Ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit and working method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit and a working method, wherein the analog front-end circuit comprises a multiplexer, the low-noise amplifier is a plurality of different types, the signal input ends of the plurality of low-noise amplifiers are respectively connected to the signal output ends of the transmitting and receiving switch, the input end of the multiplexer is connected to the amplified signal output end of the low-noise amplifier, and the output end of the multiplexer is connected to the input end of the bandpass filter. The working method is used in conjunction with the analog front-end circuit, and a state monitoring module is set, which can manually or automatically select a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer connected according to different types of ultrasonic transducers connected, so as to ensure that the working state of the ultrasonic transducer is normal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of ultrasonic imaging equipment, and in particular to an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit and a working method. Background Art

[0002] Ultrasonic imaging uses ultrasonic sound beams to scan the human body, and obtains images of organs in the body by receiving and processing reflected signals. Ultrasonic transducers (ultrasonic probes) are an important part of medical ultrasound instruments, and they play a very important role in the development of new medical instruments and medical research. Micromechanical ultrasonic transducers have the advantages of low acoustic impedance, high sensitivity, wide bandwidth, large-scale manufacturing, low cost, small size, and easy electronic integration. This makes micromechanical ultrasonic transducers also widely used in medical devices such as handheld ultrasound and ultrasonic endoscopes. Compared with micromechanical ultrasonic transducers, traditional ultrasonic transducers can generate greater sound pressure, stronger penetration, and simpler preparation processes. Therefore, traditional ultrasonic transducers are still widely used in desktop and tabletop ultrasonic diagnostic instruments.

[0003] The dedicated multi-channel front-end integrated circuit (Analog Front End, AFE) of ultrasound imaging equipment is one of the core key components of ultrasound instruments. At present, most ultrasound instruments on the market use front-end circuit solutions from three multinational semiconductor companies: Analog Devices, Texas Instruments and Maxim Integrated. Domestic ultrasound front-end integrated circuit solutions are not yet available. In addition, the ultrasound front-end circuit solutions on the market are all designed for traditional piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers. Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) requires a transimpedance amplifier to amplify the current signal generated by the CMUT transducer into a voltage signal, while traditional ultrasound front-end circuits are mostly voltage amplifiers, so they are not fully compatible with micromachined ultrasonic transducers. The analog front-end circuits currently used on the market can no longer meet the needs of new equipment and new situations. There is an urgent need for an analog front-end circuit that can adapt to a variety of ultrasonic transducers to fill this gap. Summary of the invention

[0004] The first object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit that can be adapted to a variety of ultrasonic transducers. The first object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0005] An ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit comprises a transceiver switch, a pulse generator, a low noise amplifier, a bandpass filter, a gain amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter and a register; the pulse receiving end of the transceiver switch is connected to the pulse output end of the pulse generator, the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch is connected to the ultrasonic transducer, the front end of the gain amplifier is connected to the output end of the bandpass filter, the back end of the gain amplifier is connected to the analog input end of the analog-to-digital converter, and the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to an ultrasonic imaging device; the register input end of the register is connected to the ultrasonic imaging device, and the register output end is respectively connected to the control end of the bandpass filter, the gain amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter; the circuit is characterized in that it also comprises a multiplexer, the low noise amplifiers are multiple of different types, the signal input ends of the multiple low noise amplifiers are respectively connected to the signal output ends of the transceiver switch, the input end of the multiplexer is connected to the amplified signal output end of the low noise amplifier, and the output end of the multiplexer is connected to the input end of the bandpass filter.

