Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for a compact, inexpensive ultrasound system using an off-the-shelf personal digital assistant (PDA) device interfacing to a hand-held probe assembly through a standard digital interface. The hand-held probe assembly comprises a detachable transducer head attached to a beamforming module that performs digital beamforming. The PDA runs Windows applications and displays menus and images to a user. The PDA also runs ultrasound data processing software to support a plurality of imaging modes. An internal battery is provided in the PDA to power the system. The transducer head is detachable from the beamforming module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transitioning a transducer voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level are provided. A method includes pulling a transducer voltage to the first voltage level, pulling the transducer voltage from the first voltage level to an intermediate voltage level, and pulling the transducer voltage from the intermediate voltage level to the second voltage level. The intermediate voltage level includes an intermediate voltage level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.

Abstract: A transmission circuit for use with an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The transmission circuit includes a high voltage current DAC configured to output a drive current of an ultrasonic transducer to transmit and receive ultrasound, and a waveform generator configured to output a control signal from the high voltage current DAC to the high voltage current DAC with a predetermined timing. The control signal configured to output the drive current with a desired magnitude.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage.

Abstract: A transmission circuit for use with an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The transmission circuit includes a high voltage current DAC configured to output a drive current of an ultrasonic transducer to transmit and receive ultrasound, and a waveform generator configured to output a control signal from the high voltage current DAC to the high voltage current DAC with a predetermined timing. The control signal configured to output the drive current with a desired magnitude.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer drive circuit for driving an ultrasonic transducer by outputting pulses including a positive pulse and a negative pulse to an output line is provided. The ultrasonic transducer includes a positive voltage supply circuit, a negative voltage supply circuit, a current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is positive voltage, and a current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit configured to operate when voltage in the output line is negative voltage, wherein the current-inflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the negative pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is positive voltage, and the current-outflow-type ground clamp circuit is configured to enter an operation state at a time of generating the positive pulse in a state where the voltage in the output line is negative voltage.

Abstract: A transmission circuit for use with an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The transmission circuit includes a high voltage current DAC configured to output a drive current of an ultrasonic transducer to transmit and receive ultrasound, and a waveform generator configured to output a control signal from the high voltage current DAC to the high voltage current DAC with a predetermined timing. The control signal configured to output the drive current with a desired magnitude.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image display apparatus power circuit is provided. The power circuit includes a high-voltage fixed power supply portion configured to boost a voltage of a low-voltage power supply and generate positive and negative voltages, a bias voltage output portion connected to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion and configured to output a bias voltage to a switch configured to switch an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave, a transmission power supply portion connected to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion, the transmission power supply portion configured to supply transmission power for the ultrasonic wave to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to regenerate the transmission power as regeneration power to the high-voltage fixed power supply portion, and a regenerative electric power storage portion provided between the high-voltage fixed power supply portion and the transmission power supply portion and configured to store regeneration power.

Abstract: A receiving circuit in an ultrasonic probe that includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves is provided. The receiving unit includes an amplification unit configured to amplify an echo signal received at the ultrasonic transducer. The amplification unit includes a current output amplifier. The receiving circuit further includes a delay unit configured to provide a delay time to output signals of the amplification unit.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe connected to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured to transmit an ultrasound beam to a target object is provided. The ultrasound probe includes a switching unit including N/2 channels, each channel configured to switch between a first pole and a second pole, wherein N is a natural number, N/2 first transducer elements connected to the first pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein a placement is defined in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, and N/2 second transducer elements connected to the second pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein the placement is defined in the x-axis and y-axis directions, wherein a placement of a channel number of the first transducer elements and a placement of a channel number of the second transducer elements differ in the x-axis and y-axis directions.

