Ultrasonic probe

• US 7,431,697 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Koizumi, Jun, Hasegawa, Shigeyoshi, Irioka, Kazuyoshi, Ookawa, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laryea; Lawrence N
• Application Number:
  US10/530,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 600/444, 600/463, 600/437, 600/445, 600/459, 128/662, 128/660, 250/123.13
• US Class Current: 600/445
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/3473 Circular or rotary encoders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/894 by rotation about a single axis
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/355 Arcuate movement
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/308 with additional pattern means for determining the absolute position, e.g. reference marks

Abstract

The ultrasonic probe of the present invention includes an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit and a detector for detecting the oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit. The detector detects the oscillation angle and the oscillation origin of the ultrasonic element unit, and when the oscillation range of the ultrasonic element unit is divided at its oscillation origin into two regions of a positive region and a negative region, the detector detects in which area the ultrasonic element unit is located. In use of the ultrasonic probe, a control of origin return for returning the ultrasonic element unit to its oscillation origin is performed on the basis of the result of the detection by the detector.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe comprising:

an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves;

an oscillation mechanism for causing oscillation to the ultrasonic element unit; and

a detector for detecting oscillation of the ultrasonic element unit,

wherein the detector detects an oscillation angle and an oscillation origin of the ultrasonic element unit, and in a state where an oscillation range of the ultrasonic element unit is divided at the oscillation origin into two regions of a positive region and a negative region, the detector outputs an origin-return signal that shows different logic levels depending on whether the ultrasonic element unit is located in the positive region or the negative region, and

a control to return the ultrasonic element unit to the oscillation origin on the basis of the origin-return signal.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the detector outputs at least a single-phase rotary encoder pulse signal as an angle signal, and detects the oscillation angle on the basis of the angle signal, and

the detector detects the oscillation origin on the basis of the changing point of the logic level of the origin-return signal.

3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the detector comprises:

a slit plate which oscillates together with the ultrasonic element unit and has a first slit formed in an arc-shape about the oscillation axis from a position corresponding to the oscillation origin to at least a position corresponding to the end of the positive region or the negative region;

a light source for radiating light to the slit plate; and

a first photodetector which detects the light emitted from the light source and passed through the first slit, converts the detected light into an electric signal and outputs an origin-return signal.

4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein the detector comprises:

a slit plate which oscillates together with the ultrasonic element unit and has plural second slits aligned at a predetermined pitch concentrically or in an arc-shape about the oscillation axis;

a light source for radiating light to the slit plate; and

a second photodetector which detects the light emitted from the light source and passed through the second slits, converts the detected light into an electric signal and outputs an angle signal.

5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 4, wherein the first slit and the second slits are formed on the same slit plate.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 3, wherein the detector comprises:

a magnetic dram which oscillates together with the ultrasonic element unit and has plural magnetic patterns aligned at a predetermined pitch concentrically or in an arc-shape about the oscillation axis; and

a magnetoresistive element which detects a magnetic pattern of the magnetic dram converts into an electric signal and outputs an angle signal.

7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic dram is provided on the oscillation axis which is fixed directly to the ultrasonic element unit.