[0006] In the above technical solution, by setting a multiplexer and multiple low-noise amplifiers of different types in the analog front-end circuit, when different types of ultrasonic transducers are connected, a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the ultrasonic transducer is selected to adapt to the working requirements of different ultrasonic transducers, thereby improving the versatility and compatibility of the analog front-end circuit.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the multiplexer is a demultiplexer, the input end of the demultiplexer is connected to the signal output end of the transceiver switch, the output end of the demultiplexer is connected to the signal input ends of multiple low-noise amplifiers, and the amplified signal output ends of the multiple low-noise amplifiers are respectively connected to the input ends of the bandpass filter.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, there are two multiplexers, namely a first multiplexer and a second multiplexer. The first multiplexer is a demultiplexer. The input end of the first multiplexer is connected to the signal output end of the receiving and transmitting switch, and the output end of the first multiplexer is connected to the original signal input ends of multiple low-noise amplifiers; the input end of the second multiplexer is connected to the amplified signal output end of the low-noise amplifier, and the output end of the second multiplexer is connected to the input end of the bandpass filter.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, a first switch is arranged between the pulse receiving end and the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch, and a second switch is arranged between the transducer connection end and the signal output end. When the analog front-end circuit is working, one of the first switch and the second switch is closed.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the number of the low-noise amplifiers is three, which are respectively suitable for capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducers, piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducers, and piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the low noise amplifier suitable for the capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducer is a transimpedance amplifier.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, it further comprises a state monitoring module, wherein the monitoring input terminal and the monitoring output terminal of the state monitoring module are respectively connected to the same element as the signal input terminal and the amplified signal output terminal of the low noise amplifier.

[0013] In this analog front-end circuit, by setting up multiple different types of low-noise amplifiers and status monitoring modules, it is possible to manually or automatically select a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer connected, according to the different types of ultrasonic transducers connected, to ensure that the ultrasonic transducer is in normal working condition.

[0014] The second object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit working method, which can select different working modes according to different ultrasonic transducer types. The first object of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0015] A method for operating an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit is characterized in that: using the analog front-end circuit described above, the method comprises the following steps:

[0016] (1) connecting the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch of the analog front-end circuit to the ultrasonic transducer; connecting the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter, the transceiver control end of the transceiver switch, the pulse control end of the pulse generator, the register input end of the register, and the controlled end of the multiplexer to the ultrasonic imaging device;

[0017] (2) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the pulse control terminal of the pulse generator and the receiving and transmitting control terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch to control the pulse receiving terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch to be connected with the transducer connection terminal, and the transducer connection terminal and the signal output terminal to be disconnected, and the pulse generator sends a pulse signal to the ultrasonic transducer through the receiving and transmitting switch;

[0018] (3) After the pulse signal is sent, the ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the receiving and transmitting control end of the receiving and transmitting switch to control the pulse receiving end of the receiving and transmitting switch to be disconnected from the transducer connection end and the transducer connection end to be connected to the signal output end; sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer to control the multiplexer to select the channel where the status monitoring module is located;

[0019] (4) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer according to the type of the connected ultrasonic transducer, controlling the multiplexer to select the type of low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0020] In the above technical scheme, by using in conjunction with the analog front-end circuit described above, the analog front-end circuit is connected between the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic imaging device. According to the different types of ultrasonic transducers connected, a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer connected can be selected, thereby improving the versatility of the analog front-end circuit.

[0021] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step (4), the multiplexer selects the type of low-noise amplifier that matches the type of the ultrasonic transducer manually.

[0022] As a further improvement of the present invention, between step (3) and step (4), the following steps are further included:

[0023] The analog front-end circuit receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic transducer, the status monitoring module monitors the type and working status of the ultrasonic transducer, and outputs it to the ultrasonic imaging device through the monitoring output terminal; in the step (4), the multiplexer selects the type of low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer to automatically select the monitored ultrasonic transducer type.

[0024] In this working method, by cooperating with the analog front-end circuit described above, a status monitoring module is set up, which can manually or automatically select a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer connected, according to the different types of ultrasonic transducers connected, to ensure that the ultrasonic transducer is in normal working condition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a first low noise amplifier provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second low noise amplifier provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a third low noise amplifier provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of a working method of an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The specific implementation of the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of convenience, the above, below, left, right, front, and back directions may be defined in this application to facilitate the clear description of the relative position relationship of the structure, and are not used to limit the actual direction of the product during production, use, and sales. The specific implementation of the present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0031] Embodiment 1

[0032] See also Figure 1-Figure 4 , an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit, including a transmitting and receiving switch, a pulse generator, a low noise amplifier, a state monitoring module, a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, a bandpass filter, a gain amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter and a register.

