MULTIMISSION AND MULTISPECTRAL SONAR

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-signal message and deconstructs a corresponding multi-signal echo to substantially simultaneously perform multiple survey missions.

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AUDIBLE SIGNALS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Systems and methods for acoustic and/or electromagnetic imaging

A method and associated system for use in imaging comprises transmitting a first wave pulse at a frequency determined by the maximum sampling rate of a receiver and subsequently transmitting at least one second wave pulse at a frequency substantially equal to the first frequency. The first and at least one second pulse are transmitted within a fraction of the sample interval of the receiver. The reflections of the first and at least one second pulses generate a set of receiver samples. The receiver samples are expanded based on the frequency of the first pulse and the number of pulses transmitted, to generate an expanded sample set with a larger number of samples than the set of receiver samples. The expanding may include interleaving receiver samples. Also provided is a method and associated system comprising creating a waveform having a bandwidth and predicting samples obtainable by sampling the waveform at a rate which is a multiple of the bandwidth. Two groups of predicted samples are ...

0CAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

A manual scan imaging sonar

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

Method of compressing sonar data

In a sonar system using a large array multielement sonar detector, the raw phase and intensity data is reduced to less than three bits per channel per slice for each of the detectors in the multielement array before the raw data is transmitted to a beamformer for transforming the data to information about the spatial positions of objects reflecting the sonar signals.

Akustische Näherungsdetektion für mobiles Endgerät und sonstige Geräte

Systems and methods for acoustic and/or electromagnetic imaging

A method for use in imaging includes receiving a wave pulse having a wave pulse frequency, sampling the received wave pulse at a sampling rate to generate a set of received samples. The received samples are as being obtained from an effective wave pulse having a chosen effective frequency to produce an image. The effective frequency is different to the wave pulse frequency, using the equation: () = (2) = (2( + )), where () is the sample data obtained, is the wave pulse frequency, is the sampling rate, = 1 , and is an integer. The wave pulse may be a sound wave for acoustic imaging. The effective frequency may be chosen to provide a required angular resolution where the angular resolution is finer than the resolution obtainable at the wave pulse frequency.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACOUSTIC AND/OR ELECTROMAGNETIC IMAGING

A method for use in acoustic imaging, comprising: transmitting, from a transmitter, a first sound wave pulse at a first frequency determined by a maximum sampling rate of a receiver; transmitting at least one second sound wave pulse at a frequency substantially equal to the first frequency, the first and at least one second sound wave pulses being transmitted substantially within a fraction of a sample interval of the receiver; receiving and sampling, at the receiver, a reflection of at least two of the first and at least one second pulses to generate a set of receiver samples; and expanding the set of receiver samples, based on the first frequency and a total number of the first and at least one second pulses transmitted, to generate an expanded sample set with a larger number of samples than the set of receiver samples.

Multimission and multispectral sonar

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-signal message and deconstructs a corresponding multi-signal echo to substantially simultaneously perform multiple survey missions.

SCAN DONVERSION APPARATUS

DEVICES FOR MEASURING AND DISPLAYING THE DISTANCES OF OBJECTS THEREFROM

... 1336001 Echo-sounding JAPAN RADIO CO Ltd 9 Nov 1970 [8 Nov 1969] 53290/70 Heading H4D [Also in Division G4] A variable frequency clock generator reads the output of an a-d converter, connected to an echo sounder detector, into a memory and a fixed frequency clock generator reads the stored signals out to a visual display. A paper chart recorder has a stylus 10 mounted on an endless band 7, which carries a contact 9. When contact 9 engages contact 5 a pulse is transmitted from generator 3 and gates 13 and 17 opened by bi-stable 12. Signals from detector 2 are quantized and coded by a-d converter 16. The resultant digital signals are read into shift register 18 via gate 17. When the register is full, a pulse appears at its output 21 which resets bi-stable 12 inhibiting further reading in. When contact 9 engages contact 6 monostable 22 opens gate 23 long enough to enable generator 24 to read out the stored information to the chart recorder. The frequency of generator 14 is variable to enable ...

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A DIGITAL SENSOR SIGNAL OF AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR

The invention relates to a method for providing a digital sensor signal (DS) of an ultrasonic sensor (16) for a signal transmission, in particular a signal transmission with a limited transmission rate, to a signal receiver (26), wherein a preferably digital output signal (RS) of the ultrasonic sensor (16) is processed to form the digital sensor signal for the signal transmission. According to the invention, the processing comprises the following steps: (i) determining a signal change (SC) in consecutive values of the output signal (RS); (ii) quantising this signal change (SC); and (iii) outputting the quantised signal change (SC) as the digital sensor signal (DS). The invention also relates to a corresponding device (30) for creating a digital sensor signal (DS) of an ultrasonic sensor (16) for a signal transmission to a signal receiver (26), a corresponding ultrasonic sensor unit with an ultrasonic sensor (16) and a device (30) of this type, as well as to a corresponding ultrasonic sensor ...

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

SOUNDING DEVICE FOR MEASURING A DISTANCE TO OBJECTS

A sounding device for measuring distance to an object wherein the transmitted and received reflected sound waves are converted to digital signals which are stored in a memory device at a variable rate. The storage rate of information in the memory device is set in accordance with the range of the distances being measured. The stored information is read out of the memory device at a fixed repetition rate and is fed to a display means which indicates the distance to the object.

SCAN CONVERSION APPARATUS

A video magnetic disk is utilized in the conversion of side looking sonar or slow scan TV data into a form suitable for displaying as a flicker-free picture on a conventional TV monitor. In the side looking sonar mode of operation, provision is made for displaying the sonar information as a moving window display.

Systems and methods for acoustic and/or electromagnetic imaging

Method for transmitting sonar data to an evaluation unit of a sonar system of an underwater vehicle and sonar system therefor

The present invention comprises a method for transmitting sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24) of a sonar system (10) of an underwater vehicle, comprising the following steps: Converting ultrasonic waves to hydrophone signals (52) by means of a plurality of hydrophones (14); Converting (42) the hydrophone signals (52) to sonar data (60) by means of at least one microcontroller circuit (18), transmitting (44) the sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24), and evaluating (48) the sonar data (60) in the evaluation unit (24), the conversion (42) of the hydrophone signals (52) comprising the steps of digitizing (44) and compressing (58) the hydrophone signals (52) and the compression method (68) used during the compressing (58) being changed or varied by the microcontroller circuit (18) depending on the hydrophone signals (52). The invention further relates to a sonar system (10) for an underwater vehicle for receiving and evaluating underwater sound.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AUDIBLE SIGNALS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

An apparatus for detecting audible signals from a sound source is disclosed which has a sampling apparatus for converting incoming continuous signals in a manner that discretizes with respect to time, wherein the apparatus has a delay line module which receives samples from the sampling apparatus and which is set up to simultaneously provide both a sample ri that is applied to its input and at least one delayed sample (I), and one or more arithmetic units equipped with filtering properties. The arithmetic units each have a switching unit which acts as a coefficient generator and which is set up to take a sampling clock i as a basis for controlling whether values ri and/or (I) provided by the delay line module are ignored or fractions thereof produced directly or by right-shifting are either added or subtracted to/from the previous computation result yI h D(i -1) or yQ h D(i -1), an adding/subtracting unit and a result memory that can be controlled by means of the sampling clock i. In addition ...

METHOD FOR RECOGNISING OBSTACLES AND FOR PREDICTING THE CHANGE OF POSITION OF KNOWN OBSTACLES BY MEANS OF SIGNALS FROM A PLURALITY OF SENSORS AND FOR COMPRESSING AND DECOMPRESSING SENSOR SIGNALS USED FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES

The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor, the associated sensor, the transmission of data to a computer system, and the associated decompression method in the computer system which controls the ultrasonic sensor. The compression method comprises the steps of detecting an ultrasonic received signal of an ultrasonic transducer, providing a signal-free ultrasonic echo signal model (610), carrying out at least once and optionally repeating a number of times the following steps of subtracting a reconstructed ultrasonic echo signal model (610) from the ultrasonic received signal (1) and forming a residual signal (660), the step of carrying out a method for recognising signal objects in the residual signal (660), supplementing the ultrasonic echo signal model (610) by the parameterised signal curve of a recognised signal object (600 to 605); and also ending the repetition of these steps if the values of the residual signal are below the values of a predetermined threshold ...

Wide band data processing technique

A wide band clock controlled delay line for reading-in short pulses at high peed and reading them out at low speed comprises in one embodiment an array of charge coupled photon detectors (CCPD's) and a CRT circuit for generating and scanning an electron beam across a short persistence phosphor face to thereby excite the phosphor to emit radiation with an intensity proportional to the electron current in the scanning electron beam. The scanning rate for the beam is sufficient to operate on short pulses from a wide band system. An input signal driver applies an input signal to the CRT circuit to control the intensity of the electron beam, and a lens collects and focuses the light emissions from these phosphors on to the array of CCPD's. A clock pulse generating circuit generates clock pulses at a much slower rate than the scanning electron beam steps from one CCPD to the next for stepping out the charge stored in the array into an adding circuit.

Image processing apparatus

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a unit for generating image data, an image reconstructing unit and an image synthesizing unit. The unit for generating image data generates image data for displaying a tomogram of a subject by luminance according to signal intensities of echo signals obtained through ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject. The image reconstructing unit generates reconstructed images by alternating at least one of a luminance and a color of an area of a predetermined luminance so that the area of the predetermined luminance is emphasized in the image data while the predetermined luminance is altered in turn. The image synthesizing unit supplies the reconstructed images to a display unit so that the reconstructed images are displayed on the display unit in turn.

Method for transmitting sonar data to an evaluation unit of a sonar system of an underwater vehicle and sonar system therefor

The present invention comprises a method for transmitting sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24) of a sonar system (10) of an underwater vehicle, comprising the following steps: Converting ultrasonic waves to hydrophone signals (52) by means of a plurality of hydrophones (14); Converting (42) the hydrophone signals (52) to sonar data (60) by means of at least one microcontroller circuit (18), transmitting (44) the sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24), and evaluating (48) the sonar data (60) in the evaluation unit (24), the conversion (42) of the hydrophone signals (52) comprising the steps of digitizing (44) and compressing (58) the hydrophone signals (52) and the compression method (68) used during the compressing (58) being changed or varied by the microcontroller circuit (18) depending on the hydrophone signals (52). The invention further relates to a sonar system (10) for an underwater vehicle for receiving and evaluating underwater sound.

ABTAST-UMWANDLUNGSEINRICHTUNG

METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING SONAR DATA TO AN EVALUATION UNIT OF A SONAR SYSTEM OF AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE AND SONAR SYSTEM THEREFOR

The present invention comprises a method for transmitting sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24) of a sonar system (10) of an underwater vehicle, comprising the following steps: Converting ultrasonic waves to hydrophone signals (52) by means of a plurality of hydrophones (14); Converting (42) the hydrophone signals (52) to sonar data (60) by means of at least one microcontroller circuit (18), transmitting (44) the sonar data (60) to an evaluation unit (24), and evaluating (48) the sonar data (60) in the evaluation unit (24), the conversion (42) of the hydrophone signals (52) comprising the steps of digitizing (44) and compressing (58) the hydrophone signals (52) and the compression method (68) used during the compressing (58) being changed or varied by the microcontroller circuit (18) depending on the hydrophone signals (52). The invention further relates to a sonar system (10) for an underwater vehicle for receiving and evaluating underwater sound.

Target object detection device and method of displaying echo data in the target object detection device

A target object detection device is provided. The device includes a signal processor, a display unit, and a controller. The signal processor receives a reception signal generated based on an echo of an ultrasonic wave from a target object and generates echo data corresponding to a distance from a transmission source of the ultrasonic wave to the target object every time the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. The display unit has a display screen with a first side and a second side that is turnable in an axial direction perpendicular to the display screen, and displays an image on the display screen based on the echo data. The controller sets a range with respect to time at which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted, and outputs the echo data corresponding to the ultrasonic wave within the time range according to turning of the display screen.

Image processing apparatus

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING ULTRASONIC SIGNALS, ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND WORK APPARATUS

Akustische Näherungsdetektion für mobiles Endgerät und sonstige Geräte

Sound close detection for mobile terminal and other equipment

Bildverarbeitungsgerät

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING ULTRASONIC SIGNALS, ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND WORK APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method (T) for evaluating ultrasonic signals, in which an analog ultrasonic reception signal (E) is subjected to analog-to-digital conversion (T3) and – for deriving an envelope (Eh) for assessing the ultrasonic reception signal (E) – a signal-matched filter process (T7) in digital form, wherein the ultrasonic reception signal (Ed1) subjected to analog-to-digital conversion is subjected to complex mixing (T4) prior to the filter process (T7) and the signal-matched filter process (T7) is carried out in the complex domain.

Image processing apparatus

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a unit for generating image data, an image reconstructing unit and an image synthesizing unit. The unit for generating image data generates image data for displaying a tomogram of a subject by luminance according to signal intensities of echo signals obtained through ultrasonic waves transmitted to the subject. The image reconstructing unit generates reconstructed images by alternating at least one of a luminance and a color of an area of a predetermined luminance so that the area of the predetermined luminance is emphasized in the image data while the predetermined luminance is altered in turn. The image synthesizing unit supplies the reconstructed images to a display unit so that the reconstructed images are displayed on the display unit in turn.

