Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and power supply apparatus

• US 6,752,761 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amemiya, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Imam, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/116,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407-471, 736/05--35, 735/96, 367/7, 367/11, 367/130, 367/138, 367/140, 367/87, 367/153, 367/155, 128/916, 310/311, 340/870.3, 334/80
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52023 Details of receivers

Abstract

In order to reduce the number of components to achieve size reduction of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 101 is provided with a power supply section 3 comprised of a bias power supply 4 for generating a bias voltage and a driving power supply 5 for generating a driving voltage using the bias voltage. The bias voltage is higher than the driving voltage. Since the driving power supply 5 merely generates a lower voltage based upon a higher voltage, it is simpler in configuration and smaller in size than the conventional type that independently generates the voltages.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having power supply means comprising:

bias power supply means for generating a bias voltage; and

driving power supply means, wherein the bias voltage is supplied to said driving power supply means, and said driving power supply means generates a driving voltage based upon the bias voltage.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltages generated by said power supply means and said driving power supply means are variable.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving power supply means include a linear power supply.

4. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amplitude of the bias voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

5. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an amplitude of the driving voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

6. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an alternating current is supplied to said bias power supply means to generate the bias voltage.

7. A power supply apparatus for supplying first operating means operated by a first voltage with the first voltage, and supplying second operating means operated by a second voltage lower than the first voltage with the second voltage, comprising:

first power supply means for generating said first voltage; and

second power supply means, wherein the first voltage is supplied to said second power supply means, and said second power supply means generates a second voltage based upon the first voltage.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the voltages generated by said first power supply means and said second power supply means are variable.

9. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second power supply means include a linear power supply.

10. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an amplitude of the first voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

11. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an amplitude of the second voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

12. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein an alternating current is supplied to said first power supply means to generate the first voltage.

13. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising a power supply comprising:

a bias power supply for generating a bias voltage; and

a driving power supply, wherein the bias voltage is supplied to said driving power supply, and said driving power supply generates a driving voltage based upon the bias voltage.

14. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said bias power supply and said driving power supply are variable.

15. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said driving power supply comprises a linear power supply.

16. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein an amplitude of the bias voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

17. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein an amplitude of the driving voltage is controlled by a predetermined voltage signal.

18. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein an alternating current is supplied to said bias power supply to generate the bias voltage.

19. A method for operating an ultrasonic probe;

said method comprising;

generating a bias voltage using a bias power supply;

directly supplying the bias voltage to a driving power supply;

generating a driving voltage from the bias voltage; and

operating the ultrasonic probe using the driving voltage.

20. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 wherein said generating a bias voltage using the bias power supply comprises generating a variable bias voltage using the bias power supply.

21. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 wherein said generating a driving voltage using the driving power supply comprises generating a variable driving voltage using the driving power supply.

22. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 wherein said generating a driving voltage using the driving power supply comprises generating a driving voltage using a linear power supply.

23. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 further comprising controlling an amplitude of the bias voltage by applying a predetermined voltage signal to the bias power supply.

24. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 further comprising controlling an amplitude of the driving voltage by applying a predetermined voltage signal to the driving power supply.

25. A method for generating an ultrasonic probe driving voltage in accordance with claim 19 further comprising:

providing an alternating current to the bias power supply; and

generating the bias voltage from the alternating current.