US20130019685A1 - Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method - Google Patents
Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130019685A1 US20130019685A1 US13/545,777 US201213545777A US2013019685A1 US 20130019685 A1 US20130019685 A1 US 20130019685A1 US 201213545777 A US201213545777 A US 201213545777A US 2013019685 A1 US2013019685 A1 US 2013019685A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- signal processing
- signal
- parameter
- probe
- transmission
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/5207—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/42—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient
- A61B8/4245—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
- A61B8/4254—Details of probe positioning or probe attachment to the patient involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient using sensors mounted on the probe
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/54—Control of the diagnostic device
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B8/56—Details of data transmission or power supply
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
There is provided a signal processing apparatus including a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, and a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
Description
- The present disclosure relates to signal processing apparatuses, control methods, signal processing systems, and signal processing methods, especially, relates to a signal processing apparatus, a control method, a signal processing system, and a signal processing method which are capable of reducing electric power for use in signal processing.
- In the related art, with regard to ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses which carry out shooting of ultrasonic images, there have been some proposals in which a sensor or a switch is provided to a probe to stop/resume transmission/reception in order to reduce the necessary electric power for transmission/reception during the use of the wireless probe (see JP 2008-253500 A).
- The proposed switching methods are, for example, a technique providing a physical switch, a technique detecting a position of the probe, or a technique detecting a motion of the prove. With these techniques, a timing at which the probe is not used for diagnosis is detected, and failure of turning off of the probe is prevented.
- However, the above proposals make no reference to an amount of the electric power during the use of the probe. Therefore, even if the proposed methods are used, the probe typically operates under the same condition when a technician or a doctor as a user holds the probe (in some cases, during the probe is placed in contact with a patient).
- The present disclosure has been realized in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of reducing the electric power for use in signal processing when ultrasonic images are generated.
- According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal processing apparatus including: a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe; and a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
- According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a control method performed by a signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the control method including controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
- According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal processing system including: a first signal processing apparatus including: a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe; a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large; and a transmitter for transmitting the signal processed by the signal processor; and a second signal processing apparatus including: a receiver for receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus; and a generator for generating an ultrasonic image based on the signal received by the receiver.
- According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a signal processing method performed by a first signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the signal processing method including controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large, processing the signal to be received from or to be transmitted to the vibrator, and transmitting the processed signal, and the signal processing method performed by a second signal processing apparatus, including receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus, and generating an ultrasonic image based on the received signal.
- According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a signal processing parameter of a signal processor is controlled to lower a performance of the signal processor which processes a signal to be transmitted to or to be received from a vibrator constituting a probe when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
- According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a signal processing parameter of a signal processor is controlled to lower a performance of the signal processor which processes a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a prove when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large. Further, the transmitted signal is received and an ultrasonic image is generated based on the received signal.
- According to the present disclosure, when an ultrasonic image is generated, the electric power for use in signal processing can be reduced.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a signal processing system to which the present technology is applied; -
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a probe unit when a receiving process is carried out; -
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the probe unit when a transmitting process is carried out; -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a motion of the probe unit; -
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an output of a sensor and a signal processing parameter; -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an ultrasonic wave receiving process of a probe unit; -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reception displaying process of a reception display unit; -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an ultrasonic wave transmitting process of the probe unit; -
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process in the probe unit; -
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing another example of the probe unit; -
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the probe; -
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception process of the probe unit; -
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control process in the probe unit; and -
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a computer. - Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described. Note that the description will be carried out in the following order.
- 1. First Embodiment (a probe having a built-in acceleration sensor)
- 2. Second Embodiment (a probe having a built-in angle sensor)
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a signal processing system to which the present technology is applied. - A
signal processing system 101 shown inFIG. 1 shoots an image of the inside of an object (that is, an ultrasonic image) by using an ultrasonic wave and displays the image. Thesignal processing system 101 is used for medical purpose such as shooting of the inside of a patient's body or an unborn baby, or used for industrial purpose such as shooting of a cross-section of the inside of a product. - The
signal processing system 101 includes aprobe unit 111 and areception display apparatus 112. Theprobe unit 111 and thereception display apparatus 112 carry out transmission/reception of data in wireless communication, for example. Note that the wireless communication system is not particularly limited if a sufficient band for transmission/reception of data is ensured. Also, the communication system may not only be the wireless system, but also be a wired system. - The
probe unit 111 includes aprobe 120 and asignal processing block 122. Theprobe 120 is a potion which is pressed to the skin of the object or the like and includes a plurality ofvibrators 121 called as ultrasonic transducer in its inside. Theprobe 120 includes thevibrators 121 of 64 channels or 128 channels, for example. Note that the number ofvibrators 121 included in theprobe 120 is not limited. - The
vibrator 121 transmits an ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, may be referred to as a transmission wave) toward the object based on a signal from thesignal processing block 122. Thevibrator 121 receives a reflected wave (hereinafter, may be referred to as a received wave) from the object, and provides the received signal to thesignal processing block 122. - The
signal processing block 122 is a block which processes the signals to or from thevibrator 121. Thesignal processing block 122 includes aconverter 131, a frontend signal processor 132, and a wireless IF (interface) 133. - The
converter 131 includes an AD (Analog/Digital) converter 162 inFIG. 2 , and a DA (Digital/Analog)converter 182 inFIG. 3 , which will be described later. Theconverter 131 converts the reflected wave from thevibrator 121 into digital data, and provides the converted digital data to the frontend signal processor 132. Theconverter 131 converts digital data from the frontend signal processor 132 into an analog signal, and provides the converted analog signal to thevibrator 121. - The front
end signal processor 132 carries out signal processing such as a beamforming process, a signal compressing process, and an error correcting process with respect to the digital data from theconverter 131, and provides the processed data to thewireless IF 133. The frontend signal processor 132 generates digital data which will be a base of a transmission wave that thevibrator 121 transmits, and provides the generated data to theconverter 131. - The
wireless IF 133 transmits data from the frontend signal processor 132 to thereception display apparatus 112 in wireless communication. - The
reception display apparatus 112 includes awireless IF 141, a backend signal processor 142, and adisplay 143. - The
wireless IF 141 receives data from theprobe unit 111, and provides the data to the backend signal processor 142. - The back
end signal processor 142 decodes compressed data transmitted from thewireless IF 141. The backend signal processor 142 generates an ultrasonic image which reflects the inside of the object based on the decoded data. The backend signal processor 142 provides the generated ultrasonic image to thedisplay 143. - The
display 143 displays the ultrasonic image generated by the backend signal processor 142. - Note that the configuration of the
probe unit 111 in the example ofFIG. 1 is simplified and shown, and processors or mechanical parts which are less relevant to the present technology are omitted. -
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a probe unit when a receiving process of an ultrasonic wave is carried out. - The
probe unit 111 in the example shown inFIG. 2 includes avibrator 121, asignal processing block 122, anacceleration sensor 151, apressure sensor 152, acontroller 153, and abattery unit 154. - The
signal processing block 122 when carrying out a receiving process of an ultrasonic wave includes aswitch 161, an AD converter 162, asignal processor 163, asignal compressor 164, and atransmitter 165. Thesignal processor 163, thesignal compressor 164, and thetransmitter 165 in thesignal processing block 122 inFIG. 2 correspond to the frontend signal processor 132 inFIG. 1 . - The
vibrator 121 receives a reflected wave from the object, and provides the received signal to theswitch 161 in thesignal processing block 122. - The
switch 161 determines which signal is to be read from among the signals received by each vibrator of thevibrator 121 and selects the signal under control of thecontroller 153. When thevibrator 121 includes 128 channels and reads 32 channel signals, for example, theswitch 161 determines which 32 channel signals are to be read from among the 128 channels and selects them. Theswitch 161 reads the selected signals, and provides the read signals to the AD converter 162. - The AD converter 162 carries out an AD convert of the signal from the
switch 161 under control of thecontroller 153. The AD converter 162 provides the converted digital data to thesignal processor 163. - The
signal processor 163 carries out a beamforming process of the digital data from the AD converter 162 under control of thecontroller 153. Thesignal processor 163 also carries out signal processing such as image enhancement or noise reduction or the like of the data after the beamforming process (hereinafter, referred to as RF data) as necessary. Thesignal processor 163 provides the processed data to thesignal compressor 164. - The
signal compressor 164 compresses the digital data from thesignal processor 163 into a prescribed compressed format under control of thecontroller 153. Thesignal compressor 164 provides the compressed data to thetransmitter 165. Note that the compressed format is not limited. - The
transmitter 165 makes an addition to the data from thesignal compressor 164 such as a redundant error correcting code for transmission error compensation under control of thecontroller 153, and transmits the data to thereception display apparatus 112 via the wireless IF 133 shown inFIG. 1 . Thetransmitter 165 retransmits the data in order to compensate a transmission error. - The
acceleration sensor 151 is provided in theprobe 120 or in theprobe unit 111. Theacceleration sensor 151 detects a motion of theprobe 120 by the user, and provides a motion parameter which is information showing a characteristic of the motion of theprobe 120 to thecontroller 153. For example, theacceleration sensor 151 provides the motion parameter which shows a characteristic of the motion as a speed of theprobe 120 to thecontroller 153. Note that the motion parameter is not limited to the speed if the parameter shows any motion characteristic such as a travel amount or a magnitude of the motion of theprobe 120. - The
pressure sensor 152 is provided at a contact surface against skin of the object within theprobe 120. Thepressure sensor 152 detects a pressure that the skin of the object or the like is pressed to theprobe 120, and provides information of the detected pressure to thecontroller 153. - The
battery unit 154 is configured with a rechargeable battery and the like, and supplies the electric power to each part of theprobe unit 111. - The
controller 153 controls operations of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to the information detected by theacceleration sensor 151 and thepressure sensor 152 in order to reduce the electric power consumption accumulated in thebattery unit 154. That is, thecontroller 153 changes a processing parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to the information detected by theacceleration sensor 151 and thepressure sensor 152 to lower a performance of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122. - Here, the performance referred in the present disclosure means processing a speed, an operation clock (a frequency), a data transmission speed, the number of cores in use for a processor assigned to each process, the number of threads in software processing or the like.
