# US 2014/0155751 A1 · Method and system for element-by-element flexible subarray beamforming > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155751 A1 - Document ID: US20140155751A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,864 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Zoran BANJANIN; Daniel BRUESKE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155751A1 ## CPC - A61B 8/4444: {related to the probe} - A61B 8/4488: {the transducer being a phased array} - A61B 8/5207: {involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image} - G01S 7/5208: {with integration of processing functions inside probe or scanhead} - G01S 15/8925: {the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays} - G01S 15/8927: {using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures} - A61B 8/145: {characterised by scanning multiple planes} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract The subarrays are formed dynamically switching the individual output signals from the transducer elements on an element-to-element basis after the time delay circuits have individually perform on the signal signals for time delay. For example, at least one crosspoint switch flexibly connects the time-delayed outputs on the element-to-element basis in order to dynamically form predetermined sets of subarrays. The subarrays are optionally unequal in shape and or a number of transducer elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasound probe, comprising: an array of a predetermined dimension having a predetermined number of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements outputting a signal; a plurality of time-delay circuits directly connected to said array for individually delaying each of the signals from the transducer elements to output time-delayed signals; at least one switch connected to said time-delay circuits for connecting any combination of the time-delayed signals to define dynamic subarrays and to output dynamic subarray signals; and a plurality of adders connected to said switch for summing the dynamic subarray signals of the dynamic subarrays to output an added subarray signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 wherein each of said time-delay circuits delays by down-converting the signal to a base band and or up-converting the base band. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 wherein said switch is a cross-point switch configured to form the dynamic subarrays that are not all equal in configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 wherein said switch is a cross-point switch configured to form the dynamic subarrays that are not all equal in number of the elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 wherein the dynamic subarrays have a combination of a variable elevation edge and a variable lateral edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 wherein said adders are cable of outputting a reduced number of the dynamic subarray signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ultrasound probe according to claim 6 wherein the reduced number of the dynamic subarray signals is matched with a predetermined number of system channels connecting a probe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 further comprising a probe housing for housing said array, said time-delay circuits, said switch and said adders. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ultrasound probe according to claim 1 according to claim 1 wherein said switch is a cross-point switch that connects any one of the elements to any distantly located one of the elements in said array. ### Claim 10 A method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system, comprising: providing in a probe an array a predetermined number of elements in a predetermined dimension; outputting a signal from each of the elements in the array; delaying the signal directly from each of the elements in the array to output time-delayed signals; connecting any combination of the time-delayed signals in the probe for selectively defining dynamic subarrays and outputting dynamic subarray signals; and summing the dynamic subarray signals of the dynamic subarrays in the probe to output an added subarray signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein the signal is delayed by down-converting the signal to a base band or up-converting the base band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein the dynamic subarrays are not all equal in configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein the dynamic subarrays are not all equal in number of the elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein the dynamic subarrays have a combination of a variable elevation edge and a variable lateral edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein a reduced number of the dynamic subarray signals is outputted after said summing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 15 wherein the reduced number of the dynamic subarray signals is matched with a predetermined number of system channels connecting a probe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of dynamically defining a subarray in the ultrasound array system according to claim 10 wherein any one of the elements is connected to any distantly located one of the elements in the array in said connecting. ### Claim 18 An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, comprising: an image parameter setting unit for inputting at least an image parameter value for generating an image; a subarray configuring unit connected to said image parameter setting unit for defining dynamic subarrays and generating a dynamic subarray aiming signal; an array having a predetermined number of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements outputting a signal; a plurality of time-delay circuits directly connected to said array for individually delaying each of the signals from the transducer elements to output time-delayed signals; at least one switch connected to said time-delay circuits and said subarray configuring unit for connecting any combination of the time-delayed signals to define the dynamic subarrays based upon the dynamic subarray forming signal and to output dynamic subarray signals; a plurality of adders connected to said switch for summing the dynamic subarray signals of the dynamic subarrays to output an added subarray signal; and an image forming unit connected to said adders for forming the image based upon the added subarray signal.