JPS60106441A - Ultrasonic vibrator apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of invention] The present invention relates to a super-layer pumping diagnostic aid device.

[Technical background of the invention]

An example of the ultra-soaking diagnosis device that has been commonly used in the past is shown in the first example.
As shown in the figure.

In the figure, 1 is a transducer that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and includes an arbitrary number of vibrating elements 2a, 2b, and 2c.

..., 2n. Each vibration element 2 a + 2
The ultrasonic echoes received by b a 2 e + .
b, 4e, -.

It looks like it's being input into 4n.

At this time, since the echo signal corresponding to the deep part of the object has a low level as shown in FIG. 2(a), each preamplifier 4a, 4 b #4 (! T...
..., the gain of 4n is controlled, and when an echo signal corresponding to a deep part is input, the gain of the preamplifier is increased,
When an echo corresponding to a shallow portion is input, an operation is performed to reduce the gain of the preamplifier.

This is Shiri STC (Sensitive Yinn)
This is an operation called e Control). The serial STC operation is performed by the control signal N1 from the control circuit 7.
I am hiko as if I were doing something like this.

Preamplifier 4a, 4b, 4c,..., 4nlC
The respective echo signals amplified by the above are input to the element number variable means 5a, 5b, 5c, . . . , 5n.

Element number variable means 5a, 5b, 5c, ..., 5n
M has a function of increasing or decreasing the number of transducer elements of the transducer 1 used when transmitting ultrasonic pulses when receiving a super-1 echo.
As a result, efforts are being made to improve the first-field characteristics, such as by narrowing down the beam size.

This will be explained in further detail with reference to FIG. 4(a)'e.

The figure schematically shows the transducer 1.
This means that among the vibrating elements 2a, 2b, 2c, .

Such element number variable means 5a, 5b, 5c,...
...The function provided by 5n is called "TfJ variable caliber". This is because the effective diameter of the transducer 1 changes as the number of vibration elements 2 a , 2 b + . . . , 2 n increases or decreases.

The variable aperture can be implemented, for example, by a switch (not shown) that is turned on and off electronically.

Control of the variable aperture is also done using the control signal N from the control circuit 7.
2.

Element number variable means 5a, 5'b, 5c..., 5n
The respective output signals of weighting means 6a, 5b, 5c
, . . .6n, respectively.

Waiting means 6a, 6b, 6c,...
6n is each vibration element 2a, 2b, 2 of the transducer 1
c.

. . . has a function of weighting the gain of the valley channel corresponding to 2n, thereby reducing the side rose of the transducer l, thereby improving the field characteristics.

This will be explained in further detail with reference to FIG. 4(b).

The figure shows each vibrating element 2a of the transducer l.

2b, 2c, . . . , 2n and Cain's weighting thereof.

That is, in the figure, the valley weighting means 5a, 5b, and 6c are arranged so that the gain for the central vibrating element is large and the gain for the vibrating elements at the ends is small.

. . . indicates that weighting is carried out by 6n.

Such weighting hands W 6 a, 6 b
, 6c.

..., 5n can be realized by, for example, switching the cane setting resistance of the amplified sushi provided inside them.

Waiting means 6a, 6b, 6c,...
The weighting control by 6n is also performed by the control signal MNa from the control circuit 7.

Valley waiting means 6a, 6b, 6c,...
, 6n are input to a reception delay circuit 8.

The reception delay circuit 8 only performs phase matching between channels corresponding to each echo signal, and outputs a single composite signal.

This single composite signal is subjected to multiple processing by the amplification/detection circuit 9 and inputted to the display means 10.

In the display means 10, for example, the transducer 1 has 6
The result of four electronic scans is displayed on the cathode ray tube.
&A publication hm image is now displayed.

[Problems with background technology]

In the above-mentioned conventional ultra-soaking diagnosis device, the preamplifier l
As 4a, 4b, . . . , 4c, a circuit having a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 3 is often used.

In the figure, 11 is an input terminal, 12 is an output terminal, and 13 is an input terminal.
are gain control terminals, TRt and TR2 are amplification transistors tTR:l are gain control transistors.

The preamplifier shown in FIG.
The feedback amount of the transistor TR1 is controlled by changing the equivalent resistance of R3, and is often used in pre-STC.

However, according to Hiko, there is a characteristic that the lug-in control viscosity differs significantly depending on deviations in the characteristics of the transistor TR3 and the circuit elements.
If this preamplifier is used for each channel 2b, 2b, 2n, it is necessary to select the transistor TRs for each channel, which increases the number of man-hours for manufacturing the diagnostic equipment, which may be an undesirable drawback. Ta.

Furthermore, since the gain control characteristic of the preamplifier described above is exponential, it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of the preamplifier.

In addition, after the echo signal is sent out from the transducer 1 until it is input to the reception delay circuit 8, the preamplifiers 4a, 4b, 4C2...14nlX, N circuits 5a, 5b, 5c ,...,5n
and waiting circuits 6a, 6b+6cy...
Since it passes through the 3- circuit of ., 6n, it has the disadvantage of significant deterioration.

Furthermore, in the case of a device using a transducer with a large number of vibrating elements, preamplifiers 4a, 4b, and 4c are provided.

""" l 4 nl element number TiJ variable circuit 5a, 5
b, 5e l-・mountain-j5n and weighting circuits 6a, 6b, 6c, . . .

6n is required for each number of sweets, and therefore,
Another drawback was that the scale of the ultrasonic diagnostic aid device became large.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. By using an analog multiplier as a preamplifier, variable number of elements circuit, and weighting circuit, there is no deviation in the gain control properties of each channel, and accurate control can be achieved.
The object of the present invention is to provide a super iyI diagnostic device that can detect C% characteristics, prevent deterioration of echo signals, and prevent expansion of the configuration.

[1] The outline of the present invention for achieving the above object is to include a transducer that receives a transmitted superlayer wave and generates a received signal +3, and a transducer that The present invention is characterized by comprising an analog multiplier for multiplying by a changing control signal, and means for signal processing and displaying the output of the analog multiplier.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The implementation of the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 shows an analog multiplier 21 used in the receiving circuit 20 in an embodiment of the present invention.

In the same figure, X is input, Y is control human power 100 is output,
, respectively, represent coefficients.

These relationships are shown in equation (1) below.

vO=-X-Y (1) Note that the coefficient can be set to an arbitrary value by using an external resistor connected to the analog multiplier 21.

The relationship expressed by equation (1) is determined by the configuration of the analog multiplier 21, and is the same for all analog multipliers with the same configuration.

As is clear from the above equation (1), it is clear that by inputting an echo signal as the input X and a DC voltage as the control human power Y, the amplitude of the echo @ signal is controlled, that is, the gain control is performed. It is.

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, and devices having the same functions as the device shown in FIG. 1 are given the same symbols and their explanations are omitted. The differences from those shown in the figure are the preamplifier 4at4be4c*--+4n* variable element number circuits 5a, 5b, 5cl..., 5n and the weighting circuits 6a, l, 6ct...,
6n to analog multipliers 21A e 21A2 .
21Aa a...”'+ 21An+21B1t21B
z, 21Ba l""...e21Bn#21Ctt21
C2, 21Ca*..., ZICn, and the receiving circuit 20 is configured.

In the apparatus having the above configuration, echo signals are transmitted from the respective vibrating elements 2a, 2b, 2c, .
.......

21An is added as each human power X, and when control 1 pressure from the control circuit 7 is added as each human power Y, the valley analog multiplier 21At + 21 A2 + 21
Aa, . . . , 21An perform multiplication processing according to the above equation (1).

Therefore, each output (2)0 is uniquely determined by equation (1), and does not depend on the characteristics of the transistor TRa like in a conventional preamplifier, but instead has six resonant elements 2a, 2b, 2c, . ..., it is possible to eliminate gain deviation between channels corresponding to 2n, and since equation (1) is in a simple form, it is possible to easily perform pre-STC.

Each analog multiplier 21B1121B2.21B31...
....

Each analog multiplier 21Att2 as input X of 21Bn
1A2 H21Aa y・・'・−121An output V
, are applied respectively, and a control voltage is also applied from the control circuit 7 as each control human power Y.

Similarly, each analog multiplier 21C+, 2102*
21Ca s..., each analog multiplier 21B as input X of 21Cn.

21B2, 21B3, --.-=121BnO river power VO is applied, and a control voltage is applied from the control circuit 7 as each control human power Y.

Therefore, analog multiplier 21 B 1 # 21
B 2 +21Ba+..., variable number of elements by 21Bn, analog multiplier 2 ic 1 t 2 ic
2 #2 ic 3p"'...p 2 tcn weighting can also be achieved according to equation (1)9, and there is no need for an electronic switch for adjusting the number of elements or a resistor for weighting as in the conventional device.

Note that the control voltage sent from the control circuit 7 can be stored in a memory or the like in advance and read out for use.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Components having the same functions as the devices shown in the figures are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

The difference between the device shown in FIG. 2 and the device shown in FIG.
1B2.21C2 is used as an analog multiplier 21D2, analog multipliers 21Aa * 21Ba, 21Ca are used as an analog multiplier 21D3, and so on.Three analog multipliers that share three different functions tl- are combined into one analog multiplier. The control circuit 7AK sends a composite control signal 1'J □ r in which the pre-STC aperture and the waiting valley control signal are combined to each analog multiplier 21D+ 21D2 p 21Da.
+...""+Dn are input as each control human power Y.

The composite control signal No. is stored in the memory 23 in advance, and the CP
The command from U24 causes the control circuit 7A to output power.

In the device with the above configuration, echo signals from each vibrating element 2a+2b+2c+..., 2n of the transducer 1 are sent to the analog multiplier 21D1#21D of the receiving circuit 2OA.
2, 21Da e=...+21Dn are added as each human power X, and when the composite control signal NO, from the control circuit 7A is added as each input Y, each analog multiplier 21D1, 21D2 + 21Da a"""
t21Dn performs three types of multiplication processing: pre-STC, variable aperture, and weight ink according to equation (1) above.

Therefore, in addition to the functions of the receiving circuit 20A/d shown in FIG. 6, the number of analog multipliers used for each channel is reduced to 1/3, and the p1 configuration size is Since it is possible to reduce the number of echo signals and also reduce the number of circuits through which the echo @ signal passes, it is possible to prevent its deterioration.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that the glaze can be modified within the scope of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described in detail above, by configuring the analog multiplier to perform multiplication processing by the received superwave and the control signal that changes over time, the echo signal can be adjusted in response to the intensity of the echo signal. Pre-STC is easy to perform, and the gain deviation between each channel can be reduced without adjustment.

In addition, echo signal amplification, variable aperture, and weighting can be achieved with one circuit for each channel.
Deterioration of the echo signal can be prevented, and the scale of the entire configuration can also be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional super-diagnosis device, Figure 2
Figure (a) is an explanatory diagram of the pre-STC, showing the relationship between the intensity and depth of the ultrasonic echo; Figure 2 (b) shows the relationship between the preamplifier gain and depth; Figure 3 is the circuit diagram of the free amplifier used in the conventional ultra-1 wave diagnosis device, m4 diagram (
a) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the variable aperture of the transducer, FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the gain weighting of each channel corresponding to the transducer, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the analog multiplication used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 1-) Transducer, 2a, 2b, 201-12n・
... Vibration element, 4a, 4b, 4c,...
4n...Preamplifier, 5a, 5b, 5c, -=, 5n
---Variable number of elements R16a, 6b. 5c,..., 5n...waiting means, 20.
2OA...reception circuit, 21At, 21A2+ 2
1Aa t..., 21An-' analog multiplier, 21
B 1p 21 B 2 e 21 B a l"・
#21 Bn...Analog multiplier, 21C+ +
21C2+ 21Ca +... 21Cn...Analog multiplier, 21D1, 21D2
．． 21 Da. ..., 21Dn...analog multiplier. poor oA

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transducer receives the transmitted ultrasound and generates a received signal, an analog multiplier multiplies the received signal by a time-varying control signal, and the output of the analog multiplier is processed. 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic aid device characterized by comprising: