JPS61131734A - Ultrasonic diagnostic 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 the Invention] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a built-in failure diagnosis function.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] In an ultrasonic diagnostic device, an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver.

It is equipped with a signal processing section 2, an image processing section 1, a display section, etc., and each of these sections is controlled by a central processing control section (CPU) using a microcomputer or the like.

By the way, since each of the above-mentioned parts has many electric (electronic) circuits, if a failure occurs in any one of them, it becomes impossible to obtain a normal diagnostic image.

For this reason, in the past, various inspection parts such as oscillators, synchroscopes, and phantoms were prepared and installed to perform failure diagnosis.

In particular, when displaying the image, after processing the received echo, the digital signal is stored in one or more frame memories, and when the stored data is read out, it is read out in synchronization with the scan timing of the television receiver, and this is converted into an analog signal. A digital scan system that facilitates display by converting into
Although a converter (DSG) is used, the configuration and control timing of such a device are complicated, and its failure diagnosis is extremely complicated. In such cases, no device has been provided that allows even a novice operator to easily perform the diagnosis.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is intended to enable simple, quick and accurate fault diagnosis, and in particular to enable even operators with basic knowledge to easily perform fault diagnosis of DSCs. The purpose is to provide a diagnostic device that

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention enables self-diagnosis by incorporating a failure diagnosis flow in advance in a central processing control unit that controls each part.

[Embodiments of the invention] The present invention will be specifically explained below using Examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers (channels). 2 is a probe drive circuit, 3 is a drive timing (timing related to vibrator drive for performing sector scan, focus, etc.) control circuit, 4 is a transmission/reception control RAM (random access memory), 5 is a reference signal generation circuit, and 6 is a probe 1 is a circuit that amplifies the received signal obtained from 1, 7 is a circuit that controls the delay time during reception, 8 is a circuit that adds and outputs the received signals from each channel, and 9 is an analog signal obtained via switch SW. This is a circuit that converts the signal into a digital signal.

The DSC has a control unit C0NT and two frame memories FM.
1. It is a digital scan converter having FM2, which writes digital data obtained through the A/D conversion circuit 9, or reads data under the control of C0NT, and converts it into an analog signal by the D/A converter 10. It has become. Of frame memory, F
For example, MI is used for M mode display, and FM2 is used for B mode display. Data converted into an analog signal by the D/A conversion circuit 10 in the DSC is displayed on the display section 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a pattern generation circuit, which inputs pattern data to the A/D conversion circuit 9 when the switching contact of the switch SW is connected to b. C
PU is a central processing control unit and RA stores control data.
It includes a random access memory (M), a read-only memory (ROM) for storing sequence data, etc., and a graphic memory, etc., and is designed to manage the control of each of the circuits mentioned above. Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation section through which an operator issues various commands to the CPU by manually pressing keys.

Here, the contents of the pattern generation circuit 12 will be explained in detail. This circuit generates various patterns used especially when diagnosing failures of DSCs and their peripheral circuits, such as M mode test patterns, B mode Y test patterns, and various iI! A light image image pattern is generated, and when a "ROSC diagnosis flow" to be described later is selected, pattern data corresponding to the diagnosis target is selected and outputted by a command from the CPU.

In addition, the RAM and ROM in the CPU contain fault diagnosis programs such as [MANUALJ,
rcPUJ, rT&RJ, rDsC] diagnostic programs are stored. A failure diagnosis mode selection key is added to the operation console 13. Therefore, when the operator operates the failure diagnosis mode key, the rM
The contents of ENUJ are displayed, and various commands are output from the CPU based on the No. menu program selected by the keyboard. In this case, r
osc diagnostic mode” is selected, switch S
The W contact will switch from a to b. Furthermore, characters are displayed on the display section for each diagnosis mode. The characters are stored in a graphic memory within the CPU and output according to the diagnostic mode.

Next, details of the flow of various failure diagnosis and its steps will be explained using flowcharts.

Figure 2 shows the overall flow of fault diagnosis. Operator (serviceman) selects failure diagnosis mode (e.g. TEST)
When you specify rMANU as a menu on the display section 11.
ALJ, rcPUJ, rT&RJ, and rDscJ are displayed, and when any one is selected, details of the corresponding menu or diagnostic steps are executed.

If rMANUALJ is selected here, the DSC input is switched to the pattern GEN (pattern generation circuit) 12 side, and when the service engineer presses the DIP SW (switch) attached to pattern GEN 12, the test pattern is selected and displayed. Various patterns are sequentially displayed on the monitor. The service engineer observes the pattern displayed on the monitor and diagnoses the location of the failure. diagnosis n
After 7', perform rPRESETJ and end the test.

When rcPUJ is selected, RAM R/W (read/write) is performed.
(write) check, ROM checksum, and graphic memory check are performed in sequence to diagnose a CPU failure.

When rT&RJ is selected, various checks on the transmitting and receiving system of the probe 1 are executed. That is, ■T/RCONT, RA
M4 check, ■R (reception) channel check, ■
T (transmission) channel check, ■DELAY TI
ME (delay time) check, ■All checks from ■ to ■ above are performed. These can be selected as appropriate from the menu.

When rDscJ is selected, a menu is displayed and W, ul
cOMPONENT (element) and 1cFl] IMAGE
PROCESS (video process) is displayed, and (i
When l is selected, ■FM1 R/W check, ■FM
2 R/W check, ■WRITE check, ■FM
I READ check, ■FM2 READ check, and ■COMPONENT ALL check are performed. Any of these can be selected from the menu. The CPU determines the above ■~■, but ■~
■ is to be determined by the service personnel.

If you select ■ out of the above, ■ SAMPLING
PROCESS check, ■FRAMECoRRELA
T■ON (frame interrelationship) xy'), ■COMB
INATION Focus (the loudest signal in M mode)" f-nick, ■ [Notes ■ - ■ ALL checks are performed. Any of these can be selected from the menu. These are determined by the service person.

Next, detailed steps of each diagnostic flow will be explained.

[Diagnosis of Probe Transmission/Reception System] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for diagnosing the probe transmission/reception system.

T&RC0NT RAM CH x y') G, t, rT&RCONTRAM in the check item display menu
When "Check" is selected, preparation for accessing the RAM is performed, writing and reading of r55'55HJ (5) is performed, the two are compared, and the result becomes data D5. Next, W/R of r AA AA A HJ is performed and compared to obtain data OA. Addition of each data D5 and DA is performed, and if it is not "0", ADR8 (address) data and error code are displayed, and if it is "0", a check is executed for all RAMs, and all RAMs are checked. Each display is performed depending on whether or not it is OK.

The R channel check is performed by transmitting from all transducers of the probe and checking the reception status of each transducer.For this purpose, it is necessary to set the T/R data and write the raster to where. Determine the vector RAM and set the vector RAM accordingly.
(coordinate designation ram) is changed, a test pattern based on this is displayed on the display section 12, an R channel mark is displayed, and a code is displayed depending on the presence or absence of a failure.

In T channel check, after displaying the T channel mark, each transducer is transmitted, and the reception status of all transducers at the time of each transmission is checked. Data settings and vector RAM changes are performed, test patterns are displayed accordingly, and codes are displayed according to the presence or absence of a failure.

After the diagnostic items are displayed, the delay time check proceeds to the check channel selection step via initial unblanking. The delay pattern is read from the graphics memory in the CPU and displayed as an overlay.
After that, a test pattern is displayed and a code is displayed depending on whether there is a failure or not, and the check is completed.

<OSC System Diagnosis> FMi R/W check is performed in the steps shown in FIG.

When the CPU is ready, r55HJ data (0101
Write/read data (signal of 0101) to obtain comparison data D5 of both, then write/read data of r A A HJ (signal of 0101) to obtain comparison data DA of both.
, roughly determines D5+DA, and if it is not rOJ, displays the address data and error code, and displays "
0'', the step is transferred to all RAMs, a similar check is performed, it is determined whether all RAMs are OK or not, and an OK display or an error code is displayed depending on the status. This check is done automatically by the cPU.

The R/W check of rM2 is shown in FIG. 5 and is performed in the same manner as the FMI.

Next, a WRITE check is performed as shown in FIG.

The check item display is "rWRITE check", rGA
l (Gate array control 1> Check J, rVI
P (IF interpolation) check is displayed simultaneously in the order of J, and a sector-shaped test pattern is displayed. At this time, LINTP (horizontal interpolation during reading) is OFF, WIP
After 0N10FF is performed, the service engineer observes the display and determines whether rWIPONloFF is effective. What is the gradation of the interpolation vector? If there is a malfunction, the operator will repair it by looking at the page corresponding to rDIoolJ in the manual displayed on the display. In addition, the gate array is GAI (input buffer), GA2 (FM control), GA
3 (output buffer 7) and GA4 (interpolation control). Next, check item display is rM
Instead of PO8IJ (shifts the display in the depth direction of the M position), test pattern (M DUAL MO
DE) is displayed and presented to the service engineer for judgment. Next, the check item display changes to rMcHIJ, and MPO3I
channel 1 is specified, then channel 2 is specified, and the service engineer determines whether these are working effectively or not. Look and repair. Next, the check item is displayed as r()EPTI-I
CHANGEJG;:,'a, This automatically changes the depth direction. At this time, the serviceman B
Look at the state of the mode display and determine if the gradation pattern displayed is changing continuously depending on the depth, then select the relevant part of the error code and perform the repair. Next, the check item display changes to "rM AUTOP/N (M mode automatic positive or negative) check", B mode and M mode are displayed, and this display changes from positive to negative, so the service engineer can check the status. If there is a corresponding error code, select it, view the corresponding page, and perform the repair.

Next, each frame memory FM1. The READ check of FM2 will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 10.

First, the READ check of the frame memory FMI will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Check item Ela
i rFMl READ CF-IEcKJ, rG
A4 ('7--t7L/i4) LINTP C1
-IECKJ, and the B mode test pattern is displayed, so the service engineer checks the connection of horizontal gradations and if there is an error, the corresponding code is rDIo04J.
Perform repairs by referring to the corresponding manual page. Here, the B-mode test pattern is used because it is convenient to perform interpolation processing in B-mode. Then LINT
Turn on and off P (horizontal interpolation during readout),
If it is determined that there is a malfunction, the code rDI on the display will be displayed.
.

05" and repair it by opening the page of the manual corresponding to "05". Next, rGA3 CHECKJ on the display,
rscROL X DIRECTION ARE
After AJ is displayed, scroll horizontal area 1li
11 period is applied, Service 7 looks at the display status and determines whether the scrolling horizontal direction restriction is working, and if it is defective, it checks the manual page corresponding to the display code D1006J and repairs it. Do it.Then the display will be r.
scROL Y DIRECTION AREA
J, and the scroll vertical area is restricted.A service person will judge this condition and if it is defective, open the manual page corresponding to the displayed code rD2006J and repair it. And the display is rscRoL
Since scrolling is turned on and off with 0N10FFJ, the service person checks the status and if there is an abnormality, opens the page corresponding to the display code rDI0 06J and repairs it. Next, the display will be “XDIRECTrON fMA
GE 5)-IIFTJ, the screen is translated in the horizontal direction, and if there is an abnormality in the screen movement, the service person looks at the code page and corrects it. Next, the display changes to "Y direction" and the same check as in the X direction is performed.

READ CHECK of FM2 is performed according to the flow shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, but is basically the same as in the case of FM1. However, the error code in case of abnormality is rF.
M230J, rFM201J, and rFM240J, so the service person must open the corresponding manual page and make corrections.

WRITE CHECK of frame memory FM1 is performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the display is rFMlWllTE,,C1(ECK"
Then, a test pattern is output from the pattern generation circuit 12, a sector-like B mode pattern with a black stripe is written to the FMI, the image is frozen, and the CPIJ is set to the FM
The information at a predetermined address of l is read out, and it is determined whether the information is less than a predetermined value (05H). If rNOJ, the data of that address is displayed, and if rYESJ, all addresses of FMl (RAM) are displayed. A check will be carried out, and if there is an abnormality, the manual page for code rFM102J will be consulted and repairs will be made.

Next, the "white" test pattern is input into the FM1, frozen, and checked in the same way as above, and then repaired by a service person.

FM2's WRITE check is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. 12, and its contents are almost the same as in the case of FMI. However, the error code will be rFM202J.

Figures 13 to 15 are rDsc COMPONEN
TC)-IEcK ALLJ flowchart. This flow is different from the case of rALLJ in each of the diagnostic flows described above. That is, since fault diagnosis regarding DSCs is complex and wide-ranging, it is often difficult for operators, especially service personnel at the beginning stage, to decide what kind of checks to perform. Therefore, by simply selecting the menu displayed on the display, the contents of the diagnostic steps are executed sequentially, making it extremely easy for even a novice service technician to know all the contents of the check items. There is.

In other words, it can be said to be an educational program.

First, when the check contents of this item are displayed, an 8-mode sector pattern is displayed on the display section.

