Abstract: The virtual control user interface for an ultrasound processor includes a software driven display obtained from a memory unit in the ultrasound processor and displayed on a display monitor (part of the ultrasound processor) under control of a processor unit (which is also part of the ultrasound processor). The software driven display reveals images representative of hardware control configurations for other ultrasound processors. The images provided by the software driven display and displayed by on the display include: a plurality of gain control tactile user interfaces, a plurality of ultrasound image enhancement control tactile user interfaces and, at least one focused control tactile user interface. The software driven display has multiple menu levels for the display of the gain control images, the ultrasound images enhancement control images and the focused control image. The software driven display is also further configured to reveal images of more than one ultrasound processor.

Abstract: The PC based ultrasound system utilizes a standard PC central processing unit or CPU (an Intel 486 processor or better), standard PC memory storage and retrieval components, a scan conversion board and a video processing board, all disposed and electronically linked to the bus in the computer. Additionally, the analog drive and return scan video signals are sent to and received from a video processing and motor control unit. The video processing and motor control unit is coupled to an ultrasound scan lead or probe. The virtual control user interface for the ultrasound system includes a software driven display obtained from memory. The software driven display reveals images representative of hardware control configurations for many different ultrasound processors.