[0033] The receiving and transmitting switch has three connection ends, namely a pulse receiving end, a signal output end and a transducing connection end. A first switch is arranged between the pulse receiving end and the transducing connection end, and a second switch is arranged between the transducing connection end and the signal output end. When the analog front-end circuit is working, one of the first switch and the second switch is closed.

[0034] The first multiplexer is a demultiplexer, the input end of the first multiplexer is connected to the signal output end of the receiving and transmitting switch, and the output end of the first multiplexer is connected to the original signal input ends of the multiple low-noise amplifiers; the input end of the second multiplexer is connected to the amplified signal output end of the low-noise amplifier, and the output end of the second multiplexer is connected to the input end of the bandpass filter. The front end of the gain amplifier is connected to the output end of the bandpass filter, the back end of the gain amplifier is connected to the analog input end of the analog-to-digital converter, and the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the ultrasonic imaging device. The register input end of the register is connected to the ultrasonic imaging device, and the register output end is respectively connected to the control end of the bandpass filter, the gain amplifier, and the analog-to-digital converter.

[0035] The low noise amplifiers are three of different types (as other feasible technical solutions, the number and type of the low noise amplifiers can be selected and adapted according to the number and type of ultrasonic transducers that may be connected). The first low noise amplifier is suitable for capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducers and is a transimpedance amplifier. The second low noise amplifier is suitable for piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducers. The third low noise amplifier is suitable for piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers. The signal input ends of the three low noise amplifiers are respectively connected to the three different output ends of the first multiplexer, and the amplified signal output ends are respectively connected to the three different input ends of the second multiplexer. The monitoring input end of the state monitoring module is connected to an output end of the first multiplexer, and the monitoring output end is connected to an input end of the second multiplexer.

[0036] As other feasible technical solutions, the multiplexer may include only one of the first multiplexer (demultiplexer) or the second multiplexer. When only the first multiplexer is included, only one channel of the three different types of low noise amplifiers and the state monitoring module is used for signal transmission; when only the second multiplexer is included, the three different types of low noise amplifiers and the four channels of the state monitoring module are used for signal transmission, but only one of the channels is selected in the second multiplexer for signal transmission to the back-end bandpass filter.

[0037] By connecting the analog front-end circuit between the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic imaging device, and manually or automatically selecting different low-noise amplifiers to adapt to different types of ultrasonic transducers, the feedback signals with different characteristics from different types of ultrasonic transducers are converted into digital signals that can be recognized by the ultrasonic imaging device, so as to improve the versatility and compatibility of the analog front-end circuit.

[0038] Embodiment 2

[0039] See also Figure 5 This embodiment provides a method for operating an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit, which is characterized in that: using the ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit provided by the embodiment, the method includes the following steps:

[0040] (1) connecting the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch of the analog front-end circuit to the ultrasonic transducer; connecting the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter, the transceiver control end of the transceiver switch, the pulse control end of the pulse generator, the register input end of the register, and the controlled end of the multiplexer to the ultrasonic imaging device;

[0041] (2) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the pulse control terminal of the pulse generator and the receiving and transmitting control terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch to control the pulse receiving terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch to be connected with the transducer connection terminal, and the transducer connection terminal and the signal output terminal to be disconnected, and the pulse generator sends a pulse signal to the ultrasonic transducer through the receiving and transmitting switch;

[0042] (3) After the pulse signal is sent, the ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the receiving and transmitting control end of the receiving and transmitting switch to control the pulse receiving end of the receiving and transmitting switch to be disconnected from the transducer connection end and the transducer connection end to be connected to the signal output end; sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer to control the multiplexer to select the channel where the status monitoring module is located;

[0043] (4) The analog front-end circuit receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic transducer, and the status monitoring module monitors the type and working status of the ultrasonic transducer and outputs the signal to the ultrasonic imaging device through the monitoring output terminal;

[0044] (5) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer according to the type of ultrasonic transducer monitored in step (4), controlling the multiplexer to automatically select the type of low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer.

[0045] As another possible technical solution, step (4) may not be included, and in step (5), the multiplexer selects the type of low-noise amplifier that matches the type of ultrasonic transducer manually.

