JPS58143265A - Array type ultrasonic probe and control method thereof - Google Patents
Array type ultrasonic probe and control method thereofInfo
- Publication number
- JPS58143265A JPS58143265A JP57026443A JP2644382A JPS58143265A JP S58143265 A JPS58143265 A JP S58143265A JP 57026443 A JP57026443 A JP 57026443A JP 2644382 A JP2644382 A JP 2644382A JP S58143265 A JPS58143265 A JP S58143265A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- sets
- scanning
- elements
- ultrasonic probe
- transducer elements
- 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.)
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
- G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
- G01N29/26—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor
- G01N29/262—Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
- Measurement Of Velocity Or Position Using Acoustic Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【発明の詳細な説明】
本発明は、振動子エレメントが複数配列された超音波走
査用の配列型超音波探触子の構成とその制御法に関する
。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the configuration of an array-type ultrasonic probe for ultrasonic scanning in which a plurality of transducer elements are arranged and a control method thereof.
配列型超音波探触子は超音波診断装置や超音波探傷装置
の超音波送信、受信素子として広く利用されている。Array-type ultrasonic probes are widely used as ultrasonic transmitting and receiving elements in ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and ultrasonic flaw detection equipment.
従来の配列型超音波探触子は第１図に示す様に、短冊状
の振動子エレメントｅ１〜ｅｋが図示しないベース上に
に個並設され、隣接するｐ個（図では５個）のエレメン
トが共通に接続され、組■〜■を形成して構成されてい
る。即ち、エレメントｅ１゜ｅ２． ｅ３を共通接続し
て組■を形成し、エレメントｅ４． ｅ５． ｅ６を組
■を形成し、以下隣接する３つのエレメントによって一
組を形成している。これを等価回路で示すと、第２図の
如く、１つの組にｐ個の振動子エレメントを並列に接続
し、次の組はその隣りのｐ個の撮動子エレメントを並列
に接続しているものであり、換言すれば、圧電振動子の
振動モードの制御のため、１つの圧電体をｐ細切断分割
して振動子エレメントを作り、ｐ個の振動子エレメント
を単純に並列接続しているという構成である。このため
、係る従来の配列型超音波探触子によって超音波ビーム
の走査を行なうには、１つの組毎に１順次行なわざるを
得ないため、その組の巾毎の走査となり、走査ピッチが
各粗間のピッチより小さくすることができず、分解能は
粗間のピッチに制限されてしまうという欠点があった。As shown in Fig. 1, a conventional array-type ultrasonic probe has rectangular transducer elements e1 to ek arranged side by side on a base (not shown), and p adjacent transducer elements (5 in the figure). The elements are commonly connected to form groups ① to ②. That is, elements e1゜e2. e3 are connected in common to form a group ■, and elements e4. e5. e6 forms group 2, and three adjacent elements form one set. To illustrate this with an equivalent circuit, as shown in Figure 2, one set has p transducer elements connected in parallel, and the next set has p transducer elements connected in parallel. In other words, in order to control the vibration mode of a piezoelectric vibrator, one piezoelectric body is divided into p pieces to create vibrator elements, and the p vibrator elements are simply connected in parallel. It is a composition that there is. For this reason, in order to scan the ultrasonic beam using such a conventional array type ultrasonic probe, it is necessary to perform scanning for each group one by one, so the scanning is performed for each width of the group, and the scanning pitch is There is a drawback that the pitch cannot be made smaller than each coarse pitch, and the resolution is limited to the coarse pitch.
又、１つの配列型超音波探触子のある振動子エレメント
を送信専用、他の振動子エレメントを受信専用に用いて
、１つの探触子を送受し、兼用に用いると、分解能や感
度が向上するが、係る振動子エレメントの送受分離型と
して利用するには、組■、■・・・を送信専用、組■、
（つ・・・を受信専用に用いねばならず、超音波ビーム
の走査が断続して、尚更分解能が低下するという欠点が
あった。Also, if one transducer element of one array-type ultrasonic probe is used only for transmission and the other transducer element is used only for reception, and one probe is used for both transmission and reception, the resolution and sensitivity will be reduced. However, in order to use such a transducer element as a separate type for transmitting and receiving, it is necessary to set groups ■, ■, etc. for transmission only, and groups ■,
(...) had to be used only for reception, and the scanning of the ultrasonic beam was intermittent, resulting in a further decrease in resolution.
従って、本発明の目的は、定食ピンチを小さくし、分解
能を向上せしめることが可能な配列型超音波探触子及び
その制御法を提供するにある。Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an array-type ultrasonic probe and a control method thereof that can reduce the problem of fixed meals and improve the resolution.
以下、本発明を実施例により砕細に説明する。Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.
第３図ｔま本発明の一実施例構成図であす、渠４図はそ
の等価回路図である。図中、ｅ１〜ｅｋは各々圧電体か
らなる短冊型の振動子エレメントであり、従来例と同様
ベース上に形成されている。そして、各撮動子エレメン
トｅ１〜ｅｋＦｉｎ個（図では１個）置きにｍ個（図で
は３個）共通接続され、組■〜■を形成している。即ち
、エレメントｅ１． ｅ５． ｅ５が共通接続されて組
■を形成し、ニレメン）ｅ２゜ｅ４．ｅ６が共通接続さ
れて組■を形成し、以下同様にして組を形成する。又、
第５図の他の実施例構成図では、第６図の１つの振動子
エレメントｅ１を２つの部分撮動子エレメントｅ１′、
ｅ１′に分割し、部分ニレメン） ｅ １’、 ｅ １
’を共通接続し、更に第３図の振動子ニレメン）ｅ３を
分割した部分振動子ニレメン） ｅ ３／ 、 ｅ ３
／の共通接続したものとを更に共通接続し、組■を形成
したものであり、以下組（り以下も同様である。即ち、
第５図の例は、第６図の振動子エレメントを１個置きに
２個共通接続し、且つ１個の振動子エレメントを２つの
部分振動子エレメントに分割し、これを共通接続したも
のである。第６図は別の実施例構成図であり、第５図の
振動子エレメントｅｉ〜ｅｋを２個置きに３個共通接続
して組を形成したものである。Figure 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is its equivalent circuit diagram. In the figure, e1 to ek each represent a rectangular vibrator element made of a piezoelectric material, and are formed on a base as in the conventional example. Then, every m (three in the figure) camera elements e1 to ekFin (one in the figure) are commonly connected to form groups (1) to (2). That is, element e1. e5. e5 are commonly connected to form a group ■, and e2゜e4. e6 are commonly connected to form group 2, and the following groups are formed in the same manner. or,
In the configuration diagram of another embodiment in FIG. 5, one transducer element e1 in FIG. 6 is replaced by two partial transducer elements e1',
e 1', e 1
' are commonly connected, and further the partial oscillators (Niremen) obtained by dividing the oscillator (Niremen) e3 in Figure 3) e 3/ , e 3
The commonly connected ones of / are further commonly connected to form the group ■, and the same applies to the following groups. That is,
In the example shown in Figure 5, every other two transducer elements in Fig. 6 are commonly connected, and one transducer element is divided into two partial transducer elements, which are commonly connected. be. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment, in which three of the vibrator elements ei to ek shown in FIG. 5 are commonly connected every other two to form a set.
このような本発明構成の制御法について説明すると、先
づ送受分離型に用いるには、第３図の奇数番の組■、■
・・・を送信専用に、偶数番の組■。To explain the control method of the configuration of the present invention, first, in order to use the transmitting/receiving separated type, the odd-numbered groups ■ and ■ shown in FIG.
. . . Only for sending, even-numbered groups■.
■・・・を受信専用に用いる。逆に奇数番の組を受信専
用に、偶数番の組を送信専用にしてもよい。この様にす
れば、超音波ビームが断続的になることもなく送受分離
型を構成しうる。更に、送信専用の組に送信専用電気回
路を、受信専用の組に受信専用電気回路を専属に接続で
きるので、送受信の感度が向上し、又送信波、受信波の
分離も向上するので、特に近距離の分解能の向上に寄与
する。■... is used only for reception. Conversely, odd-numbered sets may be used exclusively for reception, and even-numbered sets may be used only for transmission. In this way, a separate transmission and reception type can be constructed without the ultrasonic beam becoming intermittent. Furthermore, since the transmitting-only electric circuit can be connected exclusively to the transmitting-only group and the receiving-only electric circuit to the receiving-only group, the sensitivity of transmitting and receiving is improved, and the separation of the transmitted and received waves is also improved. Contributes to improving short-range resolution.
又、各振動子エレメントを送信専用又は送受兼用に用い
るための制御法は第７図に示す様に、隣接するｔ組全同
時駆動し、を組の一部の組が重複する様同時駆動の１組
を切換え駆動すると、走査ピッチを小さく出来る。即ち
、配列型超音波探触子が振動子ニレメン）ｅ１〜ｅｋを
１個置きに２個並列接続して各組■〜■を構成したもの
である例において、時間ｔ１に組■、■、■を、時間ｔ
２に組■。In addition, the control method for using each transducer element for transmission only or for both transmission and reception is as shown in Fig. 7, in which all adjacent t groups are driven simultaneously, and some of the groups are driven simultaneously so that some of the groups overlap. By switching and driving one set, the scanning pitch can be reduced. That is, in an example in which the array-type ultrasonic probe has two transducers e1 to ek connected in parallel every other time to form each set of groups ■ to ■, at time t1 the groups ■, ■, ■, time t
Group 2 ■.
■、■を、時間ｔ３に組■、■、■、時間ｔ４に組■。Set ■, ■ at time t3, ■, ■, ■, set ■ at time t4.
■、■という順に切換えて発信駆動すれば、各時間ｔ１
〜ｔ４に発信される超音波ビームのピッチはＰ１＋ｐ、
、 Ｐ、・・・となり、走査ピッチは１振動子工レメン
ト分で済む。従来は組のピッチであったのに比し大巾に
走査ピッチが小さくなっていることがわかる。このため
、画偉の１フレーム当シの走査線数を多く出来るので、
分解能及び画質を向上させることが可能となる。If the transmission is driven by switching in the order of ■ and ■, each time t1
The pitch of the ultrasonic beam transmitted at ~t4 is P1+p,
, P, . . . , and the scanning pitch is only one transducer element. It can be seen that the scanning pitch has become much smaller than the conventional pitch of sets. Therefore, the number of scanning lines per frame can be increased,
It becomes possible to improve resolution and image quality.
又、送受分離型の場合この様に配列型超音波探触子を形
成すると、−の音響レンズで、送信及び受信用エレメン
トに殆んど同じ所に焦点を結ばせることも可能となる。In addition, in the case of the transmitting and receiving separated type, if an array type ultrasonic probe is formed in this way, it becomes possible to focus the transmitting and receiving elements on almost the same place using the negative acoustic lens.
以上説明した様に本発明の構成によれば、短冊型の振動
子エレメントを複数配列し、該振動子エレメントｆ ｎ
個置きのｍ個共通接続して複数の組を構成しているので
、走査ピッチが小さくなるとともに送受分離型の探触子
が可能となるという効果が得られる。As explained above, according to the configuration of the present invention, a plurality of rectangular transducer elements are arranged, and the transducer elements f n
Since m individual probes are commonly connected to form a plurality of sets, it is possible to reduce the scanning pitch and make it possible to use separate transmitting and receiving probes.
又、係る構成の探触子を用いた本発明の第１の制御法に
よれば、隣接する４組を同時駆動するとともに該を組の
一部の組が重複する様に順次同時駆動の４組を切換え駆
動して走査を行なうので、更に走査ピッチが小さくなシ
、従来の１／２という大巾な走査ピッチの減少が可能と
なり、分解能が２倍に向上するという優れた効果を奏す
る。Further, according to the first control method of the present invention using a probe having such a configuration, four adjacent sets are simultaneously driven, and the four simultaneously driven sets are sequentially driven such that some of the sets overlap. Since scanning is performed by switching and driving the sets, the scanning pitch can be further reduced to 1/2 of that of the conventional method, and the resolution can be doubled, which is an excellent effect.
更に、係る構成の探触子を用いた本発明の第２の制御法
によれば、配列型超音波探触子の奇数番目（夕は偶数番
目）の組を送信駆動するとともに偶数番目（５？は奇数
番目）の組を受信用とするので、走査ビームの断続がな
く、送受分離型が可能となるので、走査ピッチが粗くな
るのを防止出来、しかも送信、受信用に独立して感度設
定が可能となり、感度の向上が計れ、又信号の送受分離
が改善されるので、一層面像の鮮明式が得られ、特に近
距離分解能が向上するという効果も奏する。Furthermore, according to the second control method of the present invention using a probe having such a configuration, the odd-numbered (even-numbered in the evening) sets of the arrayed ultrasonic probes are transmitted and driven, and the even-numbered (5 ? is an odd number) is used for reception, so there is no intermittent scanning beam, and it is possible to separate the transmission and reception type, so it is possible to prevent the scanning pitch from becoming coarse, and the sensitivity can be adjusted independently for transmission and reception. Settings can be made, sensitivity can be improved, and signal transmission/reception separation can be improved, so a clearer plane image can be obtained, and in particular, short-range resolution can be improved.
尚、本発明を一実施例によシ説明したが、本発明は上述
の実施例に限定されることなく、本発明の主旨に従い種
々の変形が可能であり、これらを本発明の範囲から排除
するものではない。Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. It's not something you do.
