Method and apparatus for selecting power states in an ultrasound imaging system
AssigneeFujifilm Sonosite, Inc.
InventorsYoshiro Imai, Richard Hippe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasound imaging system includes a processor that is programmed to operate the system in a normal operating state and two or more lesser power states. The processor lowers the operating power state to a lesser power state upon detecting one or more operating conditions such as no tissue been imaged in a predetermined time limit or that the imaging system or transducer has not been moved in a time limit. Upon awakening from a power off state, the processor implements a lesser power state before operating at the normal operating state to avoid undue power use until the transducer is positioned to image tissue.
Claims19
An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
- a transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound energy to an object and to detect echo signals from the object;
- and
- a processor coupled to the transducer, the processor implemented to configure the ultrasound imaging system in a power off state, a first operating state, and a second operating state that consumes less power than the first operating state;
- wherein the transducer is configured to operate, upon transition of the ultrasound imaging system from the power off state to the first operating state, at a first power in the first operating state and at a second power in the second operating state that is less than the first power, wherein the transducer is configured to operate at the second power in the second operating state by using one or more of a reduced transmit power, a lower frame rate or a lower pulse repetition frequency compared to operating at the first power in the first operating state.
An ultrasound imaging system comprising:
- a transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound energy to an object and to receive echo signals from the object;
- and
- a processor coupled to the transducer that is configured to operate the ultrasound imaging system in a first power state and operate the ultrasound imaging system in a second power state upon transition from a power off state, wherein the transducer in the second power state is implemented to receive the echo signals at less power than in the first power state.
A method implemented by an ultrasound imaging system, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to transition the ultrasound imaging system from a power off state, the ultrasound imaging system operable in a first operating state and a second operating state upon transition from the power off state, the ultrasound imaging system consuming less power in the second operating state than in the first operating state;
- determining, with a processor of the ultrasound imaging system, a next state of the ultrasound imaging system as the first operating state or the second operating state;
- and
- activating, with the processor, a transducer of the ultrasound imaging system in the next state to deliver an ultrasound energy to an object and to detect echo signals from the object, the transducer operating to receive the echo signals at a first power when the next state is the first operating state and to receive the echo signals at a second power when the next state is the second operating state, the second power being less than the first power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.