Wide band data processing technique

A wide band clock controlled delay line for reading-in short pulses at high speed and reading them out at low speed comprises in one embodiment an array of charge coupled photon detectors (CCPD's) and a CRT circuit for generating and scanning an electron beam across a short persistence phosphor face to thereby excite the phosphor to emit radiation with an intensity proportional to the electron current in the scanning electron beam. The scanning rate for the beam is sufficient to operate on short pulses from a wide band system. An input signal driver applies an input signal to the CRT circuit to control the intensity of the electron beam, and a lens collects and focuses the light emissions from these phosphors on to the array of CCPD's. A clock pulse generating circuit generates clock pulses at a much slower rate than the scanning electron beam steps from one CCPD to the next for stepping out the charge stored in the array into an adding circuit.

APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AUDIBLE SIGNALS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A DIGITAL SENSOR SIGNAL OF AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR

The invention relates to a method for providing a digital sensor signal (DS) of an ultrasonic sensor (16) for a signal transmission to a signal receiver (28), in which a - preferably digital - output signal (OS) of the ultrasonic sensor (16) is processed to form the digital sensor signal for the signal transmission. According to the invention, the processing comprises the following steps: (i) determining a signal variation (SC) from successive values of the output signal (OS), (ii) scaling said signal variation (SC) by means of a variable scaling factor (SF) which is predetermined by a scaling pattern known to the ultrasonic sensor (16) and the signal receiver (28), and (iii) emitting the scaled signal variation (SC) as the digital sensor signal (DS). The invention also relates to a corresponding device (32) for generating a digital sensor signal (DS) of an ultrasonic sensor (16) for a signal transmission to a signal receiver (28), a corresponding ultrasonic sensor unit comprising an ultrasonic ...

Method for compressing sonar data

METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING SONAR DATA TO AN EVALUATION UNIT OF A SONAR SYSTEM OF AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE AND SONAR SYSTEM THEREFOR

Method and apparatus for providing a digital sensor signal from an ultrasonic sensor

A method for providing a digital sensor signal (DS) from an ultrasonic sensor (16) for signal transmission to a signal receiver (28) is disclosed, in which a digital output signal (OS) from the ultrasonic sensor (16) is processed to form the digital sensor signal for signal transmission. Provision is made for the processing to comprise the following steps: (i) determining a signal change (SC) of successive values of the output signal (OS), (ii) scaling this signal change (SC) by means of a variable scaling factor (SF) which is specified by a scaling scheme known to the ultrasonic sensor (16) and the signal receiver (28), and (iii) outputting the scaled signal change (SC) as the digital sensor signal (DS). A corresponding apparatus (32) is disclosed for creating a digital sensor signal (DS) from an ultrasonic sensor (16) for signal transmission to a signal receiver (28), to a corresponding ultrasonic sensor device with an ultrasonic sensor (16) and such an apparatus (32), and to a corresponding ...

Acoustical proximity detection for mobile terminals and other devices

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING ULTRASONIC SIGNALS, ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND WORK APPARATUS

METHOD FOR RECOGNISING OBSTACLES AND FOR PREDICTING THE CHANGE OF POSITION OF KNOWN OBSTACLES BY MEANS OF SIGNALS FROM A PLURALITY OF SENSORS AND FOR COMPRESSING AND DECOMPRESSING SENSOR SIGNALS USED FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES

The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasonic sensor, the associated sensor, the transmission of data to a computer system, and the associated decompression method in the computer system which controls the ultrasonic sensor. The compression method comprises the steps of detecting an ultrasonic received signal of an ultrasonic transducer, providing a signal-free ultrasonic echo signal model (610), carrying out at least once and optionally repeating a number of times the following steps of subtracting a reconstructed ultrasonic echo signal model (610) from the ultrasonic received signal (1) and forming a residual signal (660), the step of carrying out a method for recognising signal objects in the residual signal (660), supplementing the ultrasonic echo signal model (610) by the parameterised signal curve of a recognised signal object (600 to 605); and also ending the repetition of these steps if the values of the residual signal are below the values of a predetermined threshold ...

METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ULTRASOUND SENSOR DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH IMPROVED SIGNAL EVALUATION, ULTRASOUND SENSOR DEVICE, DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention relates to a method for operating an ultrasound sensor device (3) for a motor vehicle (3), in which method, by means of an ultrasound sensor (4), an ultrasound signal is received, and on the basis of the received ultrasound signal, an unprocessed signal (15) is output, and by means of an evaluation device (13) of the ultrasound sensor (4), a sensor signal is determined on the basis of the unprocessed signal (15), and the sensor signal is transmitted via a data line (10) to a control unit (5), wherein, by means of the evaluation device (13), to determine the sensor signal, the unprocessed signal is mixed with at least one mixed signal, such that a predetermined frequency band (21) of the unprocessed signal (15), which describes the received ultrasound signal, is converted to a lower frequency band (22), and the mixed unprocessed signal (16) is subsequently sampled.

A MANUAL SCAN IMAGING SONAR

A manual scan sonar integrates multiple technologies into a compact and low cost single beam sonar having the ability to generate wide sector views comparable to that of much larger and more expensive multi-beam sonar units. The manual scan sonar uses a piezoelectric transducer (12), orientation (20) and motion (36) sensors, a power preamplifier and amplifier, and a microcomputer (24) with a display (26), all contained within a compact waterproof housing (30). In operation, the user scans the sonar across an area, and the orientation and motion sensors monitor the user's natural human motion to provide bearing information which is processed and stored by the microcomputer. The ultrasonic information provided by the sound echoes is displayed on the display screen of the computer as a continuous sector. This sonar may be adapted for either diver-held or topside use.

METHOD OF COMPRESSING BEAMFORMED SONAR DATA

Beamformed sonar data is compressed before communicating the data to a storage step or to a further processing step. At lease some of the beams of the compressed beamformed data have values for at least two different ranges.

METHOD OF COMPRESSING SONAR DATA

In a sonar sytem using a large array multielement sonar detector, the raw phase and intensity data is reduced to less than three bits per channel per slice for each of the detectors in the multielement array before the raw data is transmitted to a beamformer for transforming the data to information about the spatial positions of objects reflecting the sonar signals.

Manual scan imaging sonar

A manual scan sonar integrates multiple technologies into a compact and low cost single beam sonar having the ability to generate wide sector views comparable to that of much larger and more expensive multiple-beam sonar units. The manual scan sonar uses a piezoelectric transducer, orientation and motion sensors, a power preamplifier and amplifier, and a microcomputer with a display, all contained within a compact waterproof housing. In operation, the user scans the sonar across an area, and the orientation and motion sensors monitor the user's natural human motion to provide bearing information which is processed and stored by the microcomputer. The ultrasonic information provided by the sound echoes is displayed on the display screen of the computer as a continuous sector. This sonar may be adapted for either diver-held or topside use.

Sound close detection for mobile terminal and other equipment

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACOUSTIC AND/OR ELECTROMAGNETIC IMAGING

MULTIMISSION AND MULTISPECTRAL SONAR

A survey system including a transmitter, receiver, projector array and hydrophone array transmits and receives sound waves to perform one or more survey missions.

Multimission and multispectral sonar

A survey system including a transmitter, receiver, projector array and hydrophone array transmits and receives sound waves to perform one or more survey missions.

SONAR DATA COMPRESSION

A sonar data compression system for installation on a water going vehicle. A transceiver of the system is configured with a receive beamformer for forming Q receive beams. The Q receive beams are sampled a plurality of times, and for each of the times that the receive beams are sampled, the receive beam with the largest magnitude Bx,y is identified as a characterizing beam that is used as a compressed characterization of the ensonified region.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A DIGITAL SENSOR SIGNAL OF AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR

SONAR DATA COMPRESSION

Acoustical proximity detection for mobile terminals and other devices

A method and a device for detecting if an object is in proximity to the device, wherein sound (audio) transducers already found in the device are used to realize the proximity detection function, along with digital signal processing or equivalent means. The audio transducers are preferably those designed for use with human hearing and speaking capabilities in the range of about 20 Hz to about 20kHz, and need not be specially designed transducers. The method includes steps of generating a measurement signal; driving an output acoustic transducer of the device with the measurement signal; monitoring an input acoustic transducer of the device to detect the measurement signal; and determining that an object is in proximity to the device based on a detected alteration of the measurement signal. The device may comprise a mobile telephone, such as a cellular telephone, or a personal communicator. When the device includes a mobile telephone, the step of determining can be used to verify that a ...

Method of compressing beamformed sonar data

Beamformed sonar data is compressed before communicating the data to a storage step or to a further processing step. At lease some of the beams of the compressed beamformed data have values for at least two different ranges.

A receiver for a pulse-echo ranging system with digital polyphase decimation filter

A receiver for a pulse-echo ranging system comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for digitizing a received raw echo, a finite impulse response (FIR) filter (1) for band-pass filtering the digitized echo (x[n]) and an envelope detector for detecting the envelope of the band-pass filtered echo. In order to obtain a very high processing speed and allow the receiver easily adjustable to measurement conditions with different noise levels or systems working with different carrier frequencies, the FIR filter (1) comprises an efficient polyphase decimation filter having M branches with an 1/M down-sampler (2) and a subfilter (4) in each branch, where M is the quotient of the sampling rate of the ADC and at least approximately twice the occupied bandwidth of the pulse.

MULTIMISSION AND MULTISPECTRAL SONAR

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-signal message and deconstructs a corresponding multi-signal echo to substantially simultaneously perform multiple survey missions.

METHOD FOR DETECTING OBSTACLE OBJECTS AND FOR PREDICTING THE CHANGE IN POSITION OF KNOWN OBSTACLE OBJECTS ON THE BASIS OF SIGNALS FROM SEVERAL SENSORS AND FOR COMPRESSION AND DECOMPRESSION OF SENSOR SIGNALS USED FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Ultraschallsensors, den zugehörigen Sensor, die Datenübertragung an ein Rechnersystem und die das zugehörige Dekompressionsverfahren im Rechnersystem, das den Ultraschallsensor steuert. Das Kompressionsverfahren umfasst die Schritte des Erfassens eines Ultraschallempfangssignals eines Ultraschallwandlers, das Bereitstellen eines signalfreien Ultraschall-Echo-Signal-Modells (610), das mindestens einmalige optional mehrfach wiederholende Durchführen der folgenden Schritte der Subtraktion eines rekonstruierten Ultraschall-Echo-Signalmodells (610) von dem Ultraschallempfangssignal (1) und der Bildung eines Restsignals (660), des Schritts der Durchführung eines Verfahren zur Erkennung von Signalobjekten im Restsignal (660), der Ergänzung des Ultraschall-Echo-Signal-Modells (610) um den parametrisierten Signalverlauf eines ein erkannten Signalobjekts (600 bis 605); sowie das Beenden der Wiederholung dieser Schritte, wenn die Betragswerte ...

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SIGNALS FROM A SET OF ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERS

A processing system for processing signals from a plurality of transducers of an ultrasonic sensor in order to determine characteristic information relating to an object detected by the ultrasonic sensor is provided. The system comprises a coupling device for transforming the signals received from the transducers into pulses, and a pulse processing unit for determining the characteristic information based on the pulses delivered by the coupling device. The coupling device comprises: a thresholding unit for applying, for each signal received from a transducer, thresholding to a signal derived from the signal received from the transducer and extracting directional information contained in the phase of the derived signal; a transformation unit for transforming the derived signal into pulses containing the phase of the signal, using the information extracted by the thresholding unit.

Target object detection device and method of displaying echo data in the target object detection device

METHOD FOR THE RECOGNITION OF OBSTACLES AND FOR THE PROGNOSIS OF A CHANGE IN THE POSITION OF KNOWN OBSTACLES ON THE BASIS OF SIGNALS FROM SEVERAL SENSORS AND FOR COMPRESSION AND DECOMPRESSION OF SENSOR SIGNALS USED FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines Ultraschallsensors, den zugehörigen Sensor, die Datenübertragung an ein Rechnersystem und die das zugehörige Dekompressionsverfahren im Rechnersystem, das den Ultraschallsensor steuert. Das Kompressionsverfahren umfasst die Schritte des Erfassens eines Ultraschallempfangssignals eines Ultraschallwandlers, das Bereitstellen eines signalfreien Ultraschall-Echo-Signal-Modells (610), das mindestens einmalige optional mehrfach wiederholende Durchführen der folgenden Schritte der Subtraktion eines rekonstruierten Ultraschall-Echo-Signalmodells (610) von dem Ultraschallempfangssignal (1) und der Bildung eines Restsignals (660), des Schritts der Durchführung eines Verfahren zur Erkennung von Signalobjekten im Restsignal (660), der Ergänzung des Ultraschall-Echo-Signal-Modells (610) um den parametrisierten Signalverlauf eines ein erkannten Signalobjekts (600 bis 605); sowie das Beenden der Wiederholung dieser Schritte, wenn die Betragswerte ...

Method of compressing beamformed sonar data

Beamformed sonar data is compressed before communicating the data to a storage step or to a further processing step. At lease some of the beams of the compressed beamformed data have values for at least two different ranges.

Device and method for processing signals from a set of ultrasonic transducers

A processing system for processing signals from a plurality of transducers of an ultrasonic sensor in order to determine characteristic information relating to an object detected by the ultrasonic sensor is provided. The system comprises a coupling device for transforming the signals received from the transducers into pulses, and a pulse processing unit for determining the characteristic information based on the pulses delivered by the coupling device. The coupling device comprises: a thresholding unit for applying, for each signal received from a transducer, thresholding to a signal derived from the signal received from the transducer and extracting directional information contained in the phase of the derived signal; a transformation unit for transforming the derived signal into pulses containing the phase of the signal, using the information extracted by the thresholding unit.

Target object detection device and method of displaying echo data in the target object detection device

A target object detection device (100) is provided. The device (100) includes a signal processor (108), a display unit (103), and a controller (101). The signal processor (108) receives a reception signal generated based on an echo of an ultrasonic wave from a target object and generates echo data corresponding to a distance from a transmission source (110) of the ultrasonic wave to the target object every time the ultrasonic wave is transmitted. The display unit (103) has a display screen (103a) with a first side (103b) and a second side (103c) that is turnable around an axis perpendicular to the display screen (103a), and displays an image on the display screen (103a) based on the echo data. The controller (101) sets a range with respect to time at which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted, and outputs the echo data corresponding to the ultrasonic wave within the time range according to a turning state of the display screen (103a).

Acoustical proximity detection for mobile terminals and other devices

A method and a device for detecting if an object is in proximity to the device, wherein sound (audio) transducers already found in the device are used to realize the proximity detection function, along with digital signal processing or equivalent means. The audio transducers are preferably those designed for use with human hearing and speaking capabilities in the range of about 20 Hz to about 20kHz, and need not be specially designed transducers. The method includes steps of generating a measurement signal; driving an output acoustic transducer of the device with the measurement signal; monitoring an input acoustic transducer of the device to detect the measurement signal; and determining that an object is in proximity to the device based on a detected alteration of the measurement signal. The device may comprise a mobile telephone, such as a cellular telephone, or a personal communicator. When the device includes a mobile telephone, the step of determining can be used to verify that a ...

Systems and Methods for Acoustic and/or Electromagnetic Imaging

A method for use in acoustic imaging, comprising: transmitting, from a transmitter, a first sound wave pulse at a first frequency determined by a maximum sampling rate of a receiver; transmitting at least one second sound wave pulse at a frequency substantially equal to the first frequency, the first and at least one second sound wave pulses being transmitted substantially within a fraction of a sample interval of the receiver; receiving and sampling, at the receiver, a reflection of at least two of the first and at least one second pulses to generate a set of receiver samples; and expanding the set of receiver samples, based on the first frequency and a total number of the first and at least one second pulses transmitted, to generate an expanded sample set with a larger number of samples than the set of receiver samples.

Methods and electronic device for dynamic distance measurements

An electronic device and methods for providing high resolution ranging measurements are disclosed. The electronic device includes a pulse generator, a memory, an ADC, a timer, a comparator, a processing unit, connectors for coupling to a transceiver and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions, when performed by the processing unit, performs a method that determines an estimated time of arrival of a series of measurement pulses in the signal and turns on, prior to the estimated time of arrival, the ADC to capture the series of measurement pulses using a first resolution provided by sampling the signal at a rate equal to or greater than the Nyquist rate. The ADC remains on for a fixed time period sized to capture the series of measurement pulses.

For detecting the acoustic signal of the device and associated method

Method of compressing beamformed sonar data

Beamformed sonar data is compressed before communicating the data to a storage step or to a further processing step. At lease some of the beams of the compressed beamformed data have values for at least two different ranges.

MULTIMISSION AND MULTISPECTRAL SONAR

A survey system including a transmitter, receiver, projector array and hydrophone array transmits and receives sound waves to perform one or more survey missions.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A DIGITAL SENSOR SIGNAL FROM AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR

A method for providing a digital sensor signal (DS) from an ultrasonic sensor (16) for signal transmission to a signal receiver (28) is disclosed, in which a digital output signal (OS) from the ultrasonic sensor (16) is processed to form the digital sensor signal for signal transmission. Provision is made for the processing to comprise the following steps: (i) determining a signal change (SC) of successive values of the output signal (OS), (ii) scaling this signal change (SC) by means of a variable scaling factor (SF) which is specified by a scaling scheme known to the ultrasonic sensor (16) and the signal receiver (28), and (iii) outputting the scaled signal change (SC) as the digital sensor signal (DS). A corresponding apparatus (32) is disclosed for creating a digital sensor signal (DS) from an ultrasonic sensor (16) for signal transmission to a signal receiver (28), to a corresponding ultrasonic sensor device with an ultrasonic sensor (16) and such an apparatus (32), and to a corresponding ...

Acoustical proximity detection for mobile terminals and other devices

A method and a device for detecting if an object is in proximity to the device, wherein sound (audio) transducers already found in the device are used to realize the proximity detection function, along with digital signal processing or equivalent means. The audio transducers are preferably those designed for use with human hearing and speaking capabilities in the range of about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz, and need not be specially designed transducers. The method includes steps of generating a measurement signal; driving an output acoustic transducer of the device with the measurement signal; monitoring an input acoustic transducer of the device to detect the measurement signal; and determining that an object is in proximity to the device based on a detected alteration of the measurement signal. The device may comprise a mobile telephone, such as a cellular telephone, or a personal communicator. When the device includes a mobile telephone, the step of determining can be used to verify that a ...

SOUNDING DEVICE FOR MEASURING A DISTANCE TO OBJECTS

Apparatus for detecting audible signals and associated method

An apparatus for detecting audible signals from a sound source is disclosed which has a sampling apparatus for converting incoming continuous signals in a manner that discretizes with respect to time, wherein the apparatus has a delay line module which receives samples from the sampling apparatus and which is set up to simultaneously provide both a sample ri that is applied to its input and at least one delayed sample (I), and one or more arithmetic units equipped with filtering properties. The arithmetic units each have a switching unit which acts as a coefficient generator and which is set up to take a sampling clock i as a basis for controlling whether values ri and/or (I) provided by the delay line module are ignored or fractions thereof produced directly or by right-shifting are either added or subtracted to/from the previous computation result y I h D(i -1) or y Q h D(i -1), an adding/subtracting unit and a result memory that can be controlled by means of the sampling clock i. In ...

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING APPROACH OF OBJECT TO DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a method and a device for detecting the approach of an object without requiring any additional equipment or parts. SOLUTION: The method for detecting whether the object is approaching the device or not comprises a step for generating a measurement signal, a step for driving an output acoustic converter 1 of the device by the measurement signal, a step for monitoring an input acoustic converter 2 of the device for detecting the measurement signal, and a step for determining that the object is approaching the device based on the change in the detected measurement signal. COPYRIGHT: (C)2002,JPO ...

Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, image processing apparatus and image processing method

According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a change amount calculating unit, an estimating unit and a control unit. The change amount calculating unit is configured to calculate amount of change of a pattern of each of a plurality of local regions among a plurality of ultrasound images generated along time series based on a reflected wave of an ultrasound wave transmitted by an ultrasound probe. The estimating unit is configured to estimate a position of a rotation axis of a scanning cross-section in each ultrasound image based on the amount of change of the pattern of each of the plurality of local regions calculated by the change amount calculating unit. The control unit is configured to superimpose the rotation axis estimated by the estimating unit on each ultrasound image and displays the same on a monitor.

Three -Dimensional Ultrasound Systems, Methods, and Apparatuses

In part, the invention relates to an immersible ultrasound probe having a substantially cylindrical shape and a circular or elliptical cross-section. Typically, the circumference of the probe and the length of the cylinder define an inner surface upon which rows and/or columns of transducer are disposed. This surface can also be formed from panels or modules. The transducers can be formed in unitary substrate and electrical connected to a MEMs device and a multiplexer. The inner surface defines a cavity having at least one opening sized to receive a body object. The inner surface configured to receive acoustic signals while immersed in a fluid.

Method and System for Real-time Automated Change Detection and Classification for Images

A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprises: an ultrasound probe including a transducer array; a plurality of diagnostic apparatus bodies corresponding to a plurality of parts of the transducer array for transmitting ultrasonic waves through corresponding transducers and processing reception signals from the corresponding transducers, respectively; and a synchronizing signal supply unit for supplying a common clock signal and a common trigger signal to the plurality of diagnostic apparatus bodies for causing the plurality of diagnostic apparatus bodies to operate in synchronism.

Medical ultrasound 2-d transducer array using fresnel lens approach

The embodiments of the array include at least one first annular-like area and at least one second annular-like area that are concentric with each other. The second annular-like area substantially surrounds the first annular-like area. The first and second annular-like areas each exclusively include either dedicated transmit elements or dedicated receive elements. In addition, certain embodiments include a disabled third area or a spot of Argo located inside the first annular-like area and does not perform either transmit or receive function. In certain other embodiments, the first annular-like area and the third annular-like area are immediately juxtaposed without a gap. In yet other embodiments, the first annular-like area and the second annular-like area are immediately juxtaposed without a gap. Any of these areas are optionally dynamic and or steered.

Method and System for Sensing Objects in a Scene Using Transducers Arrays and in Coherent Wideband Ultrasound Pulses

Pulses are transmitted into a scene by an array of the transducers, wherein each pulse has wideband ultrasound frequency, wherein the pulses are transmitted simultaneously, and wherein a pattern of the wideband ultrasound frequencies in each pulse is unique with respect to the patterns of each other pulse. The pulses as received when the pulse are reflected by the scene and objects in the scene. Each received pulse is sampled and decomposed using a Fourier transform to produce frequency coefficients, which are stacked to produce a linear system modeling a reflectivity of the scene and the objects. Then, a recovery method is applied to the linear system to recover the reflectivity of the scene and the objects.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information, particularly venous blood flow information

A method for ultrasonic detection and imaging of hemodynamic information includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic pulses into a body, which are generated by an array of electro-acoustic transducers arranged in a predetermined order and design; receiving reflected pulses with an array of receiving electro-acoustic transducers, which generate receive signals upon stimulation of the reflected pulses, the succession of pulses transmitted to or received from the body being focused along one or more scan lines; generating a Doppler frequency shift signal resulting from the reflection of pulses transmitted by a blood flow into a vessel intersected by the scan line, in a point and along the scan line, or along a direction of propagation of a pulse; determining the direction of blood flow velocity from the average frequency value of Doppler shift frequencies; and displaying the direction of blood flow velocity by graphical and/or chromatic representation differentiating opposite directions.

Coupled Axial and Lateral Displacement Estimation for Elasticity Imaging

The determination of axial and lateral displacement in a material subject to compression is determined by fitting a multi-dimensional model function to the match between corresponding portions of the material in two states of compression. In one embodiment, iso-contour lines in a correlation between a reference kernel and a target kernel are fit to an ellipse whose center defines the maximum correlation and hence the displacement.

Providing an ultrasound spatial compound image based on center lines of ultrasound images in an ultrasound system

Embodiments for providing an ultrasound spatial compound image are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound data by transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to set a plurality of center lines based on a virtual common point corresponding to predetermined scan-lines, move the virtual common point along each of the center lines to set a plurality of scan-lines, form a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to the center lines based on the ultrasound data, and perform spatial compounding upon the ultrasound images to form an ultrasound spatial compound image, wherein the ultrasound data acquisition unit is configured to acquire the ultrasound data based on the plurality of scan-lines.

Concave Ultrasound Transducers and 3D Arrays

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate apertures of ultrasound arrays. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound probes having continuous arrays of ultrasound transducers which may have a substantially continuous concave curved shape in two or three dimensions (i.e. concave relative to an object to be imaged). Other embodiments herein provide systems and methods for designing, building and using ultrasound imaging probes having other unique configurations, such as adjustable probes and probes with variable configurations.

Multiple Aperture Probe Internal Apparatus and Cable Assemblies

A Multiple Aperture Ultrasound Imaging (MAUI) probe or transducer is uniquely capable of simultaneous imaging of a region of interest from separate physical apertures of ultrasound arrays. The probe can include separate backing plates configured to secure the ultrasound arrays in predetermined positions and orientations relative to one another. Some embodiments of the probe include flex circuit connected to the ultrasound arrays. In additional embodiments, a flex/PC board comprising flex connectors and an array of terminals is connected to the ultrasound arrays. Algorithms can solve for variations in tissue speed of sound, thus allowing the probe apparatus to be used virtually anywhere in or on the body.

Three Dimensional Imaging Intra Cardiac Echocardiography (ICE) Catheter

Provided herein is an ultrasound imaging device including a two dimensional ultrasound imaging array for three dimensional images positioned at least in the vicinity of distal end of a catheter configured to be used for intra organ imaging, wherein the imaging array includes a first number of output ports. The imaging device also includes a high voltage multiplexer configured to (i) reduce the first number of signal lines to a second number of signal lines, wherein the second number is less than the first number and (ii) connect the array to a signal processing system.

Multi-headed imaging probe and imaging system using same

A diagnostic imaging system is provided that includes an image acquisition component, a transmitter operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to transmit a signal therefrom, and a beamformer operatively coupled to the image acquisition component to receive image data therefrom. Also included is a processor configured to assemble images from the acquired image data and a display configured to display the images. The image acquisition component includes a multi-headed probe that has a plurality of transducers configured to permit a change of active transducers during an imaging session without a change of the image acquisition component.

Enhancing quality of ultrasound spatial compound image based on beam profile in ultrasound system

There are provided embodiments for enhancing the quality of an ultrasound spatial compound image based on a beam profile in an ultrasound system. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to acquire ultrasound data for obtaining a plurality of ultrasound images corresponding to a plurality of steering angles; a storage unit for storing at least one beam profile indicating a spreading degree of an ultrasound beam according to depth based on at least one focusing point; and a processing unit configured to set an amount of blurring corresponding to spreading of the ultrasound beam according to the depth based on the at least one beam profile, and perform a filtering process for compensating the blurring by the spreading of the ultrasound beam based on the ultrasound data and the amount of blurring to form an ultrasound spatial compound image.

Propagation-medium-modification-based reverberated-signal elimination

Acquired echo data is corrected to reduce content from ultrasound that has undergone at least one reflection off the probe surface, for example, to reduce corresponding reverberation artefacts from imaging. In some embodiments, the propagation medium, i.e., layer or adjoining layers, through which the reverberation occurs, is, after a set of echo radiofrequency data ( 404, 408 ) has been acquired, modified in preparation for a next application of ultrasound. During that next application, it is the reverberating ultrasound signals ( 424 ), according to embodiments of the invention, that are more affected by the modification than are the non-reverberating, i.e., direct signals ( 420 ). This difference in effect is due, for example, to greater overall time of flight through the modified medium on account of reverberation in the propagation path.

Ultrasound imaging system and method for ultrasound imaging a three dimensional volume

A method of ultrasound imaging includes acquiring plural groups of ultrasound data sets in an imaged volume that at least partially encompasses an object. The groups of ultrasound data sets include ultrasound image data obtained by transmitting one or more ultrasound pulses from one or more transducer elements into different zones of the imaged volume. The method also includes arranging the ultrasound data sets into one or more temporal groups based on when the ultrasound data sets are acquired. The ultrasound data sets in each temporal group are acquired during a common time period. The method further includes constructing a three-dimensional image of the object based on the ultrasound data sets in at least one of the temporal groups.

Ultrasound probe and ultrasound examination device using the same

An ultrasound probe which is capable of structurally improving resolution is provided. This ultrasound probe includes: an ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasound waves to a subject; and an optical probe which detects, with use of light, the ultrasound waves reflected off internal tissue of the subject, and openings of the ultrasound probe are larger than openings of the optical probe. With this, reflected waves (ultrasound waves) from the subject can be detected by the large openings, so that high resolution can be obtained relative to a width of the transmitted ultrasound waves.

Method for Ultrasound Color Doppler Imaging

Methods for color Doppler imaging in an ultrasound imaging system are disclosed herein. Ultrasound radio frequency RF data is demodulated using a nested processing loop including an inner loop and an outer loop. A plurality of Wall filter coefficients are fetched from ultrasound imaging system memory in a single memory access cycle. The plurality Wall filter coefficients are applied to a plurality of complex ultrasound data values in a single execution cycle. The Wall filtered ultrasound data are provided to a flow estimator.

Compensation for depth finders

System and methods for compensating a depth signal for a depth finder of a boat. In one embodiment, a compensation system is implemented between the depth finder and a transducer mounted on the boat. The compensation system receives a depth signal (i.e., a plurality of electrical impulses) from the transducer that directs sound waves toward the bottom of a body of water. The compensation system also monitors a change in elevation of the transducer, such as due to waves rocking the boat. The compensation system then compensates the depth signal based on the change in elevation, and provides the compensated depth signal to the depth finder.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention includes a signal transmission section, which supplies a driving pulse to a transducer in order to transmit an ultrasonic transmission signal to an object and transmits to the object a non-inverted component and an inverted component of an ultrasonic waveform, and a signal processing section, which removes a fundamental wave component by adding received signals from the object. The signal transmission section includes a switching section which changes an output period within a half period of the transmission signal according to at least one of a load connected to the signal transmission section and amplitude, a frequency, and a wave number output from the transmission circuit.

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction for Irregular Ultrasound Sampling Grids

An irregular ultrasound sampling grid is reconstructed to a three-dimensional grid for imaging. Volume data acquired with a helix transducer includes a fractional offset of data spaced along one dimension, resulting in the irregular ultrasound sampling grid. To determine a voxel value for a grid point on a uniform grid, two adjacent planes are identified. The sample locations in the two planes are not aligned, being on the irregular ultrasound sampling grid. Hardware acceleration devices, such as a graphics processing unit, perform bilinear interpolation in each of the planes. The data of each plane is interpolated to the proper global azimuth-range coordinate corresponding with the grid point. The bilinearly interpolated values from each plane are then linearly interpolated to the grid point.

Transmit/receive systems for imaging devices

A transceiver for an ultrasonic imaging device includes a transmit circuit and a receive circuit. The transmit circuit outputs test pulses to a probe including a transducer to generate an image of a test object. A composite signal including the test pulses and a reflected signal is output by the transducer. The receive circuit receives the composite signal including the test pulses and the reflected signal and includes a filter circuit. The filter circuit filters the test pulses from the composite signal and passes the reflected signal. An impedance of the filter circuit is equal to substantially zero when the reflected signal is within a predetermined frequency range.

Ultrasound imaging apparatus

Ultrasound imaging apparatus including a two-dimensional array of plural transducer elements distributed two-dimensionally and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves while scanning an area to be imaged to create an ultrasound three-dimensional image. Transducer elements are divided into plural element blocks including a first element block of which a size in a second direction of an arrangement surface of the two-dimensional array is larger than a size in a first direction of the surface, and a second element block of which a size in the first direction is larger than a size in the second direction. Each of the element blocks is divided into a predetermined number of groups to form a transmit beam and plural receive beams in the area to be imaged. Further included is a selecting means for making transmit/receive channels of the transducer elements grouped to be one channel in each of the groups.

Systems and methods for high coverage rate synthetic aperture sonar

The systems and methods described herein relate to systems and methods for synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) or radar including the use of orthogonal signals with SAS.

Method and system for treatment and diagnosis using ultrasound

A method and system for treatment and diagnosis using ultrasound includes irradiating ultrasound for treatment into a treatment site, inducing a shear wave around the treatment site, irradiating ultrasound for diagnosis into the treatment site, and determining a degree of treatment or necrosis of a tissue of the treatment site by using a measured displacement of the shear wave.

Method and apparatus for ultrasound diagnosis that reduces interference and restores missed signals

A method and apparatus for ultrasound diagnosis that reduces interference and restores missed signals, is provided. The method of ultrasound diagnosis includes operations of receiving a Doppler signal having at least one gap; respectively obtaining model parameter sets of first and second Doppler signals by using Doppler signal periods before and after a start of the at least one gap; synthesizing first and second Doppler information by respectively using the model parameter sets of the first and second Doppler signals; and generating Doppler information for the at least one gap by cross-fading the synthesized first and second Doppler information. The apparatus includes a transformer for transforming received I and Q signals into stereo audio signals using a Hilbert transform; and a source separator which removes interference from the stereo audio signals by performing source separation on the stereo audio signals.

Device system and method for generating additive radiation forces with sound waves

The present relates to a device, a system and a method for generating radiation forces in a region of interest. For doing so, a plurality of additive shear waves are generated in the region of interest.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING

An ultrasound imaging method transmits ultrasound into a medium from a source and receives and samples signals resulting from interaction of the ultrasound with the medium for each of a plurality of sources. The sampled signals are stored. Criteria are applied to select subsets of the stored sampled signals. In some embodiments the criteria relate to locations of a source and/or receiving element corresponding to a sampled signal. Images are generated from the subsets. 124-. (canceled)25. An ultrasound imaging method comprising:(a) transmitting an ultrasound signal into a subject;(b) receiving an ultrasound echo signal corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal at transducer elements of an ultrasound transducer;(c) for each of a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures comprising a plurality of the transducer elements of the ultrasound transducer, processing the ultrasound echo signals received at the transducer elements of the aperture to yield an image;26. A method according to comprising combining a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of the apertures to yield a combined image wherein the combined image has reduced speckle as compared to the plurality of images.27. A method according to wherein transmitting the ultrasound signal comprises operating one or more of the transducer elements located between a first one of the plurality of apertures and a second one of the plurality of apertures.28. A method according to wherein operating the transducer elements comprises operating the transducer elements in concert to provide a virtual ultrasound point source.29. A method according to wherein transmitting the ultrasound signal comprises claim 28 , at one time interval operating the transducer elements associated with a first one of the apertures and receiving the echo signals at the transducer elements associated with a second one of the apertures and at another time interval operating the transducer elements associated with the second one of ...

Systems and methods for seismic survey

The systems and methods described herein relate to systems and methods for synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) or radar including seismic surveying.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method for outputting ultrasound diagnostic image

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which includes: an imaging unit which forms images of a subject; a motion detection region setting unit which selects a first image from among the images which include images of the ultrasound contrast agent, selects a second image from among the images which do not include images of the ultrasound contrast agent, and sets, as a motion detection region, a region in which an amount of image change between the first image and the second image is smaller than a predetermined amount; and an output unit which outputs, as the ultrasound diagnostic image, the second image on which a position adjustment has been performed to match a position of the motion detection region set by the motion detection region setting unit and a position of a region included in the second image and similar in an image feature to the motion detection region.

Method and System for Reconstructing Scenes Using Virtual Arrays of Transducers and Joint Sparsity Models

A scene is reconstructed by receiving pulses transmitted by a virtual array of transducers. The pulses are reflected by the scene. The virtual array has a set of configurations subject to positioning errors. Each received pulse is sampled and decomposed to produce frequency coefficients stacked in a set of linear systems modeling a reflectivity of the scene. There is one linear system for each configuration. A reconstruction method is applied to the set of linear systems. The reconstruction method solves each linear system separately to obtain a corresponding solution. The corresponding solutions share information during the solving. Then, the solutions are combined to reconstruct the scene. 1. A method for reconstructing a scene , comprising the steps ofreceiving pulses transmitted by a virtual array of transducers and reflected by the scene, wherein the virtual array has a set of configurations subject to positioning errors;sampling and decomposing each received pulse to produce frequency coefficients stacked in a set of linear systems modeling a reflectivity of the scene, wherein there is a linear system for each configuration; and solving each linear system separately to obtain a corresponding solution, while the corresponding solutions share information during the solving; and', 'combining the solutions to reconstruct the scene., 'applying a reconstruction method to the set of linear systems, wherein the reconstruction method further comprises the steps of2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information is a support of each solution during the reconstructing.3. The method of wherein the support is common among the solutions during the reconstructing.4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the support is enforced to be identical for all solutions during the reconstructing.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a joint-sparsity model is used during the reconstructing.6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a convex optimization is used during the reconstructing.7. The method ...

Display and export of individual biplane images

An ultrasound system which is capable of biplane imaging is able to display, store and export independent image frames of only the reference image ( 9 0 ) or only the variable orientation image, or the standard display of both images. The system is also able to sweep through a range of image plane orientations and to automatically acquire a sequence of images ( 9 2 ) comprising an image in each orientation over the range of plane orientations. The system is preferably operable in the biplane tilt mode, the biplane rotate mode, or the biplane elevation tilt mode.

COMPACT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT ULTRASOUND IMAGING PROBES USING CMUT ARRAYS WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS

A CMUT on CMOS imaging chip is disclosed. The imaging chip can use direct connection, CMOS architecture to minimize external connections and minimize chip cross-section. The CMOS architecture can enable substantially the entire chip area to be utilized for element placement. The chip can utilize arbitrarily selected transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) element arrays to improve image quality, while reducing sampling time. The chip can comprise a plurality of dummy elements dispersed throughout the Tx and Rx elements to reduce cross-talk. The chip can utilize batch firing techniques to increase transmit power using sparse Tx arrays. The chip can comprise hexagonal Tx and or Rx subarrays for improved image quality with reduce sample sizes. The chip can utilize electrode geometry, bias voltage, and polarity to create phased and amplitude apodized arrays of Tx and Rx elements. 1. A CMUT on CMOS chip for imaging applications comprising: a plurality of CMUT transmit (“Tx”) elements;', 'a plurality of CMUT receive (“Rx”) elements; and', 'a plurality of dummy CMUT (“Cx”) elements to reduce cross-talk between the plurality of CMUT transmit elements and the plurality of CMUT receive elements., 'a CMOS chip comprising a CMUT array comprising2. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 1 , wherein the Cx elements comprise CMUT elements with collapsed diaphragms.3. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 1 , wherein the Cx elements comprise solid CMUT elements.4. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 1 , wherein the CMUT on CMOS chip is connected to one or more outputs disposed proximate the back side of the chip with flex tape.5. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 4 , wherein the flex tape is routed through an aperture in the chip to the one or more outputs.6. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 4 , wherein the flex tape is routed around one or more locations on the periphery of the chip.7. The CMUT on CMOS chip of claim 4 , wherein the flex tape is disposed such that it overlies at least a portion of the CMUT array.8. ...

Ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus

Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs a transmission ultrasound wave toward a subject due to a driving signal and which outputs a received signal by receiving a reflection ultrasound wave from the subject, a transmitting unit which makes the ultrasound probe generate the transmission ultrasound wave by outputting each of a first transmission signal, a second transmission signal, a third transmission signal and a fourth transmission signal as the driving signal, and a signal component extraction unit which extracts a higher harmonic component and a difference frequency component by compounding a first received signal, a second received signal, a third received signal and a fourth received signal.

Three-dimensional, ultrasonic transducer arrays, methods of making ultrasonic transducer arrays, and devices including ultrasonic transducer arrays

Systems, apparatus, and associated methods of forming the systems and/or apparatus may include imaging devices that may comprise multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements for use in a variety of applications. These multiple arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be arranged to form a three-dimensional imaging device. Non-coplanar arrays of ultrasonic transducer elements can be coupled together. These imaging devices may be used as medical imaging devices. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and evaluation calculation method

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including: a two-dimensional elasticity image forming unit that calculates elasticity frame data indicating the elasticity distribution measured by scanning an object in a three-dimensional manner using an ultrasonic wave; an elasticity volume data generation unit that generates elasticity volume data by collecting the plurality of elasticity frame data items; a three-dimensional elasticity image forming unit that forms a three-dimensional elasticity image by performing volume rendering of the elasticity volume data; and a quality calculation unit that calculates a volume evaluation value indicating the quality of the elasticity volume data on the basis of an autocorrelation value between a pair of tomographic frame data items, which are a basis for calculating the elasticity frame data, and a frame evaluation value indicating the quality of the elasticity frame data.

Systems and methods for controlling transducer pulse transitions in ultrasound imaging

Methods and systems for transitioning a transducer voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level are provided. A method includes pulling a transducer voltage to the first voltage level, pulling the transducer voltage from the first voltage level to an intermediate voltage level, and pulling the transducer voltage from the intermediate voltage level to the second voltage level. The intermediate voltage level includes an intermediate voltage level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.

Method and apparatus for processing ultrasound image

A method and apparatus for processing an ultrasound image are provided. The method includes determining similarities between a first two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image, among 2D ultrasound images of a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image, and the 2D ultrasound images. The method further includes generating a predetermined number of similar ultrasound images with respect to the first 2D ultrasound image based on the similarities. The method further includes generating 3D volume data based on the predetermined number of the similar ultrasound images. The method further includes removing noise from the 3D volume data. The method further includes generating another 3D ultrasound image based on the noise-removed 3D volume data.

Wavefront compensation in optical synthetic aperture imaging processors

There is provided a System and method of wavefront compensation in a synthetic aperture imaging system. A return signal data representative of a signal reflected by a target area to be imaged is received. A compensation phase figure corresponding to a wavefront compensation to be applied is provided. The compensation phase figure is added or otherwise applied to the phase pattern of the return signal data in order to obtain a compensated phase pattern. An optical beam is spatially modulated according to the compensated phase pattern to produce a modulated optical beam such that the compensation phase figure produces a wavefront compensation on the optical beam. An image of the target area is optically generated using the modulated optical beam.

Ultrasound imaging system with pixel oriented processing

An ultrasound imaging system with pixel oriented processing is provided in which an acoustic signal is generated, echoes from the acoustic signal are received at a plurality of receiving elements to obtain echo signals that are then stored, a given pixel is mapped into a region of the stored signals, the mapped region of the stored echo signals is organized into array for the given pixel after which the array is processed to generate a signal response for the given pixel to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel. The system can be implemented entirely on plug-in cards for a commercial PC motherboard. The system and method can be implemented for pixel-oriented or voxel-oriented image processing and display, eliminating intermediate data computations and enabling extensive use of software processing methods. Advantages include improved acquisition of signal dynamic range, flexible acquisition modes for high frame rate 2D, 3D, and Doppler blood flow imaging.

Automated sweep and exptort of 2d ultrasound images of 3d volumes

An ultrasound system ( 10 ) which is capable of biplane imaging is able to display, store and export independent image frames of only the reference image or only the variable orientation image, or the standard display of both images. The system is also able to sweep through a range of image plane orientations and to automatically acquire an image in each orientation over the range of plane orientations. The system is preferably operable in the biplane tilt mode, the biplane rotate mode, or the biplane elevation tilt mode.

Ultrasound probing device, method of controlling transducers of an ultrasound probe and corresponding computer program

An ultrasound probing device including: a box; a locating mechanism to provide a position of the box in relation to a reference frame associated with an object to be examined; a mechanism to determine a delay law based on focusing parameters, representing a desired position of a focal point in relation to a reference frame associated with the box; a controller to provide control signals based on the delay law; transducers attached to the box, to receive control signals and, in response, to transmit ultrasonic waves in the object respectively delayed according to the delay law to focus at the focal point defined by the focusing parameters; and a mechanism updating the focusing parameters based on predefined associations between positions on a desired path of the box in relation to the reference frame associated with the object and corresponding focusing parameter values and the position of the box.

Imaging transducer array

An imaging transducer ( 302 ) includes a plurality of transducer elements ( 404, 604, 704, 804 ) arranged with respect to each other in an array along an long axis of the transducer, wherein an effective width of a transducer element of the transducer is equal to or greater than a center-to-center distance between adjacent transducer elements. A method includes acquiring data with an imaging transducer, wherein the transducer includes a plurality of transducer elements arranged with respect to each other in an array along an long axis of the transducer, wherein an effective width of a transducer element of the transducer is equal to or greater than a center-to-center distance between adjacent transducer elements.

On-axis Shear Wave Characterization with Ultrasound

Shear wave imaging is provided in medical diagnostic ultrasound. The generation of a shear wave with acoustic energy forms a pseudo shear wave (an apparent wave) traveling towards the transducer. Transmission and reception along a single line may be used to detect the pseudo shear wave traveling towards the transducer. The shear velocity or characteristic may be determined without reception along multiple laterally spaced scan lines. One transmission to generate the shear wave may be used. With multi-beam receive or without, calculating shear velocity from along a single line allows rapid determination.

360 Degree Imaging Sonar and Method

A 360-degree sonar imaging system and method are provided. The system includes a sonar transducer assembly pod with tilted mechanically scanning sonar (MSS) transducers that is deployed into the water below the bottom of the boat. The system provides photo-like imaging of an area surrounding a boat which does not require the boat to be in motion. The pod is deployed by a variety of manual, (trolling motor, transom) or powered mechanical (bow, transom, or fairing block) deployment mechanisms to allow for deployment and retraction of the sonar transducer assembly. In particular embodiments, the MSS system communicates with a side-scan-sonar-imaging-equipped control head unit to display the images generated therefrom. Various speeds and sector scans are provided, as well as a locked side-scan sonar mode. Waypoint navigation and split screen views are also provided. 1. A 360-degree sonar imaging system , comprising: a motor having a rotatable shaft;', 'a sonar element carrier having a first sonar element mounted therein, the sonar element carrier coupled to the rotatable shaft; and', 'a controller for driving the first sonar element and for communicating information received from the sonar elements;, 'a sonar transducer assembly comprisinga deployment mechanism coupled to the sonar transducer assembly for deployment and retraction thereof;wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a control head to enable display of 360-degree sonar images on a display screen of the control head.2. The 360-degree sonar imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the deployment mechanism is a transom-mounted deployment mechanism comprising:a housing configured to mount to the transom of a boat;an extendable shaft disposed at least partially within the housing, the sonar transducer assembly attached to one end of the extendable shaft disposed underwater;wherein the sonar transducer assembly is closest to the boat in a retracted position and farther from the boat in a deployed ...

ULTRASONIC IMAGING USING THIN FILM TRANSISTOR BACKPLANE

An embodiment is a method and apparatus for coherent ultrasonic imaging. A receiver array has a plurality of receiver elements on a substrate to detect in-phase and quadrature components of a received signal corresponding to a transmit signal. Each of the receiver elements includes a receiver transducer and a thin-film transistor (TFT) receiver circuit. The TFT receiver circuit includes a quadrature detector having a mixer to mix a received signal with a reference signal in a composite bias signal that is distributed across the plurality of receiver elements. A transmitter is acoustically coupled to the plurality of receiver elements to generate the transmit signal through an imaging medium. 1. A method comprising:sending a transmit signal having multiple periods by a transmitter to an object, the transmit signal bouncing back as a received signal to a receiver array; and generating a composite bias signal which is a combination of a range gate signal and a reference signal, the range gate signal having a period longer than a carrier frequency, the composite bias signal being distributed across the receiver elements, and', 'mixing the received signal with the reference signal for a time period equal to width of the range gate signal., 'processing the received signal by the receiver array having a plurality of receiver elements to convert the received signal to a voltage stored in a memory, processing the received signal comprising2. The method of further comprising:determining if a sufficient number of planes has been reached; and calculating a time or phase delay from an element to a plane for each pixel in focus, and', 'summing time or phase-shifted signals to provide individual pixels of a focused image corresponding to the object., 'performing post-processing, performing post-processing comprising3. The method of wherein processing the received signal further comprises:integrating the mixed received signal into the voltage;storing the voltage in a storage ...

Sonar apparatus

Sonar apparatus for the location and display of features on the underwater floor in front of a boat includes port and starboard transducer units each containing transducer arrays. A transducer interface and a visual processor process signals from the transducer arrays to generate image data for a display. The transducer arrays emit sound waves into non-overlapping segments of water, reflected by the underwater floor back to the transducer arrays, which convert them to electrical signals. The electrical signals are processed to calculate a three-dimensional position of each point on the underwater floor. The sonar apparatus performs interpolation using the three-dimensional positions of the reflecting points within the segments to calculate three-dimensional positions of points on the underwater floor between these segments. The three-dimensional positions of the points are then used to generate image data showing the underwater floor in front of the boat.

Plaque Characterization Using Multiple Intravascular Ultrasound Datasets Having Distinct Filter Bands

A system and method are disclosed that facilitate generating visual representations of characterized tissue based upon ultrasound echo information obtained from a portion of an imaged body. The system includes a first filter having a first filter band that is applied to a near range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render near range filtered echo information. A second filter, having a second filter band that covers a frequency range of the first filter band, is applied to a far range portion of the ultrasound echo information to render far range filtered echo information. The system furthermore includes a set of characterization criteria that are applied to the near and far range filtered echo information. The characterized near and far range image data are thereafter combined into a single tissue-characterization image.

Method and apparatus for determining viscoelastic parameters in tissue

Described herein are a method and apparatus for determining viscoelastic parameters of a tissue. A vibration signal is applied to the tissue and displacements at a plurality of locations within the tissue are measured at a plurality of times. The viscoelastic parameters of the tissue, including elasticity and viscosity, can then be determined by fitting a finite element model of the tissue to the vibration signal and the measured displacements and by solving for the viscoelastic parameters of the model. A value for density of each element of the model is selected and the absolute values for the viscoelastic parameters of each of the elements in the model is determined. Alternatively, the difference in relaxation-times between two locations within the tissue can be determined from the difference in phases of the strains at the two locations.

Ultrasonic transducer element chip, probe, electronic instrument, and ultrasonic diagnostic device

An ultrasonic transducer element chip includes a substrate, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, a reinforcing member and a ventilation passage. The substrate defines a plurality of openings arranged in an array pattern. The ultrasonic transducer elements are respectively disposed at the openings on a first surface of the substrate. The reinforcing member is fixed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface of the substrate to reinforce the substrate. Through the ventilation passage, internal spaces of the openings and an external space of the substrate are in communication with each other.

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING COMPOUNDED ULTRASOUND IMAGES

Disclosed is a method for producing compounded ultrasound images by beamforming a first and a second low-resolution image using data from a first ultrasound emission, beamforming a third and a fourth low-resolution image using data from a second ultrasound emission, summing said first and said third low-resolution image creating a first high-resolution image and said second and said fourth low-resolution image creating a second high-resolution image, wherein the method further comprises computing a first envelope image for said first high-resolution image and a second envelope image for said second high-resolution image, and processing said first envelope image and said second envelope image creating in a first compounded high-resolution image. 1. A method for producing compounded ultrasound images , the method comprising:beamforming a first and a second low-resolution image using data from a first ultrasound emission,beamforming a third and a fourth low-resolution image using data from a second ultrasound emission,summing said first and said third low-resolution image creating a first high-resolution image and said second and said fourth low-resolution image creating a second high-resolution image,computing a first envelope image for said first high-resolution image and a second envelope image for said second high-resolution image, andprocessing said first envelope image and said second envelope image creating in a first compounded high-resolution image.2. A method according to claim 1 , where the method further comprises:transmitting a first ultrasound signal into a physical medium using an ultrasound transducer,receiving a first data signal using said ultrasound transducer said first data signal being indicative of the acoustic properties of said physical medium,creating a first low-resolution image by beamforming data comprising said first data signal using a first set of apodization functions, andcreating a second low-resolution image by beamforming data ...

Object information acquiring apparatus

Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including: a probe in which a plurality of elements transmitting an ultrasound wave to a measurement target region of an object and receiving a reflected wave is arranged in a first direction; a mechanical scanning unit that moves the probe in the first direction and a direction crossing the first direction; a transmission processor that, to each element included in a transmission aperture element row transmitting the ultrasound wave, inputs an input signal for driving the element; a received signal processor that combines received signals obtained by the elements included in a reception aperture element row receiving the ultrasound wave; a generator that generates property information on the object from the combined signal; and a controller that determines at least one of the number of elements included in the transmission aperture element row.

REAL-TIME PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHASED ARRAY THREE-DIMENSIONAL ACOUSTICS IMAGE PICKUP SONAR

This invention discloses a real-time phased array 3D acoustic imaging sonar processing system and method. The system comprises a 3D sonar dot data collection module, a 3D sonar dot data uploading module and a real-time 3D sonar dot data processing module of PC terminal; the method includes the following content: make use of two-stage FPGA signal processing to realize real-time formation of electronic focusing wave beam, and acquire 3D sonar dot data; further transmit 3D sonar dot data to PC terminal for setting and acquisition of directives; PC terminal aims to receive 3D sonar dot data for real-time processing: This includes real-time single-frame multilayer reconstruction, image registration and splice, 3D visualization and real-time saving of data. This invention features in compact structure, high real-time precision, clear image, easy alternation and high extendibility, which has effectively realized the real-time 3D processing of sonar targets. 1. A real-time phased array 3D acoustic imaging sonar processing system , characterized in that it comprises:(1) a 3D sonar dot data collection module, comprising an FPGA based main signal processor and a plurality of FPGA based subsidiary signal processors, which are used to obtain 3D sonar dot data through FPGA based two-stage signal processing;(2) a 3D sonar dot data uploading module, comprising an interfaced FPGA and built-in processor, which is used to read and transmit 3D sonar dot data as collected by the 3D sonar dot data collection module to PC terminals through gigabit Ethernet, and realize synchronization of clock as well as acquisition and setting of directives;(3) a real-time 3D sonar dot data processing module located inside the said PC terminal, comprising a real-time single-frame multilayer reconstruction module, an image registration module, an image splice module, a 3D visualized module and a real-time memory module, wherein, the image registration module is used to acquire information on displacement ...

Analysis of mitral regurgitation by ultrasonic imaging

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which quantifies regurgitant flow through a mitral valve. A flow quantification processor ( 34 ) in the ultrasound system produces a mathematical model of a flow velocity field proximal to a regurgitant orifice. The velocity field model produces values of velocity vectors directed toward the regurgitant orifice. These modeled values are modified for the effects of ultrasound physics and ultrasound system operation to produce expected velocity values. The expected velocity values are compared with actual Doppler velocities measured by the ultrasound system, and the differences accumulated to a mean square error which is used to adjust parameters of the model such as the orifice location and flow velocities. When this iterative processing converges with a desired comparison, parameters derived from the finally adjusted model are used to calculate the true orifice location, flow rate, and volume flow.

REFLECTIVE ECHO TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING USING ACOUSTIC BEAMS

An inspection system includes a plurality of acoustic beamformers, where each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers including a plurality of acoustic transmitter elements. The system also includes at least one controller configured for causing each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers to generate an acoustic beam directed to a point in a volume of interest during a first time. Based on a reflected wave intensity detected at a plurality of acoustic receiver elements, an image of the volume of interest can be generated. 1. An inspection system , comprising:a plurality of acoustic beamformers, each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers comprising a plurality of acoustic transmitter elements; andat least one controller, the at least one controller configured for causing each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers to generate a plurality of acoustic beams directed to a point in a volume of interest during a first time and to generate an image of the volume of interest based on reflected waves associated with the plurality of acoustic beams.2. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller causes each one of the plurality of acoustic beamformers to generate each one of the plurality of acoustic beams by operating the plurality of acoustic transmitter elements in the one of the plurality of beamformers using at least one of different timings and different phases among the plurality acoustic transmitter elements.3. The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising:a plurality of acoustic receiver elements.4. The inspection system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of acoustic receiver elements are intermixed among the plurality of acoustic transmitter elements.5. The inspection system of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of acoustic transmitter elements comprise acoustic transceiver elements claim 3 , wherein the acoustic transceiver elements define the plurality of acoustic receiver elements.6. The inspection ...

Ultrasound probe and ultrasound diagnosis apparatus

An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus are provided that are capable of reducing the frequency with which false images are generated in an ultrasound diagnostic image. An ultrasound probe of an embodiment comprises a transducer element unit in which multiple groups of transducer elements are arranged, and a selection means. Each of the multiple groups of transducer elements has a first to n th subgroups of transducer elements. Emitting surfaces of the transducer elements included in the first to the n th subgroups of transducer elements are arranged such that they face different directions for each subgroups of transducer elements. The selection means is provided to selectively activate a specific subgroup of transducer elements from among the first to the n th subgroups of transducer elements, based on an external activation signal.

Ultrasound diagnosis method and apparatus using electrocardiogram

An ultrasound diagnosis method using an electrocardiogram (ECG) including: obtaining ECG information; generating first volume data using at least one piece of sub volume data obtained in a first ECG cycle based on the ECG information; generating second volume data using at least one piece of sub volume data obtained in a second ECG cycle based on the ECG information; and displaying at least one of the first volume data and the second volume data.

OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus generating image data inside an object on the basis of an acoustic wave propagating inside the object, which uses an object information acquiring apparatus having an acoustic detector receiving the acoustic wave, an object information distribution processor generating an object information distribution representing a property of inside of the object by using the acoustic wave, a reliability distribution generator generating a reliability distribution by using the object information distribution, a similarity distribution generator generating a similarity distribution indicating similarity between template data indicating a relation between a real image and an artifact in the image data, and the object information distribution, and a combination processor performing combination processing of the reliability distribution and the similarity distribution. 1. An object information acquiring apparatus generating image data inside an object on the basis of an acoustic wave propagating inside the object , the object information acquiring apparatus comprising:an acoustic detector configured to receive the acoustic wave;an object information distribution processor configured to generate an object information distribution representing a property of inside of the object by using the acoustic wave;a reliability distribution generator configured to generate a reliability distribution by using the object information distribution;a similarity distribution generator configured to generate a similarity distribution between template data indicating a relation between a real image and an artifact in the image data, and the object information distribution; anda combination processor configured to perform combination processing of the reliability distribution and the similarity distribution.2. The object information acquiring apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinthe reliability distribution is information distinguishing between a ...

Signal processing apparatus

Provided is a signal processing apparatus including: an transducer that performs scanning over the interior of an object and acquires received waveform data of a plurality of scanlines; an intensity screening unit that outputs a high intensity position at which signal intensity calculated from the received waveform data is higher than a first predetermined value; a correlation calculation unit that calculates a correlation value in a constant-width division for received waveform data of a first scanline and of a second scanline having a predetermined correlation with the first scanline; a position extraction unit that extracts, as a candidate position of a singular region, a position which corresponds to a high intensity position and for which the correlation value is lower than a second predetermined value; and an image processor that performs signal processing of generating image data of the object on the basis of the received waveform data.

Ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus and ultrasound diagnostic imaging method

Described is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus which includes an ultrasound probe and which generates ultrasound image data sets for displaying an ultrasound image. The ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a transmitting unit which performs ultrasound scanning for a plurality of times so that a part of or all of scan regions overlap in a plurality of different directions, an image processing unit which generates a plurality of ultrasound image data sets according to the receive signals and an anisotropic aspect evaluation unit which evaluates an anisotropic aspect of ultrasound wave reflection in the subject according to at least either of the ultrasound image data sets and the receive signals. In the ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus, the image processing unit generates synthetic image data in which the plurality of ultrasound image data sets are synthesized according to an evaluation result of the anisotropic aspect evaluation unit.

Methods and apparatus for multibeam doppler ultrasound display

There is provided a method for monitoring fluid flow, the method including: acquiring a pulse-echo signal from each of a plurality of spatially adjacent regions; for each of the pulse echo signals, forming a velocity spectrum; combining the plurality of velocity spectra into a composite data set which contains both spatial data and velocity data; and displaying the composite data set so as to present at least one aspect of the velocity data with at least one aspect of the spatial data. By combining both spatial and spectral velocity data into a composite data set and displaying aspects of the spatial data with aspects of the velocity data, the clinician can easily gauge in a quantitative or semi-quantitative way, both the size and velocities of fluid flows. In particular, the technique is useful for assessing valvular regurgitation jets in cardiac blood flows.

Acoustic imaging of objects in optically opaque fluids

The present invention is a method and an apparatus that can image objects immersed in optically opaque fluids using ultrasound in a confined space and in a harsh environment. If the fluid is not highly attenuating at frequencies above 1 MHz, where commercial ultrasound scanners are available, such scanners can be adapted for imaging in these fluids. In the case of highly attenuating fluids, such as drilling mud, then a low frequency collimated sound source is used.

Object information acquiring apparatus, information processing apparatus and object information acquiring method

An object information acquiring apparatus is provided that includes: a plurality of receiving elements which receive an acoustic wave that propagates from an object, and which convert the acoustic wave to a reception signal; an adaptive beamformer that performs adaptive beamforming of adjusting reception directionality in accordance with the reception signal in use of the reception signal; a delay-and-sum beamformer that performs delay-and-sum beamforming having preset directionality in use of the reception signal; an amplitude modulator that uses one output signal of one of the adaptive beamformer and the delay-and-sum beamformer, to perform amplitude modulation on an output signal of the other one of the beamformers; and a generator that, on the basis of a signal outputted by the amplitude modulator, generates image data on the interior of the object.

Object information acquisition apparatus, display method, and computer-readable medium storing program

A display control unit included in an object information acquisition apparatus receives information about a depth range, subjected to display of a distribution related to acoustic characteristics, input by a user, and outputs, when the depth range is narrower than a predetermined range, image information for displaying an image of second distribution information subjected to adaptive signal processing in an area corresponding to the depth range or a combined image obtained by combining first distribution information subjected to addition processing with a predetermined weight and the second distribution information.

Method of object tracking using sonar imaging

An object is measured to record the relative surface coordinates. Then, a portion of the object “the front side” immersed in a fluid is imaged by directing a sonar pulse at the object and recording sonar signals reflected from the object with a sonar imaging array. Then, the recorded relative surface coordinates are iteratively fit to coordinates calculated from the sonar image. Thereafter, the coordinates of the surface of the “backside” of the object that is not observable in the sonar image are known, and a computer generated image of the backside is stitched to sonar image so that the object can be viewed from a plurality of viewpoints separated from the sonar imaging array. 1. A method of tracking an object in a fluid , comprising:a) recording a first set of three dimensional points representing of a first portion of the surface of the object, the first set of three dimensional points recorded in computer readable media;{'sub': '1', 'b) directing sound waves from a source towards at least a second portion of the surface of the object, wherein the object is immersed in a fluid, the sound waves directed at a time t; then'}c) receiving sound waves reflected from the second portion of the surface with a two dimensional sonar receiving array, wherein the sonar receiving array communicates signals measuring the reflected sound waves to a computer readable recording device, and wherein the first and second portions of the surface have at least one overlap region; thend) constructing a second set of three dimensional points representing the surface of the second portion of the surface of the object from the signals recorded on the computer readable recording device; thene) iteratively matching the first set of points to the second set of points; thenf) displaying a three dimensional sonar image of the second portion of the surface combined with a three dimensional image of a third portion of the surface of the object, the three dimensional image of the third portion of ...

MODULAR PORTABLE ULTRASOUND SYSTEMS

The present invention relates to a lightweight, high resolution portable ultrasound system using components and methods to improve connectivity and ease of use. A preferred embodiment includes an integrated system in which the beamformer control circuitry can be inserted into the host computer as a peripheral or within the processor housing. 1. A mobile cart system for a portable ultrasound device , comprising:a handheld image processor housing, the housing including a computer circuit board and a beamformer connected to a port assembly for receiving a transducer connector, wherein the transducer connector is connected to a transducer array with a cable;a display mounted with the handheld image processor housing;a first docking connector on the handheld image processor housing;a base assembly having a second docking connector configured to receive the image processor housing, the second docking connector including an electrical interface; anda cart assembly on which the base assembly is mounted such that the display with the docked handheld image processor housing is operable for the display of ultrasound images.2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cable-less interface configured to mate the handheld image processor housing to the cart assembly.3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an operator console mounted on the cart assembly.4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control panel configured to receive user commands to control a plurality of control panel elements.5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cart assembly further comprises a plurality of control elements to actuate a display.6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery within the processor housing.7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the display further comprises a display having a resolution of at least 1024×768.8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a modular computer circuit board within the processor housing.9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a ...

Beamforming method and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

A beamforming method includes: generating a main beam signal by performing, with a focus on a first region, a delay and sum operation on receiving echo signals; generating a sub beam signal which has a low sensitivity to ultrasound signals reflected off the first region; and generating a narrow beam signal by (i) calculating a coefficient for narrowing an angle of the main beam signal, and (ii) multiplying the main beam signal by the coefficient, wherein in the generating of a sub beam signal, the sub beam signal is generated using a differential signal that is a difference between two beam signals each of which is generated by performing a delay and sum operation on the receiving echo signals, with a focus on a corresponding one of two regions of a subject which are different from the first region and are different from each other.

Method and device for measuring a mean value of visco-elasticity of a region of interest

The invention relates to a method for measuring a mean visco-elasticity value for a soft material. Said method using a single probe carrying at least one transducer comprises the steps of: a) inducing, in a constraint zone, at least one burst of mechanical vibrations in order to generate internal shear waves in the tissue propagating from said constraint zone into the tissue, b1) measuring, with said transducer, the transient tissue displacements in at least one first measurement zone in the tissue, said first measurement zone being located away from said constraint zone, c) estimating a mean visco-elasticity of the region of the tissue situated between the constraint zone and the first measurement zone from said measured transient tissue displacements of the tissue in the first measurement zone.

GAPLESS CALIBRATION METHOD FOR PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONIC INSPECTION

Disclosed is a calibration system and method for a phased array ultrasound pipe inspection system, in which reliable calibration is obtained for notches at all angles using only a small number of notches for the calibration. The method comprises a one-time normalization step and a system calibration step which may be performed at regular intervals. Ultrasound transmission is in a single diverging beam for each aperture, while reception is selective for multiple well-defined reception angles. During the normalization step, plots of maximum response vs reception angle are plotted for each notch, and a normalization curve is constructed by fitting the maxima of these plots. The normalization curve is used to derive calibration targets at specific reception angles for specific calibration notches, which are then used for the system calibrations. 1. A phased array ultrasound inspection system comprising a calibration system , the calibration system comprising:a calibration object having an axis with an axial direction, the calibration object having a plurality of flaws, each flaw having a long direction making a flaw angle with respect to the axial direction;at least one phased array probe having a probe surface sonically coupled to the calibration object, wherein each one of the at least one phased array probe has at least one aperture emitting an ultrasonic beam and receiving a maximum echo response from each of the plurality of flaws at a series of reception angles with respect to a probe surface normal direction;an acquisition unit configured to acquire scan data from the at least one probe; an angle response curve generator configured to generate angle response curves for each of the plurality of flaws, wherein the angle response curves are plots of the maximum echo response as a function of the reception angle;', 'a normalization curve generator configured to generate a normalization curve, wherein the normalization curve is a plot of a most probable maximum echo ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATION OF ECHO SOUNDING SYSTEMS AND IMPROVED SEAFLOOR IMAGING USING SUCH SYSTEMS

A system and method are provided for increasing the resolvability of an echo sounding system by acquiring multiple survey lines under one or more different conditions to produce overlapping swaths of seafloor data. The difference conditions may include one or more of acquiring the survey lines along adjacent paths that are offset by less than a swath width, acquiring survey lines at different headings, and acquiring survey lines at different speeds. 1. A method for increasing the resolvability of an echo sounding system , the method comprising:acquiring multiple survey lines to produce overlapping swaths of seafloor data.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjacent survey lines of the multiple survey lines have a line offset that is less than a swath width.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple survey lines are acquired on multiple different headings to generate overlapping swaths of seafloor data.4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising acquiring the multiple survey lines at reduced acquisition speed to increase the sounding density along-track.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seafloor data is bathymetric data claim 1 , and further comprising binning the seafloor data at progressively smaller bin sizes with progressively more overlap.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seafloor data is backscatter data claim 1 , and further comprising mosaicking the seafloor data at progressively smaller pixel sizes with progressively more overlap.7. A method for locating an object of interest on the seafloor with improved resolvability using an echo sounding system claim 1 , the method comprising:acquiring multiple survey lines to produce overlapping swaths of seafloor data.8. The method of claim 7 , wherein adjacent survey lines of the multiple survey lines have a line offset that is less than a swath width.9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the multiple survey lines are acquired on multiple different headings to generate overlapping swaths of seafloor data. ...

NETWORK-BASED ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM

Systems and methods for network-based ultrasound imaging are provided, which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, an ultrasound imaging system images an object with three-dimensional unfocused pings and obtains digital sample sets from a plurality of receiver elements. A sub-set of the digital sample sets can be electronically transferred to a remote server, where the sub-set can be beamformed to produce a series of two-dimensional image frames. A video stream made up of the series of two-dimensional images frames can then be transferred from the remote server to a display device. 1. A method of ultrasound imaging comprising:transmitting an unfocused three-dimensional ping into an object from a transmitter element of a transducer array in a probe of a data capture device;receiving echoes of the unfocused three-dimensional ping with a plurality of receiver elements of the transducer array;converting analog signals from each of the plurality of receiver elements into a full dataset of digital sample sets, wherein the full dataset comprises digital sample sets from all the receiver elements;beamforming a sub-set of the digital sample sets locally with the data capture device to form a limited quality video stream, wherein the sub-set comprises fewer digital samples than the full dataset;displaying the limited quality video stream on a first display coupled to the data capture device;communicating the full dataset to a network-based image generation system;beamforming the full data set with the network-based image generation system to form a high quality video stream; anddisplaying the high quality video stream on a second display coupled to the network-based image generation system.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the full dataset with a wired or wireless data transfer system.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-based image generation system is selected from the group consisting of a tablet claim 1 , a personal ...

INFORMATION PRESENTATION SYSTEM, MOVING VEHICLE, INFORMATION PRESENTATION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM

An information presentation system according to the present disclosure makes a presentation unit present each of multiple different pieces of information such that an image displayed in a first form and a sound output in a second form are synchronized with each other on an individual basis. The information presentation system also makes the presentation unit shift, when presenting two different pieces of information, selected from the multiple different pieces of information, as two sounds in the second form, a timing to output one of the two sounds by at least a certain period of time with respect to a timing to output the other of the two sounds, in order to prevent the two sounds from overlapping with each other. 1. An information presentation system configured to make a presentation unit , having the ability to present multiple different pieces of information , change , with passage of time , a first form of presentation of an image displayed and a second form of presentation of a sound output with respect to each of the multiple different pieces of information ,the information presentation system making the presentation unit present each of the multiple different pieces of information such that the image presented in the first form and the sound presented in the second form are synchronized with each other on an individual basis,the information presentation system making the presentation unit shift, when presenting two different pieces of information, selected from the multiple different pieces of information, as two sounds in the second form, a timing to output one of the two sounds by at least a certain period of time with respect to a timing to output the other of the two sounds, in order to prevent the two sounds from overlapping with each other.2. The information presentation system of claim 1 , whereinthe presentation unit includes a single display unit, andthe information presentation system makes the presentation unit display, in the first form, ...

MULTI-PERSPECTIVE ENSONIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A survey system and method to improve one or more of survey quality, efficiency, and utility for example by utilizing a vessel mounted MBES and a selected survey plan to check sound speed(s) via eliciting echoes from reflectors in colocated groups of reflectors using multi-perspective ensonification. 1. A multi-perspective ensonification method comprising the steps of:installing a multibeam echo sounder system (“MBES”) on a water going vehicle such that plural transducers in a single MBES projector array and plural transducers in a single MBES hydrophone array are in a Mills Cross arrangement;{'sub': 1', 'j', '1', 'j', '1', '2', 'j+1, 'modeling a waterbody with a plurality of “j” superposed layers (l. . . l) having respective layer thicknesses (t. . . t), each of the j layers having a layer entry sound speed and a layer exit sound speed such that a set of (j+1) sound speed values (c, c. . . c) characterize the sound speed profile through the layers;'}designing a vehicle route and traversing the route such that during MBES operation along the route i) plural primary areas are ensonified, ii) plural secondary areas are ensonified, each primary area is overlapped by a respective secondary area, and iv) for each overlap a first echo originating therein traverses a first path to the MBES and a second echo originating therein traverses a second path to the MBES at a location different from the first;via a travel time corresponding to each echo, modeling the propagation of sound through the waterbody to locate in three dimensions a reflector that returned the echo;one of the dimensions indicating a waterbody depth and the other two dimensions indicating coordinates in a reflector plane parallel to the waterbody free surface;selecting a colocation metric and using the metric to identify groups of reflectors that are colocated in the reflector plane;for each group of colocated reflectors, quantifying disagreements in the waterbody depths corresponding to the reflectors in ...

Geological Imaging and Inversion Using Object Storage

Prestack images from the object store are hierarchically combined to generate a hierarchically stacked image. The hierarchically stacked image library stored in an object store, a set of prestack image is generated by combining stacked images that includes a stacked image. The stacked image is generated by combining at least the prestack images. Based at least on the hierarchically stacked image, a quality measure of a prestack image is generated. Prior to deleting at least a subset of the prestack images from the object store and based at least on the quality measure, the prestack images are further combined to generate an enhanced stacked image. The stacked image is substituted using the enhanced stacked image. Subsequent to the substituting and prior to deleting at least the subset of the stacked images from the object store, the stacked images are combined to generate an enhanced hierarchically stacked image. The enhanced stacked image and the enhanced hierarchically stacked image are generated using failure recovery metadata. The enhanced hierarchically stacked image is presented. 1. A method of geological imaging using an object store , comprising: wherein the hierarchically stacked image is generated by combining at least a plurality of stacked images comprising a stacked image,', 'wherein the stacked image is generated by combining at least the plurality of prestack images;, 'hierarchically combining at least a plurality of prestack images from the object store to generate a hierarchically stacked image,'}generating, based at least on the hierarchically stacked image, a quality measure of a prestack image of the plurality of prestack images;further combining, prior to deleting at least a subset of the plurality of prestack images from the object store and based at least on the quality measure, the plurality of prestack images to generate an enhanced stacked image;substituting the stacked image with the enhanced stacked image;further combining, subsequent to ...

Ultrasound probe and ultrasound diagnosis apparatus

An ultrasound probe according to an embodiment includes. transducer elements, phase reversal processing circuitry, and delay processing circuitry. The transducer elements, each of which is configured to generate a first echo signal by receiving a reflected wave of a first ultrasound wave and to generate a second echo signal by receiving a reflected wave of a second ultrasound wave corresponding to an ultrasound wave obtained by reversing the phase of the first ultrasound wave. The phase reversal processing circuitry is configured to reverse the phase of the second echo signal. The delay processing circuitry is configured to delay the first echo signal and the phase-reversed second echo signal.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, a transmission condition setting method, and program

First transmission information in which an optimum transmitting voltage and a transmitting waveform are associated with each other for each display mode, and second transmission information in which a plurality of transmitting voltage candidates and pulse-width modulation transmitting waveforms that are pulse-width-modulation controlled to respectively correspond to the plurality of transmitting voltage candidates are associated with each other for each display mode are used to extract a maximum transmitting voltage candidate that does not exceed an optimum transmitting voltage of a first display mode from a plurality of transmitting voltage candidates included in the second transmission information of a second display mode so as to determine a common transmitting voltage used in common for the first display mode and the second display mode based on the optimum transmitting voltage of the first display mode and/or the maximum transmitting voltage candidate.

MULTIFAN SURVEY SYSTEM AND METHOD

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-component message for ensonifying multiple fans and deconstructs a corresponding message echo for use in analyzing the returns from each fan. 1. A method of performing a multifan bathymetric survey comprising the steps of:providing a multibeam echo sounder including a receiver and a transmitter for use with a plurality of transducers in a single linear projector array and a plurality of transducers in a single linear hydrophone array, the arrays arranged to form a Mills cross;generating via the transmitter a message that includes N>=3 coded message components that overlap in time and frequency;exciting the projector array with message components that overlap in time to ensonify N fans;receiving in the receiver via the hydrophone array returns from the ensonified fans; and,selectively detecting respective fan returns from the N fans using N matched filters.2. The method of wherein each of the message components occupies substantially all of a message frequency band.3. The method of wherein for N signal generators in the transmitter claim 1 , each signal generator generates a respective one of the coded message components.4. The method of further comprising the steps of;generating respective ones of the coded message components using N spread spectrum signal generators in the transmitter; and,wherein a message component frequency band occupies less than one-half of the receiver operating frequency range.5. The method of wherein additional message components in the message do not overlap in frequency with the N message components.6. The method of further comprising the steps of;generating respective ones of the coded message components using N spread spectrum signal generators in the transmitter; and,wherein a message component frequency band occupies substantially all of the receiver operating frequency range.7. The method of wherein a ...

Fluid flow rate detection device

To provide a fluid flow rate detection device which can be evaluated as adequate from a medical point of view. The velocity of a fluid flowing through a luminal organ in vivo is to be obtained. V θ (r, θ)=w·V − θ +(1−w) V + θ is calculated to obtain a calculated value V θ (r, θ) of the flow rate regarding a component of the fluid in the direction perpendicular to the ultrasonic beam direction. Here, the weight w is a value proportional to the distance d from the wall on one side of the organ at least when the distance is smaller than a predetermined distance from the wall on the one side, and the weight is a value proportional to the distance d′ from the wall on the other side of the organ at least when the distance is smaller than a predetermined distance from the wall on the one other side.

Ultrasound transducer probe with heat transfer device

Ultrasound systems, devices, and methods for removing heat from within an ultrasound transducer probe are provided herein. An ultrasound transducer probe may include an imaging surface having one or more transducer elements, electronic circuitry, a heat exchanger and a housing. The housing at least partially surrounds the imaging surface, electronic circuitry and heat exchanger or the heat exchanger may simply be operatively coupled to the probe. The electronic circuitry may include processing circuitry that controls transmission of an ultrasound signal from the one or more transducer elements, and driving circuitry operatively coupled to the one or more transducer elements and the processing circuitry. The driving circuitry is configured to drive the transmission of the ultrasound signal by the one or more transducer elements in response to a control signal received from the processing circuitry. The heat exchanger includes a conduit for containing a flow of cooling fluid.

Methods and systems for imaging a needle from ultrasound imaging data

Various methods and systems are provided for imaging a needle using an ultrasound imager. In one example, a method may include receiving a target path or a target area of a needle, and adjusting a steering angle of an ultrasound beam emitted from an ultrasound probe based on the target path or the target area.

Ultrasound system and method for controlling ultrasound system

An ultrasound system 1 includes an ultrasound probe 2 and an image display device 3 . The ultrasound probe 2 includes a transducer array 11 , a transmitting and receiving unit 14 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves using the transducer array 11 to generate a sound ray signal; a frame image information data generation unit 20 that generates frame image information data from the sound ray signal; and a wireless communication unit 19 that transmits a plurality of frame image information data items to the image display device. The image display device 3 includes a frame type determination unit 33 that determines frame types of the plurality of frame image information data items, a combination determination unit 34 that determines whether or not to combine the frame image information data items on the basis of the frame types, a compound image data generation unit 35 that combines the plurality of frame image information data items, and a display unit 37 that displays a compound image.

HIGH FREQUENCY ACOUSTIC SPECTRUM IMAGING METHOD AND DEVICE

A method and a device for high frequency acoustic spectrum imaging for an object over a field of view. A camera captures an image of the object. A raster with grids is created as an overlay on the captured image. A directional microphone detects high frequency acoustic waves emanating from the object. An acoustic data signal corresponding to the high frequency acoustic waves is generated by a microphone data processing unit. The coordinates of the focal point of the directional microphone on the grid of the raster is recorded and sent as a real-time feedback position signal to a processor for each measurement of the acoustic signal data. The processor plots a visual representation of the acoustic signal data mapping it to the corresponding coordinates on the raster and creates a high frequency acoustic spectrum image for the object by superimposing the raster on the captured image.

Quantitative Imaging System and Uses Thereof

Provided herein are imaging systems such as a system for quantitative tomography and a laser optoacoustic ultrasonic imaging system assembly (LOUISA) for imaging a tissue region, for example, a breast, in a subject. Generally, the system components are a laser that emits instant pulses of laser light in a wavelength cycling mode, fiberoptic bundles or optical arc-shaped fiber bundles configured to deliver laser light, an imaging module with an imaging tank, an optoacoustic array(s) of ultrawide-band ultrasonic transducers and ultrasound array(s) of ultrasonic transducers and a coupling medium and an electronics subsystem. Also provided is a method for imaging quantitative functional parameters and/or molecular parameters and anatomical structures in a volumetric tissue region of interest, such as a breast, in a subject utilizing the system for quantitative tomography.

