Adaptive Ultrasonic Beamforming for Wide Observation Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic measurement techniques face limitations in achieving high resolution throughout a wide observation region due to the MVB method's effectiveness being restricted to regions where plane waves are superimposed, leading to image deterioration when transmission scanning angles are increased or observation depths are deepened, as it fails to account for spherical wave propagation.

Innovation Solution

An ultrasonic measurement apparatus that calculates adaptive weights based on whether a signal processing target point belongs to a plane wave or spherical wave propagation region, using region discrimination processing to obtain a second beamforming coefficient for synthesizing high-resolution signals, thereby enabling adaptive beamforming across a wide observation region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the MVB method is executed with increased transmission scanning angles or deepened observation depths, then the observation region is expanded, but the resolution improvement effect is lost due to spherical wave propagation interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobservation regionVSAvoidresolution

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The observation region is divided into multiple sub-regions based on wave propagation characteristics (plane wave regions and spherical wave regions). Different beamforming methods are applied to different sub-regions: MVB method for plane wave regions and conventional beamforming for spherical wave regions, thereby maintaining resolution quality across the entire expanded observation region

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The beamforming method is made dynamic and adaptive by automatically selecting between MVB and conventional beamforming based on the local wave propagation characteristics at each observation point. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high resolution regardless of transmission scanning angle or observation depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If plane waves are used for synthetic aperture processing, then processing speed and frame rate are improved, but resolution improvement is limited to specific regions where plane wave propagation holds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidresolution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different beamforming strategies are applied to different spatial locations based on local wave propagation characteristics. In regions where plane wave propagation is valid, the MVB method is applied for resolution improvement, while in regions where spherical wave propagation dominates, conventional beamforming is used, ensuring optimal performance throughout the entire observation region

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for improved resolution and adaptive beamforming throughout a wide observation region, even at varying transmission angles and depths, by distinguishing between plane wave and spherical wave propagation regions, thus overcoming the limitations of the MVB method.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a measurement object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave transmission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

perform reception processing of a reflected wave which is a ultrasonic wave reflected from the measurement object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic echo reception: Echo

Implementation Method 3

synthesizing a plurality of the reception signals based on a first beamforming coefficient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBeamforming:

Implementation Method 4

plane wave propagation region in which the ultrasonic wave is propagated as a plane wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlane wave propagation:

Implementation Method 5

spherical wave propagation region in which the ultrasonic wave is propagated as a spherical wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpherical wave propagation:

Data Source

PatentUS10197670B2Ultrasonic measurement apparatus, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and ultrasonic measurement method

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a transmission processing unit that performs processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave at a given transmission angle, a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of an ultrasonic echo with respect to a transmitted ultrasonic wave, and a processing unit that performs processing with respect to a reception signal from the reception processing unit. The processing unit obtains a plurality of first resolution signals by synthesizing a plurality of the reception signals based on a first beamforming coefficient, and obtains a second beamforming coefficient for synthesizing a second resolution signal from the plurality of first resolution signals based on whether a signal processing target point belongs to a plane wave propagation region or belongs to a spherical wave propagation region.