This pattern can be switched to appear in various patterns, such as a pattern in which the lower part of the sector is black (8000H) or a pattern in which the right side of the sector is black (8009H). Looking at this display, the service person determines whether the B-mode image is OK or not (X).
If OK, select ME-mode to display the test pattern. This M mode also has a black pattern at the bottom (8000
1-1) It is possible to switch to a pattern with thicker stripes (8009H), etc., and the service engineer makes a judgment based on the display state, and proceeds to the next step based on the judgment result. If both B mode display and M mode display are OK (BO/MO), rFMI READ
CHECKJ (check shown in Figures 7 and 8 above), rFM2 RE A D CHE CK J
(Check shown in Figures 9 and 10 of ttJ), rW
RITE CHECKJ (checks shown in Figure 6 above) are performed in sequence, and finally rcOMPONENT
Become CHECKEND DJ.

In the above step, B mode is OK, M mode is defective (X
), frame memory FM
Only one check is performed. This frame memory FM
This is because I is mainly used for M mode display.

That is, rFMl R/W CHECKJ, rFMI
WRITE CHECKJ is performed sequentially, the CPU judges the result, and if there is an error, code rFM11 is issued.
Displays 0J and if there is no error rFMl READ
Move to CHE CK J, set the display pattern to the partially black M mode pattern (8004H), then set the test pattern to the white nugi pattern (8003H), then check the vector, and the check is O.
If it is K, the check ends; if it is not OK, a test pattern for vector checking (M/D mode) is displayed, an error code is displayed, and the process ends.

In the first judgment of the 8-mode display mode, if it is judged that the display state is abnormal, the serviceman selects the judgment step regarding the frame memory FM2 (on the right side of FIG. 13).

At this stage, various M mode patterns are switched and displayed as test patterns, and the steps are divided depending on the result of the judgment.

If B mode is defective and M mode is OK (8X/MO), rFM2 R/W CHECKJ (check in Figure 5 above), rFM2 WRtTE CHECK
J (checks in Fig. 12 above) are performed in sequence, and the CPU makes the judgment at this time.If there is an abnormality, the code rFM'210J is displayed, and if normal, the code rFM'210J is displayed.
2 RE A D CHECKJ (check in Figure 9) is performed, and this time the test pattern is changed to the blank B mode display, a check is performed regarding the vector (coordinate specification part), and if it is OK, the check is completed. However, if it is not OK, a R/W check of VRAM (vector memory) is performed, and the CPU judges this, and if it is OK, it displays the code rDcTO2J and confirms OK.
Otherwise, code rDcTO3J is displayed.

Incidentally, if the state of the M mode display is not determined to be OK (BX/MX), the process moves to the steps after ``■'' in FIG. 14. That is, first, R/ of frame memory FM2 is
A W check (the check shown in FIG. 5) is performed, and a WRITE check (12th check) of the frame memory FM2 is performed.
The check shown in the figure) is performed, and the CPU determines the result as defective (N>, then the WRITE check (check shown in Figure 6) is performed, and if the above judgment flow is OK (Y) Similarly, turn TV blank on and off.
Shift to FF flow. TV 7 U'ZURI (TV
BLNK) is defective (N) tl15h, error code r
l) Displays 100OJ, and if it is 0K (Y), moves to the frame memory FM2 READ check (check shown in Figure 9), then displays the test pattern of B mode, and if the status is defective (N) If so, the R/W check of VRAM (vector memory) is performed, and if it is OK, the code rDcTO2J is issued, and if it is defective, the code rDcT is issued.
O3J will be displayed respectively.

If the check regarding the vector is OK (Y), the process moves to the flow after ◎ in FIG. 15.

That is, first, an R/W check of the frame memory FMI (check shown in FIG. 4) is performed, and then an R/W check of the frame memory FMI is performed.
A READ check (check shown in FIG. 7) is performed, and a blank M mode test pattern is displayed. If this display status is OK, the check ends, but if it is defective (
'N), the test patterns of M mode and D mode are displayed, and if this display status is OK, the code rD
cT.

If it is defective, the code rDcTo I J is displayed and the check is completed.

rcE I MA in the comprehensive menu shown in Figure 2 above
Select GE PROCESSJ The following diagnosis will be performed.

First rsAMPLING PROCESS CHE
CKJ is performed in steps as shown in FIG. This is to check whether the DSC sampling is being performed properly. For example, the mode setting is "B mode sector" and the depth of field is the general R15.
After cmJ is selected, ' is done by displaying a B-mode test pattern. At this time, the display section displays rON10FF, 1...ON (white blank pattern), 2...0FF (black blank pattern), 3
・・・・・・Display of ENDJ and error code D10
07J is selected.

