An ultrasonic phased array drive and control system and method

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of ultrasonic drive and control system technology, and discloses an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system and method, including a main control board and several slave control boards connected to the main control board. Both the main control board and the slave control boards include a control module, an excitation signal generation module, a phase detection module, an amplitude modulation module, and a power amplification module. The excitation signal generation module, amplitude modulation module, and power amplification module are connected sequentially. The power amplification module is connected to a transducer. The phase detection module is connected between the excitation signal generation module and the amplitude modulation module, and is also connected to the control module. This system can achieve high-performance phase detection and amplitude detection across all channels, quickly and effectively identifying problematic channels with phase deviations, further correcting their phase deviations to ensure phase consistency across all channels. Simultaneously, the amplitude modulation module adjusts the amplitude of the output signal from each channel, making the waveform more consistent with actual requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ultrasonic drive and control system technology, specifically to an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and intracranial tumors are among the central nervous system diseases that seriously threaten human health. Transcranial phased array focused ultrasound (TAI) is a non-invasive ultrasound therapy technique with advantages such as transcranial focusing, non-invasiveness, high stimulation depth, and high spatial resolution. It has broad application prospects in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, intracranial tumor ablation, neuronal modulation, blood-brain barrier opening, and intracranial targeted drug delivery. However, when this technology is applied in clinical treatment, the heterogeneity of the skull's structure and density, as well as the strong attenuation of ultrasound waves by the skull, can lead to problems such as defocusing, focus shift, and insufficient focal energy after the ultrasound transducer passes through the skull, which restricts the further clinical application of TAI. Furthermore, the existing phased array element parameter drive control system lacks precision and cannot achieve precise positioning and focusing of the transcranial phased array ultrasound transducer or control of the focal energy. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system and method.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0005] An ultrasonic phased array drive and control system includes a main control board and several slave control boards connected to the main control board. Both the main control board and the slave control boards include a control module, an excitation signal generation module, a phase detection module, an amplitude modulation module, and a power amplification module. The excitation signal generation module, amplitude modulation module, and power amplification module are connected sequentially. The power amplification module is connected to a transducer. The phase detection module is connected between the excitation signal generation module and the amplitude modulation module, and is also connected to the control module, collecting phase difference signals and feeding them back to the control module.

[0006] In this invention, preferably, the phase detection module includes a phase detection chip U106, which is connected to the detection signal input terminals J69 and J70. The phase detection chip U106 collects the phase difference of the input signal and outputs a phase difference analog signal, which is then transmitted to the control module through an analog-to-digital conversion circuit.

[0007] In this invention, preferably, the J70 detection signal input terminal is also connected to a chip U103, and the chip U103 is also connected to a chip U101. The chip U103 collects the effective value of the input signal and transmits it to the chip U101. The chip U101 amplifies the effective value and transmits it to the control module through a digital-to-analog converter circuit.

[0008] In this invention, preferably, the amplitude control module includes a digital-to-analog conversion circuit and an amplitude control circuit. The digital-to-analog conversion circuit includes chip U1 and chip U2, and the amplitude control circuit includes chip U13 and chip U14. The inputs of chip U1 and chip U2 are connected to the control module, and the outputs are connected to chip U13 and chip U14 to control the gain values ​​of chip U13 and chip U14 and adjust the amplitude of the signal passing through chip U13 and chip U14.

[0009] In this invention, preferably, the excitation signal generation module includes a signal generator, and the main control board further includes a crystal oscillator and a low-voltage differential signal generator connected in sequence. The crystal oscillator generates a standard clock signal and transmits the clock signal to the low-voltage differential signal generator. The low-voltage differential signal generator distributes the clock signal to several signal generators connected to it. The signal generator is used to generate signal waves.

[0010] In this invention, preferably, the control module includes a timer connected to the phase detection module, which calculates the phase difference by capturing the time difference between the waveform transition edges of two input channels.

[0011] In this invention, preferably, the control module further includes an amplitude calculation group, which is connected to the chip U101, and calculates the amplitude from the input valid values ​​according to the following formula:

[0012]

[0013]

[0014] Square wave peak value = RMS value.

