Systems and methods for controlling transducer pulse transitions in ultrasound imaging
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBruno Hans Haider, Shinichi Amemiya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for transitioning a transducer voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level are provided. A method includes pulling a transducer voltage to the first voltage level, pulling the transducer voltage from the first voltage level to an intermediate voltage level, and pulling the transducer voltage from the intermediate voltage level to the second voltage level. The intermediate voltage level includes an intermediate voltage level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.
Claims20
An ultrasound system, comprising:
- a transducer;
- a positive voltage switch configured to be in an open position or in a closed position, wherein when the positive voltage switch is in the closed position, the positive voltage switch is configured to pull the transducer to a positive voltage;
- a negative voltage switch configured to be in an open position or in a closed position, wherein when the negative voltage switch is in the closed position, the negative voltage switch is configured to pull the transducer voltage to a negative voltage;
- an intermediate voltage switch configured to be in an open position or in a closed position, wherein when the intermediate voltage switch is in the closed position, the intermediate voltage switch is configured to pull the transducer voltage to an intermediate voltage between the positive voltage and the negative voltage;
- and
- a controller configured to control positions of the positive voltage switch, the negative voltage switch, and the intermediate voltage switch to generate a pulse waveform, wherein the controller is configured to control the intermediate voltage switch to a closed position during a transition portion of the pulse waveform in which the transducer voltage is transitioned between the positive voltage and the negative voltage.
A method for transitioning a transducer voltage between a first voltage level and a second voltage level, comprising:
- pulling a transducer voltage to the first voltage level;
- pulling the transducer voltage from the first voltage level to an intermediate voltage level;
- and
- pulling the transducer voltage from the intermediate voltage level to the second voltage level, wherein the intermediate voltage level comprises an intermediate voltage level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.
A computer readable medium encoding one or more executable routines, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
- pulling a transducer voltage to the first voltage level;
- pulling the transducer voltage from the first voltage level to an intermediate voltage level;
- and
- pulling the transducer voltage from the intermediate voltage level to a second voltage level, wherein the intermediate voltage level comprises an intermediate voltage level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.