JPH0321179B2 - - Google Patents
Info
- Publication number
- JPH0321179B2 JPH0321179B2 JP62044322A JP4432287A JPH0321179B2 JP H0321179 B2 JPH0321179 B2 JP H0321179B2 JP 62044322 A JP62044322 A JP 62044322A JP 4432287 A JP4432287 A JP 4432287A JP H0321179 B2 JPH0321179 B2 JP H0321179B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- frequency
- input
- probe
- high frequency
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 46
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 21
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007781 pre-processing Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
（産業上の利用分野）
本発明は、受信超音波パルス信号を最適受信方
式により信号処理をする超音波診断装置に関す
る。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes received ultrasonic pulse signals using an optimal reception method.
（従来の技術）
超音波診断装置の放射超音波は、パルス法診断
装置では数ＭHzの高周波信号で搬送されるパルス
が用いられている。従来、この高周波帯の反射波
を受信処理するのに次のような方式が用いられて
いる。(Prior Art) As the emitted ultrasound of an ultrasonic diagnostic device, a pulse method diagnostic device uses pulses carried by a high frequency signal of several MHz. Conventionally, the following method has been used to receive and process the reflected waves in this high frequency band.
(1) 高周波方式
受信波を高周波帯で整相加算及びその他の前
処理を行つた後、対数圧縮し検波する方式であ
る。この高周波方式は以下に述べる中間周波方
式やベースバンド方式に比べて周波数変換回路
を必要としないため回路の規模は比較的小さく
てすむ。(1) High-frequency method This method performs phasing and addition and other preprocessing on the received waves in a high-frequency band, then logarithmically compresses and detects the waves. This high frequency method does not require a frequency conversion circuit compared to the intermediate frequency method or baseband method described below, so the scale of the circuit can be relatively small.
(2) 中間周波方式
受信波を一旦中間周波信号に変換して最大伝
送周波数を低く抑えて処理しようとするもの
で、中間周波信号に変換後の処理内容は前記の
高周波方式と同様に行う。中間周波方式におい
ては、高周波方式に比べて伝送する最大周波数
が1/2〜1/3になつて回路的に楽であることと、
高周波と比べて１周期の長さが長いので、遅延
線に異なる遅延量を信号に与えるための端子で
あるタツプを作つて各信号を入力させて加算す
る整相加算に高精度を要求されない利点があ
る。(2) Intermediate frequency method This method attempts to process the received wave by first converting it into an intermediate frequency signal and keeping the maximum transmission frequency low, and the processing contents after conversion to the intermediate frequency signal are performed in the same way as the above-mentioned high frequency method. In the intermediate frequency method, the maximum frequency to be transmitted is 1/2 to 1/3 compared to the high frequency method, making the circuit easier.
Since the length of one cycle is longer than that of high frequency, the advantage is that high accuracy is not required for phasing and addition, in which each signal is input and summed by creating taps on the delay line, which are terminals for giving signals different amounts of delay. There is.
(3) ベースバンド方式
受信波を直流を含む信号帯域であるベースバ
ンド信号に変換して処理する方式である。上側
波帯と下側波帯が直流を中心として分れ、負側
は正側に重なるため伝送帯域幅が高周波方式や
中間周波方式の1/2になる。又、整相加算の精
度は中間周波方式の更に1/2〜1/3に緩和され
る。(3) Baseband method This is a method in which received waves are converted into baseband signals, which are signal bands that include direct current, and then processed. The upper sideband and lower sideband are separated around the direct current, and the negative side overlaps the positive side, so the transmission bandwidth is 1/2 that of the high frequency method or intermediate frequency method. Furthermore, the precision of the phasing and addition method is further relaxed to 1/2 to 1/3 of that of the intermediate frequency method.
（発明が解決しようとする問題点）
ところで、上記の各方式には次のような問題が
ある。高周波方式の帯域は中心周波数が3.5MHz
の場合普通2MHz程度あり、回路の伝送帯域が広
帯域であるのと、扱う周波数が高い場合、使用す
る部品に高精度、高性能が要求され、コスト高と
なつたり、回路規模が増大したりする。(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, each of the above methods has the following problems. The center frequency of the high frequency method band is 3.5MHz
In the case of , it is usually about 2MHz, and the transmission band of the circuit is wideband and the frequency handled is high, so high precision and high performance are required of the parts used, which increases the cost and increases the circuit scale. .
