Serial interface for parameter transfer in an ultrasound device

A method of controlling a plurality of pulsers coupled to a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the method comprising:

• with transmit circuitry, transmitting a serial stream of control data packets specifying operation of the plurality of pulsers to create a plurality of waveform segments of a plurality of multi-level waveforms;
• with decoding circuitry, performing a serial-to-parallel conversion by receiving the serial stream of the control data packets and transmitting the control data packets to the plurality of pulsers in parallel;
• and
• with the plurality of pulsers, generating a plurality of pulses based on the serial stream of the control data packets.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
• a plurality of pulsers coupled to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers;
• transmit circuitry coupled to the plurality of pulsers and configured to provide to a first pulser of the plurality of pulsers a serial stream of control data packets specifying operation of the first pulser to create a plurality of waveform segments of a multi-level waveform;
• and
• decoding circuitry configured to perform a serial-to-parallel conversion by receiving the serial stream of the control data packets and transmitting the control data packets to the plurality of pulsers in parallel.