing phase-rotators each coupled to phase-rotate a respective one of said input signals; and

a summer coupled to sum signals responsive to said gated, phase-rotated signals to produce a summed signal;

a demodulator demodulating a signal responsive to at least one of said input signals; and

an integrator, downstream of said demodulator, said integrator integrating a signal responsive to said summed signal to produce an output value.