Average Correlation Matrix for Ultrasound Spatial Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adaptive signal processing in ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic imaging faces challenges in achieving high spatial resolution due to the high computational volume required for calculating inverse matrices and QR decompositions, which becomes impractical with large numbers of input signals.
Innovation Solution
An object information acquiring apparatus and method that calculates an average correlation matrix by extracting and averaging submatrices from correlation data, reducing the size of the matrices involved in adaptive signal processing, thereby decreasing the processing volume while maintaining high spatial resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If adaptive signal processing is applied to improve spatial resolution, then the resolution of the orientation direction is improved, but the processing volume increases in proportion to the cube of the matrix size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full correlation matrix into multiple submatrices and processes them separately. By segmenting the large matrix into smaller submatrices, the processing volume is reduced from O(M³) to O(k³) where k < M, while still maintaining the ability to improve spatial resolution through adaptive signal processing on each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary submatrices from the full correlation matrix rather than processing the entire matrix. This extraction approach allows the system to obtain the essential correlation information needed for adaptive signal processing while significantly reducing the computational burden.
2Productivity
If the correlation matrix size is reduced to decrease processing volume, then the processing volume is reduced, but the spatial resolution may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by processing only selected submatrices rather than the full correlation matrix. This partial processing is sufficient to achieve the desired spatial resolution improvement while avoiding the excessive computational cost of processing the entire matrix, thus resolving the contradiction between processing volume and resolution 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
The approach allows for the acquisition of images with high spatial resolution while significantly reducing the signal processing volume, making it feasible for practical implementation in ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves emitted from an object and convert the acoustic waves into electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
a correlation calculator which calculates correlation data by using the plurality of electrical signals output from the plurality of conversion elements
Implementation Method 3
an average correlation calculator which calculates an average correlation matrix by extracting a plurality of submatrices from the correlation data and averaging the submatrices
Implementation Method 4
an adaptive signal processor which generates power distribution by performing adaptive signal processing by using the average correlation matrix and calculating the power of each target position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention employs an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves emitted from an object and convert the acoustic waves into electrical signals, a correlation calculator which calculates correlation data by using the plurality of electrical signals output from the plurality of conversion elements, an average correlation calculator which calculates an average correlation matrix by extracting a plurality of submatrices from the correlation data and averaging the submatrices, and an adaptive signal processor which generates power distribution by performing adaptive signal processing by using the average correlation matrix and calculating the power of each target position, wherein the correlation calculator calculates the correlation data by obtaining the correlation of input signals that are separated by at least one input signal among the input signals.