Ultrasound imaging system with dynamic window function

An ultrasonic imaging system comprising:

• an ultrasonic transducer array having a set of array elements disposed in a pattern and each being separately operable to produce a pulse of ultrasonic energy through a medium during a transmission mode and to produce an echo signal in response to ultrasonic energy impinging thereon during a receive mode;
• a transmitter coupled to the ultrasonic transducer array and operable during the transmission mode to apply a separate signal to predetermined array elements such that a steered transmit beam is produced by the array;
• a receiver coupled to the ultrasonic transducer array and operable during the receive mode to sample the echo signal produced by selected array elements as the ultrasonic energy impinges thereon and to form a receive beam signal therefrom by separately delaying and summing the respective echo signals sampled from each array element, the receiver having channels that operate to modify the sampled echo signals produced by the transducer array elements with a window function weighting factor as the echo signals are received, each receive channel control circuit further including:
• memory means for storing a set of window function curve values at successive memory address locations;
• address counter means for producing an address useable by the memory means to produce the window function weighting factor from the stored set of window function curve values;
• and
• calculating means for advancing the address counter means as a function of time as the echo signal is being received;
• and
• a display system coupled to receive the receive beam signal and produce an image therefrom.