Bidirectional multi-signal communication

Abstract

An ultrasound communication system includes an ultrasound probe, an ultrasound base, and a channel. The ultrasound probe includes a first transmitter, a first interface for the first transmitter, a first receiver, and a second interface for the first receiver. The ultrasound base includes a second transmitter, a third interface for the second transmitter, a second receiver, and a fourth interface for the second receiver. The channel is connected to the first transmitter through the first interface, connected to the first receiver through the second interface, connected to the second transmitter through the third interface, and connected to the second receiver through the fourth interface. The first transmitter is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to the second receiver. The first receiver is configured to receive a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] Modern digital communication protocols typically employ either dedicated transmit and receive lines or shared lines, where the master device sends commands and the slave device responds with data (and sometimes commands). Clock lines can be transmitted over either a dedicated line or a shared line. Digital communication protocols requiring dedicated transmit and receive lines necessitate more conductors, increasing the size of the cabling containing those conductors. Shared-conductor protocols typically use thinner cables, but standard synchronization protocols generally require the master and slave devices to operate at the same speed.

[0002] In many modern digital applications, the data downloaded from a master device to a slave device is relatively small, in the range of megabytes per second (MB / s), while the data uploaded from a slave device to a master device is relatively large, in the range of gigabytes per second, and vice versa. This difference in download and upload speeds is particularly pronounced in digital ultrasound systems, where the transducer is the slave device and the ultrasound base is the master device. Typical protocols would require the wiring in a digital ultrasound system to run on separate conductors.

[0003] For example, the download data rate in a digital prototype might be limited to 100 megabytes per second, and the download time might be limited to 10 microseconds. At this download speed, the download time is typically limited to prevent high-frequency content from coupling into the signal path and to reduce receiver complexity. A single line can download 1 kilobyte of data within this time. For a single waveform with 8-bit waveform precision and a desired waveform length of 256 sampling points, the download packet for the waveform itself alone exceeds 2 kilobytes. In such a system, multiple download lines must be used, the number depending on the data download, and each additional line increases cable cost and complexity. Typically, the number of download lines is limited due to cost and cable thickness constraints, adding constraints to system design. The raw upload data rate of digital transducers ranges from 1 GB / s to 100 GB / s or even higher, where the data rate depends on system parameters and the number of wires used for upload data. In this example system, the number of wires used for upload may be greater than the number used for download to reduce the raw data rate to a more achievable upload data rate per wire. Although high-speed protocols can be used to download data to the ultrasound probe, high-speed receiver technology consumes a lot of power, so it is preferable to keep the receiver topology at a low speed to reduce power consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an ultrasonic communication system includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic base, and a data channel (or channel). The ultrasonic probe includes a first transmitter, a first interface for the first transmitter, a first receiver, and a second interface for the first receiver. The ultrasonic base includes a second transmitter, a third interface for the second transmitter, a second receiver, and a fourth interface for the second receiver. The channel is connected to the first transmitter via the first interface, to the first receiver via the second interface, to the second transmitter via the third interface, and to the second receiver via the fourth interface. The first transmitter is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to the second receiver. The first receiver is configured to receive a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter. The second transmitter is configured to transmit the second signal to the first receiver. The second receiver is configured to receive the first signal from the first transmitter.

[0005] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a first ultrasonic communication system includes an ultrasonic probe connected to an ultrasonic base via a channel. The ultrasonic probe includes a first transmitter, a first interface for the first transmitter, a first receiver, and a second interface for the first receiver. The first transmitter is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to a second receiver of the ultrasonic base of the second ultrasonic communication system via the first interface and via a fourth interface. The first receiver is configured to receive a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter of the ultrasonic base via the second interface and via a third interface. The channel is connected to the first transmitter via the first interface, to the first receiver via the second interface, to the second transmitter via the third interface, and to the second receiver via the fourth interface.

[0006] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a communication method for an ultrasound system includes: transmitting a first signal having a first distinguishable characteristic to a second receiver of an ultrasound base connected to the channel via a fourth interface via a first transmitter of an ultrasound probe connected to a channel via a first interface; receiving a second signal having a second distinguishable characteristic from a second transmitter of the ultrasound base connected to the channel via a third interface via the first receiver of the ultrasound probe connected to the channel via a second interface; transmitting the second signal having the second distinguishable characteristic to the first receiver of the ultrasound probe connected to the channel via the second transmitter of the ultrasound base connected to the third interface via the second transmitter of the ultrasound base; and receiving the first signal having the first distinguishable characteristic from the first transmitter of the ultrasound probe connected to the channel via the first interface via the second receiver of the ultrasound base connected to the channel via the fourth interface. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The exemplary embodiments can be best understood by reading in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, based on the following detailed description. It should be emphasized that the various features are not necessarily drawn to scale. In fact, dimensions may be increased or decreased arbitrarily for clarity of discussion. Where applicable and feasible, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0008] Figure 1 The illustration depicts a system for bidirectional multi-signal communication according to a representative embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 Another system for bidirectional multi-signal communication is illustrated according to a representative embodiment.

[0010] Figure 3 Another system for bidirectional multi-signal communication is illustrated according to a representative embodiment.

[0011] Figure 4 The illustration depicts a method for bidirectional multi-signal communication according to a representative embodiment.

[0012] Figure 5 The illustration shows an electronic system, according to another representative embodiment, on which a bidirectional multi-signal communication method is implemented. Detailed Implementation

[0013] In the detailed description below, exemplary embodiments with specific details disclosed are set forth for purposes of explanation and not limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments according to the present teachings. However, other embodiments consistent with the present disclosure but departing from the specific details disclosed herein remain within the scope of the appended claims. Descriptions of known systems, apparatuses, materials, methods of operation, and methods of manufacture may be omitted to avoid obscuring the description of representative embodiments. Nevertheless, systems, apparatuses, materials, and methods within the scope of the present teachings are within the capabilities of those skilled in the art and may be used according to representative embodiments. It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The definitions and interpretations of terminology herein supplement the technical and scientific meanings of terms commonly understood and accepted in the art of the present teachings.

[0014] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element or component from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the inventive concept, the first element or component discussed below may also be referred to as the second element or component.

[0015] As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include both the singular and plural forms, unless the context clearly specifies otherwise. Additionally, when used herein, the terms “comprising” and / or “including” and / or similar terms specify the presence of the recited features, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0016] Unless otherwise stated, when an element or component is said to be “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “proximity to” another element or component, it will be understood that the element or component can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or component, or that intermediate elements or components may be present. That is, these and similar terms include cases where one or more intermediate elements or components may be used to connect two elements or components. However, when an element or component is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element or component, this only includes cases where two elements or components are connected to each other without any intermediate elements or components.

[0017] This disclosure, through its various aspects, embodiments, and / or specific features or sub-components, is intended to provide one or more of the advantages specifically stated below.

[0018] As described in this paper, dual-protocol single-channel communication can be used to reduce cable size and improve cable ergonomics while achieving higher data rates and download packet sizes. Bidirectional multi-signal communication can be used in scenarios where the upload and download signals have significantly different characteristics, such as in terms of data rate and corresponding bandwidth, format and corresponding protocol, and / or clock rate. The teachings in this paper can be applied to ultrasonic communication systems as well as other scenarios, such as sensor-based systems where the sensor transmits a relatively large amount of data while receiving only a relatively small amount.

[0019] Figure 1 The illustration shows a system 100 for bidirectional multi-signal communication according to a representative embodiment.

[0020] Figure 1 System 100 is a bidirectional multi-signal communication system and includes components provided together. System 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 110, an ultrasonic base 120, and a channel 130. The ultrasonic probe 110 includes a first transmitter 111, a first receiver 112, a first interface 113, and a second interface 114. The ultrasonic base 120 includes a second transmitter 121, a second receiver 122, a third interface 123, and a fourth interface 124. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic probe 110 may include a first ultrasonic system, and the ultrasonic base 120 may include a second ultrasonic system. In other embodiments, the ultrasonic base 120 may include a first ultrasonic system, and the ultrasonic probe 110 may include a second ultrasonic system.

[0021] System 100 improves functionality and reduces cable thickness by sharing (one or more) wires used for downloading and uploading data, even though the download and upload signals have different signal characteristics. Figure 1 System 100 is shown in a block diagram as a minimal set of features. System 100 may contain more features, such as a complete set of features for the ultrasound probe 110 and a complete set of features for the ultrasound base 120. The minimal features of system 100 include: a first transmitter 111 located on the master side, which is connected to channel 130 via a first interface 113; a first receiver 112 located on the master side, which is connected to channel 130 via a second interface 114; a second transmitter 121 located on the slave side, which is connected to channel 130 via a third interface 123; and a second receiver 122 located on the slave side, which is connected to channel 130 via a fourth interface 124.

[0022] The first interface 113, the second interface 114, the third interface 123, and the fourth interface 124 may each include connections such as filters, coupling capacitors, circulators, high-speed multiplexers, or other isolation circuit elements or circuits. Filters used as the first interface 113, the second interface 114, the third interface 123, and the fourth interface may include conventional spectrum filters, such as low-pass filters, high-pass filters, or band-pass filters. The interfaces can be used to correctly distinguish data streams so that the first receiver 112 and the second receiver 122 each know which data stream to decode. In some embodiments, the same isolation mechanism may be used as the interface for both the transmitter and the corresponding receiver. In some embodiments, the isolation mechanism (e.g., a single circulator component) may be used as a single interface shared by both the transmitter and the corresponding receiver.

[0023] A first transmitter 111 is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to a second receiver 122. A second transmitter 121 is configured to transmit a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic to a first receiver 112. A first receiver 112 is configured to receive the second signal having the second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter 121. The second receiver 122 is also configured to receive the first signal from the first transmitter 111, the first signal having the first distinguishable signal characteristic. The distinguishable signal characteristic may be a characteristic detectable by or using a first interface 113, a second interface 114, a third interface 123, and / or a fourth interface 124.

[0024] The first distinguishable signal characteristic and the second distinguishable signal characteristic may differ in format and protocol. For example, the first signal may include an upload signal, and the second signal may include a download signal. The first distinguishable signal characteristic and the second distinguishable signal characteristic may include characteristics of the format of the protocol for the first signal, such as in terms of clock speed. The second distinguishable signal characteristic may differ from the first distinguishable signal characteristic in terms of the protocol format for the second signal, such as in terms of the relative number of bits encoded in the symbol and / or clock speed. In the context of system 100, the first signal may include data from ultrasound probe 110, and therefore may include image data formatted according to a protocol set for ultrasound images. The second signal may include data from ultrasound base 120, and therefore may include control signals, such as commands and other types of data, which are specifically not image data formatted according to a protocol set for ultrasound images from ultrasound probe 110.

[0025] The first and second signals can be transmitted at asymmetrical or mismatched data rates. For example, the first signal can or alternatively be transmitted by the first transmitter at a first data rate and a first bandwidth, and the second signal can or alternatively be transmitted by the second transmitter at a second data rate distinguishable from the first data rate and a second bandwidth distinguishable from the first bandwidth. For example, the first and second signals may occupy different portions of the spectrum.

[0026] In some embodiments, signal differences can be detected and used in the radio frequency (RF) domain. For example, a first transmitter may transmit at a high speed of 10 gigabits per second, and a first receiver may receive at a high speed of 10 gigabits per second. A second transmitter can act on the matching network of the first receiver by changing the reflection coefficient. The second receiver can detect the reflected signal. For this example, the clock speeds for the two signals can still be distinguished. Channel 130 may include a single conductor, a pair of conductors, an optical fiber cable, or any other transmission medium or mechanism capable of transmitting data according to a specified protocol. In some embodiments, a channel may include a single conductor in a cable with other conductors. The protocol formats for the upload and download signals may each be used on the same physical conductor, whether on a single conductor in the cable or on multiple different conductors in the cable.

[0027] Full-duplex communication can be achieved using distinguishable formats and protocols. In full-duplex mode, both the master and slave transmitters are active simultaneously, as are both the master and slave receivers. Using full-duplex mode can significantly increase the amount of data that can be transmitted over one or more wires between the master and slave sides.

[0028] Figure 1The combination of features in System 100 reduces the number of wires required, thereby increasing the number of available channels for downloading data and thus increasing the total size of the download data packets. Reducing the number of wires in the cable reduces cable design complexity and connection costs, as cable complexity increases design time and cost, and heavier cables can be harmful to ultrasound physicians. For ultrasound systems like System 100, reducing cable thickness lightens the workload for ultrasound physicians. Sharing upload and download lines also allows for the use of more download lines, reducing the time required to program the transducers of ultrasound probe 110. Increased speed from shared wires allows for faster switching of settings on the transducers of ultrasound probe 110, or allows for the addition of more features to ultrasound probe 110 by increasing the size of the download data packets per transmission event. The reduction in the number of wires from shared wires reduces cable costs. Increasing the number of download channels by increasing the amount of data downloadable between frames allows for the inclusion of more advanced programming features in ultrasound probe 110. Furthermore, if full-duplex mode is used in system 100, the download speed may be significantly reduced, thus making the separation of high-speed upload data and low-speed download data more extreme and reducing the complexity of any necessary filters. The reduced download speed taught herein may reduce the power consumption and / or heat generation of the ultrasound probe 110, thereby improving efficiency and safety.

[0029] Although system 100 is explained in the context of ultrasonic probe 110 and ultrasonic base 120, system 100 can also be implemented in other contexts, such as in a central system with sensors and interaction with the sensors. Figure 3 An example system with sensors and a central system that interacts with the sensors is shown and described.

[0030] Figure 2 Another system for bidirectional multi-signal communication is illustrated according to a representative embodiment.

[0031] Figure 2 The system 200 includes an ultrasonic probe 210, an ultrasonic base 220, and a display 280.

[0032] The ultrasound probe 210 includes processing circuitry 215 and a transducer array 213. Processing circuitry 215 may include a memory for storing data and instructions, and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and / or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or a processor for processing data and instructions. Transducer array 213 includes an array of transducer elements, at least a first transducer element 2131, a second transducer element 2132, and an Xth transducer element 213X. Transducer array 213 converts electrical energy into sound waves, which are reflected from human tissue, and the transducer array receives the echoes of the sound waves and converts the echoes back into electrical energy. Transducer array 213 may include tens, hundreds, or thousands of individual transducer elements. Ultrasound probe 210 can emit a beam to generate an image and can detect echoes. Processing circuitry 215 can process the ultrasound images captured by transducer array 213 of ultrasound probe 210. Ultrasonic image data captured by transducer array 213 can be converted from analog to digital by one or more analog-to-digital converters, and the resulting digital data may include a first signal emitted by a first transmitter of ultrasound probe 210. Ultrasonic probe 210 may also include a first receiver that receives control signals, such as commands and other types of data that are explicitly not formatted according to an ultrasound image protocol set from ultrasound probe 210.

[0033] The ultrasonic base 220 includes a first interface 221, a second interface 222, a third interface 223, and a controller 250. The controller 250 includes a memory 251 for storing instructions and a processor 252 for executing instructions. The ultrasonic base 220 may include an ultrasonic trolley, and the memory 251 and processor 252 may be implemented in the ultrasonic trolley.

[0034] Figure 5 The image depicts a computer that can be used to implement the ultrasonic base 220, but the ultrasonic base 220 may contain more than... Figure 2 or Figure 5 The number of components shown may be more or less. One or more interfaces may include ports, disk drives, wireless antennas, or other types of receiver circuitry that connect the controller 250 to other electronic components. A first interface 221 connects the ultrasound base 220 to the ultrasound probe 210 and may include... Figure 1The ultrasonic base 220 is an interface that includes components. A first interface may include a port, antenna, and / or other types of physical components for wired or wireless communication. A second interface 222 connects the ultrasonic base 220 to a display 280 and may also include a port, antenna, and / or other types of physical components for wired or wireless communication. A third interface 223 is a user interface and may include a touchscreen, buttons, keys, a mouse, microphone, speaker, switch, or other types of components through which the user can input commands and obtain information from the ultrasonic base 220.

[0035] The controller 250 includes at least a memory 251 for storing instructions and a processor 252 for executing instructions. The instructions stored in the memory 251 may include software programs that generate control signals to be sent from the ultrasound base 220 to the ultrasound probe 210. In system 200, instructions for the third interface 223 can be generated from the instructions stored in the memory 251 and can be displayed on the third interface 223. Instructions stored in the memory 251 and executed by the processor 252 can also be used to generate content to be displayed on the display 280.

[0036] Display 280 includes a GUI 281 (Graphical User Interface), which in some embodiments may include a touchscreen. Display 280 may be local to ultrasound base 220 or remotely (e.g., wirelessly) connected to ultrasound base 220 via a second interface 222. Display 280 may be connected to ultrasound base 220 via a local wired interface such as an Ethernet cable or a local wireless interface such as a Wi-Fi connection. Display 280 may connect to other user input devices (including a mouse, keyboard, scroll wheel, etc.) through which a user can input commands. Display 280 may be a monitor, such as a computer monitor, a display on a mobile device, an augmented reality display, a television, an electronic whiteboard, or another screen configured to display electronic images. Display 280 may also include: one or more input interfaces (e.g., those mentioned above) that can be connected to other elements or components; and an interactive touchscreen configured to display prompts to the user and collect the user's touch input.

[0037] Controller 250 may directly perform some of the operations described herein and may indirectly perform other operations described herein. For example, controller 250 may indirectly control operations, such as by generating and transmitting content to be displayed on display 280. Controller 250 may directly control other operations, such as processor 252 executing instructions from memory 251 based on input received via an interface from electronic components and / or from the user, thereby performing logical operations. Controller 250 may generate control signals transmitted from the second transmitter of ultrasonic base 220 to the first receiver of ultrasonic probe 210. Therefore, when processor 252 executes instructions from memory 251, the process implemented by controller 250 may include steps that controller 250 does not directly execute.

[0038] An exemplary implementation of the teachings in this article can be based on Figure 1 System 100 and / or Figure 2 System 200. In the example scenario, transducer array 213 may include 256 transducer elements from first transducer element 2131 to Xth transducer element 213X. Each of the 256 elements may require 256 waveforms that are different from each other, and the sampling length of each waveform may be 25 samples with 8-bit precision. The expected download packet size becomes ~51.2 kilobits or ~6.4 kilobytes. If the upload packet rate is 200 gigabits per second, the receive period is 200 microseconds, the system provides a 100 MHz clock for download, and the maximum upload data rate per channel is 10 gigabits per second, then 20 channels will be needed for upload. If the download packets are restricted to 10 microseconds between receive intervals, then 52 download-specific channels are needed at a speed of 100 megabits per second. In this example implementation, if the line is not shared for download and upload, the environment requires a total of 72 channels.

[0039] For the above example implementation, if the upload and download lines are shared, and the upload and download channels cannot be active simultaneously, the number of channels can be reduced from 72 to 52, taking the larger of the required number of download and upload channels. Sharing upload and download data on 20 of the 52 lines, given the desired download data packets, can significantly save cable width. However, this scenario may still cause some problems for the clock recovery algorithm on a 10 gigabytes / second line.

