Ultrasonic imaging apparatus

An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

• an ultrasound probe having a plurality of transducers arrayed for transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an object to be examined;
• transmission means for supplying a drive signal to each of the transducers, said transmission means dividing the plurality of transducers into a plurality of groups and supplying a common drive signal to the transducers belonging to the same group;
• reception means for phasing/adding and receiving a reflected echo signal received by each transducer;
• and
• an image processing unit for reconstructing an ultrasonic image based on the reflected echo signal received,
• wherein the reception means includes a first phasing addition means for dividing the plurality of transducers into a plurality of groups and performing phasing addition on the reflected echo signals output from transducers belonging to the respective groups, and a second phasing addition means for performing phasing addition on the respective echo signals output from the first phasing addition means.+