Power consumption control method, device, equipment and system for handheld ultrasonic equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ultrasonic imaging, and discloses a power consumption control method, device, equipment and system for handheld ultrasonic equipment, and the method comprises the steps: obtaining the current working condition and the current transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasonic equipment; determining a target emission voltage based on the current working condition; and if the target emission voltage is not consistent with the current emission voltage, adjusting the emission voltage of the handheld ultrasonic equipment to the target emission voltage so as to adjust the working power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic equipment. The power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic equipment can be reduced, and the performance of the handheld ultrasonic equipment can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of ultrasonic imaging technology, and in particular to a method, device, equipment and system for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasonic device. Background Art

[0002] In related technologies, ultrasound equipment primarily consists of an ultrasound probe and an ultrasound main unit. The ultrasound probe transmits and receives ultrasound waves during ultrasonic testing. The ultrasound main unit processes the ultrasound data and displays it as an ultrasound image on a monitor. However, these ultrasound devices are bulky, expensive, heavy, and difficult to move, making them unsuitable for use outdoors or in mobile environments like ambulances. This has led to the emergence of handheld ultrasound devices.

[0003] Handheld ultrasound devices integrate some of the functions of existing ultrasound systems into the ultrasound probe. The probe processes the ultrasound data and then uploads it to a mobile terminal, which optimizes the data and displays the corresponding ultrasound image. As a result, the weight and size of handheld ultrasound devices are significantly reduced, making them suitable for a wide range of mobile applications, including outdoor use and ambulance use.

[0004] However, since the ultrasonic probe of the handheld ultrasonic device integrates high-power devices such as a processor, a transmitting module, and a receiving module, the handheld ultrasonic device consumes a large amount of power, which affects the detection performance of the device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a power consumption control method, apparatus, device and system for a handheld ultrasonic device, so as to solve the problem that the handheld ultrasonic device consumes large power, thereby affecting the detection performance of the device.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasound device, the method comprising:

[0007] Obtain the current working conditions and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasound device;

[0008] determining a target emission voltage based on the current operating conditions;

[0009] If the target transmit voltage is inconsistent with the current transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device is adjusted to the target transmit voltage to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

[0010] In this approach, the transmit voltage of a handheld ultrasound device is dynamically adjusted based on the device's operating conditions. Since the transmit voltage of a handheld ultrasound device is positively correlated with the power consumption of its transmit power supply, a module with the highest power consumption within the device, dynamically adjusting the transmit voltage based on varying operating conditions can minimize the power consumption of the transmit power supply, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device and improving its performance.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the method further includes:

[0012] determining at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmit voltage;

[0013] The ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device is adjusted based on the at least one gain parameter to adjust the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0014] In this approach, while the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is adjusted to a target transmit voltage, at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image is determined based on the target transmit voltage. This adjusts the ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device, thereby adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image. This avoids the problem of sudden changes in image brightness caused by changes in transmit voltage.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is divided into a plurality of voltage levels; and determining at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmit voltage includes:

[0016] Obtaining a target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target transmit voltage, where the target gain compensation factor is obtained based on a target voltage level corresponding to the target transmit voltage and a correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor;

[0017] The at least one gain parameter is determined based on the target gain compensation factor, the target gain compensation factor corresponding to the at least one gain parameter.

[0018] In this method, a target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target transmit voltage is obtained. The target gain compensation factor is obtained based on the target voltage level corresponding to the target transmit voltage, as well as the correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor. At least one gain parameter is then determined based on the target gain compensation factor. Therefore, it is possible to avoid frequent adjustment of the gain parameter as the voltage changes, further avoiding the problem of sudden changes in the brightness of the ultrasound image. At the same time, different gain parameter combinations are represented by a gain compensation factor. Therefore, if the handheld ultrasonic device is controlled by a host computer, the host computer only needs to send a target gain compensation factor to the handheld ultrasonic device, and the handheld ultrasonic device can determine at least one gain parameter based on the target gain compensation factor. Therefore, the amount of data to be transmitted between the host computer and the handheld ultrasonic device can be reduced, thereby reducing the probability of data transmission errors.

[0019] In an optional implementation, if the current working condition includes image depth, determining the target emission voltage based on the current working condition includes:

[0020] The target emission voltage is determined based on the image depth, and the target emission voltage is positively correlated with the image depth.

[0021] In this approach, if the current operating conditions include image depth, the target transmit voltage is determined based on the image depth, and the target transmit voltage is positively correlated with image depth. Therefore, when the image depth is low, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device can be appropriately reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0022] In an optional implementation, if the current operating conditions include the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasonic device, determining the target transmit voltage based on the current operating conditions further includes:

[0023] If the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target emission voltage is determined based on the operating temperature, and the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature.

