US4596145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic orthoscopic imaging system
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 1983-09-20
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Granted: 1986-06-24
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Expires: 2003-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic imaging system capable of producing C-mode images or orthoscopic projection images of a three-dimensional volume at significantly increased speeds of operation is described. For each acoustic pulse transmitted by a piezoelectric transducer array an electronic parallel processing system produces several unique image points whose locations in the image correspond to the Cartesian coordinates of the positions of receiving transducers. While range information is not directly displayed, range discrimination can be realized by means of an optional range dependent gain control or an optional color display in which range discrimination occurs through visual discrimination of differing hues.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen W. Smith
- 👤 Olaf T. von Ramm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/56; G01S7/62; G01S7/6263; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52053; G01S7/52057; G01S7/5206; G01S7/52061; G01S7/52071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing two-dimensional acoustic imaging data from a planar section of an object which planar section is parallel to the effective transducer aperture, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality of image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing two-dimensional acoustic imaging data from a planar section of an object which planar section is parallel to the effective transducer aperture, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality of image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing two-dimensional acoustic imaging data from a non-planar surface of an object, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality of image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing two-dimensional acoustic imaging data from a non-planar surface of an object, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality of image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said transducer means comprises an array of a plurality of acoustic transducers, and further comprising: means for triggering predetermined ones of said transducers in said array to produce transmitted acoustic pulse signals and to receive acoustic pulse signals reflected from an object being viewed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 3 further comprising: means for receiving said reflected acoustic pulse signals from said triggered transducers and for terminating receiving when said reflected acoustic pulse signals are determined to have been reflected from a predetermined maximum range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improved acoustic pulse-echo imaging system defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein said parallel processing means comprises a number of individual parallel processing channels for producing an equal number of individual image data corresponding to an equal number of image locations from each acoustic pulse signal transmitted and received by said array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 5 wherein said transducer means comprises an array of a plurality of acoustic transducers, and further comprising: means for triggering predetermined ones of said transducers in said array for emitting acoustic pulse signals and receiving ones of said emitted acoustic pulse signals reflected from an object being viewed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 6 further comprising: means for receiving said reflected acoustic pulse signals from said triggered transducers and for terminating receiving when reflected acoustic pulse signals are determined to have been reflected from a predetermined maximum range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising: means for encoding said image data with varying color data, said color data being varied in relation to the distance from which said pulse-echo data forming said image data is received, whereby said color data provides for range discrimination when visually displayed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improved acoustic imaging system defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising: weighting means for varying the amplitude of said image data in relation to the distance from which said pulse-echo data forming said image data is received, said weighted amplitude image data being applied to Z-axis driving means of said visual display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing three-dimensional acoustic imaging data, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An improved acoustic imaging system comprising: transducer means for producing three-dimensional acoustic imaging data, parallel processing means for receiving pulse-echo data from said transducer means and for simultaneously producing a plurality image data related to a plurality of image locations, and means for providing a visual display from said image data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an acoustic imaging system displaying at least two dimensions of an object being viewed including a transducer means for transmitting radiated energy signals and for receiving said radiated energy signals reflected from a target, means for producing image data from said received radiated energy signals and means for providing a visual display of said image data, the improvement comprising: means for encoding said image data with varying color data, said color data being varied in relation to the distance from which said received radiated energy signals are received, whereby said color data provides for range discrimination when visually displayed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
In an acoustic imaging system displaying at least two dimensions of an object being viewed including a transducer means for transmitting radiated energy signals and for receiving said radiated energy signals reflected from a target, means for producing image data from said received radiated energy signals and means for providing a visual display of said image data, the improvement comprising: means for encoding said image data with varying color data, said color data being varied in relation to the distance from which said received radiated energy signals are received, whereby said color data provides for range discrimination when visually displayed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an acoustic imaging system displaying at least two dimensions of an object being viewed including transducer means for transmitting acoustic signals and for receiving acoustic signals reflected from a target, means for producing image data from said received acoustic signals and means for providing a visual display of said image data, the improvement comprising: weighting means for varying the amplitude of said image data in relation to the distance from which said received acoustic signals forming said image data are received, said weighted amplitude image data being applied to Z-axis driving means of said visual display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an acoustic imaging system displaying at least two dimensions of an object being viewed including transducer means for transmitting acoustic signals and for receiving acoustic signals reflected from a target, means for producing image data from said received acoustic signals and means for providing a visual display of said image data, the improvement comprising: weighting means for varying the amplitude of said image data in relation to the distance from which said received acoustic signals forming said image data are received, said weighted amplitude image data being applied to Z-axis driving means of said visual display.
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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) | 1989-06-23 | 1989-12-23 | 1990-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-23 | 1993-12-23 | 1994-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-23 | 1997-12-23 | 1998-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |