Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic transducer arrangement; drive means arranged to pivotably displace the transducer arrangement within a predetermined angular range of at least plus or minus forty angular degrees; an actual-value generator for supplying a linear signal dependent upon the angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; a desired-value generator for supplying a signal representing a desired angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range, with said signal representing said desired angular position being linear within said range; and closed loop control means for controlling the drive means in dependence upon such signals from the actual-value and desired-value generators; wherein the actual-value and desired-value generators are adapted to supply respective actual-value and desired-value signals having the same or similar linear wave forms over a relatively large signal range corresponding to said predetermined angular range of at least plus or minus forty angular degrees.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic transducer arrangement; drive means arranged to pivotably displace the transducer arrangement within a predetermined angular range of at least plus or minus forty angular degrees; an actual-value generator for supplying a linear signal dependent upon the angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; a desired-value generator for supplying a signal representing a desired angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range, with said signal representing said desired angular position being linear within said range; and closed loop control means for controlling the drive means in dependence upon such signals from the actual-value and desired-value generators; wherein the actual-value and desired-value generators are adapted to supply respective actual-value and desired-value signals having the same or similar linear wave forms over a relatively large signal range corresponding to said predetermined angular range of at least plus or minus forty angular degrees.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a clock signal generator for controlling the transmission of ultrasonic pulses from the transducer arrangement, the clock signal generator being controlled in use by signals produced by the actual-value generator such that master clock pulses are produced by the clock signal generator at predetermined steps between first and second predetermined amplitudes of signals produced by the actual-value generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises a motor and step-up gearing arranged between the motor and the transducer arrangement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the step-up gearing comprises a belt drive arrangement which is coupled, on the one hand, with the motor and, on the other hand, with the transducer arrangement and actual-value generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the belt drive arrangement comprises at least one toothed belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the or each toothed belt is coupled by a large number of teeth, on the one hand, with the motor, and on the other hand, with the transducer arrangement and actual-value generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Ultrasonic scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducer arrangement comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers which are adapted for rotation by the drive means such that any one transducer can form an active transducer of the transducer arrangement at any instant.