Abstract: A BC-mode image with an improved frame rate in an ultrasound system is formed. A transmit/receive unit forms first and second receive signals responsive to first and second control signals. An image processing unit is configured to form a B-mode image and a C-mode image based the first and second receive signals and to combine them to form a BC-mode image. The control signal generates a third control signal for a B-mode scan along scan lines, which are not within the color box to form third receive signals. The control unit repeatedly generates the second and third control signals. The image processing unit is further operable to form a B-mode image based on the third receive signals and the second signals.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide an apparatus and method for forming an ultrasound image, wherein an ultrasound signal is transmitted and received along a scan line determined based on a virtual common point at each of a plurality of transducers. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the image frames (as many as desired) for forming a composite image may be obtained, thereby ultimately causing the quality of the ultrasound image to be enhanced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide an ultrasound imaging system and method for forming multiple receiving scan lines from one original receiving scan line. Ultrasound signals reflected from one original receiving scan line are converted into analog signals having a center frequency. The analog signals are converted into digital data. The digital data are coarsely delayed, wherein the coarsely delayed data are extracted at a rate of n-times of the center frequency. Data of the multiple receiving scan lines are formed by performing fine delay and interpolation. For the interpolation, parts of the extracted data are selected at a rate of n-times of the center frequency and the multiple receiving scan lines.

Abstract: 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 transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object based on a plurality of steering angles corresponding to a plurality of frames to output a plurality of ultrasound data; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit, the processing unit being configured to set a reference steering angle corresponding to each of the frames, calculate a steering angle corresponding to each of the frames by using a sequence based on the reference steering angle, perform scan conversion upon the ultrasound data to form the frames, and perform spatial compound imaging upon images of spatially overlapped regions in the frames to form an ultrasound spatial compound image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing system for enhancing the image quality of an ultrasound image.

Abstract: An ultrasound system comprises: a probe having a transducer array of n transducer elements for transmitting ultrasound signals, said n transducer elements being associated with respective scan lines; a steering angle calculating unit for calculating steering angles of the scan lines by using series determined by a relation between the steering angles of at least two scan lines; and a control unit for controlling transmission of the ultrasound signals such that the ultrasound signals can be focused along the scan lines based on the calculated steering angles of the scan lines.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing system, which includes: a volume data processor for forming volume data based on image signals and setting at least one frame in the volume data; an AGC/LGC parameter setting unit for setting axial gain compensation (AGC) and lateral gain compensation (LGC) parameters based on the frame; a gain parameter setting unit for setting a gain parameter based on the frame; an amplifying unit for performing AGC/LGC upon image signals based on the AGC/LGC parameters and amplifying the image signals based on the gain parameter; a brightness adjusting unit for analyzing intensities of pixels included in the volume data formed based on the image signal performing the AGC/LGC and adjusting the gain, and adjusting brightness of the volume data based on the analysis result; and an image processor for forming images based on the frame and the volume data.

Abstract: A cradle for a portable terminal is disclosed. The cradle may include a bottom portion, a first support portion, and a second support portion. The bottom portion may have a frictional surface on top and bottom surfaces thereof. The first support portion may be located at one side end of the bottom portion and may face the bottom portion. The first support portion may have resilience for deformation and can support a portable terminal. The bottom portion, the first support portion, and the second support portion can support the cradled portable terminal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasound system for forming an ultrasound image by using a plurality of sub-frames, comprising: a plurality of transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals along a plurality of scan lines to obtain sub-frames; a determination unit for locating a common point where extensions of said scan lines with respect to the transducers intersect, determine a plurality of virtual common points based on the located common point and determine a plurality of transducer groups, steering angles and a plurality of scan-line groups; a controller responsive to a change of the sub-frames to select scan lines corresponding to the changed sub-frame and adjust steering angles of the selected scan lines based on the plurality of transducer groups, the steering angles and the plurality of scan-line groups; and a processor for synthesizing the plurality of sub-frames to form an ultrasound image.