一方、中間周波方式においては、送受波に比較
的低い周波数を使用する場合、中間周波数に変換
すると、変換されて得た周波数がビデオ信号の帯
域と重なつて検波して得たビデオ信号と中間周波
数との分離が困難になる。従つて、この場合は周
波数変換を行う利点よりも、前述のようにビデオ
信号との分離のために特殊な処理が必要で、その
ために回路規模、回路の複雑さが増すという不利
益の方が大きい。 On the other hand, in the intermediate frequency method, when a relatively low frequency is used for transmission and reception, when converting to an intermediate frequency, the frequency obtained by conversion overlaps with the video signal band, and the video signal obtained by detection is It becomes difficult to separate from the frequency. Therefore, in this case, the advantage of frequency conversion is outweighed by the disadvantage that special processing is required to separate it from the video signal, which increases the circuit size and complexity. big.
ベースバンド方式では直流が中心周波数に当る
ため、信号処理回路に直流オフセツト又はドリフ
トがあると著しくエコー信号レベルに誤差を生じ
る。これを除くためには一層の回路の複雑さを伴
うことになる。 In the baseband method, since DC corresponds to the center frequency, if there is a DC offset or drift in the signal processing circuit, a significant error will occur in the echo signal level. Eliminating this would require further circuit complexity.
本発明は上記の点に鑑みてなされたもので、そ
の目的は、回路に大きな変更を加えること無く使
用周波数に応じた受信方式を用いて最適な信号処
理を施す超音波診断装置を実現することにある。 The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to realize an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs optimal signal processing using a receiving method according to the frequency used without making major changes to the circuit. It is in.
（問題点を解決するための手段）
前記の問題点を解決する本発明は、受信超音波
パルス信号を最適受信方式により信号処理をする
超音波診断装置において、入力受信信号に周波数
変換と単純増幅の何れかを施す信号混合手段と、
前記入力受信信号を前記信号混合手段において周
波数変換させる局部周波数信号を発生する局部周
波数発振手段と、前記信号混合手段を増幅器とし
て動作させるバイアス電圧を発生する直流電圧発
生手段と、前記局部周波数発振手段と前記直流電
圧発生手段との出力を切り替えて何れか一方を前
記信号混合手段に入力させる切り替え手段とを具
備することを特徴とするものである。(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by applying frequency conversion and simple amplification to input received signals in an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes received ultrasonic pulse signals using an optimal reception method. a signal mixing means for performing any of the following;
local frequency oscillation means for generating a local frequency signal for frequency-converting the input received signal in the signal mixing means; DC voltage generation means for generating a bias voltage for operating the signal mixing means as an amplifier; and the local frequency oscillation means. and switching means for switching the output of the DC voltage generating means and inputting either one to the signal mixing means.
（作用）
受信信号を入力している信号混合手段に局部周
波数発振手段からの信号と直流電圧発生手段から
のバイアス電圧を切り替えて入力して、高周波プ
ローブに対しては中間周波方式により、低周波プ
ローブに対しては高周波方式により信号処理を行
い、使用プローブの周波数帯域に適合した受信方
式で受信信号を処理する。(Function) The signal from the local frequency oscillation means and the bias voltage from the DC voltage generation means are switched and input to the signal mixing means that inputs the received signal, and the low frequency probe is input to the high frequency probe using the intermediate frequency method. Signal processing is performed on the probe using a high frequency method, and the received signal is processed using a receiving method that is compatible with the frequency band of the probe used.
（実施例）
以下、図面を参照して本発明の実施例を詳細に
説明する。(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
第１図は本発明の一実施例の多チヤネルの振動
子アレイを有する超音波診断装置の要部の１チヤ
ネルのみを示した概略構成図である。他のチヤネ
ルも全く同様なので、１チヤネルのみについて説
明する。１はパルスで変調され、所定の時間の遅
延を受けた高周波信号を電力増幅する送波ドライ
バ、２は前記送波ドライバ１からの信号を超音波
に変換して被検体（図示せず）内に送波し、被検
体内から反射して帰つて来た超音波を受波して電
気信号に変換するプローブである。プローブ２で
受波された信号はプリアンプ３で増幅されてミキ
サ４に入力される。５はミキサ４に入力された受
信信号とミキサ４において混合して高周波受信信
号を中間周波信号に周波数変換するための局部発
振周波数信号を発振する局部周波数発振器で、そ
の出力信号はスイツチ６に入力される。スイツチ
６は接点ａに接続された局部周波数発振器５の出
力信号と、接点ｂに接続された直流電源７による
直流バイアス電圧を切り替えて動接点ｃに接続さ
れたミキサ４に入力させる単極双投（SPDT）の
スイツチである。ミキサ４の出力信号は低域瀘波
器８において不要な高周波信号を取り除かれて受
波ビームフオーマ９に入力される。１０は受波ビ
ームフオーマ９で整相加算された信号を対数圧縮
し、検波する対数圧縮検波回路、１１はアナログ
入力信号をデイジタル信号に変換してメモリに記
憶させ、超音波画像をテレビ方式の画像に変換し
てアナログ信号を出力するデイジタルスキヤンコ
ンバータで、その出力信号は表示装置１２におい
て表示される。 FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing only one channel of the main part of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a multi-channel transducer array according to an embodiment of the present invention. Since the other channels are completely similar, only one channel will be explained. Reference numeral 1 denotes a wave transmitting driver that amplifies the power of a high frequency signal that is modulated by a pulse and is delayed by a predetermined time; 2 converts the signal from the wave transmitting driver 1 into an ultrasonic wave and transmits it within a subject (not shown). A probe that transmits ultrasound waves to the body, receives reflected ultrasound waves from within the body, and converts them into electrical signals. The signal received by the probe 2 is amplified by the preamplifier 3 and input to the mixer 4. Reference numeral 5 designates a local frequency oscillator that oscillates a local oscillation frequency signal for mixing the received signal input to the mixer 4 with the mixer 4 to convert the high frequency received signal into an intermediate frequency signal, and its output signal is input to the switch 6. be done. The switch 6 switches the output signal of the local frequency oscillator 5 connected to the contact a and the DC bias voltage from the DC power supply 7 connected to the contact b, and inputs the signal to the mixer 4 connected to the dynamic contact c. (SPDT) switch. The output signal of the mixer 4 is inputted to a receiving beamformer 9 after unnecessary high frequency signals are removed by a low-pass filter 8 . 10 is a logarithmic compression detection circuit that logarithmically compresses and detects the signal that has been phased and summed by the receiving beamformer 9; 11 is a logarithmic compression detection circuit that converts an analog input signal into a digital signal and stores it in memory, converting the ultrasound image into a television format image; The output signal is displayed on the display device 12.
次に上記のように構成された実施例の装置の動
作を説明する。パルス化された高周波信号は送波
ドライバ１で電力増幅され、プローブ２において
超音波信号に変換されて被検体内に照射される。
被検体内から反射されてプローブ２に到達した超
音波信号は、プローブ２で受波され、電気信号に
変換されてミキサ４に入力される。送波ドライバ
１の入力信号が高周波信号であつてプローブ２に
高周波プローブを用いた場合、スイツチ６ではａ
−ｃが接続されて局部周波数発振器５の出力信号
がミキサ４に入力されており、受信信号を中間周
波数に変換する。第２図にこの周波数変換したミ
キサ２の入出力信号の周波数スペクトラムを示
す。図において、f0は入力受信信号の中心周波
数、fLは局部発振周波数である。このfLとf0によ
つて得られた中間周波信号の中心周波数はfL−f0
になつていて、そのスペクトラムは入力高周波の
スペクトラムの裏返しになつている。低域瀘波器
８はミキサ４からの入力信号から不要な高周波成
分を除き、下側波帯のみを取り出して中間周波信
号を出力し、受波ビームフオーマ９に入力する。
受波ビームフオーマ９に入力された各プローブか
らの受信信号は整相加算され、対数圧縮検波回路
１０において対数圧縮増幅され検波されてデイジ
タルスキヤンコンバータ１１に入力される。デイ
ジタルスキヤンコンバータ１１は入力超音波画像
信号をテレビ方式の信号に変換して表示装置１２
に表示させる。 Next, the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained. The pulsed high-frequency signal is power amplified by the wave transmission driver 1, converted into an ultrasonic signal by the probe 2, and irradiated into the subject.