- That is, lowering a performance means reducing the electric power consumption in such a way as to delay the processing the speed, to reduce the operation clock, to delay the transmission speed, to decrease the number of cores in use for a processor, and to decrease the number of threads. Lowering a performance means, more specifically, controlling the processing parameter of the each part which constitutes the
signal processing block 122 to reduce the electric power consumption. - In the
signal processing block 122, the processing parameter in signal processing is, described further in details later, for example, an external signal processing parameter, an ultrasonic signal processing parameter, an internal signal processing parameter. The external signal processing parameter is a parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to transmission. The ultrasonic signal parameter is a parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic processing, and the internal signal processing parameter is a parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to AD or DA conversion. - Back to
FIG. 2 , thecontroller 153 controls theswitch 161, for example, to change the number ofvibrators 121 which are used for receiving. To increase SN of a received signal, it is common to use information from a plurality ofvibrators 121. By decreasing the number of channels of thevibrators 121 that are used for receiving, an amount of data processing in thesignal processor 163 described later can be reduced. As a result, the electric power consumption can be reduced. - The
controller 153 controls the AD converter 162, for example, to change a bit length of digital data or a sampling frequency when an analog signal of each received channel is converted into digital data. - Note that the
signal processing system 101 is often used for CAD (Computer Aided Diagnosis) of medical images. If a high sampling frequency is sampled, an amount of acquired signal information increases, and higher precision beamforming can be carried out. As a result, image quality is enhanced. Therefore, sampling a high sampling frequency leads to enhancement of diagnosis ability of CAD. - However, a high frequency in AD conversion causes an increase of data and affects later signal processing amount. When the system is not used for CAD, that is, the system is used for normal diagnosis or the like, such high quality image is not necessary. Therefore, in the normal diagnosis, lowering the sampling frequency reduces the electric power consumption of the AD converter 162 itself as well as reducing the data processing amount of signal processing. As a result, the electric power consumption can be reduced. In the AD converter 162, shortening the bit length of digital data may also achieve a similar effect to lowering the sampling frequency.
- The
controller 153 controls thesignal processor 163 to change parameters in relation to electric power from among the parameters in beamforming processing, such as the number of reception focal points, and a sampling frequency of RF data. By decreasing the number of reception focal points or the sampling frequency of RF data, reduction of the process itself or of the amount of data passed on to the next process can be achieved, and as a result, the electric power consumption can be reduced. - Note that an ON/OFF in signal processing such as image enhancement or noise reduction in the
signal processor 163, or control of complexity of an algorithm or the like may also affect the electric power. Thecontroller 153 may control such processes. - The
controller 153 controls thesignal compressor 164, for example, to change a data compression ratio. By increasing the data compression ratio, a data amount to be transmitted from theprobe unit 111 to thereception display apparatus 112 can be reduced, and as a result, the electric power in transmission can be reduced. - The
controller 153 controls thetransmitter 165, for example, to change a degree of an addition of an error correcting code or whether or not the error correction is added. By lowering the degree of the error correction or not using the error correction function itself, the electric power consumption in transmission can be reduced. Further, having thetransmitter 165 change acceptance of retransmission demand, which is caused by the operation in cooperation with thereception display apparatus 112, into refusal also leads to reduction of the electric power consumption. -
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the probe unit when a transmitting process is carried out. - In the example of
FIG. 3 , aprobe unit 111 includes avibrator 121, asignal processing block 122, anacceleration sensor 151, apressure sensor 152, acontroller 153, and abattery unit 154 like theprobe unit 111 ofFIG. 2 . Note that corresponding elements are denoted with corresponding reference signs, and repeated explanation is omitted. - The
signal processing block 122 when carrying out a transmitting process of an ultrasonic wave includes aswitch 181, aDA converter 182, and asignal processor 183 unlike thesignal processing block 122 ofFIG. 2 . Thesignal processor 183 in thesignal processing block 122 ofFIG. 3 corresponds to the frontend signal processor 132 ofFIG. 1 . - The
switch 181 selects thevibrator 121 based on an analog signal from theDA converter 182. That is, theswitch 181 selects a combination of the vibrators to be operated from among a plurality of vibrators which constitute thevibrator 121. Theswitch 181 vibrates the selectedvibrator 121 by connecting the selectedvibrator 121 and transmitting a signal. Consequently, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from thevibrator 121 to the object. - The
DA converter 182 converts digital data from thesignal processor 183 into an analog signal, and provides it to theswitch 181. - The
signal processor 183 generates digital data which will be a base of an ultrasonic beam that thevibrator 121 transmits to the object. Thesignal processor 183 provides the generated digital data to theDA converter 182. - The
controller 153 in the example ofFIG. 3 also controls operation of each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to information detected by theacceleration sensor 151 and thepressure sensor 152 in order to reduce battery consumption of thebattery unit 154. That is, thecontroller 153 changes a processing parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to the information detected by theacceleration sensor 151 and thepressure sensor 152 to lower a performance of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122. - However, unlike the case of the receiving process in
FIG. 2 , theswitch 181, theDA converter 182, and thesignal processor 183 basically operate in cooperation with each other in the transmitting process inFIG. 3 . - The digital data generated in the
signal processor 183 uniquely determines a bit length of digital data transmitted through theDA converter 182, a sampling frequency, and the number of lines (the number of vibrators to be operated), and also determines a combination of thevibrators 121 connected (vibrated) by theswitch 181. - That is to say, the
signal processor 183 uniquely determines the bit length of the digital data transmitting through theDA converter 182, the sampling frequency, and the number of lines, and the combination of thevibrator 121 connected by theswitch 181, and generates digital data based on the determined parameter combination. - Therefore, in the case of the transmitting process, the
controller 153 controls thesignal processor 183 to change the bit length of the digital data transmitted through theDA converter 182, the sampling frequency, and the number of lines, the combination of thevibrator 121 connected by theswitch 181 and the like. - In the
signal processor 183, by shortening the bit length of the digital data, lowering the sampling frequency, the DA conversion process can be reduced. Further, by decreasing the number of lines, the electric power for ultrasonic wave transmission can be reduced. - As described above, the
controller 153 controls each signal processor which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 to lower its performance in order to reduce the battery consumption of thebattery unit 154 either in the receiving process or in the transmitting process of an ultrasonic wave. - At this point, the
controller 153 controls an ON/OFF of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to the information of the pressure detected by thepressure sensor 152. Thecontroller 153 changes the performance of the parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter as the motion information detected by theacceleration sensor 151. -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a motion of the probe. The user holds theprobe unit 111 which includes theprobe 120, moves theprobe 120 with pressing it to the object, and checks an ultrasonic image displayed on thereception display unit 112. At that time, motion patterns of theprobe 120 by the user are classified roughly into the following two cases. - When a position of the
probe 120 approaches a point on the object that the user wishes to check in details as shown inFIG. 4A , the user tends to move theprobe unit 111 slowly within a small area. That is, when the motion of theprobe 120 is small, the speed is slow, or the travel amount is small, there is a high possibility that the position of theprobe 120 have approached the point that the user wishes to check in details. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable that the image quality is as high as possible. - On the other hand, when a point that the user wishes to check in details is searched for within a broad area, as shown in
FIG. 4B , the user tends to move theprobe unit 111 quickly within a broad area. That is, when the motion of theprobe 120 is large, the speed is quick, or the travel amount is large, there is a high possibility that the user still searches the broad area for the point that the user wishes to check in details. Therefore, in this case, the image quality can be lower than that of the case ofFIG. 4A . - According to the above, the
controller 153 changes the processing parameter of the each part to lower the performance of the processing parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 when the motion parameter (the speed, the travel amount, or the magnitude of the motion) as the motion information of theprobe 120 is large. - On the other hand, the
controller 153 changes the processing parameter of the each part to return (or increase) the performance back to normal of the processing parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 122 when the motion parameter (the speed, the travel amount, or the magnitude of the motion) as the motion information of theprobe 120 is small. - Consequently, even in the middle of diagnosis using the
signal processing system 101, the electric power consumption can be reduced. As a result, the life of the electric power accumulated in thebattery unit 154 provided in theprobe unit 111 can be increased. - Note that, as the user holds and moves the
probe unit 111, theprobe 120 also moves. Therefore, hereinafter, the description will be carried as the motion of theprobe 120 and the motion of theprobe unit 111 are deemed to have the same meaning. -
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an output of a sensor and a control of a parameter of each part. - The first column from the left in the example of
FIG. 5 represents numbers of combination patterns of the processing parameters. The second and third columns from the left represent degrees of the outputs from the sensors. The fourth to eleventh columns from the left represent control statuses of the processing parameters of the each part of thesignal processing block 122. The first column from the right shows results of the outputs of the sensors and the control. - To be more specific, the second column from the left represents whether or not there is a pressure on the vibrator, which is detected by the
pressure sensor 152. The third column from the left represents the level of the speed as the motion parameter of theprobe 120, which is detected by theacceleration sensor 151. - As for the fourth to eleventh columns from the left, the columns represent, starting from the left, the control statuses of four wireless transmission parameters, two ultrasonic wave transmission/reception parameters, and two internal signal processing parameters.
- The order of these parameters shows a degree of an impact to the image quality. The further in the left the parameter aligns, the greater impact on the image quality. On the other hand, the further in the right the parameter aligns, the smaller impact on the image quality. That is, among the wireless transmission parameter, the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception parameter, and the internal signal processing parameter, the wireless transmission parameter has the greatest impact on the image quality, whilst the internal signal processing parameter has the smallest impact on the image quality.
- The wireless transmission parameter is the signal processing parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to transmission with outside. In the example of
FIG. 5 , the frame rate, the resolution, the bit rate, and the error correction are included in the wireless transmission parameter. Note that, among the four processing parameters, the frame rate has the greatest impact on the image quality, whilst the error correction has the smallest impact on the image quality. - The wireless transmission parameter is used only in the receiving process. The frame rate and the resolution are the processing parameters for the
signal processor 163. The bit rate is the processing parameter for thesignal compressor 164, and the error correction is the processing parameter for thetransmitter 165. - The ultrasonic wave transmission/reception parameter is the ultrasonic signal processing parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic processing. In the example of
FIG. 5 , the number of transmission beams and the number of transmission/reception vibrators are included in the ultrasonic wave transmission/reception parameter. The number of transmission beams has a greater impact on the image quality compared to that of the number of transmission/reception vibrators. - In a receiving process, the number of transmission beams and the number of transmission/reception vibrators are the processing parameters for the
switch 161, whilst in a transmitting process, those are the processing parameters for thesignal processor 183. - The internal signal processing parameter is the signal processing parameter that is used in signal processing in relation to AD or DA conversion. In the example of
FIG. 5 , the AD bit length and the AD sampling rate (a sampling frequency) are included in the internal signal processing parameter. The AD sampling rate has a smaller impact on the image quality compared to that of the AD bit length. - The AD bit length and the AD sampling rate, in a receiving process, are the processing parameters for the AD converter 162, whilst are the processing parameters for the
signal processor 183 in a transmitting process. - Here, × marks (cross marks) shown in
FIG. 5 represent that the functions to which the processing parameters correspond (the processor) are OFF. A marks (triangle marks) represent that the processing parameters are controlled to be weaker, smaller, fewer and the electric power is not consumed than average, that is, the performances is controlled to be lowered. ∘ marks (circle marks) represent that the processing parameters are controlled to perform standard operation. - Hereinafter, control processing of the
controller 153 will be described in details with reference toFIG. 5 . For example, thecontroller 153 determines whether or not theprobe 120 of theprobe unit 111 is being touched to a human body (the skin) by using an input from thepressure sensor 152. If determined that theprobe 120 is not touched, thecontroller 153 turns OFF every function of thesignal processing block 122 to reduce the electric power consumption as shown by × marks of thecombination pattern 0. That is, thecombination pattern 0 is a pattern which is determined roughly equal to OFF of theprobe unit 111. - When it is determined, from an output of the
pressure sensor 152, that some sort of pressure is applied, that is, that theprobe 120 of theprobe unit 111 is touched to something, thecontroller 153 turns ON the function of the each part of thesignal processing block 122. Then, thecontroller 153 controls each processing parameter based on the speed as the motion parameter of theprobe 120 which can be obtained from theacceleration sensor 151. - The
controller 153 controls the processing parameters to save power (lower the electric power) from a processing parameter having a smaller impact on the image quality as the motion parameter of theprobe 120 becomes larger, that is, the speed of theprobe 120 becomes faster. - For example, the
controller 153 stores thespeeds 1 to 9 in a memory not shown in the drawings as thresholds of the motion parameter of theprobe 120 in 9 levels. Among the speeds, thespeed 1 is the fastest speed, whilst thespeed 9 is the slowest speed. Thecontroller 153 compares the stored thresholds and an output from theacceleration sensor 151. - The
controller 153 controls all the processing parameters to lower the performances as shown by thecombination pattern 1 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is more than the speed 1 (the fastest speed). That is, thecombination pattern 1 is a pattern that is determined to be fine with the minimum electric power because this is merely a case where a gel, etc., is applied to the human body by using theprobe 120 or the like. - The
controller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate to lower the performances as shown by thecombination pattern 2 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 1 and faster than thespeed 2 or more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the resolution, the bit rate, the error correction, the number of transmission beams, the number of transmission/reception vibrations, the AD bit length, and the AD sampling rate to lower the performances. - The
controller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate and the resolution to lower the performance as shown by thecombination 3 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 2 and faster than thespeed 3 or more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the bit rate, the error correction, the number of transmission beams, the number of transmission/reception vibrations, the AD bit length, and the AD sampling rate to lower the performances. - The
controller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate, the resolution, and the bit rate to lower the performances as shown by thecombination pattern 4 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 3 and faster than thespeed 4 and more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the error correction, the number of transmission beams, the number of transmission/reception vibrations, the AD bit length, and the AD sampling rate to lower the performance. - The
controller 153 controls the processing parameters in such a way that is shown by thecombination pattern 5 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 4 and faster than thespeed 5 and more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate, the resolution, the bit rate, and the error correction to lower the performances. Thecontroller 153 controls the number of transmission beams, the number of transmission/reception vibrations, the AD bit length, the AD sampling rate to lower the performances. - The
controller 153 controls the number of transmission/reception vibrations, the AD bit length, the AD sampling rate to lower the performances as shown by thecombination pattern 6 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 5 and faster than thespeed 6 and more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate, the resolution, the bit rate, the error correction, and the number of transmission beams to lower the performances. - The
controller 153 controls the AD bit length, and the AD sampling rate to lower the performances as shown by thecombination pattern 7 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 6 and faster than thespeed 7 and more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate, the resolution, the bit rate, the error correction, the number of transmission beams, and the number of transmission/reception vibrations to lower the performances. - The
controller 153 controls the AD sampling rate to lower its performance as shown by thecombination pattern 8 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 7 and faster than thespeed 8 and more. That is, thecontroller 153 controls the processing parameters except the frame rate, the resolution, the bit rate, the error correction, the number of transmission beams, the number of transmission/reception vibrations, and the AD bit length to lower the performance. - The
controller 153 controls all the processing parameters to perform standard operation as shown by thecombination pattern 9 when it is determined that the speed of theprobe 120 is slower than thespeed 8 and faster than the speed 9 (the slowest speed). - As described above, the
controller 153 controls the processing parameters from the processing parameters having a smaller impact on the image quality to gradually save power as the speed of theprobe 120 becomes faster (that is, the motion parameter becomes larger). - Note that the example of
FIG. 5 illustrates a case that the control, when a pressure is applied, is divided into 9 levels in thecombination patterns 1 to 9, and also each processing parameter is controlled by 2 values (the ∘ and Δ marks). In fact, thecontroller 153 is capable of controlling in a non-step fashion by changing the processing parameters linearly. - Also, the example of
FIG. 5 illustrates a system in which each processing parameter is aligned in the order of a degree of an impact on the image quality, and the control is applied such that the image quality gradually decreases. However, each processing parameter might be controlled independently. Note that thecontroller 153 may control the ultrasonic signal processing parameter, the external signal processing parameter, and the internal signal processing parameter by setting a priority as shown in the example ofFIG. 5 . - Further, in the
signal processing system 101, it may be possible to select a parameter which is not to be controlled (not to be lowered a performance) by a request from the users, or it may also possible to change the order of control. Further, the processing parameters are not limited to the parameters shown inFIG. 5 . The present technology is applicable to any parameter if the parameter is used for processing a signal received from the vibrator or a signal to be transmitted to the vibrator. - The example of
FIG. 5 uses the speed of theprobe 120 as the determination criterion, but the motion parameter is, as described above, not limited to the speed. A rate of acceleration or a travel amount of theprobe 120 per unit time or the like can be used as the criterion if the value is obtained from an output of theacceleration sensor 151. Also, the sensor is not limited to theacceleration sensor 151. - Next, an ultrasonic wave receiving process of the
probe unit 111 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 6 . - At step S111, the
vibrator 121 receives a reflected wave from the object. Thevibrator 121 provides the received signal to theswitch 161 of thesignal processing block 122. - At step S112, the
switch 161 selects a signal. That is, theswitch 161 determines which signal is to be read from among the signals received by each vibrator of thevibrator 121 and select the signal. The number of reception vibrators of this time is controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. Theswitch 161 reads the selected signal and provides the signal to the AD converter 162. - At step S113, the AD converter 162 carries out AD conversion for the signal from the
switch 161 at a prescribed sampling rate. The AD (digital data) bit length and the AD sampling rate of this time is controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. The AD converter 162 provides the converted digital data to thesignal processor 163. - At step S114, the
signal processor 163 carries out a beamforming process for the digital data from the AD converter 162. Thesignal processor 163 carries out signal processing such as image enhancement or noise reduction for RF data under control of thecontroller 153. The frame rate and the resolution of this time are controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. The image processing such as the image enhancement or the noise reduction is also controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. Thesignal processor 163 provides the processed data to thesignal compressor 164. - At step S115, the
signal compressor 164 compresses the digital data from thesignal processor 163 in a prescribed compressed format. The bit rate of this time is controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. Thesignal compressor 164 provides the compressed data to thetransmitter 165. - At step S116, the
transmitter 165 makes an addition to the data from thesignal compressor 164 such as a redundant error correcting code for transmission error compensation, and transmits the data to thereception display apparatus 112 via the wireless IF 133. The addition of the error correction or the like of this time are controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. - As described above, an ultrasonic wave received by the
probe unit 111 is subject to the series of processes, and the processed data is transmitted to thereception display apparatus 112 via wireless communication. - Next, a reception display process of the
reception display apparatus 112 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 7 . - At step S121, the wireless IF 141 receives the data transmitted at step S116 of
FIG. 6 . The wireless IF 141 provides the received data to the backend signal processor 142. - At step S122, the back
end signal processor 142 decodes the compressed data from the wireless IF 141 in a method corresponding to the compression of thesignal compressor 164, and generates an ultrasonic image reflecting the inside of the object. The backend signal processor 142 provides the generated ultrasonic image to thedisplay 143. - At step S123, the
display 143 displays the ultrasonic image. - As described above, in the
reception display apparatus 112, the ultrasonic image is displayed, which corresponds to the data of the ultrasonic wave received by theprobe unit 111. - Next, an ultrasonic wave transmitting process of the
probe unit 111 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 8 . - At step S131, the
signal processor 183 generates digital data which will be a base of an ultrasonic beam to be transmitted from thevibrator 121 to the object under control of thecontroller 153. - That is, the
signal processor 183 uniquely determines the bit length of digital data transmitting through theDA converter 182, the sampling frequency, the number of lines, and the combination of thevibrators 121 connected by theswitch 181, and generates digital data based on the determined parameter combination. Each processing parameter of this time is controlled by thecontroller 153 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. - The
signal processor 183 provides the generated data to theDA converter 182. - At step S132, the
DA converter 182 carries out DA conversion. That is, theDA converter 182 converts the digital data from thesignal processor 183 into an analog signal, and provides it to theswitch 181. - At step S133, the
vibrator 121 transmits an ultrasonic beam to the object. That is, theswitch 181 selects avibrator 121 based on the analog signal from theDA converter 182. Theswitch 181 vibrates the selectedvibrator 121 by connecting the selectedvibrator 121 and transmitting a signal. Consequently, an ultrasonic beam is transmitted from thevibrator 121 to the object. - As described above, the ultrasonic beam is transmitted in the
probe unit 111. - Next, a control process of the
probe unit 111 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 9 . - Information of a pressure from the
pressure sensor 152 is input to thecontroller 153. Thecontroller 153 determines whether or not the pressure is applied to theprobe 120 at step S151. When it is determined that the pressure is applied at step S151, the process proceeds to step S152. That is, step S152 is a process when it is determined that theprobe 120 is used for diagnosis. - The
acceleration sensor 151 detects a motion of theprobe 120, and provides a motion parameter as information of the detected motion to thecontroller 153. At step S152, thecontroller 153 obtains the motion parameter from theacceleration sensor 151. At step S153, thecontroller 153 determines a processing parameter to be controlled to lower a performance in response to a magnitude of the obtained motion parameter, as described with reference toFIG. 5 , - At step S154, the
controller 153 controls the processing parameter determined at step S153 to lower the performance. In doing so, among the each part of thesignal processing block 122, the part which carries out a process by using the processing parameter is controlled. At this time, processing parameters which have not been determined by the process at step S153 is controlled to perform standard operation. - On the other hand, at step S151, when it is determined that the pressure is not applied, the process proceeds to step S155. That is, step S155 is a process when it is determined that the
probe 120 is not used for diagnosis. - At step S155, the
controller 153 turns OFF all functions (the each part) of thesignal processing block 122 to reduce the electric power consumption. - Note that, since the
controller 153 is ON at this time, the functions of thesignal processing block 122 are turned ON when it is determined that the pressure is applied at the next control process step S151, and the subsequent processes are repeated. - As described above, the image quality of an ultrasonic image desired by the user can be known from the motion of the probe unit 111 (the probe 120) by the user. Therefore, the
probe unit 111 controls the process of the each part of thesignal processing block 122 in response to the motion of theprobe 120. Especially, theprobe unit 111 controls the processing parameter to lower the performance in the signal processing when the motion parameter which shows a characteristic of the motion of theprobe 120 is large. - Therefore, when the user moves the
probe unit 111 small or slowly in order to clearly look at a position to be shot an ultrasonic image, the image quality can be preferentially enhanced over reduction of the electric power consumption. - On the other hand, when the user moves the
probe unit 111 big and quickly in order to look for a position within a rough area on the body, the electric power consumption can be preferentially reduced over enhancement of the image quality. - Consequently, even when the
probe unit 111 is used for diagnosis, the electric power consumption of thebattery unit 154 in theprobe unit 111 can be reduced. As a result, the life of thebattery unit 154 can be increased. - Note that the example of
FIG. 9 uses the output from thepressure sensor 152 as the criterion for determining whether or not theprobe 120 is pressed to the human body. It may also possible to use echo intensity from a depth of the received ultrasonic wave to determine whether or not theprobe 120 is pressed to the human body. This is because when a contact surface of the probe exposes the air, that is, when the contact surface is not touched to the human body via a gel or the like, all ultrasonic waves are reflected at a boundary between the contact surface and the air. This nature that the echo from the depth (a point distant from the probe) is not observed is exploitable. -
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another exemplary configuration of the probe unit ofFIG. 1 . - A
probe unit 201 includes aprobe 211 a, aprobe 211 b, arotating shaft 212, anangle sensor 213, acontroller 214, asignal processing block 215, and abattery unit 216. - The
signal processing block 215 is a block corresponds to thesignal processing block 122 ofFIG. 1 . Thesignal processing block 215 includes a transmission/reception selector switch 221, a transmission BF (beamforming) 222, a reception BF (beamforming) 223, adelay calculator 224, asignal compressor 225, and atransmitter 226. - The
probe 211 a, as shown inFIG. 11 , includes vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-4. The vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-4 transmit an ultrasonic wave respectively under control of thetransmission BF 222. Also, the vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-4 receive a reflected wave of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and provide a received signal which shows intensity of the received reflected wave to thereception BF 223 via the transmission/reception selector switch 221. - The
probe 211 b, as shown inFIG. 11 and similar to probe 211 a, includesvibrators 251 b-1 to 251 b-4. Thevibrators 251 b-1 to 251 b-4 transmit an ultrasonic wave respectively under control of thetransmission BF 222. Also, thevibrators 251 b-1 to 251 b-4 receive a reflected wave of the transmitted ultrasonic wave, and provide a received signal which shows intensity of the received reflected wave to thereception BF 223 via the transmission/reception selector switch 221. - The
probes probe 120 ofFIG. 1 . Theprobes rotating shaft 212, and a relative angle between theprobes rotating shaft 212 as a fulcrum shaft. As a result, a relative angle between the vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-4 of theprobe 211 a and the vibrators 25 1 b-1 to 251 b-4 of theprobe 211 b is changed. - Note that, hereinafter, if it is not necessary to distinguish the
probes probe 211. Also, if it is not necessary to distinguish the vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-4 individually, they are simply referred to as thevibrator 251 a, and if it is not necessary to distinguish thevibrators 251 b-1 to 251 b-4 individually, they are simply referred to as thevibrator 251 b. Further, if it is not necessary to distinguish the vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 b-4 individually, they are simply referred to as the vibrator 251. - Further, the
rotating shaft 212 has theangle sensor 213 built-in. Theangle sensor 213 detects a rotating angle of therotating shaft 212, and provides a sensor signal which shows the detected angle to thecontroller 214 and thedelay calculator 224. - Here, the
rotating shaft 212 rotates as theprobe 211 moves. When the user moves theprobe unit 201 small and slowly in order to clearly look at a position to be shot an ultrasonic image, a change of the rotating angle detected by theangle sensor 213 is small. On the other hand, when the user moves theprobe unit 201 big and quickly in order to look for a position to be shot an ultrasonic image within a rough area on the body, the change of the rotating angle detected by theangle sensor 213 is large. That is, the rotating angle detected by theangle sensor 213 is one of the motion parameters which show a characteristic of the motion of theprobe 211. - The
controller 214 controls each part of thesignal processing block 215 in response to the motion parameter detected by the angle sensor 213 (a magnitude of the change of the rotating shaft, for example). - The transmission/
reception selector switch 221 of thesignal processing block 215 selects one of thetransmission BF 222 and thereception BF 223 by switching a built-in switch and connects to theprobe 211. - Further, the transmission/
reception selector switch 221 also carries out processes which correspond to theswitch 161 ofFIG. 2 and theswitch 181 ofFIG. 3 . That is, when selecting thetransmission BF 222, the transmission/reception selector switch 221 selects a vibrator 251 to be operated based on an analog signal from thetransmission BF 222. When selecting thereception BF 223, the transmission/reception selector switch 221 determines which signal to be read from among the signals received by each vibrator of the vibrator 251 and selects the signal. - The
transmission BF 222 corresponds to theDA converter 182 and thesignal processor 183 ofFIG. 3 , and carries out transmission beamforming under control of thedelay calculator 224, and converts processed RF data into an analog signal. That is, thetransmission BF 222 controls a waveform of an ultrasonic beam formed by an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the each vibrator 251 by generating digital data and controlling a transmission timing or the like of the ultrasonic wave from the each vibrator 251 of theprobe 211. - The
reception BF 223 corresponds to the AD converter 162 and thesignal processor 163 ofFIG. 2 , and carries out AD conversion for the signal from the transmission/reception selector switch 221 at a prescribed sampling rate under control of thedelay calculator 224. That is, thereception BF 223 generates a signal which shows intensity of the reflected wave from each position of the object (hereinafter, referred to as reflected wave detected signal) by synthesizing the received signal provided from the each vibrator 251 of the eachprobe 211 by shifting a time. Thereception BF 223 provides the generated reflected wave detected signal to thesignal compressor 225. - The
reception BF 223 carries out signal processing such as image enhancement and noise reduction for the data after beamforming (the reflected wave detected signal) as necessary. - The
delay calculator 224 calculates a delay amount which shows a delay time in transmission by the each vibrator 251 of the probe 211 (hereinafter, referred to as transmission delay amount) based on a result of the rotating angle of therotating shaft 212 detected by theangle sensor 213. Then, thedelay calculator 224 controls transmission beamforming of thetransmission BF 222 by providing the transmission delay amount to thetransmission BF 222. - The
delay calculator 224 calculates a delay amount which shows a delay time in reception by the each vibrator 251 of the probe 211 (hereinafter, referred to as reception delay amount) based on a result of the rotating angle of therotating shaft 212 detected by theangle sensor 213. Then, thedelay calculator 224 controls reception beamforming of thereception BF 223 by providing the reception delay amount to thereception BF 223. - The
signal compressor 225 corresponds to thesignal compressor 164 ofFIG. 2 , and compresses the digital data provided from thereception BF 223 in a prescribed compressed format. Thesignal compressor 225 provides the compressed data to thetransmitter 226. - The
transmitter 226 corresponds to thetransmitter 165 ofFIG. 2 , and makes an addition to the data from thesignal compressor 225 such as a redundant error correcting code for transmission error compensation, and transmits the data to thereception display apparatus 112 ofFIG. 1 via a wireless IF not shown in the drawings. Thetransmitter 226 retransmits the data in order to compensate a transmission error. - The
battery unit 216 is configured with a rechargeable battery and the like, and supplies the electric power to each part of theprobe unit 201. - The
controller 214 changes a processing parameter of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 215 to lower a performance of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 215 in order to reduce the electric power consumption accumulated in thebattery unit 216. - The
controller 214 controls ON and OFF of a function of thedelay calculator 224 to lower the performance of the each part which constitutes thesignal processing block 215. - In the
probe unit 201, when thedelay calculator 224 functions, thedelay calculator 224 carries out control of thetransmission BF 222 and thereception BF 223. Therefore, in this case, thecontroller 214 controls processing parameters of thetransmission BF 222 and thereception BF 223 by controlling a parameter that thedelay calculator 224 uses for calculation. Note that, even when thedelay calculator 224 functions, thecontroller 214 is capable of controlling the processing parameters of thetransmission BF 222 and thereception BF 223 as similar to theprobe unit 111 ofFIG. 1 described above. - The
controller 214 controls thedelay calculator 224 to change the processing parameter used in thetransmission BF 222. That is, thecontroller 214 controls thedelay calculator 224 to change the number of effective vibrators, the number of lines (a set number of transmission focal positions), a bit length of digital data, a sampling frequency, a combination of the vibrators 251 connected by the transmission/reception selector switch 221 and the like. - The
controller 214 controls thedelay calculator 224 to change the processing parameter used in thereception BF 223. That is, thecontroller 214 controls thedelay calculator 224 to change the number of reception vibrators, the number of reception focal points, a sampling frequency of RF data, an ON/OFF in signal processing such as image enhancement and noise reduction, and a parameter which shows complexity of an algorithm. - On the other hand, when the
delay calculator 224 does not function, thecontroller 214 controls the processing parameters of thetransmission BF 222 and thereception BF 223 as similar to theprobe unit 111 described above. - For example, the
controller 214 controls thetransmission selector switch 221 to change the number of reception vibrators. Thecontroller 214 controls thetransmission BF 222 to change the bit length of digital data, the sampling frequency, the number of lines, and the combination of the vibrators 251 connected by thetransmission selector switch 221. - The
controller 214 controls thereception BF 223 to change the number of reception focal points, a sampling frequency of RF data, an ON/OFF in signal processing such as image enhancement and noise reduction, and a parameter which shows complexity of an algorithm. - Further, the
controller 214 controls thesignal compressor 225 to control a data compression rate. Thecontroller 214 controls thetransmitter 226 to change a degree of adding an error correcting code or whether or not the error correction is added. - Next, an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception process carried out by the
probe unit 201 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 12 . Note that this process begins, for example, upon receiving an input of a process start instruction via an input part not shown in the drawings. - At step S211, the
delay calculator 224 reads an angle between theprobes 211 based on a sensor signal provided by theangle sensor 213. - At step S212, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a transmission delay amount. - Here, the
probe unit 201 scans an ultrasonic beam (a transmission wave) transmitted from the each vibrator 251 of theprobe 211 in a prescribed scanning direction (for example, in a radial pattern or in the direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of the ultrasonic beam). - Further, the
probe unit 201 carries out an electronic focus of the ultrasonic beam. That is, theprobe unit 201 switches the vibrator 251 to be used for transmission/reception of the ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, referred to as effective vibrator) while controls a transmission timing of the each effective vibrator and controls a phase of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the each effective vibrator. Consequently, the focal position of the ultrasonic beam (hereinafter, referred to as transmission focal position) formed by the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the effective vibrator is controlled. - Note that, with respect to one scanning line, it may be possible to transmit an ultrasonic beam only once by setting one transmission focal position, or it may also be possible to carry out a multi-stage focus in which an ultrasonic beam is transmitted several times by setting a plurality of transmission focal positions having different depths. However, on the one hand, the more transmission focal positions are set, the more detailed ultrasonic image can be obtained. On the other hand, the frame rate becomes lower because the number of ultrasonic beam transmission/reception increases. The set number of transmission focal positions is one of processing parameters, and is, for example, controlled by the
controller 214 in response to the motion parameter from theangle sensor 213. - Also, a shape of a scanning surface which is an area where the ultrasonic beam is scanned may be, for example, set by the user, or may be set automatically based on an angle between the
probes 211. It may also be controlled by thecontroller 214. - The
delay calculator 224 sets a plurality of transmission focal positions used for a shot of one frame of an ultrasonic image based on the processing parameters such as the number of scanning lines, the number of transmission focal positions per scanning line. Then, thedelay calculator 224 selects a transmission focal point of an ultrasonic beam to be transmitted next from among the transmission focal positions. - Further, the
delay calculator 224 selects a plurality of effective vibrators to be used for the next transmission/reception of an ultrasonic beam in response to the selected transmission focal position. At this time, the effective vibrators may range over the twoprobes 120. - Note that the number of effective vibrators is one of the processing parameters, and is controlled by the
controller 214 in response to the motion parameter from theangle sensor 213, but is fixable. In the latter case, for example, the number of effective vibrators is fixed to a prescribed value (such as 4), and positions of the effective vibrators are shifted in response to the transmission focal positions. - On the other hand, in the former case, for example, not only the positions of the effective vibrators, but also the number of effective vibrators are changed in response to the transmission focal positions and the motion parameter from the
angle sensor 213. For example, after a set of the vibrators 251 a-1 to 251 a-3 is set to the effective vibrator at first, the number and the positions of effective vibrators can be changed in the following order. That is, in the order of a set of the vibrators 251 a-2 to 251 a-4, a set of the vibrators 251 a-4 and 251 b-1, a set of thevibrators 251 b-1 to 251 b-3, and a set of thevibrators 251 b-2 to 251 b-4. - Or, it may also be possible to set all vibrators 251 of the
probe 211 a and of theprobe 211 b to be the effective vibrators on a constant basis. - Note that it is not necessary to match the vibrator 251 used for transmission with the vibrator 251 used for reception. For example, it may also be possible to receive a reflected wave of an ultrasonic beam by a set of the vibrator 251 used for reception which is a different combination of a set of the vibrator 251 used for transmission.