Abstract: A system and method of performing a high speed filtering of data by using a GPU is disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, the system and method of processing data by using a graphic processing unit (GPU) including a video memory comprising multiple blocks, comprises: acquiring an image frame including a plurality of pixels representative of a target object; receiving a user input for processing the image frame; grouping each predetermined number of the pixels of the image frame into a group; uploading each of the groups to a respective block of the video memory; and performing operations on the groups uploaded to the video memory based on the user input.

Abstract: An instrument-playing portable communication device is provided. The device includes an instrument-playing key unit having one or more keys, provided on a body of the instrument-playing portable communication device. When a user selects a chord of a selected instrument by pressing at least one of the one or more keys, the instrument-playing key unit converts the at least one key press into a first signal. The device also includes a sensor unit mounted in the body, for sensing a motion of a user. When the user presses the at least one of the one or more keys and moves in a location near the sensor unit, the sensor unit senses a motion of the user and converts the motion into a second signal. The device further includes a controller for receiving the first signal from the instrument-playing key unit and the second signal from the sensor unit, generating a tone frequency of the selected instrument based on the received signals, and converting the tone frequency into a tone.

Abstract: Embodiments for ultrasound data processing in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a mapping table, in which linear operation information is associated with a plurality of diagnostic modes, is stored in a storage unit. If there is an instruction to select at least one of the diagnostic modes, then an ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits/receives ultrasound signals to/from a target object to thereby acquire ultrasound data according to the selected diagnostic mode. A processing unit forms an ultrasound data matrix based on the ultrasound data and retrieves the linear operation information associated with the selected diagnostic mode from the mapping table to form linear operation matrices. Further, the processing unit performs a matrix operation of the ultrasound data matrix and the linear operation matrices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable communication apparatus. The portable communication apparatus includes a main housing having an upper surface divided into a first area including a first key array having a plurality of keys and a second area aligned downwardly from the first area, and a swing housing provided at an upper surface thereof with a display unit and aligned in the second area while facing the second area in order to selectively open or close the second area.

Abstract: A sliding/folding-type portable apparatus includes a body housing; a sliding housing adapted to travel along the longitudinal direction of the body housing while continuously facing it to expose or hide the top surface of the body housing; a folding housing adapted to rotate about a first hinge axis to fold on or unfold from the sliding housing and to rotate about a second hinge axis, which is perpendicular to the first hinge axis, to reverse the top and bottom surfaces thereof; and a dual-axis hinge sliding module connected between the sliding housing and the folding housing to provide the folding housing with the first and second hinge axes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system includes: an image processing unit for forming at least one 3-dimensional ultrasound image based on ultrasound echoes reflected from a target object; an input unit for receiving a setup instruction; and a control unit for outputting a first control signal for setting at least one predefined sample volume on the 3-dimensional ultrasound image in response to the setup instruction. The image processing unit is further configured to form at least one spectral Doppler image corresponding to the sample volume in response to the first control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. A control generates a first control signal for a B-mode scan and a second control signal for a C-mode scan. A transmit/receive unit transmits ultrasound signals along a plurality of scan lines set in a target object and form receive signals based on the ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object. The receive signals include first receive signals corresponding to the scan lines and second receive signals corresponding to a portion of scan lines within the color box. The image processing unit forms a B-mode image and a C-mode image based on the first and second receive signals, and combine the B-mode image with the C-mode image to form a BC-mode image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system includes a control unit, a transmit/receive unit and an image processing unit. The control unit generates first and second control signals for a B-mode scan and a C-mode scan. The transmit/receive unit transmits ultrasound signals along a plurality of scan lines set in a target object and form receive signals based on the ultrasound echo signals. The receive signals include first and second receive signals formed in response to the first and second control signals, respectively. The ultrasound system further includes a storage unit for storing the first and second receive signals. The image processing unit forms a B-mode image and a C-mode image based on the first and second receive signals stored in the storage unit, and combines the B-mode image with the C-mode image to form a BC-mode image.