Modular Ultrasonic Device With Separable Boards for Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound devices are inflexible, costly, and require long development times for new applications due to their dedicated hardware design, limiting their adaptability and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A modular ultrasonic device with separable boards connected via plug connectors, allowing for flexible configuration of ultrasonic transducers, power supply, transmit, and receive circuits, enabling scalable and adaptable ultrasound systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated hardware design is used for ultrasound devices, then device reliability and performance are improved, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: ultrasonic transducer module, processing module, and user interface module. Each module can be independently developed, tested, and replaced, allowing the system to maintain reliable core functions while adapting to different applications through module substitution.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing module is designed with universal interfaces and standardized connection protocols that can work with different types of ultrasonic transducers and various user interface devices (smartphones, tablets, computers). This enables a single processing module to serve multiple applications and configurations.
2Power
If dedicated hardware design is used for ultrasound devices, then device performance is improved, but development cost and time-to-market for new applications increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable modules, the development process for new applications only requires developing or acquiring specific transducer modules rather than redesigning the entire system. This significantly reduces development time and costs while maintaining high performance through specialized transducer design.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing module and user interface module are developed and optimized in advance with universal capabilities. When a new application is needed, only the specific ultrasonic transducer module needs to be developed or selected, leveraging the pre-developed infrastructure to accelerate time-to-market.
3Stability of the object's composition
If integrated design is used for ultrasound devices, then device stability is improved, but ease of modification and repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses modular architecture with clearly defined interfaces between modules. This segmentation allows individual modules to be replaced or repaired without affecting the stability of the entire system, as long as the standardized interfaces are maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables easy replacement of defective or outdated modules while recovering and reusing the stable processing module and user interface module. This reduces repair complexity and cost while maintaining system stability through the reusable core components.
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
Enables flexible and efficient use of ultrasound technology across various applications, reducing development costs and time-to-market by allowing modular components to be easily reconfigured and adapted.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) which is configured to generate and emit ultrasonic waves (101) based on a respective control signal
Implementation Method 2
to generate a respective measurement signal depending on received ultrasonic waves
Data Source
AI summary
A modular ultrasonic device is proposed. The modular ultrasonic device comprises a housing and at least one ultrasonic transducer. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to generate and emit ultrasonic waves based on a respective control signal and to generate a respective measurement signal depending on received ultrasonic waves. The modular ultrasonic device further comprises a plurality of boards arranged in the housing, which are separably connected to one another via respective plug connectors. The plurality of boards comprises a first board with a power supply circuit configured to generate a respective power supply signal for the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the further boards of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards further comprises at least one transmit circuit configured to generate the respective control signals for the at least one ultrasonic transducer, and a receive circuit configured to process the respective measurement signals of the at least one ultrasonic transducer. The transmit circuit and the receive circuit are either both formed on a second board of the plurality of boards or the transmit circuit is formed on the second board and the receive circuit is formed on a third board of the plurality of boards. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is formed on a fourth board of the plurality of boards or is separably connected to one of the plurality of boards.