[0040] If both the non-shared line in the first example and the shared line in the second example are in full-duplex mode, uploading still requires 20 channels. If downloading occurs simultaneously through the same channels, the download packet can be reduced to 12.8 Mbps over 200 microseconds via 20 lines, achieving a 51.2 kilobits per second packet. The higher frequency edges of 12.8 Mbps (e.g., the 3rd or 5th harmonics) are unlikely to couple into the signal path, so the impact of full-duplex operation on signal integrity is small or negligible, and can be further isolated using classic power isolation techniques or known routing practices. Since a circuit designed to operate at 12.8 Mbps can operate at lower power than a circuit designed to operate at 100 Mbps, the power required for the download packet receiving circuitry can be significantly reduced. Because the clock frequencies differ by nearly three decibels, the filter or circulator can be easily implemented as a first interface 113, a second interface 114, a third interface 123, and a fourth interface 124. For the download receiver, a standard RC low-pass filter with a 13 MHz inflection point can be used, which will provide nearly 50 dB of high-frequency suppression at 5 GHz. More complex filters or circulators can suppress high-frequency data even better. In full-duplex mode, this design may require less than half the number of wires compared to the traditional approach of using dedicated download and upload channels operating with different protocols, reducing the number of wires from 72 to 20.

[0041] Figure 3 Another system for bidirectional multi-signal communication is illustrated according to a representative embodiment.

[0042] Figure 3 The system 300 includes a first sensor 311, a second sensor 312, and a third sensor 313, as well as a central system 320. The central system 320 includes a first interface 321 and a second interface 323. The second interface 323 includes a user interface. Although not shown in the figure, the central system 320 may also include a controller, for example... Figure 2 The controller 250 shown and described herein. A first interface 321 may include one or more interfaces for connecting the central system 320 to a first sensor 311, a second sensor 312, and a third sensor 313. A second interface 323 may receive instructions from a user and may provide the user with information such as readings from the first sensor 311, the second sensor 312, and the third sensor 313. The first sensor 311, the second sensor 312, and the third sensor 313 may each include a first transmitter and a first receiver as described herein, and corresponding interfaces. The central system 320 may include a second transmitter and a second receiver as described herein, and corresponding interfaces.

[0043] The first sensor 311, the second sensor 312, and / or the third sensor 313, individually or together, are similar to Figure 1 The ultrasound probe 110 or Figure 2 The ultrasonic probe 210 in the middle. That is, the first sensor 311, the second sensor 312 and / or the third sensor 313 can generate a relatively large amount of data formatted in a first format according to a first protocol and transmit it to the central system 320. Figure 3 The central system 320 is similar to Figure 1 The ultrasonic base 120 and Figure 2 The ultrasonic base 220 in the middle. That is, the central system 320 can generate a relatively small amount of data, formatted in a second format according to the second protocol, and transmit it to each of the first sensor 311, the second sensor 312, and the third sensor 313.

[0044] The operation method of system 300 may include: any one of the first sensor 311, the second sensor 312 or the third sensor 313 transmitting a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to a second receiver of central system 320 via a first transmitter, and receiving a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter of central system 320 via the first receiver.

[0045] Figure 4 The illustration depicts a method for bidirectional multi-signal communication according to a representative embodiment.

[0046] Figure 4 The method can be executed by system 100, system 200, or system 300. Although Figure 4 The method is displayed as two sets of processes, but Figure 4 Some or all of the steps in the process can sometimes or always be performed simultaneously.

[0047] At S410, the first transmitter transmits a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to the second receiver.

[0048] At S411, the second transmitter transmits a second signal with second distinguishable signal characteristics to the first receiver.

[0049] At S412, the second receiver receives a first signal with a first distinguishable signal characteristic from the first transmitter, and then the method returns to S410.

[0050] At S413, the first receiver receives a second signal with a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter, and then the method returns to S411.

[0051] Based on Figure 4In the embodiments, any two or more of S410, S411, S412, and / or S413 can be executed simultaneously, but simultaneous operation is not a necessary condition for use at any particular time. For example, in Figure 4 In this process, S410 and S411 can be executed simultaneously, for example, through... Figure 1 The transmitters in the ultrasonic probe 110 and ultrasonic base 120 operate asynchronously, or through... Figure 2 The transmitters in the ultrasonic probe 210 and ultrasonic base 220 operate asynchronously, or via... Figure 3 The transmitter in the central sensor and central system 320 operate asynchronously. S412 and S413 can also be executed simultaneously, for example, via... Figure 1 The receivers in the ultrasonic probe 110 and ultrasonic base 120 operate asynchronously, or via... Figure 2 The receivers in the ultrasonic probe 210 and ultrasonic base 220 operate asynchronously, or through... Figure 3 The sensors and receivers in the central system 320 operate asynchronously.