The ultrasonic signal reflected from inside the subject and reaching the probe 2 is received by the probe 2, converted into an electrical signal, and input to the mixer 4. When the input signal of the transmitter driver 1 is a high frequency signal and a high frequency probe is used as the probe 2, the switch 6
-c is connected to input the output signal of the local frequency oscillator 5 to the mixer 4, which converts the received signal to an intermediate frequency. FIG. 2 shows the frequency spectrum of the input/output signal of mixer 2 after frequency conversion. In the figure, f 0 is the center frequency of the input received signal, and f L is the local oscillation frequency. The center frequency of the intermediate frequency signal obtained by f L and f 0 is f L − f 0
The spectrum is the reverse of the spectrum of the input high frequency. The low frequency filter 8 removes unnecessary high frequency components from the input signal from the mixer 4, extracts only the lower sideband, outputs an intermediate frequency signal, and inputs it to the receiving beamformer 9.
The received signals from each probe inputted to the receiving beamformer 9 are phased and summed, logarithmically compressed and amplified and detected in the logarithmic compression detection circuit 10, and inputted to the digital scan converter 11. The digital scan converter 11 converts the input ultrasound image signal into a television format signal and displays it on the display device 12.
to be displayed.
送波ドライバ１の入力信号が2.5MHz以下の低
周波信号であつて、低周波プローブを用いた場
合、スイツチ４は切り替えられてｂ−ｃ接点が接
続される。このときミキサ４には局部発振周波数
の代わりに直流電圧がスイツチ４の接点ｂ−ｃを
経てバイアス電圧として入力されていて、ミキサ
４は増幅器として動作しており、入力受信信号の
周波数は変換されない。即ち、ミキサ４の出力信
号のスペクトラムは第３図に示すように入力信号
と同じ周波数スペクトラムの信号である。図にお
いて、f0はミキサ４の入出力信号の中心周波数で
ある。この周波数は低いので中間周波数に変換す
ると更に検波してビデオ信号としたとき、中間周
波数とビデオ信号の周波数帯が重なつて分離する
のが困難である。ミキサ４の出力信号が表示装置
１２に表示される過程は前述の高周波プローブ使
用の場合の過程と同じなので説明は省略する。 When the input signal to the wave transmitting driver 1 is a low frequency signal of 2.5 MHz or less and a low frequency probe is used, the switch 4 is switched and the b and c contacts are connected. At this time, instead of the local oscillation frequency, DC voltage is input to mixer 4 as a bias voltage via contacts b and c of switch 4, mixer 4 operates as an amplifier, and the frequency of the input received signal is not converted. . That is, the spectrum of the output signal of the mixer 4 has the same frequency spectrum as the input signal, as shown in FIG. In the figure, f 0 is the center frequency of the input/output signal of mixer 4. Since this frequency is low, when it is converted to an intermediate frequency and further detected to produce a video signal, the frequency bands of the intermediate frequency and the video signal overlap, making it difficult to separate them. The process by which the output signal of the mixer 4 is displayed on the display device 12 is the same as the process described above when using the high frequency probe, so the explanation will be omitted.
