Abstract: A pulse Doppler MTI system for equally displaying movements in any directions within a tomographic plane is characterized by creating a bipolar video signal file in which receive signals for one scan serve as one frame and performing a two-dimensional cross-correlation process on the file data after removing components associated with fixed reflecting points.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this invention, the dimension of a sample volume can be adjusted both in the depth and azimuth directions in forming a transmission beam for both a B mode and a Doppler mode with the use of a common beam forming data, and an amount of radiation of the ultrasonic wave to a body to be examined can be reduced. In the B mode operation, transmission and reception of a sharply focusing ultrasonic beam are carried out based upon a B mode beam forming data, while in the Doppler mode, transmission and reception of a predetermined blurringly focusing ultrasonic beam are carried out based upon a beam forming data which is obtained by modifying the B mode beam forming data.

Abstract: To apply our new invention in the most preferred application mode, we used an ultrasonic diagnostic system that can instantaneously switch over to the CW Doppler method or B-mode imaging method when both methods are combined using a commonly applicable array probe. The ultrasonic diagnostic system based on this new invention is configured with the following features:Dividing multiple vibrating elements of a commonly applicable array probe (3) into two groups, (3T) and (3R), andconnecting the first vibrating element group (3T) to the first transmitting driver (2T) to which low voltage is supplied by the power supply (4), and connecting the second vibrating element group (3R) to the second transmitting driver (2R) to which high voltage is supplied by the power supply (4).

Abstract: This invention is basically, an ultrasonic transducer that can be configured with good reproducibility, that includes an acoustic impedance matching member that gradually changes the acoustic impedance, and which is characterized byAn acoustic impedance matching member(2) configured with multiple unit layers (21, 22, 23, . . . 2n), each layer being thinner than a quarter-wavelength of an ultrasonic wave, andeach unit layer having a laiminated structure make up of heavy metal(52) and plastic(51) layers with a thickness ratio set between them to change gradually from the unit layer close to the ultrasonic oscillator to the unit layer close to the subject.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus is disclosed in which an ultrasonic wave transmit/receive apparatus is used in common for both 2-dimensional B-mode imaging and for measurement of pulsed Doppler signals, by time sharing operation. The good real time characteristics of 2-dimensional B-mode imaging are retained, together with a sufficiently high data rate for pulsed Doppler measurement, through use of simple means for performing interpolation in the Doppler signals Ultrasonic wave transmit/receive means (21,23 to 25,27) repetitively execute combinations of ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences, each combination consisting of a plurality of pulsed Doppler mode ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences and a single 2-dimensional B-mode imaging ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequence. Demodulator means (38 to 41) demodulate the Doppler signals, based on the received signals that are acquired during the pulsed Doppler mode ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences.

Abstract: An improved matrix switch circuit comprising an array of analog switches disposed in the form of a matrix and one or more control memories for storing control signals which cause their respective switches of the array to open or close. An interface is provided between the control memories and the array of the switches. The interface receives the control signals from the control memories and holds them. The held signals are then supplied to the switches of the array. While the switches of the array are being controlled according to the control signals held in the interface, the contents of the control memories can be changed at any desired instant.

Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse Doppler apparatus has: range gate (20) for separately performing range-gating of the respective received ultrasonic echo signals of the oscillation elements of an ultrasonic probe (1) each time the signals are respectively adjusted in correspondence with the direction of a received ultrasonic beam; pulse stretcher filter (21) for extending the duration of the respective plurality of range-gated received signals while storing the energy of the signals; phasing/adding stage (7a) for matching the phases of a plurality of output signals from the pulse stretcher filter and performing addition thereof; detection portion (12) for effecting coherent detection of an output signal from said phasing/adding stage; and Doppler signal generating components (15, 16) for respectively generating Doppler signals on the basis of an output signal from the detection portion.

Abstract: A Doppler signal analyzing apparatus is capable of frequency analysis of a Doppler signal with frequency and time resolutions that match the frequency band of a signal to be analyzed. The signal to be analyzed is divided into a plurality of frequency bands by bandpass means (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2, 10.sub.3), and signals in the frequency bands which have passed through the bandpass means are acquired by signal acquiring means (11) over time slots that are smaller for higher-frequency signals and larger for lower-frequency signals. The signals acquired by the signal acquiring means are subjected to a Fourier transform by Fourier transform means (14).

Abstract: The equipment in this invention provided with an internal signal checking means configured in a combined use with signal processing and display means commonly furnished to an ultrasound diagnostic equipment stores various internal signals and in said equipment by selectively inputting them through a multiplexer into a video memory also used for receive echo signal storage, and said internal signals stored are displayed on a screen of a display means of said equipment as an image or they are evaluated by a processor in said equipment to perform internal signal checking.

