Ultrasound Decoder Segmentation for Memory Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound signal processing technologies face challenges in balancing memory size and signal quality, particularly due to the need for large decoders to store RF signals and the deterioration of signal quality caused by delay-and-sum processing on coded RF signals.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves dividing the decoding process into preceding and succeeding decoders, where the preceding decoders perform filter processing on transducer element signals before the reception beam former, and the succeeding decoders perform correlation operations on the resulting reception beam signals, thereby reducing memory requirements while maintaining signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RF signals are stored in memory for decoding before the reception beam former, then decoding can be performed, but the memory size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The decoding process is divided into two stages: first decoding (performed before the reception beam former on RF signals) and second decoding (performed after the reception beam former on DAS signals). This segmentation allows the system to perform partial decoding early when memory requirements are lower, and complete decoding later when signals have been processed, thereby reducing the memory size needed while maintaining decoding capability.
2Device complexity
If delay-and-sum is performed on RF signals in coded form, then decoding can be performed after the reception beam former, but the code shape is lost and signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first decoding process is performed preliminarily before the reception beam former on RF signals. This preliminary action preserves the code shape and signal quality by conducting part of the decoding operation before the delay-and-sum processing that would otherwise destroy the coded structure. The second decoding then completes the process on the already-partially-decoded signals.
Data Source
AI summary
Preceding decoders each convolve a corresponding one of a plurality of transducer elements constituting a transducer element array of an ultrasound probe with an impulse response waveform, while varying a filter coefficient corresponding to time side lobes for each transmission event. A succeeding decoder stores, in a memory, a reception beam signal that is output from a reception beam former. When a new reception beam signal is output, the succeeding decoder performs delay-and-sum on the new reception beam signal and the reception beam signal, which has been output immediately before the new reception beam signal and is stored in the memory.