以上詳細に説明したように本実施例によれば、
中間周波方式としての構成を何等変えることなく
スイツチを追加するのみで高周波プローブを使用
した場合、中間周波数方式を採用して、高周波信
号を扱うことにより起る既述の諸問題を避けるこ
とができ、又、低周波プローブを使用した場合、
高周波方式を採用したことにより、ビデオ信号と
の分離困難な中間周波信号の混合を避けることが
できる。 As explained in detail above, according to this embodiment,
If you use a high frequency probe by simply adding a switch without changing the configuration of the intermediate frequency method, you can avoid the problems mentioned above that occur when handling high frequency signals by adopting the intermediate frequency method. , and when using a low frequency probe,
By adopting a high frequency method, it is possible to avoid mixing intermediate frequency signals that are difficult to separate from video signals.
尚、本発明は上記実施例に限ることはない。例
えば、スイツチはリレーを使用しても差支えな
い。 Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, a switch can use a relay.
（発明の効果）
以上詳細に説明したように本発明によれば、受
信方式を全く変更することなくスイツチを追加す
るのみで高周波プローブに対しては中間周波方式
により、低周波プローブに対しては高周波方式に
より信号処理をすることができて、合理化された
受信方式が実現され、実用上の効果は大きい。(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, by simply adding a switch without changing the reception method, the intermediate frequency method is used for high frequency probes, and the intermediate frequency method is used for low frequency probes. Signal processing can be performed using a high frequency method, and a streamlined reception method is realized, which has great practical effects.
第１図は本発明の一実施例の要部の概略構成
図、第２図は高周波プローブ使用時の中間周波方
式のスペクトラムの図、第３図は低周波プローブ
使用時の高周波方式のスペクトラムの図である。
１……送波ドライバ、２……プローブ、３……
プリアンプ、４……ミキサ、５……局部周波数発
振器、６……スイツチ、７……直流電源、８……
低域瀘波器、９……受波ビームフオーマ、１０…
…対数圧縮検波回路、１１……デイジタルスキヤ
ンコンバータ、１２……表示装置。
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram of the spectrum of an intermediate frequency method when using a high frequency probe, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the spectrum of the high frequency method when using a low frequency probe. It is a diagram. 1... Transmission driver, 2... Probe, 3...
Preamplifier, 4...Mixer, 5...Local frequency oscillator, 6...Switch, 7...DC power supply, 8...
Low-pass filter, 9... Receiving beamformer, 10...
... Logarithmic compression detection circuit, 11 ... Digital scan converter, 12 ... Display device.
Claims (1)
信号処理をする超音波診断装置において、入力受
信信号に周波数変換と単純増幅の何れかを施す信
号混合手段と、前記入力受信信号を前記信号混合
手段において周波数変換させる局部周波数信号を
発生する局部周波数発振手段と、前記信号混合手
段を増幅器として動作させるバイアス電圧を発生
する直流電圧発生手段と、前記局部周波数発振手
段と前記直流電圧発生手段との出力を切り替えて
何れか一方を前記信号混合手段に入力させる切り
替え手段とを具備することを特徴とする超音波診
断装置。1. In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that processes a received ultrasonic pulse signal using an optimal reception method, a signal mixing means that performs either frequency conversion or simple amplification on an input received signal; local frequency oscillation means for generating a local frequency signal to be frequency converted; DC voltage generation means for generating a bias voltage for operating the signal mixing means as an amplifier; and outputs of the local frequency oscillation means and the DC voltage generation means. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus characterized by comprising: switching means for switching to input one of the signals to the signal mixing means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP62044322A JPS63209633A (en) | 1987-02-27 | 1987-02-27 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP62044322A JPS63209633A (en) | 1987-02-27 | 1987-02-27 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS63209633A JPS63209633A (en) | 1988-08-31 |
| JPH0321179B2 true JPH0321179B2 (en) | 1991-03-22 |
Family
ID=12688256
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP62044322A Granted JPS63209633A (en) | 1987-02-27 | 1987-02-27 | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS63209633A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6866634B2 (en) * | 2000-05-09 | 2005-03-15 | Hitachi Medical Corporation | Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus |
| CN101151303B (en) * | 2005-03-29 | 2011-09-07 | 东丽株式会社 | Modified substrate and process for production thereof |
-
1987
- 1987-02-27 JP JP62044322A patent/JPS63209633A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS63209633A (en) | 1988-08-31 |
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