Ultrasound probe, ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and method of controlling ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of transducer elements configured to transmit ultrasound waves to an object and receive ultrasound echo signals corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound waves from the object, wherein the plurality of transducer elements are classified to be included in a plurality of first sub-arrays;
• a plurality of first analog beamformers configured to generate first synthesized signals by performing first beamforming on each of the ultrasound echo signals detected by the plurality of transducer elements included in each of the plurality of the first sub-arrays;
• a second analog beamformer configured to generate a second synthesized signal by performing second beamforming on the first synthesized signals generated by the plurality of first analog beamformers;
• and
• a controller configured to determine the transducer elements used to detect the ultrasound echo signals based on a position of a focal point on which the ultrasound waves transmitted to the object are focused.

A method of controlling an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus, the method comprising:

• transmitting ultrasound waves to an object;
• detecting ultrasound echo signals corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound waves from the object;
• determining a plurality of transducer elements used to detect the ultrasound echo signals corresponding to the ultrasound waves reflected from the object based on a position of a focal point on which the ultrasound waves transmitted to the object are focused;
• classifying the plurality of transducer elements determined to be included in a plurality of first sub-arrays based on the position of the focal point;
• generating a plurality of first synthesized signals by performing first beamforming on each of the ultrasound echo signals detected by the plurality of transducer elements included in each of the plurality of first sub-arrays;
• and
• generating a second synthesized signal by performing second beamforming on the first synthesized signals generated by the plurality of first analog beamformers.