Ultrasound probe with digital microbeamformer having integrated circuits fabricated with different manufacturing processes

An ultrasound probe comprising:

• a digital beamformer;
• and
• an array transducer adapted to scan a target region with elements of the array under the control of the digital beamformer,
• wherein the digital beamformer comprises:
• an analog integrated circuit comprising:
• a plurality of transmitters coupled to elements of the array transducer, wherein the plurality of transmitters are configured to operate in a first operational voltage range;
• and
• a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the elements of the array transducer and adapted to receive analog echo signals from elements of the array transducer during a receive period, said amplifiers being arranged to provide a plurality of amplified analog echo signals,
• wherein the analog integrated circuit is fabricated with a first feature size suitable for the first operational voltage range;
• and
• a digital integrated circuit comprising:
• low power ADCs coupled to the plurality of amplifiers and adapted to receive the amplified analog echo signals and convert them to digital echo data;
• and
• digital beamforming circuitry coupled to the low power ADCs to produce digital beamformed echo signals,
• wherein the low power ADCs and the digital beamforming circuitry are configured to operate in a second operational voltage range,
• wherein the digital integrated circuit is fabricated with a second feature size suitable for the second operational voltage range,
• wherein the second feature size is smaller than the first feature size such that the digital integrated circuit comprises a higher circuit density than the analog integrated circuit,
• wherein the second operational voltage range is less than the first operational voltage range, and
• wherein a total power budget of the digital beamformer is not greater than 3 W,
• wherein the analog integrated circuit consumes a first portion of the total power budget, and
• wherein the digital integrated circuit consumes a second portion of the total power budget that is less than the first portion of the total power budget.