Patent ID: 6716173
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: G01N,G01S,G10K

Abstract:
An ultrasonic imaging method of scanning a measurement target in an object to be inspected by using ultrasonic beams and receiving echoes of the ultrasonic beams reflected by the measurement target to obtain image data on the measurement target, said method comprising the steps of:(a) transmitting a plurality of ultrasonic beams simultaneously in a plurality of respective directions toward the measurement target by using an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, each of said ultrasonic beams being formed of ultrasonic signals having their phases shifted from those in other of said ultrasonic beams at said plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements; and (b) processing detection signals obtained by detecting the echoes to generate signal data and subjecting each of the signal data to a plurality of phase matching processes so as to form a plurality of receiving focal points with respect to the transmitted ultrasonic beams.