Ground-Penetrating Tunnel-Detecting Active Sonar

A ground-penetrating tunnel-detecting active sonar launches two different monotonic acoustic beams down into the ground from the surface. If the two separate monotonic acoustic waves arrive at a stress field, they will mix and produce a frequency difference heterodyne due to the inherent pressure nonlinearities in the solid medias. Any sonar returns are bandpass filtered so only an acoustic frequency difference heterodyne can pass through. The existence of a tunnel is revealed by the return of acoustic frequency difference heterodynes all coming from a more-or-less horizontal line of phase-delayed sources and directions. These phase differences can be derived from the vector values provided by the acoustic vector sensor. Three or more acoustic vector sensors on the surface can be used effectively to provide triangulations down to the tunnel to better estimate the tunnel track. 1. An acoustic heterodyne radar for locating deeply buried boreholes and tunnels by virtue of the lithostatic stress fields that envelope them , comprising:{'b': 1', '2', '1', '2, 'a portable tool configured to be serially re-locatable at diverse locations on a ground surface and inside a well bore vantage point, and having a pair of acoustic radiators each configured as tone transmitters to launch respective ones of simultaneous pairs of pure audio tones (F, F) without sidebands into an underground area of search and without mixing F with F such as to produce heterodynes when launched;'}{'b': 1', '2, 'an acoustic tone receiver and filter included in the portable tool and configured to bandpass through only selected heterodynes of F mixed with F; and'}a measurements device connected to the acoustic tone receiver and configured to measure and collect the relative times of arrival and attenuation of any said selected heterodynes;{'b': 1', '2, 'a processor configured to tomographically compute from collected measurements the underground origination points of said selected heterodynes into three ...

Method and apparatus for compounding ultrasonic images

A method and an apparatus for compounding ultrasound images are disclosed. A method and an apparatus for compounding ultrasound images are provided to compound frames generated based on reflection signals generated upon receiving reflected transmissions of focused ultrasounds and unfocused ultrasounds to a subject so as to prevent a decreased frame rate as well as moving artifacts from affecting the ultrasound imaging due to movements of the subject.

IMAGE DISTANCE SENSOR AND MANUFACTURE METHOD THEREOF AS WELL AS A RANGING DEVICE

This disclosure provides an image distance sensor and a manufacture method thereof, as well as a ranging device. The image distance sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, and an image sensing unit and a distance sensing unit formed on the semiconductor substrate. The image sensing unit and the distance sensing unit are formed in a same manufacture process. 1. An image distance sensor , comprising:a semiconductor substrate;an image sensing unit; anda distance sensing unit formed on the semiconductor substrate,wherein the image sensing unit and the distance sensing unit are formed in a same manufacture process.2. The image distance sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensing unit comprises a pixel circuit and a photosensitive unit formed on the semiconductor substrate claim 1 , and wherein the pixel circuit comprises:a first well region and a second well region formed in the semiconductor substrate, the first well region comprising a first doping region and the second well region comprising a second doping region, wherein the first well region and the second well region having different semiconductor types;a first gate and a second gate on the first well region and the second well region;a first insulating layer on the first gate and the second gate; anda first source, a first drain, a second source and a second drain on the first insulating layer,wherein the first source and the first drain are connected to the first doping region through via holes penetrating the first insulating layer,wherein the second source and the second drain are connected to the second doping region through the via holes penetrating the first insulating layer, andwherein the first drain is connected to a second source electrode.3. The image distance sensor according to claim 2 , wherein the photosensitive unit comprises:a third well region in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the third well region comprises a third doping region, and wherein the third doping region and the ...

Ultrasound imaging using apparent point-source transmit transducer

An apparent point-source transmit transducers comprises a substantially constant-thickness shell of piezoelectric material in a shape of a spherical-section. Such transducers may be sized such that a single apparent point-source transmit transducer may produce ultrasound waveforms with substantial energy in a medium to be imaged. Use of such transducers in three-dimensional ping-based imaging may permit deeper and higher quality imaging than may be possible with conventional transducers.

Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and control method thereof

Disclosed herein are an ultrasonic imaging apparatus which is capable of accurately and quickly estimating a Point Spread Function (PSF) is usable for restoring ultrasonic images, and a control method which is executable by the ultrasonic imaging apparatus. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a probe; a receive beamformer configured to beamform an ultrasonic signal and to output the beamformed ultrasonic signal; a Point Spread Function (PSF) database configured to store a PSF which is acquired based on a situational variable, and a phase parameter which is determined based on the situational variable, for the beamformed ultrasonic signal; and an image generator configured to select the PSF and the phase parameter from the PSF database based on the beamformed ultrasonic signal, and to perform deconvolution using an estimated PSF based on the selected PSF and the selected phase parameter in order to generate an image.

Ultrasonic Diagnostic Device and Ultrasonic Probe

A plurality of transmission and reception circuits are connected to a plurality of vibration elements. The transmission and reception circuit includes a basic delay circuit and a fine delay circuit. The basic delay circuit delays a transmission signal and a reception signal for sub beamforming. The fine delay circuit is configured to be capable of performing delay finer than that of the basic delay circuit. A quantized delay error is compensated for by the fine delay circuit at the time of transmission.

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and non-transitory storage medium

According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a transmitter/receiver and processing circuitry. The transmitter/receiver sequentially transmits a first transmission beam group and a second transmission beam group and receives at least one reception beam for each transmission beam, via an ultrasound probe having a plurality of transducers arranged along an azimuth direction and an elevation direction. The processing circuitry combines a first reception beam based on a first transmission beam included in the first transmission beam group and a second reception beam based on a second transmission beam included in the second transmission beam group. Transmission beams that are adjacent to each other in the azimuth direction or the elevation direction belong to transmission beam groups that are different from each other.

Ultrasonic Diagnosis Device and Electronic Circuit

An electronic circuit in an ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of sub beamformers and a control unit. Each sub beamformer includes M delay circuits and an adding circuit. Each delay circuit includes a memory cell array which is formed of N memory cells. Conditions of cyclic operations of the M memory cell arrays (for example, timings of start triggers) are made irregular, such that use starting stage numbers in the M memory cell arrays are different.

Free-hand scanning and imaging

Wideband synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. A probe transmits a signal through its aperture incident to an object located in a medium of interest remotely from the probe. The probe receives through the aperture a plurality of nonuniformly sampled reflected signals from the object as the probe moves in a measurement plane located a predetermined distance from the object. A processor executes a SAR-based reconstruction algorithm to generate an image.

Systems and Methods for Monitoring and Controlling a Multi-Phase Fluid Flow

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling dynamic multi-phase flow phenomena, capable of sensing, detecting, quantifying, and inferring characteristics, properties, and compositions (including static and dynamic characteristics, properties and compositions). The systems combine machine vision and mathematical models, which enables direct observation and detection of static and dynamic multi-phase fluid flow properties and phenomena (e.g. voids, waves, shadows, dimples, wrinkles, foam, bubbles, particulates, discrete materials, collections of materials, and position) and inferring other properties and phenomena (e.g. flow regimes, bubble velocities and accelerations, material deposition rates, erosion rates, phasic critical behavioral points as related to heat transfer, and the volumetric and mass flow rates of the phases) that are used to monitor and control systems applied to a multi-phase fluid flow system. 1. A system for monitoring a multi-phase fluid flow , comprising:a preprocessor for receiving, filtering, and formatting digital images of the multi-phase fluid flow;a processor that includes a neural network learning algorithm linked to the preprocessor for receiving the preprocessed digital images, identifying phenomena related to the multi-phase fluid flow in the preprocessed digital images and quantifying the relative positions and geometries of the phenomena based on the digital images; anda post processor linked to the processor for receiving the identified phenomena, receiving the quantified relative positions and geometries of the phenomena, deriving dynamic attributes of the identified phenomena and inferring other attributes related to the multi-phase fluid flow.2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera linked to the preprocessor for capturing the digital images of the multi-phase fluid flow in real-time and transmitting the digital images to the preprocessor.3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a pump ...

Bonding interposer and integrated circuit chip, and ultrasound probe using the same

The method of bonding an interposer and an integrated circuit chip includes preparing an interposer including an insulator and conductive lines each having one end exposed to a first surface of the insulator and another end exposed to a second surface opposite to the first surface; placing a bonding mask on the interposer; forming through-holes on the bonding mask before or after the placing of the bonding mask on the interposer; filling the plurality with a conductive material; and bonding an integrated circuit chip to the bonding mask.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING COMPRESSED SENSING IN AN ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for using compressed sensing for imaging an object for use in combination with an entertainment or infotainment device. For example, the system may utilize a few—(e.g., 1, 2, 3 . . . ) pixel imaging sensor to obtain coarse image data from each of a plurality of subregions of a region of interest. Compressed sensing techniques may then be used to estimate a higher resolution image of the region of interest using the coarse image data from the plurality of subregions. 1. A method for generating an image of an object within a region , comprising:transmitting radiation, via a radiation transmitter of a radiation transmission system, into the region;receiving, via a radiation receiver of a radiation receiver system, reflections of the transmitted radiation from a plurality of sites on the object within the region;generating, via a processor, coarse image data of the object at a first resolution based on the received radiation reflections;identifying a portion of interest on the object based on the coarse image data;transmitting ultrasound via an ultrasonic transmitter into the region;receiving, via an ultrasonic receiver, ultrasonic reflections of the transmitted ultrasound from the portion of interest on the object within the region;generating fine image data of the portion of interest on the object at a second resolution based on the received ultrasonic reflections using compressed image sensing techniques, wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution;determining a first kinematic value associated with the portion of interest on the object based on the fine image data generated using the received ultrasonic reflections; andmodifying a state of an entertainment device based on the determined first kinematic value associated with the portion of interest on the object.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation comprises ultrasound.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiation comprises ...

Ultrasound Transducer Array

A transducer array for an ultrasound imaging system includes a substrate and a single array comprising individual sub-sets of transducer elements disposed on the substrate, wherein the individual sub-sets are physically separate from each other and spatially arranged contiguous to each other. An apparatus includes a transducer array with a substrate and a single array comprising individual sub-sets of transducer elements disposed on the substrate, wherein the individual sub-sets are not in physical contact with each other and are serially arranged with respect to each other. The apparatus further includes transmit circuitry that conveys an excitation pulse to the transducer array, receive circuitry that receives a signal indicative of an ultrasound echo from the transducer array, and a beamformer that processes the received signal, generating ultrasound image data.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING OBJECTS IN UNDERWATER ENVIRONMENTS

Surveillance systems and methods taught herein provide automated detection and classification of objects of interest in a submerged or underwater environment such as a body of water. The sonar systems and methods taught herein can detect and classify a variety of objects in echograms without feedback or instructions from a human operator. The sonar systems and methods taught herein include a data model that is partially trained using non-echogram image data and can associate geolocation information with detected objects of interest. 1. In a sonar system , a method of detecting and classifying an object of interest underwater , comprising:acquiring an echogram of a scene;transferring a portion of the echogram to a deep neural network including one or more feature extraction layers and one or more classification layers; andprocessing, using the deep neural network, the portion of the echogram to detect an object of interest captured in the echogram.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:processing, using the deep neural network, the portion of the echogram to classify the object of interest captured in the echogram.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more feature extraction layers and one or more classification layers are initially trained using non-echogram image data and the one or more classification layers are re-trained using echogram image data.4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the non-echogram image data includes electro-optical images.5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:applying a screening module to identify candidate regions of interest in the echogram,wherein processing the echogram includes processing only the candidate regions of interest.6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the screening module performs a selective search.7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the screening module performs a search using signal-to-noise ratio as a detection metric.8. The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the portion of the echogram includes: ...

UPDATING CONTOUR MAPS FOR BODIES OF WATER

In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems and methods for dynamically updating contour maps are provided. A first water level for a body of water may be determined by a computing device. A location within the body of water may be identified. A second water level relating to the identified location within the body of water may be determined, and the second water level and the first water level may be compared. Upon comparing the first and second water levels, a contour map for the body of water may be automatically updated. 1. A method for dynamically updating contour maps comprising:using at least one processing device:determining a first water level for a body of water;identifying a location within the body of water;determining a second water level relating to the identified location within the body of water;comparing the second water level and the first water level; andautomatically updating a contour map for the body of water based on the comparison.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first water level is a baseline water level for the body of water determined from a preloaded contour map.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first water level is a water level corresponding to the identified location within the body of water.4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the baseline water level is determined from a preloaded contour map.5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second water level is a current water level.6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second water level is a predicted future water level corresponding to tide levels.7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the baseline water level relating to the identified location within the body of water further comprises receiving one or more signals from one or more computing devices.8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the received signal is a sonar depth signal.9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the received signal is a GPS altitude signal.10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the received ...

Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

The ultrasound probe transmits and receives ultrasonic waves in different directions and the diagnostic apparatus body combines a plurality of images captured in the different directions of transmission and reception to produce an ultrasound image. In this process, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus measures the temperature of the ultrasound probe to change the ultrasound transmission and reception for producing a composite ultrasound image or makes the directions of transmission and reception in the last ultrasound image in one composite ultrasound image coincide with those in the first ultrasound image in its temporally adjacent composite ultrasound image. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus thus enables consistent ultrasound diagnosis against heat generated in the integrated circuit board of the ultrasound probe while simplifying the control of the ultrasound transmission and reception.

Ultrasound imaging flow vector velocity estimation with directional transverse oscillation

An ultrasound imaging system ( 100 ) includes a transducer array ( 102 ) with plurality of transducer elements ( 200 ) configured to transmit an ultrasound signal and receive echoes. Transmit circuitry ( 104 ) is configured to excite the transducer elements to transmit the ultrasound signal along a propagation direction. Receive circuitry ( 106 ) is configured to receive an echo signal produced in response to the ultrasound signal traversing flowing structure in the field of view. A beamformer ( 112 ) is configured to beamform the echo signal and produce a single directional signal at a depth. The directional signal is transverse to the propagation direction of the ultrasound signal. A velocity processor ( 114 ) is configured to transform the directional signal to produce a corresponding quadrature signal, estimate a depth velocity component and a transverse velocity component at the depth based on the directional signal and the quadrature signal, and generate a signal indicative of the estimate.