Patent US3909771A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3909771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ophthalmic B-scan apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-06
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-08-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an optical display system and more particularly to an improved B-scan ultrasonoscope. The apparatus may be used for scanning tissue, for example, the human eye and detecting differences in density of various embedded substances and their relative depth and displaying the information pictorially in color. The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman C Pickering
- 👤 Ii Nathaniel R Bronson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/10; G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/52071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A B-scan ultrasonoscope comprising: scanning head means having an output portion; transducer means contained within said scanning head means for providing an acoustic output signal when triggered with and electric input signal and for producing an electric output signal upon receiving an echo pulse input caused by a body reflecting the acoustic signal; motor drive means for moving said transducer means across said output portion of said scanning head means; pulse generator means electrically coupled to said transducer means for providing the electrical input to the transducer means; display means including vertical deflection control means, horizontal deflection control means, and a plurality of color gun means; clock means coupled to said scanning means and to said vertical deflection control means for synchronization of the vertical deflection on said display means with the movement of said transducer across said output portion of said scanning head means; amplifier means receiving the electrical output signal from said transducer means; detector means converting the output from said amplifier means into a series of input pulses whose amplitude represents the intensity of the echo pulses and whose spacing in time represents distance from the reflecting body to said scanning head means; conversion means for converting said series of input pulses into a corresponding series of digital signals whose values represent incremental steps of a predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses; encoding means for converting said series of digital signals into binary coded decimal values; decoding means for converting said binary coded decimal values into a series of signals whose values represent incremental steps of another predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses; means coupling the signals of each of said last mentioned incremental steps to respective ones of said color guns; and gating means responsive to said clock means for controlling the horizontal deflection control means, whereby horizontal distances on the display means represent distances from said scanning head means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A B-scan ultrasonoscope comprising: scanning head means having an output portion; transducer means contained within said scanning head means for providing an acoustic output signal when triggered with and electric input signal and for producing an electric output signal upon receiving an echo pulse input caused by a body reflecting the acoustic signal; motor drive means for moving said transducer means across said output portion of said scanning head means; pulse generator means electrically coupled to said transducer means for providing the electrical input to the transducer means; display means including vertical deflection control means, horizontal deflection control means, and a plurality of color gun means; clock means coupled to said scanning means and to said vertical deflection control means for synchronization of the vertical deflection on said display means with the movement of said transducer across said output portion of said scanning head means; amplifier means receiving the electrical output signal from said transducer means; detector means converting the output from said amplifier means into a series of input pulses whose amplitude represents the intensity of the echo pulses and whose spacing in time represents distance from the reflecting body to said scanning head means; conversion means for converting said series of input pulses into a corresponding series of digital signals whose values represent incremental steps of a predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses; encoding means for converting said series of digital signals into binary coded decimal values; decoding means for converting said binary coded decimal values into a series of signals whose values represent incremental steps of another predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses; means coupling the signals of each of said last mentioned incremental steps to respective ones of said color guns; and gating means responsive to said clock means for controlling the horizontal deflection control means, whereby horizontal distances on the display means represent distances from said scanning head means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 wherein said conversion means comprises, a comparison means receiving said series of pulses and comparing the amplitude of each of the pulses with a sequence of reference iNputs forming a continuous sequence of predetermined incremental steps, said comparison means producing for each pulse an output signal indicating the number of steps which said pulse covers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 2 wherein the continuous sequence of predetermined incremental steps is provided by a voltage divider having a plurality of outputs at predetermined tapped locations, each of said outputs being one of the fractions of a reference input to said comparison means, and voltage source means connected across the voltage divider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 3 wherein the locations of said tapped outputs form said predetermined continuous functional relationship and wherein said functional relationship is a linear one.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 3 wherein the locations of said tapped outputs form said predetermined continuous functional relationship and wherein said functional relationship is a logarithmic one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 3 wherein the locations of said tapped outputs form said predetermined continuous functional relationship and wherein at least one of said functional relationships correspond to the voltage-brightness curve of the display means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 wherein said decoding means comprise a decoder having a plurality of outputs, a plurality of incremental resistance means each connected respectively in series with said decoder outputs, and amplifier means receiving the outputs from said decoder and applying them to said coupling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 wherein said encoding means comprises a priority encoder providing inverted binary coded decimal values, and inversion means changing said inverted binary coded decimal values into positive binary coded decimal values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 7 wherein the incremental relationship between said resistance means is a linear one.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 7 wherein the incremental relationship between said resistance means is a logarithmic one.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 7 and wherein the incremental relationship between said resistance means corresponds to the voltage-brightness curve of the display means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 and further comprising computer means receiving said binary coded decimal values and storing them for further computation, said computer means including separate shift registers for each of the four digits of the binary coded decimal values, said shift registers storing the values for each sweep of the transducer, and comparison means for comparing in each of said shift registers the successive sweeps of the transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of color guns include a blue gun, a green gun, and a red gun and wherein said coupling means directs the lowest group of said digital signals to said blue gun, the next group to said green gun and the highest group to said red gun.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
An ultrasonoscope as in claim 1 wherein said transducer is of the piezo-electric type producing an oscillating output and wherein said pulse generator means comprises first trigger means providing a first pulse output, delay means and, second trigger means in series with said delay means, the series combination providing a second pulse output delayed in time from said first pulse output, said first and second pulse outputs being applied to trigger said piezo-electric transducer, and wherein said second pulse output occurs when the oscillations are in the second positive swing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
197 words
A signal processing apparatus for a B-scan ultrasonoscope having transducer means for transmitting an acoustic energy pulse and receiving a reflected echo and in response to the said echo producing an electric output signal and display tube means for displaying the echo signals received, said signal processing apparatus comprising detection means converting the output from said transducer means into A series of input pulses whose amplitude represents the intensity of the echo pulse and whose spacing in time represent distance from the transducer to the reflecting body, conversion means for converting said series of input pulses into a corresponding series of digital signals whose values represent incremental steps of a predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses, encoding means for converting said series of digital signals into binary coded decimal values, decoding means for converting said binary coded decimal values into a series of signals whose values represent incremental steps of another predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses said display tube means including a plurality of color presentation means, and means coupling the signals of each of said last mentioned incremental steps to respective ones of said color presentation means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
197 words
A signal processing apparatus for a B-scan ultrasonoscope having transducer means for transmitting an acoustic energy pulse and receiving a reflected echo and in response to the said echo producing an electric output signal and display tube means for displaying the echo signals received, said signal processing apparatus comprising detection means converting the output from said transducer means into A series of input pulses whose amplitude represents the intensity of the echo pulse and whose spacing in time represent distance from the transducer to the reflecting body, conversion means for converting said series of input pulses into a corresponding series of digital signals whose values represent incremental steps of a predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses, encoding means for converting said series of digital signals into binary coded decimal values, decoding means for converting said binary coded decimal values into a series of signals whose values represent incremental steps of another predetermined continuous functional relationship with said series of input pulses said display tube means including a plurality of color presentation means, and means coupling the signals of each of said last mentioned incremental steps to respective ones of said color presentation means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
Signal processing apparatus as in claim 15 and wherein said conversion means comprises comparsion means receiving said series of pulses and comparing the amplitude of each of the pulses with a sequence of reference inputs forming a continuous sequence of predetermined incremental steps, said comparison means producing for each pulse an output signal indicating the number of steps which said pulse covers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Signal processing apparatus as in claim 16 and wherein said sequence of predetermined incremental steps form said predetermined continuous functional relationship and wherein at least one of said functional relationships correspond to the voltage-brightness curve of the display tube means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |