US4226121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic imaging system and improved signal processor therefor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-03-02
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1999-03-02
Abstract
Abstract In an ultrasonic imaging system, a signal processor is provided which converts the portions of the received signal representing sonic reflections to more closely resemble the acoustic impedance changes which generated the reflections. The signal processor differentiates the received signal after demodulation and the differentiated signal is added to the received demodulated signal delayed by one-half cycle of the ripple frequency of the ultrasonic pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Knospler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In an ultrasonic scanning device having means to apply ultrasonic pulses to a subject to scan impedance changes in said subject and to detect the resulting sonic reflections and generate electrical signals from said reflections and a receiver to demodulate the received signals, the improvement wherein there is provided differentiating means to differentiate the output signal of said receiver to provide a differential signal and summation means to add said differential signal to a representation of the output signal of said receiver to provide a summation signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In an ultrasonic scanning device having means to apply ultrasonic pulses to a subject to scan impedance changes in said subject and to detect the resulting sonic reflections and generate electrical signals from said reflections and a receiver to demodulate the received signals, the improvement wherein there is provided differentiating means to differentiate the output signal of said receiver to provide a differential signal and summation means to add said differential signal to a representation of the output signal of said receiver to provide a summation signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An ultrasonic scanning system as recited in claim 1, wherein there is provided circuit means to delay the output of said receiver by one-half cycle of the ripple frequency in the receiver output caused by the carrier frequency of the sonic pulses in order to shift said representation of the output signal of said receiver by one-half cycle of said ripple frequency relative to said differential signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an ultrasonic scanning system as recited in claim 2, wherein said differentiating means inverts the signal applied thereto and wherein said circuit means receives the same input signal applied to said differentiator and includes means to invert the signal received thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ultrasonic scanning system as recited in claim 1, wherein there is provided means to adjust the amplitude of said differential signal relative to said representation of the output signal of said receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
A signal processor for use in an ultrasonic scanning or imaging system comprising differentiating means for differentiating the signal applied to the input thereof to provide a differential signal, circuit means for providing a delayed representation of the signal applied to the input thereof, input means for receiving an input signal and applying a representation of said input signal to the input of said differentiating means and the same representation of said input signal to the input of said circuit means, and summing means for adding said differential signal to said delayed representation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A signal processor for use in an ultrasonic scanning or imaging system comprising differentiating means for differentiating the signal applied to the input thereof to provide a differential signal, circuit means for providing a delayed representation of the signal applied to the input thereof, input means for receiving an input signal and applying a representation of said input signal to the input of said differentiating means and the same representation of said input signal to the input of said circuit means, and summing means for adding said differential signal to said delayed representation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A signal processor as recited in claim 5, wherein there is provided means to adjust the amplitude of said differential signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A signal processor as recited in claim 5, wherein said differentiator inverts the signal applied to the input thereof, and wherein said circuit means includes means to invert the signal applied to the input of said circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an ultrasonic imaging device having means to apply ultrasonic pulses to a subject to scan impedance changes in said subject and to detect the resulting sonic reflections and generate electrical signal from said reflections, and a receiver to demodulate the received signals, and an image storage device to store an image of the acoustic impedance changes represented by said electrical signals, the improvement wherein there is provided differentiating means to differentiate the output signal of said receiver to provide a differential signal and summation means to add said differential signal to a representation of the output signal of said receiver to provide a summation signal, and means to apply said summation signal to said image storage device to provide said image of said acoustic impedance changes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an ultrasonic imaging device having means to apply ultrasonic pulses to a subject to scan impedance changes in said subject and to detect the resulting sonic reflections and generate electrical signal from said reflections, and a receiver to demodulate the received signals, and an image storage device to store an image of the acoustic impedance changes represented by said electrical signals, the improvement wherein there is provided differentiating means to differentiate the output signal of said receiver to provide a differential signal and summation means to add said differential signal to a representation of the output signal of said receiver to provide a summation signal, and means to apply said summation signal to said image storage device to provide said image of said acoustic impedance changes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein there is provided circuit means to delay the output of said receiver by one-half cycle of the ripple frequency in the receiver output caused by the carrier frequency of the sonic pulses in order to shift said representation of the output signal of said receiver by one-half cycle of said ripple frequency relative to said differential signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an ultrasonic imaging system as recited in claim 9, wherein said differentiating means inverts the signal applied thereto and wherein said circuit means receives the same input signal applied to said differentiator and includes means to invert the signal received thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ultrasonic imaging system as recited in claim 8, wherein there is provided means to adjust the amplitude of said differential signal relative to said representation of the output signal of said receiver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |