Ultrasonic Beamforming Spatial Smoothing via Low-Frequency Transform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beamforming technologies in ultrasonic imaging require significant computational resources and time due to the extensive calculations needed for spatial smoothing, which can lead to delayed image output and device overheating.
Innovation Solution
A beamforming apparatus that transforms received signals using a transform function composed of low-frequency components, such as orthogonal polynomials or Fourier transforms, to reduce the dimensionality of spatial covariance matrices, thereby simplifying the spatial smoothing process and calculating weights for generating beam signals more efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional spatial smoothing operation is performed during beamforming, then image quality is maintained, but calculation time increases and computational resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes high-frequency components from the transform function, retaining only low-frequency components. This extraction principle reduces the dimensionality of the spatial covariance matrix while preserving the essential information needed for image quality, thereby decreasing calculation time without significantly degrading image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using only a portion (low-frequency components) of the complete transform function rather than the full frequency spectrum. This partial application suffices to maintain image quality while reducing the computational burden of spatial smoothing operations
2Measurement precision
If conventional spatial smoothing operation is performed during beamforming, then spatial resolution is maintained, but computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary low-frequency components from the transform function, removing unnecessary high-frequency components. This reduces the size of spatial covariance matrices that need to be processed, thereby maintaining spatial resolution while reducing computational resource requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the transform function by filtering out high-frequency components and retaining only low-frequency components. This parameter modification reduces the dimensionality of the problem, decreasing computational resources needed while preserving essential spatial information
3Measurement precision
If full transform function is used for spatial smoothing, then processing accuracy is maintained, but beamforming speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes high-frequency components from the transform function, keeping only low-frequency components. This extraction reduces the computational workload for spatial smoothing operations, thereby increasing beamforming speed while maintaining sufficient processing accuracy for diagnostic imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using only the necessary low-frequency portion of the transform function. This partial application achieves adequate processing accuracy for medical imaging while significantly reducing calculation time and increasing beamforming speed
Data Source
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AI summary
A beamforming device, an ultrasonic imaging device, and a beamforming method, which allow a simple spatial smoothing operation, are disclosed. A beamforming device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a spatial smoothing unit for transforming a received signal into another space, using a transformation function configured by low frequency components, calculating a transformed signal by a spatial smoothing operation using a transformation function in a transformation space, and estimating an averaged spatial covariance matrix; a weighted value operation unit for operating a weighted value of the transformed signal from the averaged spatial covariance matrix which has been estimated by the spatial smoothing operation; and a synthesis unit for generating a beam signal, using the transformed signal and the weighted value of the transformed signal.