Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including: a plurality of transducers; a plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits individually corresponding to the plurality of transducers, the plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits having a variable resistor feedback unit making a resistance value variable by an electrical signal inputted to a control terminal; and a control circuit; wherein the control circuit has a dummy circuit generating a bias voltage of a feedback unit of the low-noise amplifier circuit, and an adding circuit outputting an added signal of a bias voltage by the dummy circuit and a control signal increasing or decreasing with a lapse of time; and the plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits input an output of the adding circuit to the control terminal of the variable resistor feedback unit to perform variable control on a gain of the low-noise amplifier circuit.

Abstract: To provide a probe including a TGC circuit therein. The probe includes a plurality of receive circuits. Each receive circuit includes: an ultrasound transducer; a transmit/receive switch; a variable attenuator; a first capacitor; and an amplifier. The ultrasound transducer converts the receive signal into a ground level electric signal and outputs the ground level electric signal as a first output signal. The transmit/receive switch is connected to a first signal line, and switches depending on whether to output the first output signal output from the ultrasound transducer to the first signal line. The variable attenuator includes a control terminal and two terminals, and changes a resistance value between the two terminals other than the control terminal based on a control signal input to the control terminal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of quantitatively measuring physical properties including both viscosity and elasticity. A viscoelasticity measurement system includes a measurement apparatus, a processor, and a display apparatus. The measurement apparatus includes a movable unit continuously pressed against a measurement object, a first sensor outputting acceleration information corresponding to an acceleration of pressing-directional movement of a contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object, and a second sensor outputting reactive force information corresponding to a reactive force applied to the contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object. The processor calculates first information on an elasticity component of the measurement object and second information on a viscosity component of the measurement object based on the acceleration information and the reactive force information.

Abstract: A two-dimensional array ultrasound probe, which is enabled for ultrasonic reception operation of a continuous wave Doppler mode (C mode) and an imaging mode (B mode). The probe includes a reception circuit provided for each transducer and a first multiplexer; a plurality of first wires connected to the first multiplexer; a second wire connected to a plurality of first wires outside the array; switches that are provided to the second wire and that can be turned off to adapt to phasing addition units; a plurality of second multiplexers connected to the second wire and a plurality of first output ports for the first mode; and a plurality of second output ports that are connected to each region between the switches on the second wire and that are used in the second mode.

Abstract: A switch circuit connected to a transducer, a reception circuit connected to the switch circuit, a first switch element connected to a reception terminal provided between the switch circuit and the reception circuit, a first resistance element connected to a control terminal of the switch circuit, a second resistance element provided inside the reception circuit, and a second switch element provided inside the reception circuit are provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes: a plurality of transducers that perform electro-acoustic conversion on transmission pulses applied thereto to generate a transmission beam of ultrasonic waves; and transmission/reception circuits that are provided so as to correspond to each of the plurality of transducers. The transmission/reception circuits set transmission/reception switching timings at which the ultrasonic waves are switched from transmission to reception independently for each of the plurality of transducers.

Abstract: To provide a probe including a TGC circuit therein. The probe includes a plurality of receive circuits. Each receive circuit includes: an ultrasound transducer; a transmit/receive switch; a variable attenuator; a first capacitor; and an amplifier. The ultrasound transducer converts the receive signal into a ground level electric signal and outputs the ground level electric signal as a first output signal. The transmit/receive switch is connected to a first signal line, and switches depending on whether to output the first output signal output from the ultrasound transducer to the first signal line. The variable attenuator includes a control terminal and two terminals, and changes a resistance value between the two terminals other than the control terminal based on a control signal input to the control terminal.

Abstract: Provided is a probe which transmits an ultrasonic wave to a diagnostic site and receives a reception signal which is a reflected wave.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of quantitatively measuring physical properties including both viscosity and elasticity. A viscoelasticity measurement system includes a measurement apparatus, a processor, and a display apparatus. The measurement apparatus includes a movable unit continuously pressed against a measurement object, a first sensor outputting acceleration information corresponding to an acceleration of pressing-directional movement of a contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object, and a second sensor outputting reactive force information corresponding to a reactive force applied to the contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object. The processor calculates first information on an elasticity component of the measurement object and second information on a viscosity component of the measurement object based on the acceleration information and the reactive force information.