[0052] use Figure 4 The method shown allows a single line to carry different waveforms, such as those significantly different in frequency composition. For example, the center frequency of the first signal might be 1 gigabits per second, while the center frequency of the second signal might be 10 megabits per second. Distinction can also be made in one or more aspects of data rate, bandwidth, data format, protocol, or other characteristics, making it easy to differentiate signals on a single wire. Full-duplex mode can be used to transmit the first and second signals on completely different frequency bands.

[0053] Figure 5 The illustration shows an electronic system, according to another representative embodiment, on which a bidirectional multi-signal communication method is implemented.

[0054] refer to Figure 5 Electronic system 500 includes some or all of its electronic components for or applicable to the ultrasonic base 220, central system 320, and various other types of electronic devices and systems used or usable in the scenarios taught herein. Electronic system 500 includes a set of software instructions that can be executed to cause electronic system 500 to perform or support the performance of any methods or computer-based functions disclosed herein. Electronic system 500 can operate as a standalone device or be connected to other electronic systems or peripheral devices via, for example, network 501 or any type of interface described herein. In embodiments, electronic system 500 performs logical processing based on digital signals received via an analog-to-digital converter.

[0055] In a networked deployment, electronic system 500 can operate as a server or as a client-user computer in a server-client user network environment. Electronic system 500 can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a workstation containing a controller, an ultrasound base, a central system, a fixed computer, a mobile computer, a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a tablet, or any other machine capable of executing a set of software instructions (sequential or otherwise) specifying the operations to be performed by the machine. Electronic system 500 can be incorporated as or within a device, which is then included in an integrated system containing additional devices. In embodiments, electronic system 500 can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video, or data communication. Furthermore, although electronic system 500 is illustrated in the singular, the term "system" should also be understood to include any collection of systems or subsystems that individually or collectively execute one or more sets of software instructions to perform one or more computer functions, such as a system having a combination of an ultrasound base and an ultrasound probe.

[0056] like Figure 5 As shown, electronic system 500 includes processor 510. Processor 510 can be considered a representative example of a processor of a controller and executes instructions to implement some or all aspects of the methods and processes described herein. Processor 510 is tangible and non-transient. As used herein, the term "non-transient" should not be construed as a permanent characteristic of a state, but rather as a characteristic of a state that will persist for a period of time. The term "non-transient" specifically negates fleeting characteristics, such as the characteristics of a carrier wave or signal, or other forms that exist only transiently at any time and place. Processor 510 is an article of manufacture and / or a machine part. Processor 510 is configured to execute software instructions to perform the functions described in the various embodiments herein. Processor 510 may be a general-purpose processor or may be part of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Processor 510 may also be a microprocessor, microcomputer, processor chip, controller, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), state machine, or programmable logic device. Processor 510 may also be a logic circuit, including a programmable gate array (PGA) such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or another type of circuit including discrete gate and / or transistor logic. Processor 510 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both. Furthermore, any processor described herein may include multiple processors, parallel processors, or both. Multiple processors may be included in or coupled to a single device or multiple devices.

[0057] As used herein, the term "processor" encompasses an electronic component capable of running programs or machine-executable instructions. References to computing devices including "processor" should be interpreted as including more than one processor or processing core, such as a multi-core processor. A processor can also refer to a collection of processors within a single electronic system or distributed across multiple electronic systems. The term computing device should also be interpreted as including a collection or network of computing devices, each including one or more processors. A program has software instructions that are executed by one or more processors, which may be within the same computing device or distributed across multiple computing devices.

[0058] Electronic system 500 also includes main memory 520 and static memory 530, wherein the memories in electronic system 500 communicate with each other and with processor 510 via bus 508. Either or both of main memory 520 and static memory 530 can be considered representative examples of the memory of a controller and store instructions for implementing some or all aspects of the methods and processes described herein. The memory described herein is a tangible storage medium for storing data and executable software instructions, and is non-transient during the time the software instructions are stored. As used herein, the term "non-transient" should not be construed as a permanent characteristic of a state, but rather as a characteristic of a state that will persist for a period of time. The term "non-transient" specifically negates fleeting characteristics, such as the characteristics of a carrier wave or signal, or other forms that exist only transiently at any time and place. Main memory 520 and static memory 530 are articles of manufacture and / or machine parts. Main memory 520 and static memory 530 are computer-readable media from which a computer (e.g., processor 510) can read data and executable software instructions. Each of the main memory 520 and the static memory 530 may be implemented as one or more of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, removable disks, magnetic tapes, optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile optical discs (DVDs), floppy disks, Blu-ray discs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. The memory may be volatile or non-volatile, secure and / or encrypted, insecure and / or unencrypted.

[0059] “Memory” is an example of a computer-readable storage medium. Computer memory is any memory that a processor can directly access. Examples of computer memory include, but are not limited to, RAM, registers, and register files. The reference to “computer memory” or “memory” should be interpreted as potentially referring to multiple memories. Memory can be, for example, multiple memories within the same electronic system. Memory can also be multiple memories distributed among multiple electronic systems or computing devices.

[0060] As shown in the figure, the electronic system 500 also includes a video display unit 550, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid-state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Additionally, the electronic system 500 includes an input device 560, such as a keyboard / virtual keyboard or a touch input screen or voice input with voice recognition, and a cursor control device 570, such as a mouse or a touch input screen or touchpad. The electronic system 500 may also optionally include a disk drive unit 580, a signal generation device 590 (e.g., a speaker or remote control), and / or a network interface device 540.

[0061] In one embodiment, such as Figure 5As shown, the disk drive unit 580 includes a computer-readable medium 582 in which one or more sets 584 of software instructions (software) are embedded. The set 584 of software instructions is read from the computer-readable medium 582 and executed by the processor 510. Furthermore, when the processor 510 executes the software instructions 584, it performs one or more steps of the methods and processes described herein. In one embodiment, the software instructions 584 reside wholly or partially within main memory 520, static memory 530, and / or processor 510 during execution by the electronic system 500. Additionally, the computer-readable medium 582 may include the software instructions 584 or receive and execute the software instructions 584 in response to a propagation signal, causing a device connected to the network 501 to transmit voice, video, or data through the network 501. The software instructions 584 may be transmitted or received on the network 501 via a network interface device 540. In the context that the electronic system 500 includes or is contained in an ultrasonic base, the network interface device may, for example, include a first transmitter, an interface for the first transmitter, a receiver, and an interface for the receiver, consistent with the teachings herein. Electronic system 500 may communicate not through network 501, but through channels conforming to the teachings herein. In one embodiment, a dedicated hardware implementation, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array, and other hardware components, is constructed to implement one or more methods described herein. One or more embodiments described herein may use two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices having associated control and data signals that can communicate between and through the modules. Therefore, this disclosure includes software, firmware, and hardware implementations. Nothing in this application should be construed as being implemented or achievable solely in software and not in hardware such as tangible non-transient processors and / or memory.

[0062] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented or otherwise supported by a hardware electronic system running software programs. Virtual electronic system processing can implement one or more methods or functions as described herein, and the processors described herein can be used to support virtual processing environments.

[0063] Therefore, bidirectional multi-signal communication enables dual-protocol, single-channel communication, thereby reducing cable size and improving cable ergonomics, while achieving higher data rates and download packet sizes. As mentioned above, bidirectional multi-signal communication can be used in scenarios where the uploaded and downloaded signals have significantly different characteristics, such as in terms of data rate and corresponding bandwidth, format and corresponding protocol and / or clock rate. Although bidirectional multi-signal communication has been primarily described in relation to ultrasonic communication systems, the teachings herein can also be applied to other fields, such as sensor-based systems where sensors transmit a relatively large amount of data while receiving only a relatively small amount.

[0064] While bidirectional multi-signal communication has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the terms used are descriptive and illustrative, not restrictive. Modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims, whether as currently stated or modified, without departing from the various aspects of bidirectional multi-signal communication. Although bidirectional multi-signal communication has been described with reference to specific means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the disclosed details; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, as within the scope of the appended claims.

[0065] The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments. These illustrations are not intended to be a complete description of all elements and features of the disclosure described herein. Many other embodiments will likely be apparent to those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. Other embodiments can be utilized and derived from this disclosure, allowing structural and logical substitutions and changes to be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, these illustrations are representative only and may not be drawn to scale. Some scales in the illustrations may be enlarged, while others may be minimized. Therefore, this disclosure and the accompanying drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0066] The term "invention" may be used independently and / or collectively for convenience only, but this does not imply that the scope of this application is limited to any particular invention or inventive concept. Furthermore, while specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that any subsequent arrangements designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may replace the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent modifications or variations of the various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, as well as other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the specification.

[0067] The abstract of this disclosure provided conforms to 37 CFR § 1.72(b), and it should be understood at the time of submission that the abstract is not intended to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, in the foregoing detailed description, various features may be combined together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure. This disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, the inventive subject matter may refer to fewer than all features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, the following claims are incorporated into the detailed description, wherein each claim independently defines the subject matter claimed.

[0068] The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the concepts described in this disclosure. Therefore, the subject matter disclosed above should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and the claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments falling within the true spirit and scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the scope of this disclosure will be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and should not be limited to or restricted by the foregoing detailed description.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic communication system (100), comprising: An ultrasound probe (110) includes a first transmitter (111), a first interface (113) for the first transmitter (111), a first receiver (112), and a second interface (114) for the first receiver (112). An ultrasonic base (120) includes a second transmitter (121), a third interface (123) for the second transmitter (121), a second receiver (122), and a fourth interface (124) for the second receiver (122); and Channel (130) is connected to the first transmitter (111) via the first interface (113), to the first receiver (112) via the second interface (114), to the second transmitter (121) via the third interface (123), and to the second receiver (122) via the fourth interface (124). The first transmitter (111) is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic to the second receiver (122); The first receiver (112) is configured to receive a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter (121); The second transmitter (121) is configured to transmit the second signal to the first receiver (112); and The second receiver (122) is configured to receive the first signal from the first transmitter (111).

2. The ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first interface (113) includes at least one of a filter, a coupling capacitor, a circulator, or a multiplexer; and the second interface (114) includes at least one of a filter, a coupling capacitor, a circulator, or a multiplexer.

3. The ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first signal is transmitted by the first transmitter (111) at a first data rate and a first bandwidth, and the second signal is transmitted by the second transmitter (121) at a second data rate distinguishable from the first data rate and a second bandwidth distinguishable from the first bandwidth.

4. The ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The first signal includes data formatted according to a first protocol, and the second signal includes data formatted according to a second protocol distinguishable from the first protocol.

5. The ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The channel (130) includes a cable with multiple wires, the first signal being transmitted by the first transmitter (111) on one of the multiple wires, and the second signal being received by the first receiver (112) on the other of the multiple wires.

6. The ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first signal is transmitted by the first transmitter (111) at a first clock rate, and the second signal is received by the first receiver (112) at a second clock rate that is distinguishable from the first clock rate.

7. A first ultrasonic communication system (100), comprising: An ultrasound probe (110), connected to an ultrasound base (120) via a channel (130), includes: a first transmitter (111), a first interface (113) for the first transmitter (111), a first receiver (112), and a second interface (114) for the first receiver (112); wherein: The first transmitter (111) is configured to transmit a first signal having a first distinguishable signal characteristic via the first interface (113) to the second receiver (122) of the ultrasonic base (120) of the second ultrasonic communication system (100) via the fourth interface (124). The first receiver (112) is configured to receive a second signal having a second distinguishable signal characteristic from the second transmitter (121) of the ultrasonic base (120) via the second interface (114) and via the third interface (123); The channel (130) is connected to the first transmitter (111) through the first interface (113), to the first receiver (112) through the second interface (114), to the second transmitter (121) through the third interface (123), and to the second receiver (122) through the fourth interface (124).

8. The first ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The first interface (113) includes at least one of a filter, a coupling capacitor, a circulator, or a multiplexer; and the second interface (114) includes at least one of a filter, a coupling capacitor, a circulator, or a multiplexer.

9. The first ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The first signal is transmitted by the first transmitter (111) at a first data rate and a first bandwidth, and the second signal is received by the first receiver (112) at a second data rate distinguishable from the first data rate and a second bandwidth distinguishable from the first bandwidth.

10. The first ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 9, wherein, The first signal includes data formatted according to a first protocol, and the second signal includes data formatted according to a second protocol distinguishable from the first protocol.

11. The first ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The channel (130) includes a cable with multiple wires, the first signal being transmitted by the first transmitter (111) on one of the multiple wires, and the second signal being received by the first receiver (112) on the other of the multiple wires.

12. The first ultrasonic communication system (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The first signal is transmitted by the first transmitter (111) at a first clock rate, and the second signal is received by the first receiver (112) at a second clock rate that is distinguishable from the first clock rate.

13. A communication method for an ultrasonic system (100), comprising: A first signal having a first distinguishable characteristic is transmitted via a first transmitter (111) of an ultrasound probe (110) to a second receiver (122) of an ultrasound base (120). The first transmitter is connected to a channel (130) via a first interface (113), and the second receiver is connected to the channel (130) via a fourth interface (124). The first receiver (112) of the ultrasound probe (110) receives a second signal with a second distinguishable characteristic from the second transmitter (121) of the ultrasound base (120), the first receiver being connected to the channel (130) via a second interface (114), and the second transmitter being connected to the channel (130) via a third interface (123). The second signal having the second distinguishable characteristic is transmitted via the second transmitter (121) of the ultrasound base (120) to the first receiver (112) of the ultrasound probe (110), the second transmitter being connected to the channel (130) via the third interface (123), and the first receiver being connected to the channel (130) via the second interface (114); and The second receiver (122) of the ultrasound base (120) receives the first signal having the first distinguishable characteristic from the first transmitter (111) of the ultrasound probe (110), the second receiver being connected to the channel (130) via the fourth interface (124), and the first transmitter being connected to the channel (130) via the first interface (113).

14. The communication method according to claim 13, wherein, The first signal is transmitted by the first transmitter (111) at a first data rate and a first bandwidth, and the second signal is transmitted by the second transmitter (121) at a second data rate distinguishable from the first data rate and a second bandwidth distinguishable from the first bandwidth.

15. The communication method according to claim 14, wherein, The first signal includes data formatted according to a first protocol, and the second signal includes data formatted according to a second protocol different from the first protocol.

16. The communication method according to claim 13, wherein, The channel (130) includes a cable with multiple wires, the first signal being transmitted by the first transmitter (111) on one of the multiple wires, and the second signal being received by the first receiver (112) on the other of the multiple wires.

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