[0024] In this approach, if the current operating conditions include the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device, then if the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target transmit voltage is determined based on the operating temperature. The target transmit voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature. Therefore, if the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device is too high, the transmit voltage can be lowered to reduce power consumption, thereby lowering the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device and preventing damage to the handheld ultrasound device.

[0025] In an optional implementation, if the current operating condition includes an expected continuous operating time of the handheld ultrasonic device, determining the target transmit voltage based on the current operating condition further includes:

[0026] The target emission voltage is determined based on the expected continuous operating time, and the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous operating time.

[0027] In this approach, if the current operating conditions include the expected continuous operating time of the handheld ultrasound device, the target transmit voltage is determined based on the preset continuous operating time. The target transmit voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous operating time. Therefore, when the handheld ultrasound device is required to operate continuously for a long period of time, power consumption can be reduced by lowering the transmit voltage, thereby increasing the battery life of the handheld ultrasound device. This ensures that the handheld ultrasound device can operate continuously for a long period of time, thereby improving ultrasonic detection efficiency.

[0028] In an optional implementation, if the current operating condition includes an operating mode of the handheld ultrasonic device, determining the target transmit voltage based on the current operating condition further includes:

[0029] If the operating mode is the sleep mode, determining that the target emission voltage is a preset minimum voltage;

[0030] If the operation mode is the working mode, the current ultrasound mode is acquired, and the target transmission voltage is determined based on the current ultrasound mode.

[0031] In this approach, if the current operating conditions include the operating mode of the handheld ultrasound device, then if the operating mode is sleep mode, the target transmit voltage is determined to be a preset minimum voltage. This reduces the power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device in sleep mode. Furthermore, if the operating mode is active mode, the target transmit voltage is determined based on the current ultrasound mode. This allows the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device to be adjusted to different ultrasound modes, minimizing image quality degradation and thus reducing power consumption.

[0032] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasonic device, the device comprising:

[0033] A data acquisition module is used to obtain the current working conditions and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasound device;

[0034] a voltage determination module, configured to determine a target transmit voltage based on the current operating conditions;

[0035] The power consumption control module is configured to adjust the transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device to the target transmission voltage if the target transmission voltage is inconsistent with the current transmission voltage, so as to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

[0036] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a handheld ultrasound device, comprising:

[0037] A control module and other modules, wherein the control module is connected to the other modules;

[0038] The control module is used to execute the power consumption control method of the handheld ultrasonic device according to the first aspect or any corresponding embodiment thereof.

[0039] In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides an ultrasound system, comprising:

[0040] The handheld ultrasound device of the third aspect;

[0041] A host computer is connected to the handheld ultrasound device, and is used to communicate with the handheld ultrasound device and display the ultrasound image obtained by the handheld ultrasound device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0043] Figure 1 is a structural block diagram of a handheld ultrasound device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a power consumption control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of a single chip microcomputer and a transmitting power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram of the power consumption ratio of each module of a handheld ultrasound device under a 60V transmission voltage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 5 2. This is a schematic diagram of the power consumption ratio of each module of a handheld ultrasound device under a 30V transmitting voltage according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 is a flow chart of another method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasound device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 7 is a structural block diagram of a power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasonic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 8FIG. 4 is a structural block diagram of another power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasonic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] The reference numerals are as follows: 101, acoustic head; 102, transmitting module; 103, receiving module; 104, communication module; 105, transmitting power supply; 106, main controller; 107, single-chip microcomputer; 108, analog-to-digital conversion chip; 109, digital-to-analog conversion chip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0053] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of the present invention and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the term "comprising" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive protection. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units that are inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices. "Multiple" in the present invention can mean at least two, for example, two, three or more, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0054] Currently, due to the problems of traditional ultrasound equipment such as large size, high price, heavy weight, and inconvenience in mobility, it is difficult to meet the needs of outdoor applications, ambulances, and other mobile scenarios. Therefore, handheld ultrasound equipment has come into being.

[0055] Handheld ultrasound devices integrate some of the functions of traditional ultrasound systems into an ultrasound probe. The probe processes the ultrasound data and then uploads it to a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. The mobile device then optimizes the data and displays the corresponding ultrasound image on the screen. As a result, handheld ultrasound devices are significantly lighter and smaller, making them easier to carry and suitable for a wide range of mobile applications, including outdoor use and ambulance use.

[0056] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a structural block diagram of a handheld ultrasound device. Figure 1 As shown, the handheld ultrasound device includes: an acoustic head 101 , a transmitting module 102 , a receiving module 103 , a communication module 104 , a transmitting power supply 105 , a main controller 106 , and a single chip microcomputer 107 .

[0057] The acoustic head 101 is used to convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and to convert reflected acoustic signals into electrical signals to form echo signals. The acoustic head 101 can be of different types such as linear array, convex array, phased array, etc., and their basic working principles are basically the same.

[0058] The transmitting module 102 is used to generate transmitting waveforms of different frequencies and generate high-voltage transmitting pulses of a specific frequency under the control of the main controller 106. The handheld ultrasound device may include one transmitting module 102 or multiple transmitting modules 102.

[0059] The receiving module 103 is used to receive the echo signal output by the acoustic head 101 and send the echo signal to the main controller 106, so that the main controller 106 processes the received echo signal and generates corresponding ultrasonic image data. The handheld ultrasonic probe can include one receiving module 103 or multiple receiving modules 103.

[0060] The communication module 104 is used to transmit the ultrasound image data generated by the main controller 106 to a host computer (such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.), or to receive instructions issued by the host computer. The communication module 104 can be a wireless communication module, such as a WIFI antenna.

[0061] The transmitting power supply 105 is used to generate high-voltage transmitting power with different transmitting voltages, for example, a high-voltage transmitting power within 100V.

[0062] The main controller 106 includes one or more control units and is used for transmit / receive delay control, beamforming, processing in different ultrasound modes (e.g., B / C / D modes), etc. Specifically, when ultrasound imaging is required, the main controller 106 can transmit ultrasound signals by controlling the transmit power supply 105 and the transmit module 102.

[0063] The microcontroller 107 includes a single-chip microcontroller and its associated power supply. It is used to package ultrasound data and communicate with a host computer via the communication module 104, thereby uploading the ultrasound image data to the host computer. Furthermore, the communication module 104 receives control commands from the host computer to control the handheld ultrasound device, such as powering it on and off.

[0064] Because the ultrasonic probe of a handheld ultrasound device integrates high-power components such as a processor (i.e., main controller 106 and single-chip microcomputer 107), a transmitter module 102, and a receiver module 103, the handheld ultrasound device consumes a large amount of power, which in turn affects the device's detection performance. For example, the high power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device causes the handheld ultrasound probe to generate a large amount of heat. Furthermore, due to size limitations, the handheld ultrasound device cannot integrate cooling devices such as cooling fans and heat sinks to dissipate heat. This results in slow heat dissipation, highlighting the contradiction between the high heat generated by the probe and the slow heat dissipation.

[0065] Therefore, in the related art, handheld ultrasound devices mainly solve the problem of high power consumption through the following ways: First, reduce the number of channels of the handheld ultrasound device to reduce the performance of the handheld ultrasound device and avoid generating too much heat. However, too few channels will result in poor quality of the displayed ultrasound image, which is difficult to meet the clinical mid-to-high-end image quality requirements. Second, limit the continuous working time of the handheld ultrasound device to prevent the ultrasound probe from overheating. However, limiting the working time of the handheld ultrasound device will result in a shorter continuous working time of the handheld ultrasound device. The handheld ultrasound device will be forced to stop working after working continuously for a period of time (for example, 10 minutes), affecting the efficiency of clinical detection. Third, increase the battery capacity of the handheld ultrasound device to ensure the working time of the ultrasound probe. At the same time, it is necessary to increase the volume of the handheld ultrasound device to facilitate heat dissipation, and the weight of the handheld ultrasound device will also increase, which is inconvenient for one-handed operation.

[0066] In other words, portable handheld ultrasound devices are primarily used in the mobile medical field, placing strict restrictions on their size and weight. Therefore, it's difficult to dissipate heat in handheld ultrasound devices, unlike larger ultrasound devices, by adding cooling devices like fans or heat sinks. Reducing the number of channels to reduce heat generation in handheld ultrasound devices also requires reducing the number of transmitting and receiving chips in the front-end of the device, as well as reducing the time it takes to process ultrasound data. While this reduces power consumption, it also results in poor ultrasound image quality, making it difficult to meet mid- to high-end clinical needs. Furthermore, if thermal equilibrium remains difficult to achieve with a reduced number of channels, the continuous operating time of the handheld ultrasound device will need to be limited accordingly. Otherwise, overheating could still lead to malfunctions, image errors, and even damage. Furthermore, if the average power consumption per unit time of a handheld ultrasound device cannot be effectively reduced, a larger battery will be required to maintain its operating time, which in turn increases the size and weight of the handheld ultrasound device, making it inconvenient for users to operate it with one hand.

[0067] As can be seen, the aforementioned handheld ultrasound devices suffer from a limited number of channels, short continuous operating time, and large size and weight. These issues are essentially caused by their excessive average power consumption. Therefore, reducing the power consumption of handheld ultrasound devices has become an urgent issue to be addressed.

[0068] In view of this, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment of a method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasonic device is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart of the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions, and although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in an order different from that shown here.

[0069] This embodiment provides a method for controlling power consumption in a handheld ultrasound device. This method can be used in the control module of the aforementioned handheld ultrasound device or in a host computer, such as a mobile phone or tablet computer, that is communicatively connected to the handheld ultrasound device. The control module includes a main controller 106 and a single-chip microcomputer 107. The control module is used to control the remaining modules of the handheld ultrasound device, including the acoustic head 101, transmitting module 102, receiving module 103, communication module 104, and transmitting power supply 105. Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasonic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the process includes the following steps:

[0070] Step S11, obtaining the current working condition and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device.

