Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus which uses at least part of an array of a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators as an aperture for ultrasonic beam formation, sends ultrasonic waves into an object, receives echoes from the object, delays the output echo signals of a plurality of vibrators participating in receiving the echoes by a given quantity, adds up the delayed echo signals for echo beam forming, and forms a picture of an internal structure of the object by using the signals obtained by echo beam forming, the echo beam forming is characterized by forming a plurality of partial apertures in an aperture of an array of ultrasonic vibrators, delaying the echo signals provided by groups of vibrators included in the plurality of partial apertures by a given quantity determined so that a plurality of echo beams having a common focal point are formed, adding up the delayed echo signals of each group, detecting the respective sums of the delayed echo signals of the groups, and adding up the respective detected s

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device according to the present invention in which a driving mechanism for driving vibrators in an opening port for the transmission of ultrasonic waves with weighting can be the one of low cost and low heat loss is characterized in that a plurality of driving signals for driving a plurality of vibrators in an opening port for the transmission of ultrasonic waves are made to have different waveforms from each other for weighting.

Abstract: A received ultrasonic phase matching circuit of the present invention, which utilizes variable delay lines having short delay times as the structural element of variable focus means having a larger aperture and realizes focusing to the regions from the region near the surface of object and to the deeper region thereof, comprises variable attenuators to be controlled individually and variable delay lines having the equal maximum delay times also to be controlled individually to the respective receiving channels forming the maximum aperture for reception of the ultrasonic echoes to form variable aperture by controlling variable attenuators and distribution of delay times for focusing in the aperture using only the variable delay times belonging to such aperture and add and combine the receiving signals delayed by the variable delay lines in the beam steering means.

Abstract: A pulse Doppler ultrasonic diagnostic system capable of invariably obtaining best Doppler signals with respect to an arbitrary sample volume length under the condition that mean power of transmit ultrasonic waves is restricted to a constant value. The system has a device for making the mean power constant and a device for making a burst wave number variable for transmit ultrasonic signals and also includes a device for making an integration interval length variable for ultrasonic receiving signals, thereby controlling the burst wave number of the transmit ultrasonic waves and the integration interval length of the ultrasonic receiving signals.

Abstract: To apply our new invention in the most preferred application mode, we used an ultrasonic diagnostic system that can instantaneously switch over to the CW Doppler method or B-mode imaging method when both methods are combined using a commonly applicable array probe. The ultrasonic diagnostic system based on this new invention is configured with the following features:Dividing multiple vibrating elements of a commonly applicable array probe (3) into two groups, (3T) and (3R), andconnecting the first vibrating element group (3T) to the first transmitting driver (2T) to which low voltage is supplied by the power supply (4), and connecting the second vibrating element group (3R) to the second transmitting driver (2R) to which high voltage is supplied by the power supply (4).

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging apparatus is disclosed in which an ultrasonic wave transmit/receive apparatus is used in common for both 2-dimensional B-mode imaging and for measurement of pulsed Doppler signals, by time sharing operation. The good real time characteristics of 2-dimensional B-mode imaging are retained, together with a sufficiently high data rate for pulsed Doppler measurement, through use of simple means for performing interpolation in the Doppler signals Ultrasonic wave transmit/receive means (21,23 to 25,27) repetitively execute combinations of ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences, each combination consisting of a plurality of pulsed Doppler mode ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences and a single 2-dimensional B-mode imaging ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequence. Demodulator means (38 to 41) demodulate the Doppler signals, based on the received signals that are acquired during the pulsed Doppler mode ultrasonic wave transmit/receive sequences.

Abstract: An improved matrix switch circuit comprising an array of analog switches disposed in the form of a matrix and one or more control memories for storing control signals which cause their respective switches of the array to open or close. An interface is provided between the control memories and the array of the switches. The interface receives the control signals from the control memories and holds them. The held signals are then supplied to the switches of the array. While the switches of the array are being controlled according to the control signals held in the interface, the contents of the control memories can be changed at any desired instant.

Abstract: A Doppler signal analyzing apparatus is capable of frequency analysis of a Doppler signal with frequency and time resolutions that match the frequency band of a signal to be analyzed. The signal to be analyzed is divided into a plurality of frequency bands by bandpass means (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2, 10.sub.3), and signals in the frequency bands which have passed through the bandpass means are acquired by signal acquiring means (11) over time slots that are smaller for higher-frequency signals and larger for lower-frequency signals. The signals acquired by the signal acquiring means are subjected to a Fourier transform by Fourier transform means (14).

Abstract: In ultrasonic transmission from and reception by an array probe in a phased array sonar, when an ultrasonic beam is directed substantially in front of the array probe, an ultrasonic wave having a high center frequency f.sub.o, or a bandwidth extending into higher frequencies, is transmitted and/or received in order to insure a high image resolution. When the ultrasonic beam is steered sideways, an ultrasonic wave having a lower center frequency f.sub.o, or a higher frequency range cutoff in relation to a steering angle .theta., is transmitted and/or received in order to increase the angle at which grating lobes are generated and hence prevent such grating lobes from entering the angle range of the field of view.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, such as for use in ultrasonography, comprising a support having a front end, which may be held against a human body, and a central groove in the side thereof for guiding a puncture needle to move therethrough, and an array of rectangular ultrasonic transducer elements mounted on and lying flatwise on the front end, wherein one or more ultrasonic transducer elements are located adjacent to an open end of the groove at the front end between the other transducer elements, whereby the image display of the needle is improved.

Abstract: An echo signal receiver receives higher level echo signals reflected from strong reflections sources or reflecting sources at areas close to a probe in a range of higher frequencies, and also receives lower level echo signals reflected from weak reflection sources or sources at areas remote from the probe in a range of low frequencies. The echo signal receiver comprises a multiple stage amplifier circuit for receiving the echo signal. Outputs from amplifiers at front stages are delivered via filters having higher frequency bands, and outputs from amplifiers at rear stages are delivered via filters having lower frequency bands. The outputs are passed through the filters and then combined into a single processed echo signal.