1. An ultrasound processing method, comprising:
generating an acoustic signal by an ultrasound transducer;
receiving at least one echo of the acoustic signal at each of a plurality of receiving elements on the ultrasound transducer and obtaining an echo signal from each receiving element;
organizing and storing each of the echo signals into a separate data set array sufficient to produce an image frame or portion thereof in which each column of each data set array represents the echo signals obtained from the corresponding transducer element;
mapping a given pixel from a set of pixels into a region of one or more of the data set arrays of the stored echo signals;
organizing the mapped region of the stored echo signals into a matrix for the given pixel;
processing the matrix of the mapped region of the stored echo signals with a matrix operation to generate a signal response for the given pixel; and
using the signal response to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial step of determining the set of pixels that represent an area in a field of view of the transducer generating the acoustic signal, in which every pixel in the set has a known spatial relationship to the plurality of receiving elements.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising generating an image from the acoustic information for the pixels in the set.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the acoustic information to measure and display spatial data.
5. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the acoustic information to measure and display temporal data.
6. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the acoustic information to measure and display blood flow data.
7. The method of claim 2, further comprising measuring and displaying tissue displacement response to induced mechanical displacement caused by an acoustic signal.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of acoustic signals, receiving echoes from the plurality of acoustic signals, combining the received echoes over multiple generating and receiving cycles to enhance acoustic information obtained therefrom.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving echoes from the plurality of acoustic signals comprises obtaining echo signals from the received echoes, storing the echo signals, and combining the received echoes comprises combining the stored echo signals into data sets, and further comprising averaging the combined stored echo signals.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal response comprises an average of the echo signals.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the received echoes are stored at a rate that is higher than a rate of processing the array.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining results of multiple cycles of generating acoustic signals, receiving echoes, obtaining echo signals from the received echoes, storing the echo signals into data set arrays, and processing the echo signals to obtain pixel signals to derive enhanced acoustic information.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising processing the stored echo signals in multiple processing steps and combining the processing results to obtain further enhanced acoustic information.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the enhanced acoustic information comprises spatial compounding that improves contrast resolution of a final image.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the enhanced acoustic information comprises a signal response representative of Doppler information associated with moving tissue or moving blood cells.
16. An ultrasound processing method, comprising:
generating an acoustic signal by an ultrasound transducer;
receiving at least one echo of the acoustic signal at each receiving element of a plurality of receiving elements on the ultrasound transducer and obtaining an echo signal from each receiving element therefrom;
storing each of the echo signals to form a separate data set array sufficient to produce an image frame or portion thereof in which each column of each data set array represents the echo signals obtained from the corresponding transducer element;
mapping a given voxel from a set of voxels into a region of one or more of the data set arrays of stored echo signals;
organizing the mapped region of the stored echo signals into a matrix for the given voxel;
processing the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region for the given voxel with a matrix operation to generate a signal response for the given voxel; and
using the signal response to obtain three-dimensional acoustic information for the given voxel.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising an initial step of determining the set of voxels that represent a region in a field of view of the transducer generating the acoustic signal, in which every voxel in the set has a known spatial relationship to the plurality of receiving elements.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a three-dimensional image from the acoustic information for the voxels in the set.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a plurality of acoustic signals, receiving echoes from the plurality of acoustic signals and obtaining corresponding echo signals, and combining voxel signals obtained from the echo signals over multiple cycles of generating, receiving, and storing to enhance acoustic information obtained therefrom.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the enhanced acoustic information represents Doppler information associated with moving blood cells or tissue.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising using the acoustic information to display directional 3D Doppler flow data.
22. A method of processing acoustic echoes, comprising:
generating echo signals from acoustic echoes received from a plurality of receiving elements on a transducer;
storing each of the echo signals from each receiving element in a separate data set array in a memory to form a data set sufficient to produce an image frame in which each column of each data set array represents the echo signals obtained from a corresponding transducer element;
mapping a given pixel from a set of pixels into a region of one or more of the data set arrays of the stored echo signals;
organizing the mapped region of the stored echo signals into a matrix for the given pixel;
performing matrix operations on the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region to generate a signal response for the given pixel; and
using the signal response to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel.
23. The method of claim 22, comprising an initial step of generating the set of pixels chosen to represent an area in a field of view of the transducer generating the acoustic signal, in which every given pixel in the set has a known spatial relationship to the plurality of transducer receiving elements.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating an image from the acoustic information for the given pixels in the set.
25. An ultrasound processing system, comprising:
a module adapted to generate an acoustic signal, to receive and process at least one echo of the acoustic signal at each receiving element of a plurality of receiving elements in the module to generate a plurality of echo signals therefrom, the module including a memory structured to store each of the plurality of echo signals in at least one separate data set array sufficient to produce an image frame or portion thereof, in which each column of each data set array represents the echo signals obtained from a corresponding module element; and
a processor structured to communicate with the module and to map a given pixel from a set of pixels into a region of the stored echo signals in one or more of the data set arrays, to organize the mapped region of the stored echo signals into a matrix for the given pixel, to perform matrix operations on the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region to generate a signal response for the given pixel, and to use the signal response to obtain acoustic information for the given pixel.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the processor is structured to generate the set of pixels that represent an area in a field of view of the module in which each given pixel in the set has a known spatial relationship to the plurality of receiving elements in the module.
27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a display structured to display an image from the acoustic information for the given pixels in the set of pixels.
28. The system of claim 26 wherein the processor is adapted to generate for display an image from the acoustic information for the given pixels in the set of pixels.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display spatial data.
30. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to measure and generate for display temporal data.
31. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display blood flow data.
32. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display tissue response to induced mechanical displacement caused by an acoustic signal.
33. The system of claim 26 wherein the processor is configured to generate a plurality of acoustic signals, receive echoes from the plurality of acoustic signals and obtain echo signals therefrom, store the echo signals, and combine the stored echo signals into a plurality of data set arrays over multiple cycles of generating, receiving, and storing to enhance the acoustic information obtained therefrom.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the combined echo signals are averaged.
35. The system of claim 33 wherein the signal response generated from processing the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region comprises an average of the stored echo signals from the mapped region.
36. The system of claim 26 wherein the processor is adapted to perform multiple steps of processing the matrix and combining the results of the multiple steps of processing to obtain further enhanced acoustic information.
37. The system of claim 36 wherein the further enhanced acoustic information comprises spatial compounding that improves contrast resolution of a final image.
38. The system of claim 36 wherein the further enhanced acoustic information is representative of Doppler information associated with moving tissue or moving blood cells.
39. The system of claim 36 wherein the processor is structured to receive, obtain, and store echo signals at a rate that is higher than a rate of processing the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region.
40. An ultrasound processing system, comprising:
a module adapted to generate an acoustic signal, to receive and process at least one echo of the acoustic signal at each receiving element of a plurality of receiving elements in the module to obtain a plurality of echo signals therefrom, the module including a memory structured to store each of the plurality of echo signals in at least one separate data set array sufficient to produce an image frame or portion thereof in which each column of the data set array represents the echo signals obtained from a corresponding module element; and
a processor structured to communicate with the module and to map a given voxel from a set of voxels into a region of one or more of the data set arrays of stored echo signals received from the module, to organize the mapped region of the stored echo signals into a matrix for the given voxel, to perform matrix operations on the matrix of stored echo signals from the mapped region to generate a signal response for the given voxel, and to use the signal response to obtain acoustic information for the given voxel.
41. The system of claim 40 wherein the processor is structured to determine the set of voxels chosen to represent a volume in a field of view of the module in which each voxel in the set has a known spatial relationship to the plurality of receiving elements in the module.
42. The system of claim 41, further comprising a display device structured to display an image from the acoustic information for the given voxels in the set.
43. The system of claim 41 wherein the processor is adapted to generate an image from the acoustic information for the given voxels in the set of voxels.
44. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display spatial data.
45. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is configured to measure and generate for display temporal data.
46. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display blood flow data.
47. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is adapted to measure and generate for display tissue response to induced mechanical displacement caused by an acoustic signal.
48. The system of claim 41 wherein the obtained echo signals are combined over multiple cycles of generating, receiving, and storing to enhance the acoustic information obtained therefrom.
49. The system of claim 48 wherein the combined echo signals are averaged.
50. The system of claim 48 wherein the signal response comprises an average of the stored echo signals from the mapped region.
51. The system of claim 41 wherein the processor is structured to perform multiple steps of processing the matrix of stored echo signals in the mapped region and combining the results of the multiple steps of processing to obtain further enhanced acoustic information.
52. The system of claim 51 wherein the further enhanced acoustic information comprises spatial compounding that improves contrast resolution of a final image.
53. The system of claim 51 wherein the further enhanced acoustic information is representative of Doppler information associated with moving tissue or moving blood cells.
54. The system of claim 51 wherein the processor is structured to receive, obtain, and store echo signals at a rate that is higher than a rate of processing the matrix.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:
a plurality of circuit blocks each circuit block including a signal source and an output transistor adapted to receive a signal generated by said signal source at a control electrode region and output a corresponding signal from a main electrode region; and
an analogdigital converter circuit adapted to sequentially process the signal from each of said plurality of circuit blocks,
wherein said analogdigital converter circuit comprises a reference transistor adapted to receive a reference level at a control electrode region and output a corresponding signal from a main electrode region and a digital output circuit adapted to output a digital signal in accordance with a signal output from said output transistor and a signal output from said reference transistor, and
wherein said output transistor and reference transistor constitute an input unit of a differential amplifier circuit including said output transistor and reference transistor.
2. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal source of said circuit block is a pixel or photoelectric conversion unit.
3. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said pixels are arranged two-dimensionally and a plurality of said analogdigital converter circuits are arranged for sequentially processing signals from pixels of one column.
4. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit includes a counter which is controlled in accordance with a signal output from said output transistor and a signal output from said reference transistor, and the reference level is changed in accordance with a signal output from said counter.
5. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output transistor and reference transistor are field effect transistors of a same conductivity type and have approximately a same gate size.
6. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit performs a comparison operation by changing, within variable range, levels of signals output from said output transistor and reference transistor, and outputs the digital signal in accordance with a comparison result, and the signal processing apparatus further comprises a control circuit for changing the variable range.
7. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control circuit changes the variable range in accordance with exposure data.
8. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control circuit changes the variable range in accordance with white balance data.
9. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
an optical system adapted to focus light upon said pixel; and
a signal processing circuit adapted to process a signal output from said analogdigital converter circuit.
10. A signal processing circuit comprising:
a circuit block including a signal source and an output transistor adapted to receive a signal from said signal source at a control electrode region and output a corresponding signal from a first main electrode region; and
an analogdigital converter circuit adapted to compare the signal output from the first main electrode region with a reference signal, control a level of a signal output from the first main electrode region of said output transistor in accordance with a comparison result, and output a digital signal in accordance with the comparison result.
11. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit controls a potential at a second main electrode region of said output transistor in accordance with the comparison result to thereby control the level of the signal output from the first main electrode region of said output transistor.
12. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said signal source of said circuit block is a pixel or photoelectric conversion unit.
13. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pixels are arranged two-dimensionally and a plurality of said analogdigital converter circuits are arranged for sequentially processing signals from pixels of one column.
14. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit includes a counter which is controlled in accordance with a signal output from said output transistor and a signal output from said reference transistor, and a level of the signal output from the first main electrode region of said output transistor is controlled in accordance with a signal output from the counter.
15. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit performs a comparison operation by changing, within a variable range, levels of signals output from said output transistor and reference transistor, and outputs the digital signal in accordance with a comparison result, and the signal processing apparatus further comprises a control circuit adapted to change the variable range.
16. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control circuit changes the variable range in accordance with exposure data.
17. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control circuit changes the variable range in accordance with white balance data.
18. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
an optical system adapted to focus light upon the pixel; and
a signal processing circuit adapted to process a signal output from said analogdigital converter circuit.
19. A signal processing apparatus comprising:
a plurality of pixels; and
an analogdigital converter circuit adapted to output a digital signal in accordance with a comparison result between a level of a pixel signal from each of said pixels and a comparison reference level,
wherein said analogdigital converter circuit changes, within a variable range, the level of the pixel signal from each of said pixels and the comparison reference level, and changes the variable range.
20. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said analogdigital converter circuit changes, within a variable range, the comparison reference level and changes the variable range of the comparison reference level, and the comparison reference level is controlled by an output of a digitalanalog converter circuit.
21. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element and an output transistor adapted to amplify a signal from the photoelectric conversion element and output the signal as the pixel signal, the output transistor having a main electrode region for changing an output level of the pixel signal; and
wherein the pixel signal level is changed by changing a control voltage applied to the main electrode region.
22. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the control voltage is output from the digitalanalog converter circuit.
23. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the variable change range is changed exposure data.
24. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the variable change range is changed with white balance data.
25. A signal processing apparatus comprising:
a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally; and
a plurality of analogdigital converter circuits adapted to convert signals output from said pixels into digital signals,
wherein said plurality of analogdigital converter circuits are commonly provided for a plurality of columns.