第１図は従来の探触子の構成図、第２図は第１図構成の
等価回路図、４第３図は本発明の一実施例構成図、Ｍ４
図は第３図構成の等価回路図、第５図、第６図は本発明
の他の実施例構成図、第７図は本発明の制御法の一実施
例説明図を示す。
図中ｅ１〜ｅｋ・・・振動子エレメント、■〜■・・・
組。
特許出願人 日本電波工業株式会社
代理人弁理士辻 實
外２名Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional probe, Figure 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the configuration in Figure 1, 4 Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, M4
The figure shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the configuration shown in FIG. 3, FIGS. 5 and 6 show configuration diagrams of other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the control method of the present invention. In the figure, e1 to ek... vibrator elements, ■ to ■...
set. Patent applicant: Nippon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Sangai Tsuji (2 persons)
Claims (1)
エレメントをｎ個置きにｍ個共通接続して複数の組を構
成したことを特徴とする配列型超音波探触子。 （２）短冊型の振動子エレメントを複数配列し、該振動
子エレメントをｎ個置きにｍ個母共通接続して複数の組
を構成した配列型超音波探触子の隣接するｔ組を同時駆
動するとともに該を組の一部の組が重複する様に順次同
時駆動のｔ組を切換え駆動して走査を行なうことを特徴
とする配列型超音波探触子の制御法。 （３）短冊型の振動子エレメントを複数配列し、該振動
子エレメントをｎ個置きにｍ個共通接続して複数の組を
構成した配列型超音波探触子の奇数番目（又は偶数番目
）の組を送信駆動するとともに偶数番目（又は奇数番目
）の組を受信用とすることを特徴とする配列型超音波探
触子の制御法。[Scope of Claims] (Arrayed ultrasound characterized by arranging a plurality of rectangular transducer elements, and connecting m transducer elements in common at every nth transducer element to form a plurality of sets. Probe. (2) Adjacent array type ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of rectangular transducer elements are arranged and m transducer elements are commonly connected every n to form a plurality of sets. A method for controlling an array type ultrasonic probe, characterized in that t sets are simultaneously driven and scanning is performed by sequentially switching and driving the t sets that are simultaneously driven so that some of the sets overlap. (3) Odd-numbered (or even-numbered) array-type ultrasound probe in which a plurality of rectangular transducer elements are arranged, and m transducer elements are commonly connected every nth transducer element to form a plurality of sets. 1. A control method for an arrayed ultrasonic probe, characterized in that sets of the above are driven for transmission, and even-numbered (or odd-numbered) sets are used for reception.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP57026443A JPS58143265A (en) | 1982-02-20 | 1982-02-20 | Array type ultrasonic probe and control method thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP57026443A JPS58143265A (en) | 1982-02-20 | 1982-02-20 | Array type ultrasonic probe and control method thereof |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPS58143265A true JPS58143265A (en) | 1983-08-25 |
| JPH0318145B2 JPH0318145B2 (en) | 1991-03-11 |
Family
ID=12193645
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP57026443A Granted JPS58143265A (en) | 1982-02-20 | 1982-02-20 | Array type ultrasonic probe and control method thereof |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS58143265A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5117697A (en) * | 1988-09-05 | 1992-06-02 | Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic flaw detector |
| JP2007531549A (en) * | 2003-07-15 | 2007-11-08 | ザ・ボード・オブ・リージエンツ，ザ・ユニバーシテイ・オブ・テキサス・システム | Fast and accurate bone quality detection using ultrasonic critical angle reflectometry |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS4911189A (en) * | 1972-05-29 | 1974-01-31 | ||
| JPS508557A (en) * | 1973-05-21 | 1975-01-29 | ||
| JPS5268775A (en) * | 1975-12-05 | 1977-06-07 | Nippon Musen Irigaku Kenkiyuus | Ultrasonic diagnostic device |
-
1982
- 1982-02-20 JP JP57026443A patent/JPS58143265A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS4911189A (en) * | 1972-05-29 | 1974-01-31 | ||
| JPS508557A (en) * | 1973-05-21 | 1975-01-29 | ||
| JPS5268775A (en) * | 1975-12-05 | 1977-06-07 | Nippon Musen Irigaku Kenkiyuus | Ultrasonic diagnostic device |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5117697A (en) * | 1988-09-05 | 1992-06-02 | Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. | Ultrasonic flaw detector |
| JP2007531549A (en) * | 2003-07-15 | 2007-11-08 | ザ・ボード・オブ・リージエンツ，ザ・ユニバーシテイ・オブ・テキサス・システム | Fast and accurate bone quality detection using ultrasonic critical angle reflectometry |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0318145B2 (en) | 1991-03-11 |
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