Abstract: A two-dimensional array ultrasound probe, which is enabled for ultrasonic reception operation of a continuous wave Doppler mode (C mode) and an imaging mode (B mode). The probe includes a reception circuit provided for each transducer and a first multiplexer; a plurality of first wires connected to the first multiplexer; a second wire connected to a plurality of first wires outside the array; switches that are provided to the second wire and that can be turned off to adapt to phasing addition units; a plurality of second multiplexers connected to the second wire and a plurality of first output ports for the first mode; and a plurality of second output ports that are connected to each region between the switches on the second wire and that are used in the second mode.

Abstract: Provided is a probe which transmits an ultrasonic wave to a diagnostic site and receives a reception signal which is a reflected wave.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of quantitatively measuring physical properties including both of viscosity and elasticity. A viscoelasticity measurement system includes a measurement apparatus, a processor, and a display apparatus. The measurement apparatus includes a movable unit continuously pressed against a measurement object, a first sensor outputting acceleration information corresponding to an acceleration of pressing-directional movement of a contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object, and a second sensor outputting reactive force information corresponding to a reactive force applied to the contact portion of the movable unit with respect to the measurement object. The processor calculates first information on an elasticity component of the measurement object and second information on a viscosity component of the measurement object based on the acceleration information and the reactive force information.

Abstract: Provided are a two-dimensional array ultrasonic probe and an addition circuit that switch an addition unit of a reception signal according to a reception channel of a main unit while preventing an increase in a chip area. The addition circuit includes, between addition output terminals that output an addition signal and transducer channels, wirings provided for each transducer channel row including the transducer channels arranged in a vertical direction on a subarray basis and coupled to the transducer channels of the corresponding transducer channel row, output switches provided for each of the wirings and coupled to the corresponding transducer channel row wiring, and an inter-output switch that couples wirings corresponding to transducer channel rows adjacent in the horizontal direction via the output switches.

Abstract: Provided is a probe which transmits an ultrasonic wave to a diagnostic site and receives a reception signal which is a reflected wave.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe including: a plurality of transducers; a plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits individually corresponding to the plurality of transducers, the plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits having a variable resistor feedback unit making a resistance value variable by an electrical signal inputted to a control terminal; and a control circuit; wherein the control circuit has a dummy circuit generating a bias voltage of a feedback unit of the low-noise amplifier circuit, and an adding circuit outputting an added signal of a bias voltage by the dummy circuit and a control signal increasing or decreasing with a lapse of time; and the plurality of low-noise amplifier circuits input an output of the adding circuit to the control terminal of the variable resistor feedback unit to perform variable control on a gain of the low-noise amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a potential relation between a common emitter amplifier circuit (amplifier circuit body) including an NPN transistor (bipolar transistor) and a clamp circuit which maintains a potential relation between a base-collector of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit. The clamp circuit includes a level shift circuit and a clamp diode for suppressing a decrease in the collector potential of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis device includes: an ultrasound probe which transmits an ultrasound wave toward a examinee and receives a reflected wave from the examinee; and a main device which controls the transmitting and receiving of the ultrasound waves from the ultrasound probe and is operated to receive a receiving signal obtained by receiving the reflected wave from the examinee by the ultrasound probe, to generate an ultrasound image of the examinee, and to display the ultrasound image on a display screen, wherein the ultrasound probe includes a plurality of subarrays having a plurality of element circuits transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals and a plurality of reference voltage sources, and the plurality of subarrays and the plurality of reference voltage sources have a one-to-one correspondence.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a potential relation between a common emitter amplifier circuit (amplifier circuit body) including an NPN transistor (bipolar transistor) and a clamp circuit which maintains a potential relation between a base-collector of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit. The clamp circuit includes a level shift circuit and a clamp diode for suppressing a decrease in the collector potential of the NPN transistor of the common emitter amplifier circuit.

Abstract: Provided is a gyroscope including: a first inertial body that is displaceable in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second inertial body that is displaceable in the first direction and the second direction; a third inertial body that is displaceable in the first direction and the second direction; a fourth inertial body that is displaceable in the first direction and the second direction; a first connection unit that supports the first inertial body; a second connection unit that supports the second inertial body; a third connection unit that supports the third inertial body; a fourth connection unit that supports the fourth inertial body; and a connection body that is provided among the first inertial body, the second inertial body, the third inertial body, and the fourth inertial body and connects the first inertial body, the second inertial body, the third inertial body, and the fourth inertial body.

Abstract: A switch circuit connected to a transducer, a reception circuit connected to the switch circuit, a first switch element connected to a reception terminal provided between the switch circuit and the reception circuit, a first resistance element connected to a control terminal of the switch circuit, a second resistance element provided inside the reception circuit, and a second switch element provided inside the reception circuit are provided.