This display allows the service person to select the number and turn it on.
, and then check the display status. If the judgment result is defective, the manual page corresponding to the error code will be opened and repaired.

FRAME C0RRELATION C)-IE
CK (Frame Correlation Check) is performed by the steps shown in FIG. This is to check the correlation of frame memory data, and first, set B in the mode setting.
Specify the mode sector, set the field of view to 15 cm, dually display two frames in the display, input a white blank pattern and a black blank pattern to both frames sequentially, and freeze.

The display shows mode selections such as 1...-0N (black and white mottled display), 2...OFF (white to black display), 3...ENDJ, Next, the code FM103 is displayed when one memory is abnormal, and the code FM203J is displayed when the other memory is abnormal.The serviceman turns it on and off according to this, and when it is turned on, the screen is black and white mottled. If it is not displayed, it is determined that there is an abnormality and repairs are made by looking at the code correspondence table.

COMBINATION Focus
CHECK (combination focus check) is performed in the steps shown in FIG. This is to set the focus in multiple stages for each beam when receiving the ultrasound beam, and check the combination display state at that time.First, the mode setting is B mode sector, depth of field 20cm+, and 2-stage focus. , input the B mode test pattern. At this time, the menu is r2sTAGEs...
2-step focus, 3...3-step focus, 4.
. . . 4-step focus, 5 . . . ENDJ can be selected, and a test pattern is input based on the respective selection results. For example, in the two-stage focus test pattern "R8011H", the top and bottom of the sector are black and white, and in the "R8021T1", the left half is black and white, the right half is 1/3
The area becomes black, and in the r8031HJ, black and white display is performed in three stages. Then, the service engineer specifies the desired number of stages and observes the display, and if the result is found to be defective, repair will be performed using the corresponding page with code rDWPOOJ.

Finally, M MAXIMtJM PROCESSSC
HECK (checking the maximum M rate that falls within one pixel) is performed by the steps shown in FIG. In this case, the mode settings are specified as sector, M single mode 4 lines, and depth of field 15 cm, and a white blank M mode test pattern is input.

When the service person turns it ON, a white blank pattern is displayed, and when he turns it OFF, it becomes white/black.

As a result, the maximum number of M rate lines that can fit within one pixel is checked.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention described in detail above, the operator can perform failure diagnosis simply by selecting a menu, and the failure diagnosis order of each component of the digital scan converter is programmed. In addition, since the information is displayed in order, it is possible to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that allows even a novice operator (service person) to easily perform a diagnosis.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the main flow of fault diagnosis employed in the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a failure of the transmission/reception system employed in the embodiment. Flowchart Showing Diagnosis Flow. FIGS. 4 to 19 are flowcharts showing an example of a failure diagnosis flow for the digital scan converter employed in the embodiment. 1... Ultrasonic probe, 2... Probe drive circuit, 3... Drive timing control circuit, 4...
・Transmission/reception control RAM, 5...Reference signal generation circuit, 6...Reception amplifier circuit, 7...Reception delay time control circuit, 8...Addition circuit, 9. ...A/D converter, 10...
・D/A converter, 11...Display section, 12...
...Pattern generation circuit, 13-...Operation unit,
CPU...Central processing control unit, DSC...
...Digital scan converter, FMl, F
M2...Frame memory, C0NT...
・Control circuit, SW...changeover switch. Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic probe that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, a reception processing means that processes echoes received from the ultrasonic probe, a frame memory, and a control unit that controls writing and reading of data to and from the memory. An ultrasound system comprising: a digital scan converter that converts the received data into image data and outputs image display data; a display means that displays an ultrasound image based on the digital scan converter; and a central processing control means that controls each means. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, displaying a first mode image as a program for diagnosing the operation of various components of the digital scan converter in the central control processing means to check whether the display mode is appropriate; Next, the second mode image is displayed to check the suitability of the display mode, and based on the combination of the check results for each mode image, sequentially write to the frame memory, automatically determine the read state, and write to each frame memory. 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized in that a flow for visual judgment of readout is stored in a storage means, and a menu for sequentially performing each of the checks is displayed so that selection can be made from the outside. (2) The automatic determination is performed by the central processing control unit and displays the error code, and the visual determination is performed by the operator, who selects the applicable error code from the displayed error codes and uses it for diagnostic processing. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: