Ultrasonic Transceiver Column-Row Architecture for Flexible 3D Apertures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound imaging systems face challenges in achieving flexible and efficient 3D beam-formation and aperture configurations, particularly in miniaturized systems, which limits their ability to provide high-resolution volumetric images with reduced side-lobes and improved signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
A column-row-parallel architecture at the circuit level of the ultrasonic transceiver is implemented, allowing for various aperture configurations, including plane-wave coherent compounding and annular rings, through shared transmitter drivers, variable gain amplifiers with automatic offset cancellation, and programmable element addressing, enabling flexible and efficient 3D imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ultrasound imaging systems are used, then basic imaging functionality is provided, but flexible 3D beam-formation and aperture configurations cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer array is divided into multiple independently controllable groups or subsets, allowing selective activation of different aperture configurations (e.g., full array, half-array, annular rings, checkerboard patterns). Each group can be addressed separately through the column-row-parallel architecture, enabling flexible 3D beam-formation without requiring complete reconfiguration of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic aperture configuration where the active transducer elements can be changed in real-time based on imaging requirements. The column-row-parallel architecture allows rapid switching between different aperture patterns (plane-wave, focused, annular rings, checkerboard) by dynamically controlling which transducer groups are activated, providing adaptability without permanent hardware changes.
2Volume of moving object
If miniaturized ultrasound systems are implemented, then portability is improved, but 3D imaging capability with high resolution is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple transducer arrays are integrated into a single miniaturized probe, with each array element capable of independent control. The column-row-parallel architecture combines the signals from all arrays coherently, effectively creating a larger virtual aperture despite the compact physical size. This merging approach allows miniaturized systems to achieve 3D imaging resolution comparable to larger conventional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from traditional 2D imaging to 3D volumetric imaging by utilizing the column-row-parallel architecture to process signals from multiple transducer arrays simultaneously. This adds a spatial dimension to the imaging capability, allowing high-resolution volumetric reconstruction from compact miniaturized hardware through sophisticated signal processing in the third dimension.
3Reliability
If traditional transceiver architecture is used, then simple circuit design is maintained, but signal-to-noise ratio and side-lobe suppression are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver circuit incorporates feedback mechanisms where the received signals from multiple transducer elements are coherently combined and processed. The column-row-parallel architecture enables feedback-based signal enhancement by comparing signals from different aperture configurations and iteratively optimizing the beam-formation to maximize signal-to-noise ratio while suppressing side-lobes through constructive and destructive interference control.
4Manufacturing precision
If fixed aperture configuration is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but imaging quality and side-lobe suppression cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic changing of aperture parameters (number of active elements, their spatial distribution, phase relationships) through the column-row-parallel architecture. Different imaging scenarios can be addressed by modifying parameters such as aperture size, shape (circular, rectangular, annular), and element spacing, allowing optimization of beam-formation precision for specific applications without changing the underlying hardware architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic imaging system is described in which a column-row-parallel architecture is provided at the circuit level of an ultrasonic transceiver. The ultrasonic imaging system can include a N×M array of transducer elements and a plurality of transceiver circuits where each transceiver circuit is connected to a corresponding one transducer element of the N×M array of transducer elements. A shared pulser gate driver and a shared VGA is provided for each row and column. Selection logic includes row select, column select, and per-element bit select. Through the column-row-parallel architecture, a variety of aperture configurations can be achieved.