Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for ultrasonic color imaging applicable in medical diagnoses and industrial inspections. Multiple color parameters calculated via evaluating a plurality of characterizing properties of the ultrasonic signal attributable to an image point are employed to specify the color of the image point. The produced color image simultaneously exhibits the interior distributions of multiple physical properties of the target under ultrasound inspection, provides much richer interior information of the target than what traditional, single imaging parameter based ultrasonic imaging can provide. The invention enables far more and easier-to-perceive information to be communicated to image viewer's brain, significantly improves the efficiency of image reading, the capability of abnormality discrimination, and the accuracy and reliability of ultrasound inspection.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for ultrasonic color imaging that characterizes ultra-fine structures and distributional physical conditions within the target under inspection. The disclosed complementarily incorporates information arising from a plurality of repeated sound trips forced by repeated reflections of exterior and interior interfaces of target, and expresses the information into an image segment representing the main path that ultrasonic signals traveled within the target. The image produced is substantially more discriminative, descriptive, and position-sensitive to both acoustic interfaces and distributional acoustic characteristics of the target. The invention is especially useful for thin sheet targets most vulnerable to both non-continuous and continuous interior defects.