- Note that, hereinafter, as one example, the same vibrators 251 will be used for transmission/reception of an ultrasonic wave unless otherwise especially noted.
- Also, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a relative position between the effective vibrators based on an angle between theprobes 211, and known geometry information. Here, the geometry information includes, for example, a distance between the each vibrator 251 of the eachprobe 211, and a distance from therotating shaft 212 to the each vibrator 251. - Further, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a distance between each effective vibrator and the transmission focal position or a difference of the distances. - Further, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a transmission delay amount which shows a time by which a timing of transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each effective vibrator is delayed based on a difference of time that an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the effective vibrator reaches the transmission focal position. That is, thedelay calculator 224 calculates the transmission delay amount with respect to each effective vibrator to match a focal point which is formed by an ultrasonic wave transmitted from each effective vibrator with a set transmission focal position. - Note that other parameter such as a display mode or a gain setting might be used for the calculation of the transmission delay amount other than the parameters described above.
- The
delay calculator 224 transmits information showing the transmission delay amount with respect to each effective vibrator to thetransmission BF 222. - At step S213, the
transmission BF 222 carries out transmission beamforming. To be more specific, thetransmission BF 222 calculates a waveform of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from each effective vibrator based on the transmission delay amount of each effective vibrator calculated by thedelay calculator 224. - At step S214, the
probe unit 201 transmits an ultrasonic beam. To be more specific, the transmission/reception selector switch 221 switches a position of the switch to thetransmission BF 222 side. Thetransmission BF 222 provides a control signal to each effective vibrator via the transmission/reception selector switch 221 to transmit an ultrasonic wave having the waveform calculated at step S213. - Then, an ultrasonic beam which is formed by the ultrasonic wave transmitted from each effective vibrator forms a focal point at the transmission focal position set at step S212.
- At step S215, the
probe unit 111 receives a reflected wave. To be more specific, the transmission/reception selector switch 221 switches a position of the switch to thereception BF 223 side. Then, each effective vibrator receives a reflected wave of the ultrasonic beam transmitted at step S214. Each effective vibrator converts intensity of the received reflected wave into an electrical signal, and provides, to thereception BF 223 via the transmission/reception selector switch 221, a received signal which shows a time-series change of the intensity of the received reflected wave. - The
reception BF 223 amplifies the received signal from each effective vibrator and carries out AD conversion for the amplified signal into a digital signal. Note that the AD (digital data) bit length and the AD sampling rate of this time are controlled by thecontroller 214 in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter from theangle sensor 213. - At step S216, the
delay calculator 224 reads an angle between theprobes 120 as similar to the process at step S211. - At step S217, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a reception delay amount. - Here, the
probe unit 111 carries out a dynamic focal in which a reflected wave (a received wave) transmitted from the effective vibrator is received while changing a focal point (hereinafter, referred to as reception focal point) by digital processing per one ultrasonic beam transmission. - The
delay calculator 224 sets a plurality of reception focal points on the scanning line of the ultrasonic beam transmitted at step S214. - Note that a set number of reception focal points is set based on the requested image quality or the frame rate, for example. However, it may also be controlled by the
controller 214 in response to the motion parameter from theangle sensor 213. Normally, more of the reception focal positions are set than the transmission focal positions. - Further, the
delay calculator 224 calculates a relative position between the effective vibrators based on the angle of theprobes 211, and known geometry information. Then, thedelay calculator 224 calculates distances between all the set reception focal points and each effective vibrator, or differences of the distances between all the set reception focal points and the each effective vibrator based on the relative positions between the effective vibrators. - Here, a reflected wave from a reception focal point reaches the each effective vibrator by a time difference according to the distance from the reception focal point. Therefore, a reflected wave detected signal can be generated, which shows intensity of the reflected wave from the reception focal point, by synthesizing the received signals provided from the each effective vibrator with the time difference.
- Then, the
delay calculator 224 calculates the reception delay amount which shows a time shifted amount of the each received signal in synthesizing the received signals generated at the each vibrator based on the time difference that the reflected wave from the each reception focal position reaches the each effective vibrator. - At step S218, the
reception BF 223 carries out reception beamforming To be more specific, thereception BF 223 selects one reception focal point, synthesizes the received signal from the each effective vibrator by shifting a time based on the reception delay amount of the selected reception focal point. Consequently, the reflected wave detected signal which shows the intensity of the reflected wave from the selected reception focal point is generated. - The
reception BF 223 carries out a similar process for all the reception focal points. In doing so, the reflected wave detected signal of the each reception focal point set on the current scanning line is generated. - The
reception BF 223 transmits the digital data as the reflected wave detected signal of the each reception focal point to thesignal compressor 225. - At step S219, the
signal compressor 225 compresses the digital data from thereception BF 223 in a prescribed compressed format. The bit rate of this time is controlled by thecontroller 214 in response to the motion parameter of theangle sensor 213. Thesignal compressor 225 provides the compressed data to thetransmitter 226. - At step S220, the
transmitter 226 makes an addition to the data from thesignal compressor 225 such as a redundant error correcting code for transmission error compensation, and transmits the data to thereception display apparatus 112 ofFIG. 1 via a wireless IF not shown in the drawings. The addition of the error correction or the like of this time are controlled by thecontroller 214 in response to an output from theangle sensor 213. - As described above, a received ultrasonic wave is subject to the series of processes, and the processed data is transmitted to the
reception display apparatus 112 via wireless communication. In response to the above processes, thereception display apparatus 112 receives the data from theprobe unit 201 to display an ultrasonic image described by reference toFIG. 7 . - Next, a control process in the
probe unit 201 will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 13 . - The
angle sensor 213 detects a motion of theprobe 211, and provides a motion parameter as information of the detected motion to thecontroller 214. At step S231, thecontroller 214 obtains the motion parameter from theangle sensor 213. At step S232, thecontroller 214 determines, described by reference toFIG. 5 , a parameter to be controlled to lower a performance in response to the obtained motion parameter. - At step S233, the
controller 214 controls the parameter determined at step S232 to lower the performance. In doing so, among the each part of thesignal processing block 215, the part which carries out a process by using the parameter is controlled. At this time, processing parameters which have not been determined by the process at step S232 is controlled to perform standard operation. - As described above, the image quality of an ultrasonic image desired by the user can be known from the motion of the probe unit 201 (the probe 211) by the user. Therefore, the
signal processing system 101 controls the process of the each part of thesignal processing block 215 in response to the motion of theprobe 211. Especially, theprobe unit 201 controls the processing parameter to lower the performance in the signal processing when the motion parameter which shows a characteristic of the motion of theprobe 211 is large. - Therefore, when the user moves the
probe unit 201 small or slowly in order to clearly look at a position to be shot an ultrasonic image, the image quality can be preferentially enhanced over reduction of the electric power consumption. - On the other hand, when the user moves the
probe unit 201 big and quickly in order to look for a position within a rough area on the body, the electric power consumption can be preferentially reduced over enhancement of the image quality. - Accordingly, the life of the
battery unit 216 of theprobe unit 201 can be maintained. - As described above, the
signal processing system 101 controls the processing parameter to lower the signal processing performance when the motion parameter which shows a characteristic of the motion of the probe is large. Therefore, even during diagnosis, the electric power consumption is reduced in a positive manner, and as a result, the life of the battery in the probe unit can be maintained. - Also, an increase of temperature of the probe or the like can be reduced. Further, the life of the probe can be maintained.
- Note that, in the above description, an example is explained in which the acceleration sensor and the angle sensor are used as a detector for detecting the motion of the probe. However, the detector is not limited to those sensors. Any sensor is applicable if the sensor is capable of detecting the motion of the probe. For example, the sensor might be a gyro sensor.
- Furthermore, in
FIG. 1 , an example is described in which thereception display apparatus 112 receives data and generates an image. However, it may also be possible that the proveunit 111 generates and compresses an image and then transmits the image to thereception display apparatus 112. - The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware but can also be executed by software. When the series of processes is executed by software, a program that constructs such software is installed into a computer. Here, the expression “computer” includes a computer in which dedicated hardware is incorporated and a general-purpose personal computer or the like that is capable of executing various functions when various programs are installed.
- [Exemplary Configuration of Computer]
-
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of the hardware of a computer that executes the series of processes described earlier according to a program. - In the computer, a central processing unit (CPU) 401, a read only memory (ROM) 402 and a random access memory (RAM) 403 are mutually connected by a
bus 404. - An input/
output interface 405 is also connected to thebus 404. Aninput unit 406, anoutput unit 407, astorage unit 408, acommunication unit 409, and adrive 410, are connected to the input/output interface 405. - The
input unit 406 is configured from a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone or the like. Theoutput unit 407 configured from a display, a speaker or the like. Thestorage unit 408 is configured from a hard disk, a non-volatile memory or the like. Thecommunication unit 409 is configured from a network interface or the like. Thedrive 410 drives aremovable media 411 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory or the like. - In the computer configured as described above, the
CPU 401 loads a program that is stored, for example, in thestorage unit 408 onto theRAM 403 via the input/output interface 405 and thebus 404, and executes the program. Thus, the above-described series of processing is performed. - Programs to be executed by the computer (the CPU 401) are provided being recorded in the
removable media 411 which is a packaged media or the like. Also, programs may be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium, such as a local area network, the Internet or digital broadcasting. - In the computer, by inserting the
removable media 411 into thedrive 410, the program can be installed in thestorage unit 408 via the input/output interface 405. Further, the program can be received by thecommunication unit 409 via a wired or wireless transmission media and installed in thestorage unit 408. Moreover, the program can be installed in advance in theROM 402 or thestorage unit 408. - Note that the program executed by the computer may be a program in which processes are carried out in a time series in the order described in this specification or may be a program in which processes are carried out in parallel or at necessary timing, such as when the processes are called.
- Further, in this specification, the terms of the system represent an overall apparatus which is composed of a plurality of devices, blocks, means or the like.
- Note that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above examples, of course, and various alternations and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure may occur.
- It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
- Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.
- (1) A signal processing apparatus including:
- a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe; and
- a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
- (2) The signal processing apparatus according to (1),
- wherein the signal processing parameter is an external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, and is an ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and
- wherein the controller controls the ultrasonic signal processing parameter and the external signal processing parameter by setting a priority to lower the performance.
- (3) The signal processing apparatus according to (2),
- wherein the signal processing parameter is the external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and an internal signal processing parameter used in signal transmission in relation to AD or DA conversion, and
- wherein the controller controls the ultrasonic signal processing parameter, the external signal processing parameter, and the internal signal processing parameter by setting a priority to lower the performance.
- (4) The signal processing apparatus according to (3),
- wherein the signal processing parameter is the external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and the internal signal processing parameter used in signal transmission in relation to AD or DA conversion, and
- wherein the controller controls the internal signal processing parameter, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter, and the external signal processing parameter in the stated order in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
- (5) The signal processing apparatus according to (3) or (4),
- wherein the internal signal processing parameter is an AD sampling rate, and an AD bit length, and
- wherein the controller controls the AD sampling rate, and the AD bit length in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
- (6) The signal processing apparatus according to any one of (3) to (5),
- wherein the ultrasonic signal processing parameter is the number of transmission/reception vibrators, and the number of transmission beams, and
- wherein the controller controls the number of transmission/reception vibrators, and the number of transmission beams in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
- (7) The signal processing apparatus according to any one of (3) to (6),
- wherein the external signal processing parameter is an error correction, a bit rate, a resolution, and a frame rate, and
- wherein the controller controls the error correction, the bit rate, the resolution, and the frame rate in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
- (8) The signal processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7), further including:
- a focal position controller for controlling a transmission focal position as a focal position of a transmission wave transmitted by a plurality of the vibrators, and a reception focal position as a focal position of a reception wave received by a plurality of the vibrators based on positional information relating to a relative position of a plurality of the vibrators obtained from the motion of the probe, and
- wherein the controller controls a parameter used for control by the focal point controller to lower the performance of the signal processor when the motion parameter is large.
- (9) The signal processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), further including:
- a sensor for detecting the motion of the probe.
- (10) A control method performed by a signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the control method including:
- controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
- (11) A signal processing system including:
- a first signal processing apparatus including
-
- a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe,
- a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large, and
- a transmitter for transmitting the signal processed by the signal processor; and
- a second signal processing apparatus including
-
- a receiver for receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus, and
- a generator for generating an ultrasonic image based on the signal received by the receiver.
- (12) A signal processing method performed by a first signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the signal processing method including:
- controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large;
- processing the signal to be received from or to be transmitted to the vibrator; and
- transmitting the processed signal, and
- the signal processing method performed by a second signal processing apparatus, including:
- receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus; and
- generating an ultrasonic image based on the received signal.
- The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2011-159718 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 21, 2011, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Claims (12)
1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:
a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe; and
a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
2. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the signal processing parameter is an external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, and is an ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and
wherein the controller controls the ultrasonic signal processing parameter and the external signal processing parameter by setting a priority to lower the performance.
3. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the signal processing parameter is the external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and an internal signal processing parameter used in signal transmission in relation to AD or DA conversion, and
wherein the controller controls the ultrasonic signal processing parameter, the external signal processing parameter, and the internal signal processing parameter by setting a priority to lower the performance.
4. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the signal processing parameter is the external signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to transmission, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter used in signal processing in relation to ultrasonic treatment, and the internal signal processing parameter used in signal transmission in relation to AD or DA conversion, and
wherein the controller controls the internal signal processing parameter, the ultrasonic signal processing parameter, and the external signal processing parameter in the stated order in response to a magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
5. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the internal signal processing parameter is an AD sampling rate, and an AD bit length, and
wherein the controller controls the AD sampling rate, and the AD bit length in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
6. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the ultrasonic signal processing parameter is the number of transmission/reception vibrators, and the number of transmission beams, and
wherein the controller controls the number of transmission/reception vibrators, and the number of transmission beams in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
7. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the external signal processing parameter is an error correction, a bit rate, a resolution, and a frame rate, and
wherein the controller controls the error correction, the bit rate, the resolution, and the frame rate in the stated order in response to the magnitude of the motion parameter to lower the performance.
8. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a focal position controller for controlling a transmission focal position as a focal position of a transmission wave transmitted by a plurality of the vibrators, and a reception focal position as a focal position of a reception wave received by a plurality of the vibrators based on positional information relating to a relative position of a plurality of the vibrators obtained from the motion of the probe, and
wherein the controller controls a parameter used for control by the focal point controller to lower the performance of the signal processor when the motion parameter is large.
9. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor for detecting the motion of the probe.
10. A control method performed by a signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the control method comprising:
controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large.
11. A signal processing system comprising:
a first signal processing apparatus including
a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe,
a controller for controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large, and
a transmitter for transmitting the signal processed by the signal processor; and
a second signal processing apparatus including
a receiver for receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus, and
a generator for generating an ultrasonic image based on the signal received by the receiver.
12. A signal processing method performed by a first signal processing apparatus, which includes a signal processor for processing a signal to be received from or to be transmitted to a vibrator constituting a probe, the signal processing method comprising:
controlling a signal processing parameter of the signal processor to lower a performance of the signal processor when a motion parameter showing a characteristic of a motion of the probe is large;
processing the signal to be received from or to be transmitted to the vibrator; and
transmitting the processed signal, and
the signal processing method performed by a second signal processing apparatus, comprising:
receiving the signal from the first signal processing apparatus; and
generating an ultrasonic image based on the received signal.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/150,993 US11039815B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-05-10 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method for reduction of power consumption of a wireless medical device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2011-159718 | 2011-07-21 | ||
JP2011159718A JP5831000B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2011-07-21 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, and signal processing system and method |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/150,993 Continuation US11039815B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-05-10 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method for reduction of power consumption of a wireless medical device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130019685A1 true US20130019685A1 (en) | 2013-01-24 |
Family
ID=47529470
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/545,777 Abandoned US20130019685A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-10 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method |
US15/150,993 Active 2035-11-01 US11039815B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-05-10 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method for reduction of power consumption of a wireless medical device |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/150,993 Active 2035-11-01 US11039815B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-05-10 | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method for reduction of power consumption of a wireless medical device |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20130019685A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5831000B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102885639A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150272547A1 (en) * | 2014-03-31 | 2015-10-01 | Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. | Acquisition control for elasticity ultrasound imaging |
WO2015164735A1 (en) * | 2014-04-25 | 2015-10-29 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Short-range zigbee compatible receiver with near-threshold digital baseband |
US20150372217A1 (en) * | 2013-01-18 | 2015-12-24 | Yale University | Methods for making a superconducting device with at least one enclosure |
US20170303899A1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2017-10-26 | EchoNous, Inc. | Ultrasound adaptive power management systems and methods |
US11368618B2 (en) * | 2019-03-20 | 2022-06-21 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Image capturing device, image capturing method and recording medium |
US11744525B2 (en) * | 2018-05-15 | 2023-09-05 | Konica Minolta, Inc. | Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus with enhanced image resolution |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104434166A (en) * | 2013-09-12 | 2015-03-25 | 苏州边枫电子科技有限公司 | Photoelectric induction type automatic sleeping wireless B-ultrasonic detection system |
WO2015071897A1 (en) | 2013-11-14 | 2015-05-21 | Hera Med Ltd. | A movable medical device configured to operate only within a specific range of acceleration |
CN104605843A (en) * | 2015-01-26 | 2015-05-13 | 山东大学齐鲁医院 | Novel electroencephalogram collection instrument |
CN104758117A (en) * | 2015-03-30 | 2015-07-08 | 孔丽丽 | Medical use head cooling device |
JP6507896B2 (en) * | 2015-07-09 | 2019-05-08 | 株式会社ソシオネクスト | Ultrasound imaging system |
JP6546078B2 (en) * | 2015-12-04 | 2019-07-17 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Ultrasound system |
CN107212902B (en) * | 2017-07-21 | 2020-11-10 | 深圳开立生物医疗科技股份有限公司 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and system control method thereof |
EP3540446B1 (en) * | 2018-03-13 | 2021-09-29 | Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG | Measurement system and method for operating a measurement system |
US10989798B2 (en) * | 2018-07-26 | 2021-04-27 | Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc. | Method and apparatus for selecting power states in an ultrasound imaging system |
CN109498064A (en) * | 2018-12-29 | 2019-03-22 | 深圳开立生物医疗科技股份有限公司 | Ultrasonic scanning control method and ultrasonic diagnostic equipment |
CN117045281B (en) * | 2023-10-12 | 2024-01-26 | 深圳华声医疗技术股份有限公司 | Ultrasound imaging system, control method, imaging controller, and storage medium |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6083168A (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 2000-07-04 | Acuson Corporation | Ultrasound imaging system and method for improving resolution and operation |
US20070078345A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. | Flexible ultrasound transducer array |
US20100286527A1 (en) * | 2009-05-08 | 2010-11-11 | Penrith Corporation | Ultrasound system with multi-head wireless probe |
Family Cites Families (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07124156A (en) | 1993-11-08 | 1995-05-16 | Ge Yokogawa Medical Syst Ltd | Ultrasonic diagnosis device and method for detecting rotation angle of ultrasonic probe and method for displaying ultrasonic diagnosis image |
US6471651B1 (en) * | 1999-05-05 | 2002-10-29 | Sonosite, Inc. | Low power portable ultrasonic diagnostic instrument |
JP5044069B2 (en) | 2000-09-26 | 2012-10-10 | 株式会社東芝 | Medical diagnostic imaging equipment |
US20050228284A1 (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-13 | Charles Edward Baumgartner | System and method for power management in an ultrasound system |
US20090118616A1 (en) * | 2004-10-08 | 2009-05-07 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Three Dimensional Ultrasonic Scanning With a Steerable Volumetric Region |
JP5100188B2 (en) | 2007-04-04 | 2012-12-19 | 株式会社東芝 | Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment |
CN101686826B (en) * | 2007-07-11 | 2012-10-10 | 株式会社日立医药 | Ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnosing device |
CN101569540B (en) * | 2008-04-29 | 2011-05-11 | 香港理工大学 | Wireless ultrasonic scanning system |
US8925386B2 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2015-01-06 | Hitachi Medical Corporation | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
CN101879075B (en) * | 2010-07-30 | 2013-02-13 | 深圳市理邦精密仪器股份有限公司 | Energy-saving protection method of ultrasonic imaging equipment and device thereof |
US20120179035A1 (en) * | 2011-01-07 | 2012-07-12 | General Electric Company | Medical device with motion sensing |
JP5330431B2 (en) * | 2011-03-11 | 2013-10-30 | 富士フイルム株式会社 | Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
CN103781426B (en) * | 2011-09-08 | 2016-03-30 | 株式会社日立医疗器械 | Diagnostic ultrasound equipment and ultrasonic image display method |
-
2011
- 2011-07-21 JP JP2011159718A patent/JP5831000B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2012
- 2012-07-10 US US13/545,777 patent/US20130019685A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-07-16 CN CN2012102535810A patent/CN102885639A/en active Pending
-
2016
- 2016-05-10 US US15/150,993 patent/US11039815B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6083168A (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 2000-07-04 | Acuson Corporation | Ultrasound imaging system and method for improving resolution and operation |
US20070078345A1 (en) * | 2005-09-30 | 2007-04-05 | Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. | Flexible ultrasound transducer array |
US20100286527A1 (en) * | 2009-05-08 | 2010-11-11 | Penrith Corporation | Ultrasound system with multi-head wireless probe |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150372217A1 (en) * | 2013-01-18 | 2015-12-24 | Yale University | Methods for making a superconducting device with at least one enclosure |
US20150272547A1 (en) * | 2014-03-31 | 2015-10-01 | Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. | Acquisition control for elasticity ultrasound imaging |
WO2015164735A1 (en) * | 2014-04-25 | 2015-10-29 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Short-range zigbee compatible receiver with near-threshold digital baseband |
US9444515B2 (en) | 2014-04-25 | 2016-09-13 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Short-range zigbee compatible receiver with near-threshold digital baseband |
US20170303899A1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2017-10-26 | EchoNous, Inc. | Ultrasound adaptive power management systems and methods |
WO2017189756A1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2017-11-02 | EchoNous, Inc. | Ultrasound adaptive power management systems and methods |
CN109310394A (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2019-02-05 | 安科诺思公司 | Ultrasonic adaptive power management system and method |
EP3448262A4 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2019-12-04 | Echonous, Inc. | Ultrasound adaptive power management systems and methods |
US11744525B2 (en) * | 2018-05-15 | 2023-09-05 | Konica Minolta, Inc. | Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus with enhanced image resolution |
US11368618B2 (en) * | 2019-03-20 | 2022-06-21 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Image capturing device, image capturing method and recording medium |
US11570360B2 (en) | 2019-03-20 | 2023-01-31 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Image capturing device, image capturing method and recording medium |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20160249886A1 (en) | 2016-09-01 |
JP2013022229A (en) | 2013-02-04 |
JP5831000B2 (en) | 2015-12-09 |
CN102885639A (en) | 2013-01-23 |
US11039815B2 (en) | 2021-06-22 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11039815B2 (en) | Signal processing apparatus, control method, signal processing system, and signal processing method for reduction of power consumption of a wireless medical device | |
JP5508934B2 (en) | System and method for automatic ultrasound image optimization | |
JP4266659B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for automatic control of spectral Doppler imaging | |
US20120053465A1 (en) | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and ultrasound diagnostic method | |
US8526669B2 (en) | Method for multiple image parameter adjustment based on single user input | |
JP5255999B2 (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment | |
US9182380B2 (en) | Signal processing apparatus, signal processing system, probe, signal processing method, and program | |
JPWO2011067938A1 (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment | |
JP2007007412A (en) | Ultrasonic imaging apparatus with adjustment of fluctuation in gain | |
US20120209119A1 (en) | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method of producing ultrasound image | |
JP6852603B2 (en) | Ultrasound diagnostic equipment, transmission condition setting method, and program | |
JP2012105950A (en) | Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and program | |
JP2002065677A (en) | Cardiopulmonary function monitoring device | |
JP5274615B2 (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and ultrasonic image generation method | |
JP2009078016A (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, its method, and control program for ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus | |
US20180325490A1 (en) | Probe device and control method therefor | |
CN116350270A (en) | Ultrasonic imaging method and device | |
JP5602914B1 (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment | |
JP4008251B2 (en) | Doppler gain control device and ultrasonic imaging device | |
JP6169361B2 (en) | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and brightness correction method | |
JP2011087841A (en) | Ultrasonic diagnosis device | |
JP2007111316A (en) | Three-dimensional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of adjusting level of the same | |
KR101158640B1 (en) | Ultrasound system and method for controlling gain | |
CN112438756A (en) | Ophthalmologic ultrasonic imaging method, ophthalmologic biological quantity measurement gain adjustment method and device | |
WO2017094397A1 (en) | Ultrasonic wave analyzing device, ultrasonic wave analyzing method, and ultrasonic wave analyzing program |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SONY CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SAKAGUCHI, TATSUMI;SHIBUYA, NOBORU;SIGNING DATES FROM 20120516 TO 20120522;REEL/FRAME:028861/0504 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |