Elevation direction focusing in ultrasound transducer arrays

A method of focusing an ultrasound transducer array along an elevation direction in an ultrasound imaging apparatus, the array comprising the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a plurality of first groups of one or more rows of transducer elements to define a transmit elevation aperture;
• receiving electronic driving signals at the transducer elements which define the transmit elevation aperture;
• outputting ultrasonic transmitting signals at the transducer elements which define the transmit elevation aperture;
• selecting a plurality of second groups of one or more of rows of transducer elements to define a receive elevation aperture;
• receiving the ultrasonic echo signals at the transducer elements which define the receive elevation aperture;
• and
• focusing the output ultrasonic transmitting signals along the elevation at a target depth without use of a mechanical acoustic lens device by receiving different voltage levels of the electronic driving signals at a first one and a second one of the plurality of first groups and by selectively defining the plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups.

An ultrasound imaging apparatus for transmitting ultrasonic signals to a subject to be diagnosed and for reconstructing an ultrasonic diagnostic image from received ultrasonic echo signals, the ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of transducer elements which are two-dimensionally oriented in an array having a lateral direction and an elevation direction, the transducer elements converting electrical driving signals supplied thereto into the ultrasonic transmitting signals and converting the ultrasonic echo signals into electrical echo signals;
• means for generating and supplying the electrical driving signals to the transducer elements, wherein the voltage levels of the electrical driving signals are adjustable to differ among transducer elements along the elevation direction;
• and
• means for converting the electrical echo signals into the ultrasound diagnostic image.