Ultrasonic probe and its control method

Abstract

This invention provides an ultrasonic probe and a control method thereof that enable rapid image mode changes by discharging a voltage generation unit without the need for a separate discharge module. [Solution] An ultrasonic probe according to one aspect of the disclosed invention may include: a first transducer that transmits a first transmission signal and receives a reflected signal; a second transducer that transmits a second transmission signal and receives a reflected signal; a first pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the first transducer; a second pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the second transducer; and a control unit that, when the image mode is changed while the first transducer is activated, supplies a voltage generated from the voltage generation unit to the second pulser to discharge the voltage supplied to the first pulser.

Claims

1. A first transducer that sends out a first transmission signal and receives a reflected signal, A second transducer that sends out a second transmission signal and receives a reflected signal, A first pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the first transducer, A second pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the second transducer, A voltage generation unit that supplies voltage to the first pulser and the second pulser, An ultrasonic probe comprising: a control unit that, when the image mode is changed while the first transducer is activated, supplies a voltage generated from the voltage generation unit to the second pulser to discharge the voltage supplied to the first pulser.

2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the second transducer to emit an ultrasonic signal based on the voltage supplied to the second pulser.

3. The control unit, An electrical signal is supplied to the second transducer based on the voltage supplied to the second pulser. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the second transducer is controlled to convert the supplied electrical signal into an ultrasonic signal and emit it.

4. The control unit, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein after discharging the voltage supplied to the first pulser, the voltage generation unit is controlled to generate the voltage required for the changed image mode.

5. The aforementioned change in image mode is: The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, comprising changing from a first image mode requiring a first voltage to a second image mode requiring a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 5, wherein the change of the image mode includes repeatedly changing between the first image mode and the second image mode.

7. The first image mode includes mode B, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein the second image mode includes C mode or D mode.

8. It further includes an input section that receives user input, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the image mode based on user input received by the input unit.

9. A third transducer that transmits a third transmission signal and receives a reflected signal, The present invention further includes a third pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the third transducer, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when the image mode is changed while the first transducer is activated, supplies the voltage generated from the voltage generation unit to the second pulser and the third pulser, thereby discharging the voltage supplied to the first pulser.

10. A control method for an ultrasonic probe, comprising: a first transducer that transmits a first transmission signal and receives a reflected signal; a second transducer that transmits a second transmission signal and receives a reflected signal; a first pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the first transducer; a second pulser that supplies an electrical signal to the second transducer; and a voltage generation unit that supplies voltage to the first pulser and the second pulser, wherein The steps include activating the first transducer and The stage of receiving a command regarding a change in image mode, An ultrasonic probe control method comprising the step of supplying the voltage generated in the voltage generation unit to the second pulser to discharge the voltage supplied to the first pulser.

11. The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling the second transducer to emit an ultrasonic signal based on a voltage supplied to the second pulser.

12. The step of controlling the second transducer to emit an ultrasonic signal is: A step of supplying an electrical signal to the second transducer based on the voltage supplied to the second pulser, The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 11, comprising the step of controlling the second transducer to convert the supplied electrical signal into an ultrasonic signal and emit it.

13. The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of controlling the voltage generation unit to generate the voltage required for the modified image mode after discharging the voltage supplied to the first pulser.

14. The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 10, wherein the change in the image mode includes changing from a first image mode requiring a first voltage to a second image mode requiring a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

15. The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 14, wherein the change of the image mode includes repeatedly changing between the first image mode and the second image mode.

16. The first image mode includes mode B, The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 15, wherein the second image mode includes C mode or D mode.

17. The ultrasonic probe further includes an input unit for receiving user input, The ultrasonic probe control method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving a command for changing the image mode includes a step of receiving a command for changing the image mode based on user input received by the input unit.

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