Abstract: A voltage generating circuit generates a voltage for driving an ultrasonic oscillator, and includes a multi-stage connected power supply circuit without a transformer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe in which a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are located posterior to an oscillator; and a surface temperature calculation device for calculating a surface temperature of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a first detection temperature Ta detected by the first temperature sensor and a second detection temperature Tb detected by the second temperature sensor. Also, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe in which a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are embedded in a backing material; and a surface temperature calculation device for calculating a surface temperature Ts of the ultrasonic probe on the basis of a first detection temperature Ta detected by the first temperature sensor and a second detection temperature Tb detected by the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer drive circuit includes an output line connected to an ultrasound transducer, a plurality of switching circuits each of which turns on and off a connection of a power supply unit with the output line, a plurality of ground clamp circuits each of which turns on and off a connection of the output line with ground, and a control signal output unit which outputs control signals for turning on and off the switching circuits and the ground clamp circuits. The switching circuits are different in impedance from one another, and the ground clamp circuits are different in impedance from one another.

Abstract: With the aim of suppressing power consumption and reducing circuit size, a positive FET is turned on in accordance with a positive pulse signal and turned off when a return voltage rises up to a positive threshold. An active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time. A negative FET is turned on in accordance with a negative pulse signal and turned off when the return voltage falls down to a negative threshold. The active ground clamp circuit causes the output line to return to the ground voltage after the elapse of a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: With the aim of quickly returning the voltage of an output line to an ultrasonic transducer from a positive voltage or a negative voltage to the ground voltage and reducing the circuit size, immediately after turning on and turning off of a positive FET in accordance with a positive pulse signal, a negative FET goes on for only a pull-back period allowing for the output line to return to the ground voltage. Also, immediately after turning on and turning off of the negative FET in accordance with a negative pulse signal, the positive FET goes on for only a pull-back period allowing for the output line to return to the ground voltage.

Abstract: The transmitter/receiver for a convex probe and linear probe are used to drive a sector probe. Usually, when an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus using a convex probe and linear probe uses a sector probe, it selects vibration elements of N in number, which is equal to the number of channels of the sector probe, out of vibration elements of L in number (N is smaller than L), so that the selected elements are distributed at a virtually constant pitch in the alignment of vibration elements, and turns on only high voltage switches which are connected with the selected vibration elements to implement the sector scanning with the transmitter/receiver. It becomes possible to implement the sector scanning by using the transmitter/receiver having channels less than the number of vibration elements of the sector probe.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a delay device having an analog delay line adaptable to a plurality of frequencies with a less number of taps. The analog delay line has a maximum delay amount equivalent to a wavelength from over a ? wavelength of a predetermined maximum wavelength of an input signal to under a 1 wavelength thereof. Tap intervals up to a delay point equivalent to ½ of a predetermined minimum wavelength of the input signal are different from tap intervals placed ahead of those. The maximum wavelength is a wavelength of a signal having a frequency of 2 MHz, for example, and the minimum wavelength is a wavelength of a signal having a frequency of 5 MHz, for example.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a pulsar including an output line coupled to a piezoelectric transducer and a plurality of first push-pull circuits whose output units are coupled to the output line, and a power source unit which supplies a plurality of power source voltages with different levels to the first push-pull circuits. At least one of the first push-pull circuits includes first rectification elements which prevent reverse current from flowing into first complementary transistors configuring the first push-pull circuit. The pulsar includes a second push-pull circuit whose output unit is coupled to the output line, the same power source voltage as in the first push-pull circuit with the first rectification elements is applied to the second push-pull circuit, and current in the direction opposite to that in the first push-pull circuit flows in the second push-pull circuit by turning on second complementary transistors configuring the second push-pull circuit.

Abstract: A voltage generating circuit generates a voltage for driving an ultrasonic oscillator, and includes a multi-stage connected power supply circuit without a transformer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a plurality of transmission/reception units each having a probe connector, a transmission/reception section, and a power supply, a plurality of display units each having an image display section and a power supply, a plurality of operation units each having an operation section and a power supply, a single control unit, and a communication means for communicably connecting said control unit to said transmission/reception units, said display units, and said operation units. The control unit has a unit control means for individually controlling said plurality of transmission/reception units, said plurality of display units, and said plurality of operation units, all of which are connected to said control unit, and a software management section for managing enable/disable of softwares for respectively controlling said plurality of display units and said plurality of operation units.