US4682497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic imaging apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1986-03-03
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Granted: 1987-07-28
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Expires: 2006-03-03
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises first and second ultrasonic transducers and a driver circuit for alternately driving the first and second ultrasonic transducers to transmit ultrasonic beams in directions crossing at a given target. A receiver fetches from the echo signals of the first and second ultrasonic transducers echo components corresponding to echoes reflected in the same direction as the ultrasonic transmission direction and at a predetermined angle with respect to the target. An arithmetic logic circuit processes the echo signal components to obtain an angular dependency of scattering. A monitor displays the information representing the angular dependency of scattering.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H5/00; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52023; G01S7/52025; G01S7/52036; G01S7/52046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for examining the characteristics of a target P within an object comprising: first and second ultrasonic transducers spaced apart by a preselected distance for converting electrical signals into ultrasonic pulses and for converting received ultrasonic echoes into electrical echo signals; means coupled with said first ultrasonic transducer for causing said first ultrasonic transducer to emit an ultrasonic pulse along a first beam axis toward a target P within the object; receiving means coupled with said first and second ultrasonic transducers for receiving a first echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target P along the first beam axis and a second echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse scattered at the target p and travelling along a second beam axis which intersects at a predetermined angle with the first beam axis and extends to said second transducer; and comparing means coupled with said receiving means for comparing the first echo signal and the second echo signal and obtaining from the comparison angular dependency characteristic of the scattering of pulses at the target P, free from the influence of attenuation and scattering along the path to and from the target P.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for examining the characteristics of a target P within an object comprising: first and second ultrasonic transducers spaced apart by a preselected distance for converting electrical signals into ultrasonic pulses and for converting received ultrasonic echoes into electrical echo signals; means coupled with said first ultrasonic transducer for causing said first ultrasonic transducer to emit an ultrasonic pulse along a first beam axis toward a target P within the object; receiving means coupled with said first and second ultrasonic transducers for receiving a first echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target P along the first beam axis and a second echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse scattered at the target p and travelling along a second beam axis which intersects at a predetermined angle with the first beam axis and extends to said second transducer; and comparing means coupled with said receiving means for comparing the first echo signal and the second echo signal and obtaining from the comparison angular dependency characteristic of the scattering of pulses at the target P, free from the influence of attenuation and scattering along the path to and from the target P.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said comparing means includes a computer which mathematically compares the first and second echo signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said comparing means includes a means for obtaining the frequency spectrums of the first echo signal and the second echo signal, and wherein the comparison means mathematically compares the resultant frequency spectrums.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said causing means is also coupled with said second ultrasonic transducer and wherein said causing means includes a means for causing the second ultrasonic transducer to emit a second ultrasonic pulse along the second beam axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes a means for receiving a third echo signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target P along the second beam axis and for receiving a fourth echo signal corresponding to the second ultrasonic pulse scattered from said target P along the first beam axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said comparison means compares the first, second, third and fourth echo signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for examining the characteristics of a target P within an object comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducer elements for converting electrical signals into ultrasonic pulses and for converting received ultrasonic echoes into electrical echo signals, said array including first and second sub-arrays spaced apart by a preselected distance; driving means coupled with said transducer array for driving said first sub-array to emit an ultrasonic pulse along a first beam axis toward a target P within the object; receiving means coupled with said first sub-array and said second sub-array for activating said first sub-array to receive the first echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target along the first beam axis and for activating said second sub-array to receive a second echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse scattered from said target P and travelling along a second beam axis which intersects at a predetermined angle with the beam axis and extends to the second sub-array; and comparing means coupled with said receiving means for comparing the first echo signal and the second echo signal and obtaining from the echo signals the angular dependency characteristic of the scattering of pulses at the target P, free from the influence of attenuation and scattering along the path to and from the target P.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
215 words
An apparatus for examining the characteristics of a target P within an object comprising: an array of ultrasonic transducer elements for converting electrical signals into ultrasonic pulses and for converting received ultrasonic echoes into electrical echo signals, said array including first and second sub-arrays spaced apart by a preselected distance; driving means coupled with said transducer array for driving said first sub-array to emit an ultrasonic pulse along a first beam axis toward a target P within the object; receiving means coupled with said first sub-array and said second sub-array for activating said first sub-array to receive the first echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target along the first beam axis and for activating said second sub-array to receive a second echo signal corresponding to the ultrasonic pulse scattered from said target P and travelling along a second beam axis which intersects at a predetermined angle with the beam axis and extends to the second sub-array; and comparing means coupled with said receiving means for comparing the first echo signal and the second echo signal and obtaining from the echo signals the angular dependency characteristic of the scattering of pulses at the target P, free from the influence of attenuation and scattering along the path to and from the target P.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said comparing means includes a computer which mathematically compares the first and second echo signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said comparing means includes a means for obtaining the frequency spectrums of the first echo signal and the second echo signal, and wherein the comparison means mathematically compares the resultant frequency spectrums.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3996791A
Cited
US4070905A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-07-27 | 1991-01-26 | 1991-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-27 | 1995-01-26 | 1995-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-27 | 1999-01-26 | 1999-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |