Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199040-A1
Application number	US-201514841082-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes: a user interface to receive an input signal of a user and a power-supply unit. The power-supply unit includes a plurality of power-supply groups to provide power-supply signals for respectively driving a plurality of elements, and a power-supply processor to search for power data corresponding to the received input signal from among predetermined power data and to adjust power-supply signals applied to respective elements corresponding to the plurality of power-supply groups according to the searched power data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:
a user interface configured to receive an input signal of a user; and a power-supply unit including a plurality of power-supply groups to provide power-supply signals for respectively driving a plurality of elements, and a power-supply processor to search for power data corresponding to the received input signal from among predetermined power data and to adjust power-supply signals applied to respective elements corresponding to the plurality of power-supply groups according to the searched power data.

2 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power-supply processor adjusts the magnitude of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

3 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power-supply processor turns on or off the plurality of power-supply groups so as to adjust power supply.

4 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the input signal is an operation mode of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus; and the power-supply processor searches for power data corresponding to the input operation mode, and adjusts supply time points of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements according to the searched power data.

5 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the power-supply processor adjusts the order of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements according to the searched power data.

6 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the input signal indicates transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) conditions regarding a frequency and interval of ultrasonic waves to be transmitted and received; and the power-supply processor searches for power data corresponding to the input transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) conditions, and adjusts a switching frequency of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements according to the searched power data.

7 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the power-supply groups include different regulators.

8 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the power-supply processor adjusts the switching frequency and supply time point of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements according to the searched power data.

9 . The ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power-supply groups are coupled in parallel according to the same-magnitude voltages.

10 . A method for controlling an ultrasonic imaging apparatus, comprising:
receiving an input signal of a user; searching for power data corresponding to the received input signal from among predetermined power data; and adjusting power-supply signals applied to respective elements corresponding to a plurality of power-supply groups according to the searched power data.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the applied power-supply signals includes:
adjusting the magnitude of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the applied power-supply signals includes:
turning on or off the plurality of power-supply groups.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the input signal is an operation mode of the ultrasonic imaging apparatus; and the adjusting of the applied power-supply signals includes adjusting supply time points of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting of the supply time points of the applied power-supply signals includes:
adjusting the order of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein:
the input signal indicates transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) conditions regarding a frequency and interval of ultrasonic waves to be transmitted and received; and the adjusting of the applied power-supply signals includes adjusting a switching frequency of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the adjusting of the switching frequency includes turning on or off power-supply groups having different regulators.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the adjusting of the applied power-supply signals includes adjusting the switching frequency and supply time point of power-supply signals applied to the plurality of elements.

18 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of power-supply groups are coupled in parallel according to the same-magnitude voltages.

Assignees

• Samsung Medison Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Chan Mo
• Kim Dae Young
• Roh Tae-Heon

Classifications

• A61B6/54

  Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis · CPC title

• B06B1/067

  which is used as, or combined with, an impedance matching layer · CPC title

• A61B8/4494

  characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements · CPC title

• A61B8/462

  characterised by constructional features of the display · CPC title

• A61B8/467

  characterised by special input means · CPC title