Ultrasonic Imaging Device Using Grouped Array Element Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ultrasonic imaging, the trade-off between improving image resolution and simplifying hardware leads to increased costs and calculation burdens, particularly in medical ultrasound devices, where reducing the number of array elements compromises image quality and necessitates a balance between power consumption and image clarity.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic imaging device and method that selectively activates a group of ultrasonic array elements for scanning, extracts central echo signals, and processes them to generate modified channel signals for image synthesis, reducing energy loss and hardware burden while maintaining high resolution and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of array elements is reduced to simplify hardware and reduce cost, then power consumption and hardware burden are reduced, but image resolution and quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the M array elements into multiple groups, with each group containing N elements (where M>N). By selectively activating different groups for different scanning lines, the system achieves full-field imaging coverage using fewer elements at any given time, resolving the contradiction between hardware simplification and image resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic activation of different array element groups across multiple scanning cycles. Each group is activated in sequence to scan different regions, and the signals are synthesized to form the complete image. This time-division multiplexing approach maintains imaging quality while reducing the number of simultaneously active elements, thereby reducing power consumption and hardware complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the number of array elements is increased to improve image resolution, then image quality improves, but cost and calculation amount increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent activates only N elements (where N<M) at any given time to scan a subset of lines, rather than activating all M elements simultaneously. This partial activation reduces the hardware complexity and power consumption while maintaining the ability to generate high-resolution images through signal synthesis from multiple scanning passes.
3Productivity
If all array elements are activated simultaneously for scanning, then imaging speed improves, but energy consumption and hardware burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic activation of array element groups across multiple scanning cycles. Different groups are activated in different cycles to scan different regions, and the imaging process continues until all regions are covered. This approach maintains acceptable imaging speed while significantly reducing power consumption compared to simultaneous activation of all elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the imaging process into multiple scanning cycles, with each cycle activating only a subset of array elements. By dividing the total imaging task across multiple cycles with partial element activation, the system reduces the peak power consumption and hardware burden while achieving complete image acquisition.
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 achieves power-saving, portable, and high-resolution imaging by reducing ultrasonic emission energy, lowering hardware calculation, and minimizing speckle noise, thereby enhancing image quality and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
each scan is to emit an ultrasonic signal by the group of array elements and receive an echo signal of the ultrasonic signal
Implementation Method 2
According to an arrival time of each echo signal, each central echo signal in the channel signal is delayed and summed to generate a modified channel signal
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic imaging device includes an ultrasonic generating unit and an ultrasonic imaging processing unit. The ultrasonic generating unit repeatedly turns on N of M ultrasonic array elements of the ultrasonic probe multiple times as a group of array elements for linear scanning, and each scan is to emit an ultrasonic signal by each group of array elements and receive an echo signal of the ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic imaging processing unit extracts a central echo signal from the echo signal in each scan to form a channel signal, and according to the arrival time of the echo signals, each central echo signal in the channel signal is delayed and summed to generate a modified channel signal. The modified channel signal is subjected to image synthesis process to obtain an ultrasonic image.