JPH04314434A - Probe switch for ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lower power consumption of an ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus which is provided with a plurality of probes having a plurality of vibrators. CONSTITUTION:A relay for switching to connect a signal line of a probe 7 or 8 and a transmitting/receiving circuit 1 employs a latch type electromagnetic relay 2. The latch type solenoid relay 2 is energized instantaneously with a capacitor C charged through a resistor R from a DC power source +V by way of an electromagnetic relay 4A (or 4B) which is actuated with a selection switch 5a (or 5b).

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a device for switching the probes used in an ultrasonic diagnostic device equipped with a plurality of probes each consisting of a plurality of transducers, and particularly a probe switching device for an ultrasonic diagnostic device designed to save power. Regarding.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the signal line switching method for the probe in this type of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment has generally used electronic switches (transistors, diodes, etc.) and electromagnetic relays. also consumes current.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, a large number of transducers are usually incorporated in a probe, and a large number of the aforementioned changeover switches for signal lines are required to switch the signal lines of all the transducers. Current consumption cannot be ignored either. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve this problem and provide a probe switching device for an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that consumes no current except when switching probes.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a probe switching device according to claim 1 is provided in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with a plurality of probes (7, 8, etc.) each consisting of a plurality of transducers. , selection means (selection switches 5a, 5
(b, etc.), a latching type electromagnetic relay (2, etc.) for selectively connecting a transmitting/receiving circuit (1, etc.) to each signal line of any one of the probes, and charged by a DC power source (+V, etc.) A capacitor (such as C), and a capacitor connecting means for energizing the latch type electromagnetic relay with the capacitor so as to connect the probe specified by the selecting means and the transmitting/receiving signal circuit,

000
5. In the probe switching device according to claim 2, in the probe switching device according to claim 1, the capacitor connecting means includes an electromagnetic relay (4A, 4B, etc.).

[0006]

[Operation] The relay that switches and connects each signal line of the probe specified by the selection switch among the multiple probes to the transmitting/receiving circuit is a latching type electromagnetic relay, and this relay is a capacitor charged from a DC power source through a resistor. By instantaneously energizing, the constant power consumption of the signal line switching circuit is reduced.

[0007]

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the main part configuration as an embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, 7 and 8 are probes each having a plurality of built-in vibrators (not shown), and 1 is the probe 7 and 8.
This is a transmitting/receiving circuit that provides ultrasonic transmission signals to the probes 7 and 8 and amplifies ultrasonic echo signals from the probes 7 and 8. Reference numeral 2 denotes a latch type electromagnetic relay for selecting one of the probes 7 and 8 and coupling it to the transmitting/receiving circuit 1. A contact point for switching and selecting the corresponding transducer in the probes 7 and 8 is connected to each transducer. We are preparing for 5a and 5b are switches for selecting and specifying the above-mentioned connections of the probes 7 and 8, respectively; 3 is an electromagnetic relay energized by the selection switch 5a; and C is a DC power supply +
capacitor 3a, charged by V via resistor R;
3b is an a contact and a b contact of this electromagnetic relay 3, respectively. 4A and 4B are electromagnetic relays that are energized based on the selection of the selection switches 5a and 5b, respectively, and their contacts apply the voltage of the capacitor C to the latching type electromagnetic relay 2 with positive and reverse polarity, respectively. Set and reset relay 2.

Assume that the capacitor C is charged to the power supply voltage +V through the resistor R, and when the selection switch 5a is turned on, the electromagnetic relay 3 is energized and its contact 3a is turned on. 4A
is energized, and the positive voltage of the capacitor C is applied to the latch-type electromagnetic relay 2 through the contacts of the relay 4A, so that the relay 2 is placed in a set state. On the other hand, selection switch 5
When b is turned on, the electromagnetic relay 4B is energized via the b contact 3b of the electromagnetic relay 3, and the voltage of the capacitor C is reversely polarized via the contact of this relay 4B, and the latch type electromagnetic relay 2
is applied, and relay 2 is reset. This relay 2
One of the probes 7 and 8 is alternately selected and connected to the transmitting/receiving circuit 1 in response to the setting and resetting of the probes. For example, the probe 7 is connected to the transmitting/receiving circuit 1 by resetting the latch type electromagnetic relay 2, and the probe 8 is connected to the circuit 1 by setting the latch type electromagnetic relay 2. In this case, if the capacitance of the capacitor C is selected to be large enough to drive the group of latch type relays 2, the selection switches 5a and 5b only need to be turned on for a moment; After that, almost no current is consumed.

[0009]

According to the invention according to claim 1, in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with a plurality of probes 7 and 8 each consisting of a plurality of transducers, one of the probes 7 and 8 that is actually used in the apparatus is Selection switches 5a and 5b specifying
and a latch type electromagnetic relay 2 for selectively connecting the transmitting/receiving circuit 1 to any one signal line of the probe,
The latch type electromagnetic relay 2 is energized by the capacitor C so as to connect the capacitor C charged by the DC power supply +V, the probe 7 or 8 specified by the selection means 5a or 5b, and the transmitting/receiving signal circuit 1. According to the invention related to claim 2, in the probe switching device according to claim 1, the capacitor connecting means connects the capacitor only when the selection switch 5a or 5b is selected. Since C is made up of electromagnetic relays 4A and 4B connected to the latch-type electromagnetic relay 2, power-saving probe switching that consumes current only when switching probes is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration as an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Transmission/reception circuit 2 Latch type electromagnetic relay 3 Electromagnetic relay 4A, 4B Electromagnetic relay 5a, 5b selection switch R Resistance C Capacitor 7, 8 Probe

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus equipped with a plurality of probes each having a plurality of transducers, a selection means for specifying a probe to be used in the apparatus among the probes, and a transmitting/receiving circuit connected to any one of the probes. a latch type electromagnetic relay for selectively connecting to each signal line; a capacitor charged by a DC power source; and a latch type electromagnetic relay using the capacitor to connect the probe specified by the selection means to the transmitting/receiving signal circuit. 1. A probe switching device for an ultrasonic diagnostic device, comprising: capacitor connection means for energizing an electromagnetic relay. 2. The probe switching device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor connecting means comprises an electromagnetic relay that connects the capacitor to the latching electromagnetic relay only when the selecting means selects the probe switching device. Probe switching device for ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.