公开(公告)号：US20150053011A1

公开(公告)日：2015-02-26

申请号：US14527288

申请日：2014-10-29

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Shinichi Amemiya ,  Bruno Haider ,  Krishnakumar Sundaresan

IPC: H01L41/09 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N29/06

CPC classification number: H01L41/09 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/34 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/048 ,  G01N2291/102

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种超声波换能器驱动电路，其被配置为向用于驱动超声换能器的输出线提供输出电流和/或输出电压。 超声波换能器驱动电路包括：第一电流放电电路，被配置为当输出线处于正电压时允许从超声波换能器中累积的电荷产生的电流从输出线流向地，并且第二电流放电电路配置 当输出线处于负电压时，允许从超声波换能器中累积的电荷产生的电流从地流到输出线。 基于输出电流和/或输出电压来控制第一电流放电电路和第二电流放电电路。

公开(公告)号：US09472747B2

公开(公告)日：2016-10-18

申请号：US14527248

申请日：2014-10-29

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Shinichi Amemiya ,  Bruno Haider ,  Krishnakumar Sundaresan

IPC: H01L41/09 ,  B06B1/02 ,  G01N29/34 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/44

CPC classification number: H01L41/09 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/34 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/048 ,  G01N2291/102

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage.

Abstract translation: 提供了一种超声波换能器驱动电路，其被配置为向用于驱动超声换能器的输出线提供输出电流和/或输出电压。 超声波换能器驱动电路包括：第一电流放电电路，被配置为当输出线处于正电压时允许从超声波换能器中累积的电荷产生的电流从输出线流向地，并且第二电流放电电路配置 当输出线处于负电压时，允许从超声波换能器中累积的电荷产生的电流从地流到输出线。 基于输出电流和/或输出电压来控制第一电流放电电路和第二电流放电电路。

公开(公告)号：US09239375B2

公开(公告)日：2016-01-19

申请号：US13889647

申请日：2013-05-08

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Scott D. Cogan ,  Shinichi Amemiya ,  Bruno Hans Haider ,  Geir Ultveit Haugen

IPC: H04B1/02 ,  G01S7/52 ,  G01S15/89 ,  G10K11/34

CPC classification number: G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G10K11/346

Abstract: Exemplary ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus are provided that generally include an array of transducer elements that form a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe. The transducer elements can be assigned to dynamic delay update groups and an initial delay can be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture. A sub-aperture processor can be configured to dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture according to the dynamic delay update groups to which the transducer elements are assigned. Exemplary ultrasound systems with a dynamic focus and methods of transmitting ultrasound signals with a dynamic focus are also provided.

Abstract translation: 提供具有能够动态聚焦的子孔径处理的示例性超声波探头，其通常包括在超声波探头中形成子孔的换能器元件的阵列。 可以将换能器元件分配给动态延迟更新组，并且可以将初始延迟应用于与子孔的换能器元件相关联的超声信号。 子孔径处理器可以被配置为根据分配换能器元件的动态延迟更新组来动态地对与子孔的换能器元件相关联的超声信号动态地应用延迟更新。 还提供了具有动态聚焦的示例性超声系统和用动态焦点发送超声信号的方法。

公开(公告)号：US20150053010A1

公开(公告)日：2015-02-26

申请号：US14527248

申请日：2014-10-29

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Shinichi Amemiya ,  Bruno Haider ,  Krishnakumar Sundaresan

IPC: H01L41/09 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N29/06

CPC classification number: H01L41/09 ,  B06B1/0207 ,  B06B1/0215 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/34 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/048 ,  G01N2291/102

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage.

公开(公告)号：US20140334266A1

公开(公告)日：2014-11-13

申请号：US13889647

申请日：2013-05-08

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Scott D. Cogan ,  Shinichi Amemiya ,  Bruno Hans Haider ,  Geir Ultveit Haugen

IPC: G10K11/26

CPC classification number: G01S7/5208 ,  G01S7/52095 ,  G01S15/8927 ,  G10K11/346

Abstract: Exemplary ultrasound probes with sub-aperture processing capable of dynamic focus are provided that generally include an array of transducer elements that form a sub-aperture in the ultrasound probe. The transducer elements can be assigned to dynamic delay update groups and an initial delay can be applied to ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture. A sub-aperture processor can be configured to dynamically apply delay updates to the ultrasound signals associated with the transducer elements of the sub-aperture according to the dynamic delay update groups to which the transducer elements are assigned. Exemplary ultrasound systems with a dynamic focus and methods of transmitting ultrasound signals with a dynamic focus are also provided.

Abstract translation: 提供具有能够动态聚焦的子孔径处理的示例性超声波探头，其通常包括在超声波探头中形成子孔的换能器元件的阵列。 可以将换能器元件分配给动态延迟更新组，并且可以将初始延迟应用于与子孔的换能器元件相关联的超声信号。 子孔径处理器可以被配置为根据分配换能器元件的动态延迟更新组来动态地对与子孔的换能器元件相关联的超声信号动态地应用延迟更新。 还提供了具有动态聚焦的示例性超声系统和用动态焦点发送超声信号的方法。

公开(公告)号：US20150087988A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-26

申请号：US14032392

申请日：2013-09-20

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Warren Lee ,  Bruno Hans Haider ,  Stephen Dodge Edwardsen ,  Geir Ultveit Haugen ,  Scott Cogan ,  Chester Saj ,  Christopher Yetter ,  Bjornar Sten-Nilsen ,  Shinichi Amemiya ,  Charles Edward Baumgartner

IPC: A61B8/00

CPC classification number: A61B8/4494 ,  A61B8/4411 ,  A61B8/4455 ,  B06B1/0622

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer array for an ultrasound probe is presented. The ultrasound transducer array includes a support structure. Further, the ultrasound transducer array includes a plurality of electro-acoustic modules coupled to the support structure, wherein each of the plurality of electro-acoustic modules comprises at least one matrix acoustic array and an interconnect element, wherein each of the plurality of electro-acoustic modules is interchangeable on the support structure so as to adapt to one or more shapes of the ultrasound probe, and wherein each of the plurality of electro-acoustic modules operates in a manner substantially identical to each other of the plurality of electro-acoustic modules.

Abstract translation: 提出了一种用于超声探头的超声波换能器阵列。 超声换能器阵列包括支撑结构。 此外，超声换能器阵列包括耦合到支撑结构的多个电声模块，其中多个电声模块中的每一个包括至少一个矩阵声阵列和互连元件，其中， 声学模块在支撑结构上是可互换的，以便适应于一个或多个形状的超声波探头，并且其中多个电声模块中的每一个以多个电声模块中的彼此基本相同的方式操作 。