Circuit for processing the signals received by a mosaic of ultrasonic transducers in B-mode echography

Claim 1

A circuit for processing echo signals which are produced, in reaction to a series of emitted ultrasonic pulses, by a mosaic of ultrasonic transducers, the mosaic being formed by n first electrodes which are disposed as parallel lines on a first principal surface of a plate of electrostrictive material and which can be polarized independently of each other and by 2p second electrodes which are disposed as parallel lines which extend perpendicular to the first electrodes, comprising: p amplifiers each amplifier having an input, which is connected to a symmetrical pair of said second electrodes, and an output; p first variable delay lines each first delay line having an input, which is connected to the output of a corresponding one of the amplifiers, and an output; a first adder having p inputs, each of which is connected to an output of a corresponding one of the first delay lines, and an output; a cascade network of q-1 fixed delay lines, the input of a first delay line in the cascade being connected to the output of the first amplifier; q second variable delay lines, one of said second variable delay lines having an input connected to the output of the first amplifier and each of the remaining second variable delay lines having an input connected to the output of a corresponding one of the q-1 delay lines in the cascade network; and a second adder having q inputs, each connected to the output of a corresponding one of said second delay lines, and an output which supplies processed echo signals; the delay times of the first variable delay lines being determined so that the amplifiers, first variable delay lines and the first adder form the electrical equivalent of a first cylindrical ultrasonic lens whose axis extends parallel to the second electrodes and the delay times of the second variable delay lines being controlled so that the fixed delay lines, the second variable delay lines and the second adder form the electrical equivalent of a second cylindrical ultrasonic lens having an axis which extends parallel to the first electrodes.