Abstract: The equipment in this invention provides an ultrasound diagnostic equipment with a matrix switch checking means configured in a combined use with means commonly furnished to said device heaving a built-in test sequencer, whereby taps on the delay line is selected in due order from one end of said taps for each channel of the matrix switch to input a checking signal to that channel from a transducer circuit every time these taps are selected; as a result a signal obtained from the delay-line output terminals is shown on a display screen of a display device as a mimic echo signal to determine the presence or absence of any fault of switching elements in the relevant channel of the matrix switch based on a mimic echo image pattern shown on the display screen.

Abstract: A phased array sonar is arranged to obtain an image in a wide field of view beyond a normal angle of view. In an angle of view beyond the normal angle of view, the number of active transducer elements, which are simultaneously energized, is reduced, as the angle of view is increased, and at the same time, the amplification factor for the echo signals is increased.

Abstract: In ultrasonic transmission from and reception by an array probe in a phased array sonar, when an ultrasonic beam is directed substantially in front of the array probe, an ultrasonic wave having a high center frequency f.sub.o, or a bandwidth extending into higher frequencies, is transmitted and/or received in order to insure a high image resolution. When the ultrasonic beam is steered sideways, an ultrasonic wave having a lower center frequency f.sub.o, or a higher frequency range cutoff in relation to a steering angle .theta., is transmitted and/or received in order to increase the angle at which grating lobes are generated and hence prevent such grating lobes from entering the angle range of the field of view.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic imaging system for diagnostic use or non-destructive testing. The system comprises a first array of ultrasonic transducers coupled to the object space wherein objects under examination are located or distributed; a second array of ultrasonic transducers coupled to a reconstitution space wherein the acoustic images of the objects are to be replicated; and time inversion means. The time inversion means has a set of waveform memories which first captures the ultrasonic signals from said objects, typically echos produced in response to suitable excitation, via said first array of ultrasonic transducers with suitable amplification and preconditioning as necessary. Then readouts of these signals are provided inversely in time which drive the second array of ultrasonic transducers with said time inverted signals to reproject inversely propagating ultrasonic wavetrains forming replicated acoustic images of the objects.

Abstract: An echo signal receiver receives higher level echo signals reflected from strong reflections sources or reflecting sources at areas close to a probe in a range of higher frequencies, and also receives lower level echo signals reflected from weak reflection sources or sources at areas remote from the probe in a range of low frequencies. The echo signal receiver comprises a multiple stage amplifier circuit for receiving the echo signal. Outputs from amplifiers at front stages are delivered via filters having higher frequency bands, and outputs from amplifiers at rear stages are delivered via filters having lower frequency bands. The outputs are passed through the filters and then combined into a single processed echo signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic method and apparatus are provided for probing the condition in a tissue of a living body by projecting an ultrasonic beam onto the living body from a vibrator array transducer probe consisting of a plurality of tiny ultrasonic vibrators. The apparatus executes two scanning actions, of which one is a normal linear scanning that drives the ultrasonic vibrators sequentially in the manner to cause a sequential parallel shift of the ultrasonic beam substantially perpendicular to the vibrator array, and the other of which is an inclined linear scanning that drives the ultrasonic vibrators at individually different timings while sequentially shifting the driven vibrators in the manner to cause sequential parallel shift of the ultrasonic beam having an angle of inclination against the vibrator array. The images obtained through the normal linear scanning and the inclined linear scanning are combined to form a composite high-resolution image.

Abstract: A surface flaw detector includes a light source capable of generating a laser beam, a material conveyance means provided for conveying a material to be examined in the direction transverse to the axis of the material and designed to let the material rotate on its axis at a fixed position or along the direction of conveyance, means for scanning the laser beam on the surface and in the axial direction of the material which is rotating on its own axis, optical means adapted to transmit the light reflected from the surface of the material to form a stationary optic image of the scanning means, light receiving means provided at the image forming position, and processing means adapted to discriminate the flaw signal upon receiving the output from the light receiving means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring, by cross-correlation, the period and frequency of a substantially periodic signal having random components, such as fetal heart beat signals and other biological signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic echo system for detecting moving targets by processing the doppler shifted reflected signals. Signals indicative of stationary objects are suppressed by a feedback arrangement which subtracts signal components derived from stationary objects from the incoming echo signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for measuring in real time, by auto-correlation, the period and frequency of a periodic biomedical source signal with random components such as an ultrasound doppler fetal heart beat signal.Before and during delivery of a fetus, the invention enables an obstetrician to continuously monitor and record the heart rate of the fetus in real time.