Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
Ultrasound sub-array receiver beamformer

Abstract:

An ultrasound method and apparatus can include: transducer elements arranged in a sub-array for generating analog signals based on a return signal detected by the transducer elements during a receive interval; analog delay lines including individual delays unique to each of the transducer elements and calculated based on a linear delay slope for delaying the analog signals; an analog to digital converter for converting the analog signals to a digital signal; a digital beamformer with a digital delay based on one portion of the linear delay slope for delaying the digital signal; and a profile control register containing depth bits corresponding to multiple points for updating the linear delay slope during the receive interval to adjust for the multiple points within an image line.