[0015] An ultrasonic phased array driving method includes the following steps:

[0016] S1, the main control board obtains the excitation parameters from the host computer and distributes them to each slave control board, and obtains the status information from each slave control board and returns it to the host computer;

[0017] S2, the excitation signal generation module generates an excitation signal, which is then sent to the transducer through the amplitude control module and the power amplification module to drive the transducer to work;

[0018] S3, the phase detection module collects the phase difference signal of each channel signal and returns it to the control module. The control module outputs a phase correction signal to the excitation signal generation module of the corresponding channel based on the difference signal, and adjusts the signal in the excitation signal generation module to correct the waveform phase of the channel.

[0019] S4, the control module monitors the amplitude of each channel signal in real time based on the calculated amplitude, and outputs an amplitude adjustment signal to the amplitude control module as needed to adjust the signal amplitude in the channel.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0021] The system of this invention achieves high-performance phase detection across all channels at a low cost by setting up a phase detection module and an amplitude control module. It can quickly and effectively identify problematic channels with phase deviations and correct their phase deviations, thereby ensuring the consistency of phase of each channel. At the same time, the amplitude control module adjusts the amplitude of the output signal of each channel to make the waveform more in line with actual needs. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of the phase detection module of an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a circuit diagram of the amplitude control module of an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] It should be noted that when a component is described as "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or may have a component in between. When a component is considered "set on" another component, it can be directly set on the other component or may have a component in between. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this document are for illustrative purposes only.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic phased array drive and control system, which mainly realizes precise drive of transducers in ultrasonic therapy. Through phase modulation and amplitude adjustment, it ensures that the multi-channel excitation waveforms are without deviation, the output signal phase is synchronized, and the transducer drive is without deviation. It includes a main control board and several slave control boards connected to the main control board. Both the main control board and the slave control boards include a control module, an excitation signal generation module, a phase detection module, an amplitude modulation module, and a power amplification module. The excitation signal generation module, the amplitude modulation module, and the power amplification module are connected in sequence. The power amplification module is connected to the transducer. The phase detection module is connected between the excitation signal generation module and the amplitude modulation module and is connected to the control module to collect the phase difference signal and feed it back to the control module.

[0029] Specifically, the main control board is connected to a PC or host computer system via a communication interface. The main control board is connected to several slave control boards via a bus. The drive clock signals of the slave control boards all originate from the same clock source as the main control board. The main control board and slave control boards have identical circuit structures and each contains complete auxiliary function modules. Each control board can operate relatively independently. The system can quickly expand the number of channels by simply adding slave control boards. The PC or host computer system sends the phased array excitation signal parameters to the main control board, which then distributes the excitation parameters to the connected slave control boards. Each slave control board is connected to several drive channels. Each drive channel corresponds to a control module, excitation signal generation module, phase detection module, amplitude adjustment module, and power amplification module on the slave control board to generate and adjust the excitation signal. Each drive channel is connected to a transducer. During system operation, the main control board harmonizes all channels, synchronously activating waveform excitation to achieve phase synchronization of the output signal, thereby synchronously driving the transducers to operate simultaneously. Due to interference factors such as wiring delay differences, component inconsistencies, and random noise among the various control boards, the execution pace of each channel may differ by several clock cycles, resulting in phase deviation of the excitation waveform. This system achieves high-performance phase and amplitude detection across all channels at a low cost by setting up a phase detection module and an amplitude adjustment module. It can quickly and effectively identify problematic channels with phase deviations and further correct their phase deviations, thereby ensuring the consistency of phase across all channels. At the same time, the amplitude adjustment module adjusts the amplitude of the output signal of each channel to make the waveform more in line with actual requirements.

[0030] Please see Figure 2 In this embodiment, all phase detection modules have the same structure, so one of them is taken as an example. The phase detection module includes a phase detection chip U106. The phase detection chip U106 adopts the AD8302 series chip. The phase detection chip U106 is connected to the detection signal input terminals J69 and J70. The detection signal input terminals J69 and J70 are respectively connected to the excitation signals in two different channels. The phase detection chip U106 collects the phase difference of the input signal and outputs the phase difference analog signal, which is transmitted to the control module through the analog-to-digital conversion circuit, thereby completing the phase difference detection.

[0031] In this embodiment, chip U103 is also connected to the J70 detection signal input terminal, and chip U101 is also connected to chip U103. Chip U103 adopts AD637 series chip, and chip U101 adopts OPA177 series chip. Chip U103 collects the effective value of the input excitation signal of the corresponding channel of the J70 detection signal input terminal. Since the signal is small, it is transmitted to chip U101. Chip U101 amplifies the effective value and transmits it to the control module through digital-to-analog conversion circuit. The control module calculates the signal amplitude in the channel based on the effective value.

[0032] Specifically, the control module also includes an amplitude calculation group, which is connected to chip U101 and calculates the amplitude from the input valid values ​​according to the following formula:

[0033]

[0034]

[0035] Square wave peak value = RMS value.

[0036] Please see Figure 3 In this embodiment, the amplitude control module includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit and an amplitude control circuit. The DAC circuit includes chips U1 and U2, which are used to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the signal. The amplitude control circuit includes chips U13 and U14, which are VGA chips. Chips U1 and U2 are connected to the control module at their inputs and to chips U13 and U14 at their outputs. The input terminals of chips U13 and U14 are connected to the excitation signal generation module to receive a signal from the input signal source to adjust the amplitude. The control module controls the output voltage of chips U1 and U2 by controlling the amplitude of the signals from chips U13 and U14. The output voltages are connected to control pin 1 of chips U13 and U14 respectively, thereby controlling the gain values ​​of chips U13 and U14 and adjusting the amplitude of the signals input to chips U13 and U14. Through the amplitude adjustment module, the control module can adjust the amplitude of the output signals of each channel. In order to improve the control accuracy, each channel uses two VGA chips connected in series, as shown in the connection form of chips U1 and U2 in this embodiment.

[0037] In this embodiment, the excitation signal generation module includes a signal generator, and the main control board also includes a crystal oscillator and a low-voltage differential signal generator connected in sequence. The crystal oscillator adopts the TCXO series crystal oscillator, which has the advantages of high precision and low temperature drift. The crystal oscillator generates a standard clock signal and transmits the clock signal to the low-voltage differential signal generator. The low-voltage differential signal generator distributes the clock signal to the signal generators of several slave control boards connected to it as a synchronous clock source. The signal generator is used to generate signal waves. The synchronous clock source can effectively avoid the phase drift problem caused by the frequency deviation between individual crystal oscillators.

[0038] In this embodiment, the control module also includes a timer, which is connected to the phase detection module and calculates the phase difference by capturing the time difference between the waveform transition edges of the input two channels.

[0039] Specifically, the timer is controlled internally by the controller. It calculates the phase difference by acquiring the time difference between the transition edges of the waveforms of two channels through the capture circuit, which is implemented in software. The phase detection module acquires the phase difference in hardware. The software implementation is low-cost, flexible, and suitable for PCB routing and multi-channel integration. The hardware implementation has high detection accuracy but higher cost, which is not conducive to multi-channel integration. By setting up two phase detection methods to be used in combination, that is, before the system is working, the hardware implementation is used to correct all software implementations to improve the accuracy of the software phase detection method, while the software method is used to perform phase detection on all channels during normal system operation.

[0040] In this embodiment, the main control board and several slave control boards communicate via a data bus. Each slave control board is equipped with a complete control module, excitation signal generation module, phase detection module, amplitude control module, and power amplification module. The modular and distributed design makes the entire system more flexible. The number of slave control boards connected to the main control board can be increased as needed to expand the number of channels and drive more transducers. Furthermore, by integrating with other systems or host computer systems associated with the main control board, more complex linkage control or feedback control can be achieved.

[0041] The present invention also provides an ultrasonic phased array driving method, comprising the following steps:

[0042] S1, after the main control board obtains the excitation parameters from the host computer, it distributes them to each slave control board and obtains the status information from each slave control board, and then returns it to the host computer. The main control board and the slave control boards are connected through a bus. The number of slave control boards can be expanded, thereby realizing the scalability of the number of excitation channels.

[0043] S2, the excitation signal generation module generates an excitation signal, which is then sent to the transducer through the amplitude control module and the power amplification module to drive the transducer to work;

[0044] S3, the phase detection module collects the phase difference signal of each channel signal and returns it to the control module. The control module outputs a phase correction signal to the excitation signal generation module of the corresponding channel based on the difference signal, corrects the internal phase offset value of the signal generator of that channel, changes the waveform phase, and thus achieves phase correction.

[0045] S4, the control module monitors the amplitude of each channel signal in real time based on the calculated amplitude, and outputs an amplitude adjustment signal to the amplitude control module as needed to adjust the signal amplitude in the channel.

[0046] The above description is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made under the technical spirit of the present invention should fall within the patent scope covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic phased array drive and control system, characterized in that, The system includes a main control board and several slave control boards connected to the main control board. Both the main control board and the slave control boards include a control module, an excitation signal generation module, a phase detection module, an amplitude modulation module, and a power amplification module. The excitation signal generation module, amplitude modulation module, and power amplification module are connected in sequence. The power amplification module is connected to the transducer. The phase detection module is connected between the excitation signal generation module and the amplitude modulation module, and is also connected to the control module, collecting phase difference signals and feeding them back to the control module. The main control board is connected to a host computer system. The host computer system sends phased array excitation signal parameters to the main control board. The main control board then distributes the excitation parameters to several slave control boards connected to it. Each slave control board is connected to several drive channels. Each drive channel corresponds to a control module, excitation signal generation module, phase detection module, amplitude control module, and power amplification module set on the control board to realize the generation and adjustment of the excitation signal. Each drive channel is connected to a transducer. The excitation signal generation module includes a signal generator, and the main control board also includes a crystal oscillator and a low-voltage differential signal generator connected in sequence. The crystal oscillator generates a standard clock signal and transmits the clock signal to the low-voltage differential signal generator. The low-voltage differential signal generator distributes the clock signal to the signal generators of several slave control boards connected to it as a synchronous clock source. The signal generator is used to generate signal waves.

2. The ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phase detection module includes a phase detection chip U106, which is connected to the detection signal input terminals J69 and J70. The phase detection chip U106 collects the phase difference of the input signal and outputs a phase difference analog signal, which is transmitted to the control module through an analog-to-digital conversion circuit.

3. The ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The J70 detection signal input terminal is also connected to chip U103, and chip U103 is also connected to chip U101. Chip U103 collects the effective value of the input signal and transmits it to chip U101. Chip U101 amplifies the effective value and transmits it to the control module through a digital-to-analog converter circuit.

4. The ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The amplitude control module includes a digital-to-analog converter circuit and an amplitude control circuit. The digital-to-analog converter circuit includes chips U1 and U2, and the amplitude control circuit includes chips U13 and U14. The inputs of chips U1 and U2 are connected to the control module, and the outputs are connected to chips U13 and U14 to control the gain values ​​of chips U13 and U14 and adjust the amplitude of the signal passing through chips U13 and U14.

5. The ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module includes a timer connected to the phase detection module, which calculates the phase difference by capturing the time difference between the transition edges of the waveforms of the input two channels.

6. The ultrasonic phased array drive and control system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control module also includes an amplitude calculation group, which is connected to the chip U101, and calculates the amplitude from the input valid values ​​according to the following formula: Square wave peak value = RMS value.

7. An ultrasonic phased array driving method, based on the ultrasonic phased array driving and control system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1, the main control board obtains the excitation parameters from the host computer and distributes them to each slave control board, and obtains the status information from each slave control board and returns it to the host computer; S2, the excitation signal generation module generates an excitation signal, which is then sent to the transducer through the amplitude control module and the power amplification module to drive the transducer to work; S3, the phase detection module collects the phase difference signal of each channel signal and returns it to the control module. The control module outputs a phase correction signal to the excitation signal generation module of the corresponding channel based on the difference signal, and adjusts the signal in the excitation signal generation module to correct the waveform phase of the channel. S4, the control module monitors the amplitude of each channel signal in real time based on the calculated amplitude, and outputs an amplitude adjustment signal to the amplitude control module as needed to adjust the signal amplitude in the channel.

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