[0071] Specifically, the current operating condition includes at least one of image depth, operating temperature, expected continuous operating time, and operating mode. The operating mode includes a sleep mode and an operating mode. The sleep mode includes at least one of a freeze mode and a standby mode. The operating mode includes multiple ultrasound modes, such as B / C / D mode.

[0072] Specifically, if Figure 3 As shown, the handheld ultrasound device further includes an analog-to-digital conversion chip 108. The control module collects the current transmitting voltage of the transmitting power supply 105 through the analog-to-digital conversion chip 108.

[0073] Step S12: determining a target emission voltage based on current operating conditions.

[0074] Specifically, different emission voltages may be configured in advance for different working conditions to obtain a plurality of correspondences between working conditions and emission voltages. For example, working condition 1 corresponds to emission voltage 1, working condition 2 corresponds to emission voltage 2, working condition 3 corresponds to emission voltage 3, and so on.

[0075] During operation of the handheld ultrasound device, a target transmit voltage is determined based on the current operating condition and the corresponding relationship between multiple operating conditions and transmit voltages. For example, if the current operating condition is operating condition 1, the target transmit voltage is transmit voltage 1.

[0076] Specifically, during actual operation, the host computer can determine the target transmission voltage according to the current working conditions, and send the target transmission voltage to the control module (such as the single chip computer 107) of the handheld ultrasonic device through the communication module 104 (such as WIFI).

[0077] Step S13: If the target transmit voltage is inconsistent with the current transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device is adjusted to the target transmit voltage to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

[0078] Specifically, if Figure 3 As shown, the handheld ultrasound device also includes a digital-to-analog conversion chip 109. When the control module (such as the single-chip microcomputer 107) receives the target transmit voltage sent by the host computer, if the target transmit voltage is inconsistent with the current transmit voltage, the control module sends the target transmit voltage to the transmit power supply 105 via the digital-to-analog conversion chip 109, so that the transmit power supply 105 automatically adjusts the output transmit voltage based on the received target transmit voltage. At this time, the control module regularly collects the voltage adjustment results of the transmit power supply 105 through the analog-to-digital conversion chip 108, and controls the transmit power supply 105 to adjust the output transmit voltage according to the voltage adjustment results until the transmit voltage output by the transmit power supply 105 reaches the target transmit voltage. For example, if the voltage adjustment result is greater than the target transmit voltage, the control module controls the transmit power supply 105 to reduce the output transmit voltage. If the voltage adjustment result is less than the target transmit voltage, the control module controls the transmit power supply 105 to increase the output transmit voltage. This avoids a large error between the transmit voltage output by the transmit power supply 105 and the target transmit voltage.

[0079] It should be noted that if the target transmit voltage is consistent with the current transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is not adjusted.

[0080] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment dynamically adjusts the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device based on the device's operating conditions. Since the transmit voltage of a handheld ultrasound device is positively correlated with the power consumption of its transmit power supply 105, which is a high-power module in the handheld ultrasound device, dynamically adjusting the transmit voltage based on different operating conditions can minimize the power consumption of the transmit power supply 105, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device and improving its performance.

[0081] For example, traditional ultrasound equipment often uses a fixed transmit voltage to ensure that the brightness of the ultrasound image does not suddenly change under different operating conditions. This simplifies the debugging process of the ultrasound equipment and shortens the ultrasound equipment development cycle. However, traditional ultrasound equipment is usually powered by an external power supply and is not sensitive to power consumption. Fixed transmit voltage does not have a significant impact on traditional ultrasound equipment. However, for handheld ultrasound equipment, the size and weight of the handheld ultrasound equipment need to be limited, and the battery capacity is limited. This also makes handheld ultrasound equipment more sensitive to power consumption, so the power consumption of handheld ultrasound equipment needs to be finely controlled.

[0082] For example, taking the transmitting voltage of the transmitting power supply 105 of the handheld ultrasound device as 60V, the power consumption of each module of the handheld ultrasound device is measured by experiment as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the power consumption of the transmitter module 102 accounts for 7% of the total system power consumption, the power supply 105 accounts for 36% of the total system power consumption, the main controller 106 accounts for 23% of the total system power consumption, the receiving module 103 accounts for 21% of the total system power consumption, and the single-chip microcomputer 107 accounts for 13% of the total system power consumption. Therefore, when the transmission voltage is 60V, the power supply 105 is the module with the largest power consumption in the handheld ultrasound system.

[0083] When the transmitting voltage of the transmitting power supply 105 of the handheld ultrasonic device is adjusted to 30V, the power consumption of each module of the handheld ultrasonic device is measured through experiments as follows: Figure 5 As shown, assuming the power consumption of other modules remains unchanged, the power consumption of the transmitting module 102 accounts for 9% of the total power consumption of the device, the power consumption of the transmitting power supply 105 accounts for 22%, the power consumption of the main controller 106 accounts for 28%, the power consumption of the receiving module 103 accounts for 26%, and the power consumption of the single-chip microcomputer 107 accounts for 15%. This shows that simply reducing the transmitting voltage of the transmitting power supply 105 from 60V to 30V reduces the power consumption of the transmitting power supply 105 from 36% to 22% of the total power consumption of the device. This shows that reducing the transmitting voltage can effectively reduce the power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device.

[0084] In some optional implementations, if the current working condition includes image depth, determining the target emission voltage based on the current working condition includes: determining the target emission voltage based on the image depth, the target emission voltage being positively correlated with the image depth.

[0085] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment determines a target transmit voltage based on image depth if the current operating conditions include image depth. The target transmit voltage is positively correlated with image depth. Therefore, when the image depth is low, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device can be appropriately reduced to reduce power consumption.

[0086] It's worth noting that a higher transmit voltage increases the detectable image depth, meaning the ultrasound's penetration is better. When the image depth is smaller, high penetration isn't necessary, meaning a lower transmit voltage can meet the required depth. Therefore, when the image depth is smaller, the transmit voltage can be appropriately lowered without compromising ultrasound image quality, thereby reducing the power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device.

[0087] For example, assuming that the image depth is 16 cm, the corresponding transmit voltage is 60 V. Then, when the image depth is 8 cm, the transmit voltage can be reduced to, for example, 50 V without affecting the quality of the ultrasound image.

[0088] In some optional embodiments, if the current operating conditions include the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device, the target emission voltage is determined based on the current operating conditions, and further includes: if the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target emission voltage is determined based on the operating temperature, and the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature.

[0089] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment, if the current operating conditions include the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device, then, if the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, a target transmit voltage is determined based on the operating temperature. The target transmit voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature. Therefore, when the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device is too high, the transmit voltage is lowered to reduce power consumption, thereby lowering the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device and preventing damage to the handheld ultrasound device.

[0090] It should be noted that the preset temperature threshold can be determined based on the impact of the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device on the working performance of the handheld ultrasound device. It should be noted that the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device is the temperature inside the handheld ultrasound device.

[0091] In some optional embodiments, if the current working conditions include the expected continuous working time of the handheld ultrasonic device, determining the target transmission voltage based on the current working conditions also includes: determining the target transmission voltage based on the expected continuous working time, and the target transmission voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous working time.

[0092] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment determines a target transmit voltage based on the preset continuous operating time, if the current operating conditions include the expected continuous operating time of the handheld ultrasound device. The target transmit voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous operating time. Therefore, when the handheld ultrasound device is required to operate continuously for a long period of time, power consumption can be reduced by lowering the transmit voltage, thereby increasing the battery life of the handheld ultrasound device, ensuring continuous operation, and improving ultrasonic detection efficiency.

[0093] It should be noted that the estimated continuous working time can be obtained through instructions issued by the host computer, or determined based on the current ultrasound mode of the handheld ultrasound device.

[0094] In some optional embodiments, if the current working conditions include the operating mode of the handheld ultrasound device, the target emission voltage is determined based on the current working conditions, and further includes: if the operating mode is the sleep mode, the target emission voltage is determined to be a preset minimum voltage; if the operating mode is the working mode, the current ultrasound mode is obtained, and the target emission voltage is determined based on the current ultrasound mode.

[0095] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment, if the current operating conditions include the operating mode of the handheld ultrasound device, then when the operating mode is sleep mode, the target transmit voltage is determined to be a preset minimum voltage. This reduces the power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device in sleep mode. Furthermore, when the operating mode is active mode, the target transmit voltage is determined based on the current ultrasound mode. This allows the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device to be adjusted to reduce power consumption based on different ultrasound modes while minimizing image quality degradation.

[0096] It should be noted that the sleep mode includes at least one of a freeze mode and a standby mode. Optionally, the preset minimum voltage is 0V. If the handheld ultrasound device enters the freeze mode or the standby mode, the transmitting power supply 105 can be placed in a sleep low-power mode by reducing the transmitting voltage to the preset minimum voltage, thereby reducing the power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device in the freeze mode and the standby mode.

[0097] In addition, if the B / C / D mode (i.e., ultrasound mode) changes, since the B / C / D mode transmission waveforms are different, the transmission voltage can be adjusted according to different ultrasound modes without sacrificing image quality to reduce power consumption.

[0098] This embodiment provides a power consumption control method that can be used in the control module of the aforementioned handheld ultrasound device or in a host computer, such as a mobile phone or tablet computer, that is communicatively connected to the handheld ultrasound device. The control module includes a main controller 106 and a single-chip microcomputer 107. The control module is used to control the remaining modules of the handheld ultrasound device, including the acoustic head 101, transmitting module 102, receiving module 103, communication module 104, and transmitting power supply 105. Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of another method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasound device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the process includes the following steps:

[0099] Step S21: Acquire the current working conditions and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device. Please refer to the above step S11 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0100] Step S22: Determine the target emission voltage based on the current working conditions. Please refer to the above step S12 for details, which will not be repeated here.

[0101] In step S23, if the target transmit voltage is inconsistent with the current transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is adjusted to the target transmit voltage to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasound device. For details, please refer to the above step S13 and will not be repeated here.

[0102] Step S24: determining at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmit voltage.

[0103] Specifically, gain parameters applicable to different transmit voltages can be determined in advance through experiments to obtain a correspondence between multiple transmit voltages and gain parameters. During operation of the handheld ultrasound device, at least one gain parameter is determined based on the target transmit voltage and the correspondence between the multiple transmit voltages and gain parameters.

[0104] Specifically, the at least one gain parameter includes at least one of a low noise amplifier gain, an attenuator gain, a programmable amplifier gain, and an image post-processing gain compensation in the receiving module 103. In addition, other gain parameters for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image may also be included.

[0105] Step S25 : adjusting the ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device based on at least one gain parameter to adjust the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0106] For example, assuming that the low-noise amplifier gain is b1, the attenuator gain is b2, the programmable amplifier gain is b3, and the image post-processing gain compensation is b4 obtained through step S24, the low-noise amplifier gain, attenuator gain, programmable amplifier gain, and image post-processing gain compensation in the receiving module 103 can be adjusted to b1, b2, b3, and b4, respectively, to adjust the ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device, thereby adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0107] The power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasound device provided in this embodiment adjusts the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device to a target transmit voltage and, based on the target transmit voltage, determines at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image. This adjusts the ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device, thereby adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image. This avoids the problem of sudden changes in image brightness caused by changes in transmit voltage.

[0108] In some optional embodiments, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is divided into multiple voltage levels. Step 24 includes: obtaining a target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target transmit voltage, the target gain compensation factor being based on the target voltage level corresponding to the target transmit voltage and the correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor; and determining at least one gain parameter based on the target gain compensation factor, the target gain compensation factor corresponding to the at least one gain parameter.

[0109] The power consumption control method of the handheld ultrasonic device provided in this embodiment obtains a target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target transmit voltage. The target gain compensation factor is obtained based on the target voltage level corresponding to the target transmit voltage, as well as the correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor. At least one gain parameter is then determined based on the target gain compensation factor. Therefore, it is possible to avoid frequent adjustment of the gain parameter as the voltage changes, further avoiding the problem of sudden changes in the brightness of the ultrasonic image. At the same time, different gain parameter combinations are represented by a gain compensation factor. Therefore, if the handheld ultrasonic device is controlled by the host computer, the host computer only needs to send a target gain compensation factor to the handheld ultrasonic device, and the handheld ultrasonic device can determine at least one gain parameter based on the target gain compensation factor. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted between the host computer and the handheld ultrasonic device, thereby reducing the probability of data transmission errors.

[0110] For example, to address the issue of sudden changes in image brightness caused by variations in transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of a handheld ultrasound device can be divided into a finite number of voltage levels, such as voltage level 1, voltage level 2, ..., voltage level n, where n is a constant. At least one gain parameter, such as different low-noise amplifier gains, attenuator gains, programmable amplifier gains, and image post-processing gain compensation parameters in receiving module 103, is adjusted based on the different voltage levels, thereby ensuring that the ultrasound image brightness does not suddenly change when the voltage level switches. Specifically, at least one gain parameter corresponding to each voltage level, such as the low-noise amplifier gain, attenuator gain, programmable amplifier gain, and image post-processing gain compensation, can be determined experimentally. When the voltage level is adjusted, the ultrasound image brightness is regulated by the at least one gain parameter corresponding to the adjusted voltage level, thereby preventing a significant sudden change in the ultrasound image brightness. The experimental data is then saved to obtain a corresponding relationship between each voltage level and the gain parameter.

