Variable delay system

Claim 2

A variable delay system for receiving signals from a plurality of elements and for producing a sum of the signals from said elements, the contributions to said sum from different elements being delayed with respect to each other, and the relative delays attributable to signals from the different elements being variable as a function of time, comprising: a plurality of delay lines; means for respectively applying signals from pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines for sampling, as a predetermined function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their associated delay lines; and combining means for combining the outputs of said coupling means.

Claim 3

The system as defined by claim 1 wherein the signals at successive stages of said delay lines are sequentially sampled by said coupling means.

Claim 4

The system as defined by claim 1 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 5

The system as defined by claim 2 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 6

The system as defined by claim 1 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 7

The system as defined by claim 2 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 8

The system as defined by claim 3 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 9

The system as defined by claim 4 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 10

The system as defined by claim 5 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 11

The system as defined by claim 6 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 12

The system as defined by claim 7 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 13

The system as defined by claim 8 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 14

The system as defined by claim 3 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 15

The system as defined by claim 4 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 16

The system as defined by claim 8 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 17

The system as defined by claim 12 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 18

The system as defined by claim 3 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 19

The system as defined by claim 7 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 20

The system as defined by claim 11 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 21

The system as defined by claim 16 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 22

Apparatus for imaging a body, comprising: means for transmitting energy into the body; a transducer for converting echoes reflected from said body into electrical signals, said transducer being divided into a plurality of defined elements; a plurality of delay lines; means for respectively applying signals from pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines for sampling, as a predetermined function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their associated delay lines; and combining means for combining the outputs of said coupling means to form an image representative signal.

Claim 23

Apparatus for imaging a body, comprising: means for transmitting energy into the body; a transducer for converting echoes reflected from said body into electrical signals, said transducer being divided into a plurality of defined elements; a plurality of delay lines; means for respectively applying signals from pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines for sampling, as a predetermined function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their associated delay lines; and combining means for combining the outputs of said coupling means to form an image representative signal.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined by claim 21 wherein the signals at successive stages of said delay lines are sequentially sampled by said coupling means.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined by claim 21 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined by claim 22 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined by claim 21 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined by claim 22 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 29

Apparatus as defined by claim 23 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined by claim 24 wherein said delay lines have respectively different numbers of stages, said elements are ordered transducer elements, and the signals from the first and last elements are respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements are respectively applied to the opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined by claim 26 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined by claim 28 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined by claim 23 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 36

Apparatus as defined by claim 32 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 37

Apparatus as defined by claim 23 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 38

Apparatus as defined by claim 25 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 39

Apparatus as defined by claim 33 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 40

A variable delay system for coupling a plurality of elements to a single element, comprising: a plurality of delay lines having different numbers of stages; means for respectively connecting pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines, each being operative to couple a selected delay stage of its associated delay line to said single element; said coupling means being coupled to said single element via delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater delays between said single element and the delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages; and means for changing the selected delay stages to which said coupling means are coupled.

Claim 41

A variable delay system for coupling a plurality of elements to a single element, comprising: a plurality of delay lines having different numbers of stages; means for respectively connecting pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines, each being operative to couple a selected delay stage of its associated delay line to said single element; said coupling means being coupled to said single element via delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater delays between said single element and the delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages; and means for changing the selected delay stages to which said coupling means are coupled.

Claim 42

The system as defined by claim 38 wherein said means for changing the selected delay stages to which said coupling means are coupled are operative to sequence through successive delay stages of each delay line.

Claim 43

The system as defined by claim 39 wherein said means for changing the selected delay stages to which said coupling means are coupled are operative to sequence through successive delay stages in synchronism with each other.

Claim 44

A switchable delay system for receiving signals from a plurality of ordered transducer elements and for producing a combination of the signals from said elements, the contributions to said combination from different elements being delayed with respect to each other, and the relative delays attributable to signals from the different elements being switchable under operator control, comprising: a plurality of delay lines having different numbers of steps; means for respectively applying signals from pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines, the signals from the first and last elements being respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements being respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on; a combining circuit; and a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines, each operative to couple the signal at an operator selected one of said delay stages to said combining circuit.

Claim 45

A switchable delay system for receiving signals from a plurality of ordered transducer elements and for producing a combination of the signals from said elements, the contributions to said combination from different elements being delayed with respect to each other, and the relative delays attributable to signals from the different elements being switchable under operator control, comprising: a plurality of delay lines having different numbers of steps; means for respectively applying signals from pairs of said elements to opposite ends of different ones of said plurality of delay lines, the signals from the first and last elements being respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last elements being respectively applied to opposite ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on; a combining circuit; and a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines, each operative to couple the signal at an operator selected one of said delay stages to said combining circuit.

Claim 46

The system as defined by claim 41 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of operator controllable switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line.

Claim 47

Apparatus for imaging a body, comprising: means for transmitting ultrasound energy into the body; a transducer for converting ultrasound energy reflected from the body into electrical signals, said transducer being divided into a number of ordered segments; a plurality of delay lines having respectively different numbers of stages; means for respectively applying the signals from the first and last segments to opposing ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last segments to opposing ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines for sampling, as a function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their respective delay lines; and means for combining the outputs of said coupling means to form an image-representative signal.

Claim 48

Apparatus for imaging a body, comprising: means for transmitting ultrasound energy into the body; a transducer for converting ultrasound energy reflected from the body into electrical signals, said transducer being divided into a number of ordered segments; a plurality of delay lines having respectively different numbers of stages; means for respectively applying the signals from the first and last segments to opposing ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages, the signals from the second and next-to-last segments to opposing ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on; a plurality of coupling means respectively associated with said plurality of delay lines for sampling, as a function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their respective delay lines; and means for combining the outputs of said coupling means to form an image-representative signal.

Claim 49

Apparatus as defined by claim 43 wherein the signals at successive stages of said delay lines are sequentially sampled by said coupling means.

Claim 50

Apparatus as defined by claim 43 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 51

Apparatus as defined by claim 44 further comprising means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals and for applying said control signals to their respective coupling means to control the sampling positions of the coupling means.

Claim 52

Apparatus as defined by claim 43 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 53

Apparatus as defined by claim 44 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 54

Apparatus as defined by claim 45 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 55

Apparatus as defined by claim 46 wherein said combining means includes delay means which are operative to introduce successively greater fixed delays to the signals from delay lines having successively lesser numbers of stages.

Claim 56

Apparatus as defined by claim 45 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 57

Apparatus as defined by claim 49 wherein said means for generating a plurality of synchronized control signals comprises means for dividing a master clock frequency into a plurality of lower frequencies.

Claim 58

Apparatus as defined by claim 45 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 59

Apparatus as defined by claim 51 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 60

Apparatus as defined by claim 52 wherein each of said coupling means comprises a plurality of switches coupled to the respective stages of its associated delay line, and wherein said control signals determine which switch of each coupling means is closed at a given time.

Claim 61

Apparatus as defined by claim 43, wherein the segments of said transducer have geometries selected such that evenly spaced time delays can be employed in conjunction with said segments to effect a given focus of said transducer.

Claim 62

Apparatus as defined by claim 46, wherein the segments of said transducer have geometries selected such that evenly spaced time delays can be employed in conjunction with said segments to effect a given focus of said transducer.

Claim 63

Apparatus as defined by claim 50, wherein the segments of said transducer have geometries selected such that evenly spaced time delays can be employed in conjunction with said segments to effect a given focus of said transducer.