Ultrasonic imaging system for obtaining zoom video images of an object

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels are odd alternative pixels 0 of said ultrasonic image pixel data, and said ultrasonic image pixel data not positionally corresponding to said display pixels are even alternative pixels E of said ultrasonic image pixel data, a first weighting function I 1 =E defining said first interpolated pixel data I 1 , and a second weighting function I 2 =(O+I 1 )/2 defining said second interpolated pixel data I 2 .

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels are odd alternative pixels 0 of said ultrasonic image pixel data, and said ultrasonic image pixel data not positionally corresponding to said display pixels are even alternative pixels E of said ultrasonic image pixel data, a first weighting function I 1 =(0+2E)/3 defining said first interpolated pixel data I 1 , and a second weighting function I 2 =(I 1 +0)/2 defining said second interpolated pixel data I 2 .

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 5/8, 2/3, 1/2 and 1/2.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 0, 1, 1/2 and 1/2.

Claim 7

An ultrasonic imaging system for magnifying ultrasonic image pixel data by a non-integer magnification rate so as to obtain a zoom image of an object on a display monitor having a matrix of display pixels including display pixels x1, x2, x3, x4, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic image pixel data A,B,C at a predetermined ultrasonic rate, said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C positionally corresponding to the respective display pixels x1 and x4 of said display monitor, and said ultrasonic image pixel data B not positionally corresponding to said display pixels x2 and x3; a frame memory for storing a frame of said ultrasonic image pixel data; write interpolating means for first interpolating said ultrasonic image pixel data A positionally corresponding to said display pixel x1 with said ultrasonic image pixel data B using first and second weighting factors, respectively, said second weighting factor being non-zero, to thereby define first interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixel x2, and for writing said first interpolated pixel data in addition to said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C positionally corresponding to said display pixels x1 and x4 into said frame memory; read interpolating means for reading said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C from said frame memory and for second interpolating said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data C positionally corresponding to said display pixel x4 using third and fourth non-zero weighting factors, respectively, to thereby define second interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixel x3; and means for converting said first and second interpolated pixel data in addition to said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C into video signals for display on said display monitor.

Claim 8

An ultrasonic imaging system for magnifying ultrasonic image pixel data by a non-integer magnification rate so as to obtain a zoom image of an object on a display monitor having a matrix of display pixels including display pixels x1, x2, x3, x4, comprising: means for generating ultrasonic image pixel data A,B,C at a predetermined ultrasonic rate, said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C positionally corresponding to the respective display pixels x1 and x4 of said display monitor, and said ultrasonic image pixel data B not positionally corresponding to said display pixels x2 and x3; a frame memory for storing a frame of said ultrasonic image pixel data; write interpolating means for first interpolating said ultrasonic image pixel data A positionally corresponding to said display pixel x1 with said ultrasonic image pixel data B using first and second weighting factors, respectively, said second weighting factor being non-zero, to thereby define first interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixel x2, and for writing said first interpolated pixel data in addition to said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C positionally corresponding to said display pixels x1 and x4 into said frame memory; read interpolating means for reading said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C from said frame memory and for second interpolating said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data C positionally corresponding to said display pixel x4 using third and fourth non-zero weighting factors, respectively, to thereby define second interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixel x3; and means for converting said first and second interpolated pixel data in addition to said ultrasonic image pixel data A and C into video signals for display on said display monitor.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 6, wherein said first interpolated pixel data are represented as B and said second interpolated pixel data are represented as (B+C)/2.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 6, wherein said first interpolated pixel data are represented as (A+2B)/3 and said second interpolated data are represented as (B'+C)/2, where B' is (A+2B)/3.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 6, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 1/3, 2/3, 1/2 and 1/2.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 6, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 0, 1, 1/2 and 1/2.

Claim 13

An ultrasonic imaging system for magnifying ultrasonic image pixel data by a non-integer magnification rate so as to obtain a zoom image of an object on a display monitor having a matrix of display pixels, comprising: probe means for directing ultrasonic beams toward said object at a predetermined ultrasonic rate and for detecting ultrasonic echo signals produced when said ultrasonic beams are reflected from said object; means for converting said ultrasonic echo signals into digital ultrasonic image pixel data representing said object; line memory means having a plurality of line memories for storing said ultrasonic image pixel data at the predetermined ultrasonic rate; a frame memory for storing a frame of said ultrasonic image pixel data; write interpolating means for reading said ultrasonic image pixel data from said line memories, for first interpolating data of said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels, in accordance with said magification rate, with ultrasonic image pixel data which do not positionally correspond to said display pixels, due to said magnification rate, utilizing first and second weighting factors, respectively, said second weighting factor being non-zero, to thereby define first interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels in accordance with said magnification rate, and for writing said first interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels into said frame memory; read interpolating means for reading said first interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels from said frame memory and for second interpolating said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels read from said frame memory utilizing third and fourth non-zero weighting factors, respectively, to thereby define second interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels in accordance with said magnification rate; and means for converting said first and second interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels into video signals for display on said display monitor.

Claim 14

An ultrasonic imaging system for magnifying ultrasonic image pixel data by a non-integer magnification rate so as to obtain a zoom image of an object on a display monitor having a matrix of display pixels, comprising: probe means for directing ultrasonic beams toward said object at a predetermined ultrasonic rate and for detecting ultrasonic echo signals produced when said ultrasonic beams are reflected from said object; means for converting said ultrasonic echo signals into digital ultrasonic image pixel data representing said object; line memory means having a plurality of line memories for storing said ultrasonic image pixel data at the predetermined ultrasonic rate; a frame memory for storing a frame of said ultrasonic image pixel data; write interpolating means for reading said ultrasonic image pixel data from said line memories, for first interpolating data of said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels, in accordance with said magification rate, with ultrasonic image pixel data which do not positionally correspond to said display pixels, due to said magnification rate, utilizing first and second weighting factors, respectively, said second weighting factor being non-zero, to thereby define first interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels in accordance with said magnification rate, and for writing said first interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels into said frame memory; read interpolating means for reading said first interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels from said frame memory and for second interpolating said first interpolated pixel data and said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels read from said frame memory utilizing third and fourth non-zero weighting factors, respectively, to thereby define second interpolated pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels in accordance with said magnification rate; and means for converting said first and second interpolated pixel data as well as said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels into video signals for display on said display monitor.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 11, wherein said display monitor comprises a television monitor.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 11, wherein said means for converting data into video signals comprises an output buffer memory and a D/A converter.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 11, wherein said line memory means comprises three line memories.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 14, wherein one of said line memories alternatively holds said ultrasonic image pixel data provided from said converting means and the rest of said line memories provide ultrasonic image pixel data previously held therein.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 11, wherein said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels are odd alternative pixels 0 of said ultrasonic image pixel data, and said ultrasonic image pixel data not positionally corresponding to said display pixels are even alternative pixels E of said ultrasonic image pixel data, a first weighting I 1 =(O+2E)/3 defining said first interpolated pixel data I 1 , and a second weighting function I 2 =(I 1 +0)/2 defining said second interpolated pixel data I 2 .

Claim 20

A system according to claim 11, wherein said ultrasonic image pixel data positionally corresponding to said display pixels are odd alternative pixels 0 of said ultrasonic image pixel data, and said ultrasonic image pixel data not positionally corresponding to said display pixels are even alternative pixels E of said ultrasonic image pixel data, a first weighting function I 1 =E defining said first interpolated pixel data I 1 , and a second weighting function I 2 =(I 1 +0)/2 defining said second interpolated pixel data I 2 .

Claim 21

A system according to claim 11, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 1/3, 2/3, 1/2 and 1/2.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 11, wherein said non-integer magnification rate is 3/2 and said first, second, third and fourth weighting factors are respectively 0, 1, 1/2 and 1/2.