Wireless ultrasound probe using wirelessly supplied power, ultrasound diagnosis apparatus wirelessly connected to wireless ultrasound probe, operating method of ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, and operating method of wireless ultrasound probe

• US 10,575,824 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Medison Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jin, Gil-Ju, Ahn, Mi-Jeoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Brutus, Joel F
• Application Number:
  US14/263,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 600437
• 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 8/4433 involving a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Provided are an ultrasound probe and an operating method of the ultrasound probe which can select a power transmission channel and/or a wireless power transmission mode that are most appropriate in an environment in which power transmission channels exist. The operating method of the ultrasound probe includes operations of obtaining a plurality of pieces of information about power transmission channels; displaying a power transmission channel list, based on the plurality of pieces of information about the power transmission channels; selecting a power transmission channel from the power transmission channel list; and receiving wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel.

Claims

1. An operating method of an ultrasound probe, the operating method comprising:

obtaining one or more pieces of information about each of a plurality of power transmission channels, the one or more pieces of information including a wireless power transmission mode for transmitting wireless power to the ultrasound probe at each of the power transmission channels, and a characteristic value of wireless power transmitted to the ultrasound probe by the wireless power transmission mode based on each of the power transmission channels;

determining whether each voltage and each current for the wireless power transmitted in each of the power transmission channels satisfies a rated voltage and a rated current of the ultrasound probe, based on the one or more pieces of information;

displaying a power transmission channel list including information indicative of strength of wireless power transmitted from each of the power transmission channels according to the wireless power transmission mode of each of the power transmission channels, based on a result of whether each voltage and each current for the wireless power transmitted in each of the power transmission channels satisfies the rated voltage and the rated current of the ultrasound probe, and the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels;

selecting a power transmission channel to transmit the wireless power to the ultrasound probe, based on the power transmission channel list; and

receiving the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel.

2. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the power transmission channel list lists at least some of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, based on a priority order of the power transmission channels.

3. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the power transmission channel is performed based on a user input that involves selecting the power transmission channel from the power transmission channel list.

4. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the power transmission channel list comprises information about the wireless power transmission mode by which the power transmission channels transmit wireless power to the ultrasound probe.

5. The operating method of claim 4, wherein the wireless power transmission mode comprises at least one of an electromagnetic induction mode, an electromagnetic radiation mode, an electromagnetic resonance mode, and a wireless power transmission mode using an ultrasound.

6. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

sensing the characteristic value of wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels; and

obtaining the characteristic value as each of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, and

wherein the characteristic value comprises a value of at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels.

7. The operating method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

receiving data signals that are transmitted by the power transmission channels, respectively; and

obtaining the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, wherein the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels are comprised in the data signals, respectively, and

wherein each of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels comprises a value of at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels.

8. The operating method of claim 1, further comprising converting the wireless power, based on the rated voltage and the rated current of the ultrasound probe.

9. The operating method of claim 1, further comprising, when the receiving of the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel is discontinued, providing information indicating that the receiving of the wireless power is discontinued.

10. The operating method of claim 1, further comprising, when the receiving of the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel is discontinued, receiving wireless power that is transmitted via another power transmission channel.

11. The operating method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the power transmission channels corresponds to one or more ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses.

12. The operating method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a battery by using the wireless power; and

generating ultrasound image data from an echo signal of an ultrasound signal that is transmitted to a target object, by using only a predetermined percentage of power that is charged in the battery,

wherein the predetermined percentage of the power is determined based on a user input.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the operating method of claim 1, by using a computer.

14. An ultrasound probe comprising:

a processor;

a display;

a power supply; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

obtaining one or more pieces of information about each of a plurality of power transmission channels, the one or more pieces of information including a wireless power transmission mode for transmitting wireless power to the ultrasound probe at each of the power transmission channels, and a characteristic value of wireless power transmitted to the ultrasound probe by the wireless power transmission mode based on each of the power transmission channels;

determining whether each voltage and each current for the wireless power transmitted in each of the power transmission channels satisfies a rated voltage and a rated current of the ultrasound probe, based on the one or more pieces of information;

controlling the display to display a power transmission channel list including information indicative of strength of wireless power transmitted from each of the power transmission channels according to the wireless power transmission mode of each of the power transmission channels, based on a result of whether each voltage and each current for the wireless power transmitted in each of the power transmission channels satisfies the rated voltage and the rated current of the ultrasound probe, and the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels;

selecting a power transmission channel to transmit the wireless power to the ultrasound probe, based on the power transmission channel list; and

controlling the power supply to receive the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel.

15. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the power transmission channel list lists at least some of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, based on a priority order of the power transmission channels.

16. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, further comprising a user input device for receiving an input that involves selecting the power transmission channel from the power transmission channel list, and

wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

selecting the power transmission channel based on the input.

17. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the power transmission channel list comprises information about the wireless power transmission mode by which the power transmission channels transmit wireless power to the ultrasound probe.

18. The ultrasound probe of claim 17, wherein the wireless power transmission mode comprises at least one of an electromagnetic induction mode, an electromagnetic radiation mode, an electromagnetic resonance mode, and a wireless power transmission mode using an ultrasound.

19. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the obtaining of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

sensing the characteristic value of wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels, and obtaining the characteristic value as each of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, and

wherein the characteristic value comprises a value of at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels.

20. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the obtaining of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

receiving data signals that are transmitted by the power transmission channels, respectively, and obtaining the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels, wherein the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels are comprised in the data signals, respectively, and

wherein each of the one or more pieces of information about the power transmission channels comprises a value of at least one of a voltage, a current, and a frequency of the wireless power that is transmitted by each of the power transmission channels.

21. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising controlling the power supply to convert the wireless power, based on the rated voltage and the rated current of the ultrasound probe.

22. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

when the receiving of the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel is discontinued, controlling the display to provide information indicating that the receiving of the wireless power is discontinued.

23. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

when the receiving of the wireless power that is transmitted via the selected power transmission channel is discontinued, controlling the power supply to receive wireless power that is transmitted via another power transmission channel.

24. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein at least one of the power transmission channels corresponds to one or more ultrasound diagnosis apparatuses.

25. The ultrasound probe of claim 14, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

controlling the power supply to charge a battery by using the wireless power, and

generating ultrasound image data from an echo signal of an ultrasound signal that is transmitted to a target object, by using only a predetermined percentage of power that is charged in the battery, and

wherein the predetermined percentage of the power is determined based on a user input.

26. An operating method of an ultrasound probe, the operating method comprising:

establishing a session with an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;

receiving information about a wireless power transmission channel from the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus via the session, wherein the information includes a wireless power transmission mode for transmitting wireless power to the ultrasound probe at the power transmission channel, a characteristic value of wireless power transmitted by the wireless power transmission channel, and strength of wireless power transmitted from the wireless power transmission channel based on a result of whether each of wireless power transmission channels satisfies a rated voltage and a rated current of the ultrasound probe, wherein the wireless power transmission channel is the greatest strength of wireless power among the wireless power transmission channels; and

receiving a wireless power from the wireless power transmission channel.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the operating method of claim 26, by using a computer.

28. An ultrasound probe comprising:

a communication device configured to establish a session with an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus;

a power supply configured to receive a wireless power from a wireless power transmission channel via the session, by using information about the wireless power transmission channel received from the ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, wherein the information includes a wireless power transmission mode for transmitting wireless power to the ultrasound probe at the power transmission channel, a characteristic value of wireless power transmitted to the ultrasound probe by the wireless power transmission mode based on each of the wireless power transmission channels, and strength of wireless power transmitted from the wireless power transmission channel based on a result of whether each voltage and each current for the wireless power transmitted in each of wireless power transmission channels satisfies a rated voltage and a rated current of the ultrasound probe, wherein the wireless power transmission channel is the greatest strength of wireless power among the wireless power transmission channels.