[0111] In addition, it is considered that if multiple gain parameters are directly transmitted between different devices, data transmission errors may occur. Also, in the subsequent development process, when adjusting multiple gain parameters, human uncontrollable misoperation may occur. For example, adjusting only one gain parameter may cause a sudden change in the brightness of the ultrasound image. The power consumption control method of the present invention further unifies different gain parameter combinations into a gain compensation factor through a preset relationship. When the upper computer controls the handheld ultrasound device, it only needs to send the target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target voltage level to the control module of the handheld ultrasound device (such as the single-chip computer 107). The control module can determine at least one gain parameter corresponding to the target gain compensation factor from the correspondence between the multiple gain compensation factors and gain parameters stored in advance based on the received target gain compensation factor, so as to reduce the probability of data transmission errors. At the same time, the gain parameters corresponding to the target voltage level can be adjusted in a linked manner to further avoid the problem of sudden changes in the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0112] It is understood that after experimentally determining the correspondence between each voltage level and the gain parameter, the multiple gain parameters corresponding to each voltage level can be combined as a gain parameter combination, and the different gain parameter combinations can be unified into a gain compensation factor using a preset relationship to obtain the correspondence between the multiple gain compensation factors and the gain parameters. The correspondence between the multiple gain compensation factors and the gain parameters is then stored in the handheld ultrasound device and the host computer, allowing the subsequent determination of the gain parameters corresponding to the target voltage level based on the target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target voltage level and this correspondence to adjust the gain parameters in a coordinated manner, thereby avoiding sudden changes in the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0113] Specifically, taking at least one gain parameter including a low-noise amplifier gain, an attenuator gain, a programmable amplifier gain, and an image post-processing gain compensation as an example, the following formula can be used to fuse different low-noise amplifier gains, attenuator gains, programmable amplifier gains, and image post-processing gain compensations to obtain a corresponding gain compensation factor:

[0114] G v =A*G LNA +B*G ATTEN +C*G PGA +D*G comp ;

[0115] Among them, G v is the gain compensation factor, G LNA is the low noise amplifier gain, G ATTEN is the attenuator gain, G PGA is the programmable amplifier gain, G compis the image post-processing gain compensation, A is the first weight corresponding to the low noise amplifier gain, B is the second weight corresponding to the attenuator gain, C is the third weight corresponding to the programmable amplifier gain, and D is the third weight corresponding to the image post-processing gain compensation.

[0116] It should be noted that the first weight, the second weight, the third weight and the fourth weight are initialization constants.

[0117] This embodiment also provides a power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasound device, which is used to implement the above-mentioned embodiments and preferred embodiments. Details already described will not be repeated here. As used below, the term "module" may refer to a combination of software and / or hardware that implements a predetermined function. Although the devices described in the following embodiments are preferably implemented in software, implementation using hardware, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0118] This embodiment provides a power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasonic device, such as Figure 7 Shown, including:

[0119] The data acquisition module 31 is used to obtain the current working conditions and current transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasound device;

[0120] A voltage determination module 32 is configured to determine a target transmit voltage based on current operating conditions;

[0121] The power consumption control module 33 is configured to adjust the transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device to the target transmission voltage if the target transmission voltage is inconsistent with the current transmission voltage, so as to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

[0122] In some optional implementations, if the current working condition includes image depth, the voltage determination module 32 includes:

[0123] The first voltage determining unit is configured to determine a target emission voltage based on an image depth, where the target emission voltage is positively correlated with the image depth.

[0124] In some optional implementations, if the current working conditions include the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasound device, the voltage determination module 32 further includes:

[0125] The second voltage determining unit is configured to determine a target emission voltage based on the operating temperature if the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, wherein the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature.

[0126] In some optional implementations, if the current working condition includes the expected continuous working time of the handheld ultrasound device, the voltage determination module 32 further includes:

[0127] The third voltage determination unit is configured to determine a target transmit voltage based on the expected continuous operating time, where the target transmit voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous operating time.

[0128] In some optional implementations, if the current working condition includes the operating mode of the handheld ultrasound device, the voltage determination module 32 further includes:

[0129] a fourth voltage determining unit, configured to determine the target emission voltage to be a preset minimum voltage if the operating mode is the sleep mode;

[0130] The fifth voltage determination unit is configured to obtain a current ultrasound mode if the operation mode is the working mode, and determine a target transmission voltage based on the current ultrasound mode.

[0131] like Figure 8 As shown, in some optional implementations, the power consumption control device further includes:

[0132] a parameter determination module 34, configured to determine at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmit voltage;

[0133] The brightness adjustment module 35 adjusts the ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device based on at least one gain parameter to adjust the brightness of the ultrasound image.

[0134] In some optional embodiments, the transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is divided into multiple voltage levels; then, the parameter determination module 34 includes:

[0135] a factor determination unit, configured to obtain a target gain compensation factor corresponding to a target emission voltage, the target gain compensation factor being obtained based on a target voltage level corresponding to the target emission voltage and a correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor;

[0136] The gain determination unit is configured to determine at least one gain parameter based on a target gain compensation factor, where the target gain compensation factor corresponds to the at least one gain parameter.

[0137] The further functional description of each of the above modules and units is the same as that of the above corresponding embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0138] The power consumption control device of the handheld ultrasound device in this embodiment is presented in the form of a functional unit, where the unit refers to an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or fixed programs, and / or other devices that can provide the above functions.

[0139] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a handheld ultrasound device, comprising a control module and other modules, wherein the control module is connected to the other modules. The control module is used to execute the power consumption control method of the handheld ultrasound device in any of the above embodiments.

[0140] Specifically, if Figure 1 As shown, the control module includes a main controller 106 and a single chip microcomputer 107. The remaining modules include an acoustic head 101, a transmitting module 102, a receiving module 103, a communication module 104, and a transmitting power supply 105.

[0141] The main controller 106 includes one or more control units, and is used for transmitting / receiving delay control, beam synthesis, processing under different ultrasound modes (such as B / C / D modes), etc.

[0142] MCU 107 includes a MCU chip and its power supply. MCU 107 is used to package ultrasound data and communicate with a host computer via communication module 104, thereby uploading ultrasound image data to the host computer. Furthermore, communication module 104 receives control commands from the host computer to control the handheld ultrasound device.

[0143] The acoustic head 101 is used to convert electrical signals into acoustic signals and to convert reflected acoustic signals into electrical signals to form echo signals. The acoustic head 101 can be of different types such as linear array, convex array, phased array, etc.

[0144] The transmitting module 102 is used to generate transmitting waveforms of different frequencies and generate high-voltage transmitting pulses of a specific frequency under the control of the main controller 106. The handheld ultrasound device may include one transmitting module 102 or multiple transmitting modules 102.

[0145] The receiving module 103 is used to receive the echo signal output by the acoustic head 101 and send the echo signal to the main controller 106, so that the main controller 106 processes the received echo signal and generates corresponding ultrasonic image data. The handheld ultrasonic probe can include one receiving module 103 or multiple receiving modules 103.

[0146] The communication module 104 is used to transmit the ultrasound image data generated by the main controller 106 to a host computer (such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.), or to receive instructions issued by the host computer. The communication module 104 can be a wireless communication module, such as a WIFI antenna.

[0147] The transmitting power supply 105 is used to generate high-voltage transmitting power with different transmitting voltages, for example, a high-voltage transmitting power within 100V.

[0148] An embodiment of the present invention also provides an ultrasound system, comprising: a handheld ultrasound device according to any of the above embodiments and a host computer; wherein the host computer is connected to the handheld ultrasound device, and the host computer is used to communicate with the handheld ultrasound device and display the ultrasound image obtained by the handheld ultrasound device.

[0149] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are all within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power consumption of a handheld ultrasonic device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtain the current working conditions and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasound device; determining a target emission voltage based on the current operating conditions; If the target transmit voltage is inconsistent with the current transmit voltage, the transmit voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device is adjusted to the target transmit voltage to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

2. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: determining at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmit voltage; The ultrasound image data collected by the handheld ultrasound device is adjusted based on the at least one gain parameter to adjust the brightness of the ultrasound image.

3. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasound device is divided into a plurality of voltage levels; and determining at least one gain parameter for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasound image based on the target transmitting voltage includes: Obtaining a target gain compensation factor corresponding to the target transmit voltage, where the target gain compensation factor is obtained based on a target voltage level corresponding to the target transmit voltage and a correspondence between each voltage level and the gain compensation factor; The at least one gain parameter is determined based on the target gain compensation factor, the target gain compensation factor corresponding to the at least one gain parameter.

4. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the current working condition includes image depth, determining the target emission voltage based on the current working condition includes: The target emission voltage is determined based on the image depth, and the target emission voltage is positively correlated with the image depth.

5. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the current operating condition includes the operating temperature of the handheld ultrasonic device, then determining the target transmit voltage based on the current operating condition further includes: If the operating temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target emission voltage is determined based on the operating temperature, and the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the operating temperature.

6. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the current operating condition includes an expected continuous operating time of the handheld ultrasonic device, then determining the target emission voltage based on the current operating condition further includes: The target emission voltage is determined based on the expected continuous operating time, and the target emission voltage is negatively correlated with the expected continuous operating time.

7. The power consumption control method of a handheld ultrasonic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the current working condition includes the operating mode of the handheld ultrasonic device, then determining the target transmit voltage based on the current working condition further includes: If the operating mode is the sleep mode, determining that the target emission voltage is a preset minimum voltage; If the operation mode is the working mode, the current ultrasound mode is acquired, and the target transmission voltage is determined based on the current ultrasound mode.

8. A power consumption control device for a handheld ultrasonic device, characterized in that: The device comprises: A data acquisition module is used to obtain the current working conditions and current transmitting voltage of the handheld ultrasound device; a voltage determination module, configured to determine a target transmit voltage based on the current operating conditions; The power consumption control module is configured to adjust the transmission voltage of the handheld ultrasonic device to the target transmission voltage if the target transmission voltage is inconsistent with the current transmission voltage, so as to adjust the operating power consumption of the handheld ultrasonic device.

9. A handheld ultrasound device, characterized in that: include: A control module and other modules, wherein the control module is connected to the other modules; The control module is configured to execute the power consumption control method for a handheld ultrasonic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. An ultrasound system, characterized in that: include: The handheld ultrasound device according to claim 9; A host computer is connected to the handheld ultrasound device, and is used to communicate with the handheld ultrasound device and display the ultrasound image obtained by the handheld ultrasound device.

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