US 11,677,146 B2 · Programmable analog beamformer

Abstract

A programmable analog beamformer controls phase and amplitude of radio frequency sine signals independently on n channels. In a preferred embodiment, each of n channels achieves full cycle phase sifting by using m first order programmable filters isolated by buffer amplifiers, with maximum phase shift amount of 180/m degrees in each filter. By flipping the polarity of sine signal in differential path, the beamformer achieves additional 180 degrees phase shift. There is an amplitude control unit in each channel, that both compensates amplitude attenuations due to phase shifting of filters, and to control the amplitude of the RF signal per user choice. There is a core algorithm software that handles all the digital programming of the system, as well as error correction of the phase and amplitude. The analog beamformer can drive piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers with no unwanted harmonics, or other loads per application.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A programmable analog beamformer device comprising:

at least two independent user programmable logic controlling input radio frequency channels generating a single frequency sine signal driven by user selected phase and amplitude inputs;
each channel having components serially connected from a buffer circuit to a phase-shifter, an amplitude control unit, a power amplifier and a load to a ground:
each phase-shifter having a first order filter isolated by a buffer amplifier at input and output to maintain filters at first order;
each load carrying half of the actual impendence in differential power delivery and complete impedance with a single ended power delivery, and
each ground being a virtual ground wherein the differential power is zero voltage of a beamformer circuit and a real ground of the beamformer circuit where a single ended power delivers piezo electric loads for ultrasound transducer output
whereby a user selected phase and amplitudes independently in an array of radio frequency parallel channels can focus ultrasound beams via transducer output onto a target.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Programmable analog beamformer

Life of this patent

Programmable analog beamformer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11