US 12,220,277 B2
Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus and method of operating the same
Kang-sik Kim, Seongnam-si (KR); Bae-hyeong Kim, Yongin-si (KR); and Jong-keun Song, Yongin-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD., Hongcheon-gun (KR)
Filed by Samsung Medison Co., Ltd., Gangwon-do (KR)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/516,752.
Application 18/516,752 is a continuation of application No. 18/074,091, filed on Dec. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,826,198.
Application 18/074,091 is a continuation of application No. 17/883,149, filed on Aug. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,540,807, issued on Jan. 3, 2023.
Application 17/883,149 is a continuation of application No. 15/206,773, filed on Jul. 11, 2016, granted, now 11,504,090, issued on Nov. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2015-0158111 (KR), filed on Nov. 11, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0090873 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 8/06 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/14 (2006.01); G01S 7/52 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); G10K 11/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/4483 (2013.01) [A61B 8/06 (2013.01); A61B 8/14 (2013.01); A61B 8/4405 (2013.01); A61B 8/4444 (2013.01); A61B 8/4477 (2013.01); A61B 8/4488 (2013.01); A61B 8/462 (2013.01); A61B 8/463 (2013.01); A61B 8/465 (2013.01); A61B 8/469 (2013.01); A61B 8/483 (2013.01); A61B 8/488 (2013.01); A61B 8/5207 (2013.01); G01S 7/52068 (2013.01); G01S 7/52071 (2013.01); G01S 7/52073 (2013.01); G01S 7/52074 (2013.01); G01S 7/52084 (2013.01); G01S 7/52095 (2013.01); G01S 15/8925 (2013.01); G01S 15/8927 (2013.01); G01S 15/8993 (2013.01); G10K 11/34 (2013.01); G01S 15/8988 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:
a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers that transmit/receive an ultrasound signal to/from an object are arranged in two dimensions;
an analog beamformer configured to perform analog beamforming in a first direction, and perform analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers;
a digital beamformer configured to perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and perform digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction, and
an image processor configured to generate a first ultrasound image by using a signal that is obtained by digital-beamforming the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and generate a second ultrasound image by using a signal that is obtained by digital-beamforming the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.
 
11. A method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising a two-dimensional (2D) transducer array in which a plurality of transducers are arranged in two dimensions, the method comprising:
performing analog beamforming in a first direction, and performing analog beamforming in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on signals respectively received by the plurality of transducers;
performing digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and performing digital beamforming on the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction; and
generating a first ultrasound image by using a signal that is obtained by digital-beamforming the signals that are analog-beamformed in the first direction, and generating a second ultrasound image by using a signal that is obtained by digital-beamforming the signals that are analog-beamformed in the second direction.