Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus includes transducers, switches, a pulser, receiver, and processing unit, each transducer connected to the pulser and receiver via one switch and a single communications channel; the processing unit includes a memory and processor, is connected to the pulser and receiver, and identifies a first number that indicates a first aperture size, generates responses from the transducers, and processes the responses to produce image data; and the processor generates each response by selecting contiguous or non-contiguous transducers, the number being equal to the first number, for each switch connected to a selected transducer, sending a signal instructing the switch to connect the transducer to the communications channel, sending instructions to simultaneously fire selected transducers, with a pulse provided simultaneously to each selected transducer via the communications channel, and receiving a single response via the communications channel and receiver, which is the combination of outputs o