Ultrasound system for providing an ultrasound image optimized for posture of a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9295451-B2
Application number	US-201113306339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2011
Priority date	Nov 29, 2010
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of an ultrasound system for detecting a posture of a user and providing an optimal ultrasound image for the posture of the user are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes a display unit including a sensing unit installed in one side of a monitor. The sensing unit detects a position of a user, a distance between the user and the monitor, a height of the user with respect to the monitor and a viewing angle of the user toward the monitor to thereby form and output sensing signals corresponding thereto. The ultrasound system further includes a processing unit coupled to the sensing unit. The processing unit forms the ultrasound image by using ultrasound data and performs optimal image processing for the posture of the user upon the ultrasound image based on the sensing signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultrasound system, comprising:
an ultrasound data acquisition unit including an ultrasound probe and being configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected from the target object to thereby acquire initial ultrasound data;
a display unit including a monitor and being configured to display an ultrasound image;
a driving unit configured to move the monitor in a three-dimensional direction within a movable range;
sensors installed on one side of the monitor and being configured to detect at least one of a position of a user, a distance between the user and the monitor, a height of the user with respect to the monitor, and a viewing angle of the user toward the monitor, to thereby form and output sensing signals corresponding thereto; and
a processor coupled to the ultrasound data acquisition unit and the sensors, the processor being configured to control the display unit to display an ultrasound image optimized for a position of the user based on the sensing signals and the movable range,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
compute a moving range, which is a range within which the monitor is moved to face the user's full face, based on the sensing signals and optimal posture information,
compare the moving range with the movable range and, if it is determined that the moving range exceeds the movable range, move the monitor as widely as the movable range by driving the driving unit,
perform optimal image processing upon the ultrasound image based on a first differential value between the moving range and the movable range after moving the monitor as widely as the movable range by driving the driving unit, and to magnify/downscale the ultrasound image vertically or horizontally, or tilt/extend the ultrasound image toward the user, in proportion to a second differential value between the viewing angle and an optimal viewing angle, and
compare the moving range with the movable range and, if it is determined that the moving range falls within the movable range, move the monitor as widely as the moving range by driving the driving unit.

2. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display the ultrasound image by using the ultrasound data, the ultrasound image being formed by performing at least one process of magnify, downscale, tilt, extend, and rotate to an initial ultrasound image.

3. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , wherein the sensors include:
first sensors configured to detect the position of the user, the height of the user with respect to the monitor, and the viewing angle of the user toward the monitor, to thereby form and output first sensing signals corresponding thereto; and
second sensors configured to detect the distance between the user and the monitor to thereby form and output second sensing signals corresponding thereto.

4. The ultrasound system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage configured to store the optimal posture information including at least one of an optimal distance between the user and the monitor, an optimal height of the user with respect to the monitor, and the optimal viewing angle of the user toward the monitor.

5. The ultrasound system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to form the ultrasound image by using the ultrasound data and to perform the optimal image processing for the posture of the user upon the ultrasound image based on the sensing signals and the optimal posture information.

6. The ultrasound system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
form posture information indicative of the position of the user with respect to the monitor based on the sensing signals,
compare the optimal posture information with the posture information to form posture difference information, and
perform the optimal image processing upon the ultrasound image based on the posture difference information and the posture information.

7. The ultrasound system of claim 6 , wherein the posture information includes the distance between the monitor and the user, the height of the user with respect to the monitor and the viewing angle of the user toward the monitor.

8. The ultrasound system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
detect the user's face based on the sensing signals, and
calculate the distance between the monitor and the user, the height of the user with respect to the monitor, and the viewing angle of the user toward the monitor, by using the detected user's face as a reference point.

Assignees

• Kim Jung Soo
• Samsung Medison Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jung Soo

Classifications

• G09G2340/045

  Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it · CPC title

• G01S7/52

  of systems according to group G01S15/00 · CPC title

• G06F1/1601

  Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays (constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64) · CPC title

• A61B8/462 Primary

  characterised by constructional features of the display · CPC title

• G09G2320/0261

  in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen · CPC title