US5235986A — Variable origin-variable angle acoustic scanning …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for scanning a non-planar array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements, receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines, which are spatially non-overlapping using for each line a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, shifting on transmission or receive each acoustic line to originate from an arbitrary origin at the face of said transducer array, and electronically steering on transmission or receive each acoustic line at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 125 words

A method for scanning a non-planar array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements, receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines, which are spatially non-overlapping using for each line a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, shifting on transmission or receive each acoustic line to originate from an arbitrary origin at the face of said transducer array, and electronically steering on transmission or receive each acoustic line at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the array is a curved linear array.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for scanning a curved linear array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements, receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines, which are spatially non-overlapping using for each line a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, and electronically steering the angle of each acoustic line relative to the array so that an extension of the acoustic line in space beyond its origin at the array passes through a substantially common vertex which is not located at the center of curvature of the transducer array.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 132 words

A method for scanning a curved linear array of individual transducer elements for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body comprising the steps of propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements, receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines, which are spatially non-overlapping using for each line a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, and electronically steering the angle of each acoustic line relative to the array so that an extension of the acoustic line in space beyond its origin at the array passes through a substantially common vertex which is not located at the center of curvature of the transducer array.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said common vertex is located a selectable distance in space behind the transducer array so as to provide a selectable field-of-view of said body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said common vertex is located a selectable distance in space in front of the transducer array and the acoustic lines overlap only at the common vertex.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 3 further including the step during reception of dynamically focussing along each acoustic line.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 3 further including the step during reception of dynamically adjusting the size or center of the aperture of active transducer elements of the array.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the size of said aperture is a function of the acceptance angle of end transducers in the aperture.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the shape of apodization is dynamically varied during reception along each scan line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 148 words

Apparatus for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body on a set of acoustic lines scanned along a non-planar transducer array with each acoustic line originating on the array at an arbitrary origin comprising an array of individual transducer elements placed against the body, means for propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements in the array, means for receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines which are spatially non-overlapping using a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, means for originating substantially all acoustic lines from a different arbitrary origin at said transducer array within the active aperture, and means for electronically steering substantially all acoustic lines at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 148 words

Apparatus for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body on a set of acoustic lines scanned along a non-planar transducer array with each acoustic line originating on the array at an arbitrary origin comprising an array of individual transducer elements placed against the body, means for propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements in the array, means for receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines which are spatially non-overlapping using a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which may selectively include only some or all elements of the array, means for originating substantially all acoustic lines from a different arbitrary origin at said transducer array within the active aperture, and means for electronically steering substantially all acoustic lines at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements is selectively variable to include only some or all elements of the array.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the number of individual transducer elements in the active aperture for propagating said pressure waves may differ from the number of elements in the active aperture which receives the acoustic echoes at each depth in the field-of-view.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the transducer array is a curvilinear array and substantially all acoustic lines are steered at a direction which is not normal to the curved face of the array.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein extensions of said acoustic lines in space pass through a common vertex located between the center of curvature of the transducer array and the face of the array.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein extensions of said acoustic lines in space pass through a common vertex at a distance from the array that is greater than the radius of curvature of said array and behind said array.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 163 words

Apparatus for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body on a set of acoustic lines scanned along a non-planar transducer array with each acoustic line originating on the array at an arbitrary origin relative to the center of the face of the array, comprising an array of individual transducer elements adapted to be placed against the body, means for propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements in the array, means for receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines which are spatially non-overlapping including means for forming a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which selectively includes only some or all elements of the array, means for originating substantially all acoustic lines from a different arbitrary origin at said transducer array within the active aperture, and means for electronically steering substantially all acoustic lines at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 163 words

Apparatus for obtaining image, velocity or variance data from a section of a body on a set of acoustic lines scanned along a non-planar transducer array with each acoustic line originating on the array at an arbitrary origin relative to the center of the face of the array, comprising an array of individual transducer elements adapted to be placed against the body, means for propagating acoustic pressure waves into the body from at least one active transmit aperture of individual transducer elements in the array, means for receiving acoustic echoes on a set of acoustic lines which are spatially non-overlapping including means for forming a variable active aperture of individual transducer elements which selectively includes only some or all elements of the array, means for originating substantially all acoustic lines from a different arbitrary origin at said transducer array within the active aperture, and means for electronically steering substantially all acoustic lines at an arbitrary angle relative to the face of the array.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the transducer array is a curvilinear array and substantially all acoustic lines are steered at an angle which is not normal to the curvilinear face of the array.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein extensions of said acoustic lines in space pass through a common vertex between the center of curvature of the transducer array and the face of the array.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein extensions of said acoustic lines in space pass through a common vertex at a distance from the transducer array that is greater than the radius of curvature of said array and behind said array.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-08-16	1997-02-15	1997-08-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-08-16	2001-02-15	2001-08-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-08-16	2005-02-15	2005-08-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Variable origin-variable angle acoustic scanning method and apparatus for a curved linear array

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