[0046] This analog front-end circuit is used in conjunction with the analog front-end circuit described above to set up a status monitoring module. It can manually or automatically select a low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of ultrasonic transducer connected, and monitor the working status of the ultrasonic transducer in real time to ensure that the working status of the ultrasonic transducer is normal.

[0047] The above embodiments are only for full disclosure rather than limitation of the present invention. Any replacement of equivalent technical features that can be obtained based on the creative purpose of the present invention without creative work should be regarded as the scope of disclosure of this application.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit, comprising a transceiver switch, a pulse generator, a low noise amplifier, a bandpass filter, a gain amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter and a register; the pulse receiving end of the transceiver switch is connected to the pulse output end of the pulse generator, the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch is connected to the ultrasonic transducer, the front end of the gain amplifier is connected to the output end of the bandpass filter, the rear end of the gain amplifier is connected to the analog input end of the analog-to-digital converter, and the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to an ultrasonic imaging device; the register input end of the register is connected to the ultrasonic imaging device, and the register output end is respectively connected to the control ends of the bandpass filter, the gain amplifier and the analog-to-digital converter; characterized in that: Also included is a multiplexer, wherein the low noise amplifiers are multiple of different types; A first switch is provided between the pulse receiving end and the transducing connection end of the transmitting and receiving switch, and a second switch is provided between the transducing connection end and the signal output end. When the analog front-end circuit is working, one of the first switch and the second switch is selectively closed; There are two multiplexers, namely a first multiplexer and a second multiplexer. The first multiplexer is a demultiplexer. The input end of the first multiplexer is connected to the signal output end of the transceiver switch, and the output end of the first multiplexer is connected to the original signal input ends of the plurality of low-noise amplifiers. The input end of the second multiplexer is connected to the amplified signal output end of the low-noise amplifier, and the output end of the second multiplexer is connected to the input end of the band-pass filter. It also includes a state monitoring module, wherein a monitoring input terminal of the state monitoring module is connected to an output terminal of the first multiplexer, and a monitoring output terminal is connected to an input terminal of the second multiplexer; The receiving and transmitting control end of the receiving and transmitting switch, the pulse control end of the pulse generator, and the controlled end of the multiplexer are connected to an ultrasonic imaging device; The status monitoring module monitors the type and working status of the ultrasonic transducer, and outputs it to the ultrasonic imaging device through the monitoring output end; the ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer according to the monitored ultrasonic transducer type, controlling the multiplexer to automatically select the type of low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the ultrasonic transducer type.

2. The analog front-end circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the low noise amplifiers is three, which are respectively suitable for capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducers, piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducers, and piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers.

3. The analog front-end circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The low noise amplifier suitable for the capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducer is a transimpedance amplifier.

4. A method for operating an ultrasonic transducer analog front-end circuit, characterized in that: Using the analog front-end circuit according to claim 1 comprises the following steps: (1) Connecting the transducer connection end of the transceiver switch of the analog front-end circuit to the ultrasonic transducer; connecting the digital output end of the analog-to-digital converter, the transceiver control end of the transceiver switch, the pulse control end of the pulse generator, the register input end of the register, and the controlled end of the multiplexer to the ultrasonic imaging device; (2) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the pulse control terminal of the pulse generator and the receiving and transmitting control terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch, controlling the pulse receiving terminal of the receiving and transmitting switch to be connected with the transducer connection terminal, and the transducer connection terminal and the signal output terminal to be disconnected, and the pulse generator sends a pulse signal to the ultrasonic transducer through the receiving and transmitting switch; (3) After the pulse signal is sent, the ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the receiving and transmitting control end of the receiving and transmitting switch to control the pulse receiving end of the receiving and transmitting switch to be disconnected from the transducer connection end and the transducer connection end to be connected to the signal output end; sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer to control the multiplexer to select the channel where the status monitoring module is located; (4) The analog front-end circuit receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic transducer, and the status monitoring module monitors the type and working status of the ultrasonic transducer and outputs the signal to the ultrasonic imaging device through the monitoring output terminal; (5) The ultrasonic imaging device sends a signal to the controlled end of the multiplexer according to the monitored type of the ultrasonic transducer, controlling the multiplexer to automatically select the type of low-noise amplifier that is compatible with the type of the ultrasonic transducer.

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