JP2004290509A - Ultrasonic transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic transmitter which is reduced in cost by reducing the number of transmitters compared with the number of vibrators, and in which the flexibility of connection cables by reducing the diameter of connection cables for connecting the vibrators to the transmitters to improve the cables by reducing the number of signal lines of the cables. <P>SOLUTION: The ultrasonic transmitter is provided with vibrators 1-16 arranged two-dimensionally, a switch 17 housed in the same probe case 18 as that of the vibrators, and used for switching a path of transmission signals to be supplied to the vibrators, transmitters 21-28 for transmitting transmission signals, a control section 29 housed in the same body 30 as that of the transmitters and used for controlling the switch and the transmitters, and a connection cable 19 for connecting the probe case to the body. The control section controls a delay time of switching the switch and a delay time of the transmission signals to be transmitted from the transmitters so that the transmission signals from at least one of the transmitters are supplied to a plurality of the vibrators. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic transmitter using ultrasonic transducers arranged two-dimensionally.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an ultrasonic wave transmitter has been used as an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus by dividing a piezoelectric element into a matrix, connecting a transmitter to the element, and separately controlling excitation of each vibrator to form an ultrasonic beam. Is transmitted three-dimensionally (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-63-99846
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional ultrasonic transmitter, since the number of transducers and the number of transmitters are the same, the number of transmitters increases as the number of transducers increases, thereby increasing the cost. there were. Further, the number of signal lines connecting the vibrator and the transmitter also increases, and the connecting cable in which the signal lines are bundled becomes thicker, resulting in poor flexibility.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of transmitters compared to the number of transducers to reduce the cost, and to combine a transducer and a transmitter. An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic transmitter in which the number of signal lines of the cable is reduced to make the coupling cable thinner and its flexibility improved.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first configuration of an ultrasonic transmitter according to the present invention switches N transducers arranged two-dimensionally and a path of a transmission signal supplied to the transducers. A switch, M (M <N) transmitters for supplying a transmission signal to the vibrator via the switch, a control unit housed in the same main body as the transmitter, and controlling the switch and the transmitter; And a coupling cable for supplying a transmission signal from the control unit and a control signal from the control unit to the switch, wherein the control unit controls the control signal (such that the transmission signal from at least one transmitter is supplied to the plurality of transducers. The switch is controlled by the delay data D).
[0007]
In this case, it is preferable that the control unit includes a delay time calculation unit that calculates data for switching the path of the transmission signal by the switch and a delay time of the transmission signal output from the transmitter.
[0008]
According to the first configuration, the number of transmitters can be reduced as compared with the number of transducers, so that cost reduction can be achieved. Further, since the number of signal lines for connecting the transducer and the transmitter can be reduced, the connecting cable for connecting the probe case and the main body can be made thinner and the flexibility thereof can be improved.
[0009]
Further, in the second configuration of the ultrasonic transmitter according to the present invention, the control unit receives the delay time from the delay time calculation unit, and the number of transducers connected to one transmitter becomes substantially equal. It is preferable to provide a delay time sorting unit that controls the switches as described above.
[0010]
According to the second configuration, in addition to the advantages of the first configuration, it is possible to prevent a large number of transducers from being connected to a specific transmitter, and to stably drive the transducers.
[0011]
In the third configuration of the ultrasonic transmitter according to the present invention, it is preferable that the N transducers be divided into L groups, and that L switches be provided corresponding to the L groups. .
[0012]
According to the third configuration, in addition to the advantages of the first configuration, the number of input / output terminals per switch can be reduced, so that the circuit can be easily integrated.
[0013]
Further, in the fourth configuration of the ultrasonic transmitter according to the present invention, the N transducers are divided into L groups, the M transmitters are divided into K groups, The K switches in each of the L groups are divided into L groups corresponding to the K groups of the devices, and each of the K switches in each of the L groups is connected in parallel to the L groups of oscillators. Preferably, it is connected to any group of transmitters.
[0014]
According to the fourth configuration, the number of input / output terminals per switch can be reduced, so that circuit integration is facilitated.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one configuration example of the ultrasonic wave transmitter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, N transducers 1 to 16 (N = 16) are arranged two-dimensionally and connected to a switch 17. The transducers 1 to 16 and the switch 17 are housed in a probe case 18. The switch 17 is connected to the M transmitters 21 to 28 (M = 8) and the control unit 29 via the coupling cable 19, and according to a control signal from the control unit 29, the transmitters 1 to 28 transmit the oscillators 1 to 28. 16 is switched. The transmitters 21 to 28 and the control unit 29 are housed in the main body 30.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the control unit 29 in FIG.
[0019]
In FIG. 2, an output signal from the delay time calculator 291 is supplied to a switch controller 292 and a transmitter controller 293. An output signal from the switch control unit 292 is supplied to the switch 17 via the coupling cable 19. An output signal from the transmitter control unit 293 is supplied to the transmitters 21 to 28.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic transmitter configured as described above will be described.
[0021]
First, the delay time calculation unit 291 calculates a delay time td of a transmission pulse which is a transmission signal for driving each of the vibrators 1 to 16. Next, the delay time td is converted into an integer by the quantization time unit tq to obtain delay data D represented by the following equation (1).
[0022]
D = td / tq (1)
The transmitter control unit 293 sends the delay data D and the quantization time unit tq to the transmitters 21 to 28. As an example, the delay data D of the transmitter 21 is 0, the delay data D of the transmitter 22 is 1, the delay data D of the transmitter 23 is 2, and so on. Next, the switch control unit 292 sends the delay data D to the switch 17 as a control signal. The switch 17 connects the oscillators 1 to 16 with the transmitters 21 to 28 based on the delay data D of the oscillators 1 to 16. Therefore, a plurality of transducers are connected to at least one transmitter.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, all of the sixteen vibrators 1 to 16 arranged in a two-dimensional manner can be driven by eight transmitters 21 to 28, so that the cost is extremely low. The sound beam can be three-dimensionally scanned. In addition, since the number of signal lines can be reduced as compared with the case where a transmitter is provided for each transducer, the coupling cable 19 between the probe case 18 and the main body 30 can be made thinner. Flexibility can be improved.
[0024]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of control unit 29 in the ultrasonic wave transmitter according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the control unit 29.
[0025]
3, the control unit 29 according to the present embodiment includes a delay time calculation unit 291, a switch control unit 292, a transmission control unit 293, and a delay time sorting unit 294.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic wave transmitter configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 1 in addition to FIG.
[0027]
First, the delay time calculation unit 291 calculates a delay time td of a transmission pulse which is a transmission signal for driving each of the vibrators 1 to 16. Next, the delay time sorting unit 294 arranges the delay times td in ascending or descending order, and furthermore makes the number of transducers connected to one transmitter substantially equal. Since the number N of vibrators is 16 and the number M of transmitters is 8, in this case, two vibrators are driven by one transmitter. The delay time sorting unit 294 obtains an average delay time td by grouping two delay times td. Next, the delay time sorting unit 294 converts the delay time td into an integer using the quantization time unit tq, and obtains the delay data D represented by the above equation (1).
[0028]
The transmitter control unit 293 sends the delay data D and the quantization time unit tq to the transmitters 21 to 28. Next, the switch control unit 292 sends the delay data D to the switch 17 as a control signal. The switch 17 connects the oscillators 1 to 16 with the transmitters 21 to 28 based on the delay data D of the oscillators 1 to 16. Here, when the value of the delay data D is the same, the switch control unit 292 selects a different transmitter.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, all of the 16 transducers 1 to 16 arranged two-dimensionally can be driven by the eight transmitters 21 to 28, and the ultrasonic wave can be produced at low cost. The beam can be scanned three-dimensionally. In addition, since the number of signal lines can be reduced as compared with the case where a transmitter is provided for each transducer, the coupling cable 19 between the probe case 18 and the main body 30 can be made thinner. Flexibility can be improved. Further, it is possible to prevent a large number of transducers from being connected to a specific transmitter, and to drive the transducers stably.
[0030]
(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ultrasonic transmitter according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0031]
In FIG. 4, N oscillators 1 to 16 (N = 16) are arranged two-dimensionally and divided into L groups. In this embodiment, since L = 4, the vibrators are divided into N / L = 16/4 = 4 groups. That is, vibrators 1-4 are connected to switch 171, vibrators 5-8 are connected to switch 172, vibrators 9-12 are connected to switch 173, and vibrators 13-16 are connected to switch 174. . The transducers 1 to 16 and the switches 171 to 174 are housed in the probe case 18. The switches 171 to 174 are connected to the M transmitters 21 to 28 (M = 8) and the control unit 29 via the coupling cable 19, and from the transmitters 1 to 28 to the vibrator in accordance with the control signal from the control unit 29. The path of the transmission signal to 1 to 16 is switched. The transmitters 21 to 28 and the control unit 29 are housed in the main body 30.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic transmitter configured as described above will be described.
[0033]
First, the control unit 29 sends the delay data D and the quantization time unit tq to the transmitters 21 to 28. As an example, the delay data D of the transmitter 21 is 0, the delay data D of the transmitter 22 is 1, the delay data D of the transmitter 23 is 2, and so on. Next, the control unit 29 sends the delay data D to the switches 171 to 174. The switches 171 to 174 link the oscillators 1 to 16 with the transmitters 21 to 28 based on the delay data D of the oscillators 1 to 16. Therefore, a plurality of transducers are connected to at least one transmitter.
[0034]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, all of the transducers 1 to 16 arranged in a two-dimensional manner can be driven by the transmitters 21 to 28, so that the ultrasonic beam can be three-dimensionally arranged at low cost. Can be scanned. Further, since the number of signal lines can be reduced as compared with a case where a transmitter is provided for each transducer, the coupling cable 19 between the probe case 18 and the main body 30 can be made thinner, and flexibility can be improved. Can be improved. Further, since the number of input / output terminals per switch can be reduced, circuit integration is facilitated.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the N oscillators are arranged equally in the same number in the L groups, but the number of oscillators may be slightly different between the groups if they cannot be divided.
[0036]
(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ultrasonic transmitter according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[0037]
In FIG. 5, N (N = 16) transducers 1 to 16 are arranged two-dimensionally and are divided into groups of L = 4 each. K (K = 2) switches 181 and 182 are connected in parallel to the L vibrators 1-4, and K (K = 2) switches 183 and L are connected to the L vibrators 5-8. 184 are connected in parallel, K (K = 2) switches 185 and 186 are connected in parallel to the L oscillators 9 to 12, and K (K = K) is connected to the L oscillators 13 to 16. The switches 187 and 188 of 2) are connected in parallel. The transducers 1 to 16 and the switches 181 to 188 are housed in the probe case 18.
[0038]
The M transmitters 21 to 28 (M = 8) are divided into K = 2 groups, that is, a group of transmitters 21 to 24 and a group of transmitters 25 to 28. The switches 181, 183, 185, and 187 are connected to the transmitters 25 to 28 and the control unit 29 via the coupling cable 19. On the other hand, the switches 182, 184, 186, 188 are connected to the transmitters 21 to 24 and the control unit 29 via the coupling cable 19. The transmitters 21 to 28 and the control unit 29 are housed in the main body 30.
[0039]
Next, the operation of the ultrasonic transmitter configured as described above will be described.
[0040]
First, the control unit 29 sends the delay data D and the quantization time unit tq to the transmitters 21 to 28. As an example, the delay data D of the transmitter 21 is 0, the delay data D of the transmitter 22 is 1, the delay data D of the transmitter 23 is 2, and so on. Next, the control unit 29 sends the delay data D to the switches 181 to 188. The switches 181 to 188 connect the oscillators 1 to 16 with the transmitters 21 to 28 based on the delay data D of the oscillators 1 to 16. Therefore, a plurality of transducers are connected to at least one transmitter.
[0041]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, all of the transducers 1 to 16 arranged in a two-dimensional manner can be driven by the transmitters 21 to 28, so that the ultrasonic beam can be three-dimensionally arranged at low cost. Can be scanned. Further, since the number of signal lines can be reduced as compared with a case where a transmitter is provided for each transducer, the coupling cable 19 between the probe case 18 and the main body 30 can be made thinner, and flexibility can be improved. Can be improved. Further, since the number of input / output terminals per switch can be reduced, circuit integration is facilitated.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of transmitters is reduced as compared with the number of transducers to reduce the cost, and the number of signal lines of the coupling cable that couples the transducer and the transmitter is also reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic transmitter in which the coupling cable is made thinner and its flexibility is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an ultrasonic transmitter according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit 29 in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a control unit in the ultrasonic transmitter according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ultrasonic transmitter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Block diagram showing a configuration example of an ultrasonic transmitter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
1-16 Transducer 17, 171-174, 181-188 Switch 18 Probe case 19 Coupling cable 21-28 Transmitter 29 Control unit 291 Delay time calculation unit 292 Switch control unit 293 Transmitter control unit 294 Delay time sort unit 30 body

Claims (5)

N oscillators arranged two-dimensionally,
A switch for switching a path of a transmission signal supplied to the vibrator,
M (M <N) transmitters for supplying a transmission signal to the vibrator through the switch;
A control unit that is housed in the same main body as the transmitter and controls the switch and the transmitter,
A coupling cable for supplying a transmission signal from the transmitter and a control signal from the control unit to the switch,
The ultrasonic transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the switch by the control signal so that a transmission signal from at least one transmitter is supplied to a plurality of transducers. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a delay time calculation unit configured to calculate data for switching a path of the transmission signal by the switch and a delay time of the transmission signal output from the transmitter. Sound wave transmitter. The control unit includes a delay time sorting unit that receives the delay time from the delay time calculation unit and controls the switch so that the number of transducers connected to one transmitter is substantially equal. The ultrasonic transmitter according to claim 2, wherein The ultrasonic transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the N transducers are divided into L groups, and L switches are provided corresponding to the L groups. The N transducers are divided into L groups, the M transmitters are divided into K groups, and the switches are divided into K groups corresponding to the K groups of the transmitters. Each of the K switches in each of the L groups is connected in parallel to the L groups of transducers and connected to the transmitters of any of the K groups. The ultrasonic transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transmitter is connected.

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